Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - My little Boo Boo, 5th day of her battle with AIHA

I found this site while looking for information & hope about this condition. Boo Boo is a 11 year old female, mini schnauzer. She is an incredibly sweet girl, a favorite at the animal hospital where she will have been for 5 days as of this evening. Her story sounds very much like so many others here. A sudden & increasingly progressive lethargy, loss of interest in food (very disturbing because she LIVES to eat), weakness, rapid respiration, having to carry her out to do business, orange poop, rushing to the emergency hospital, oxygen, ultrasound, transfusion, liver biopsy (which came back ok), dexamethasone, transfer to a special internal medicine hospital, calls in the middle of the night, 2nd transfusion, prednisone & cyclosporine, heartbreaking visits to see her, hopeful visits to see her, crying my heart out, praying, begging God for answers (maybe why I found this site)..... I have been on a major roller-coaster, stressed, completely preoccupied, depressed, hopeful, hopeless, & it seems that so many people automatically start talking about how I need to accept that she may die or that I might need to euthanize her. I am almost $5K into her medical cost & so far, she's not responding. I can see in reading through this forum that I am only at the beginning. Just wondering, in my search for answers, I came across this site...has anyone out there heard of it or tried it???? http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/amailbag2.htm I'm just very, very, very :(

Karen Florida

Karen: I'm very sorry that Boo Boo has been diagnosed with this horrible disease. If you haven't already come a crossed it yet, one of the best websites about this disease is http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/. This site has a wealth of information about treatments, options and survival stories of dogs with IMHA. Also, if you can, please give us as much information about Boo Boo's condition as possible - blood work, medications, etc. It will help us help you. As for the website you mentioned - I have never heard of this product before. Hopefully someone else here has. I do know that it does take time for the medications to start working and it can be nerve wracking waiting for any improvement. Our own dog, Sheba, is a 2+ year survivor who had to spend 6 days in the ICU at Iowa State's VTH. Hang in there and please know that we will keep you in our thoughts and prayers. Rita, Mike, and Sheba

Rita IA

Karen, sorry you had to find this site but welcome none the less. Like Rita said if you can give us some more information...weight, drug dosages, everything you can think of. Boo Boo is only 5 days in so it's very likely that the drugs are *just* starting to do their job. It's VERY inportant to watch and follow the numbers from her blood tests. If I were you I would get copies of ALL tests done so far...more importantly the CBC's (complete blood counts). The CBC includes the HCT (hematocrit), rbc (red blood count), hgb (hemoglobin), wbc (white blood cells), plt, mcv, mch,...and several others. If you don't have these already get them as soon as you can. There should also be a reticulocyte (rtc or retic?) number on these tests...really important to know this number also. Again, get these numbers SOON. As far as the website you mentioned goes...they promote "Transfer Factor" as a supposed *cure* or *aid* for this disease. If this product was so promising then you would have heard of it in the news or through some of the technical papers somewhere! I've got some special leaves on a special tree in my back yard I can sell you if you like. One in 1000 dogs have responded to these leaves!!! Just kiddin. I'd stick with the tried and tested and proven techniques to treating this disease. I would however recommend a solid nutrient (mineral/vitamin) supplement to help with hematopoiesis (blood making process). Many here (including myself) use a product called Pet Tinic. If she's still hospitalized you might want to ask the vet if a B-vitamin injection is a good idea. We really need to know more numbers before we can recommend anything specific. Did they check her thyroid levels? Please do keep us posted. I'll keep Boo Boo in my thoughts and prayers. Johnny & Tessy

Johnny

Karen, I am glad you found this site. I hope you have checked out Joanne's site by now. It should answer a lot of your questions and give you enough information to know what you still need to ask Boo boo's Vet about. Be sure to read the success stories too. It takes a while for the drugs to kick in so don't look at what you think is a lack of progress and read too much into that. Keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Thank you Rita, Mike, and Sheba. Yes I found the http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/ site before I found this one & saved it for reference. Your email gives me hope which is what I need the most right now. I believe in prayer and appreciate yours more than you can know. Boo Boo's mama

Karen Florida

Thanks for writing Johnny. Boo is 19.8 & my regular vet did give her a B-12. I have been getting her PVC counts about 3 times a day from her specialist. She had a transfusion at about 3:00 AM yesterday morning & was at 20 for the first count 24 by mid-day but dropped this morning back to 18. Her regular vet lives next door to me & is my friend so I have an advantage there. I report to her several times a day as well. As far as her records, they will be sending a full report to my vet after the holiday weekend. As far as I know, Boo has not had her thyroid checked, I'll ask the internalist next time I speak with him.

Karen Florida

Johnny, can you explain what all those #'s mean.

Karen Florida

Karen, those numbers can tell an awefull lot as to what's going on with the body. Do you recall if they said anything about regeneration or nonregenerative? Anything about new baby blood cells? Tell them to run a full CBC instead of just the PCV. A PCV is a spin which only tell the red blood percentage. The CBC would include all the other values. Most vets would do a CBC in the beginning so I'd assume they did also. They also probably did a chem panel. Ask them for results of both. IF you can afford it I'd recommend you have them send a sample of blood to Dr. Dodds at hemopet. She's the best of the best at what she does (this disease). From Florida to Cali it's probably fairly cheap to do. WELL WORTH EVERY CENT!!! If you want to you can also ask them to add thyroid suplementation daily. This is perfectly safe and helps stimulate the bone marrow. Again...this is where the numbers would come in handy. Let me know what you think. If your neighbor works there maybe she can get you copies of bloodwork tonight. Johnny & Tessy

Johnny

Good News, Boo Boo is showing progress finally (day 7) & if she holds another day, she will be coming home tomorrow!!!

Karen Florida

Dear Karen and Booboo, I just have seen your post, i have not been on list in a while. I was priveledged to be the companion to Kent, a miniature schnauzer, who was 9 when he developed AIHA. He fought, he recovered, he relapsed with ITP and Evans Syndrome, and did not pass away until after his 11th Birthday, from a heart tumor of some kind. He beat AIHA not once, but twice. I was on a emotional and financial rollercoaster and my heart hurt for him. I want to tell you that they can beat this, and it sounds like your booboo is a fighter and well on her way to recovery. I am here for you if you need anything, Best, Christine and Angel Kent

Christine South Florida

Karen Sending my prayers for you and BooBoo, sounds like she is making some progress and I hope she comes home soon. Please keep us updated Cheryl & Ginger

Cheryl & Ginger Pinevile Pa

Thank you very much Cheryl & Ginger, Boo Boo can use all the prayers she can get! I am praying constantly.

Karen Florida

Hi Karen, sorry that your booboo and you have this battle on your hands - you have found a good site for advice - lots of prayers coming your way from DownUnder Oz. Silka

Silka Melbourne Australia

Thank you Silka

Karen Florida

Thanks to all who have offered help & encouragement. I'll be leaving the site today, my Boo Boo is gone. It turns out, her AMHA was brought on by liver cancer. She didn't make it. She was a beautiful little soul, the best friend I ever had & I loved her more than I can say. I am focused now on all the good things we shared. She definitely will live in my heart FOREVER.

Karen Florida

how awful. I am so sorry

Rottlady NH USA

Karen, I would like to send my sincere condolences on the loss of your beloved Boo Boo. I am glad that you are finding comfort in all the great memories of your little girl. Best wishes, Brigitte & the poodle boys

Brigitte BC Canada

I am so sorry for your loss. Cheryl & Ginger

Cheryl & Ginger Pinevile Pa

Dear Karen, I am so sorry to hear about Boo Boo. It is very sad that you were unable to reverse her condition. When my dog was very sick there were a few days when I thought he might have a similar cancer from signs seen on an x-ray. I learned from my vet that it could be a very aggressive cancer. I thought we might loose my guy very quickly and I lived through a few difficult days. I knew then that I could not always control everything that comes my way in life. My guy was a Schnauzer and I have great fondness for this breed. Please accept my deep condolences. Patrice

Patrice NYS

Karen: We are so sorry that Boo Boo has gone to the Bridge. Rita, Mike and Sheba

Rita IA

Many Thanks to all of you for your thoughts & condolences. I never imagined when I posted on this forum that there were so many compassionate & caring people here. I'm truly touched by your kindness. I said goodbye to my sweet, sweet girl tonight. It has been very painful losing her. Even harder than tonight, was seeing her so sick & getting weaker each day. She was happy to see mama when I got there. She took a deep breath when I held her & I could feel her relax in my arms. I just told her about a million times how much I loved her & that she was a good girl. She fell asleep with her head in my hand & she had a very, very gentle passing, as gently as I could have possibly hoped for her. I got to be there with her right to the end & she knew I was holding her. I'm relieved that she didn't suffer. I'm very sad but these past 6 days that she's been hospitalized has given me time to accept that this could happen & a few days to get used to her not being home with me. I'm going to try very hard to just focus on all the good years we had together. She had very good health almost all of her life & I was so fortunate to spend most every day of it with her. I like to think that she'll be meeting my dad in heaven & he will be taking care of her from now on. She was a very, very special puppy. I could have never, ever had a smarter, sweeter, gentler little soul to spend these years with. I loved her so very much....more than I can express. God Bless you all

Karen Florida

My 8 year old yorkshire terrier Jake has just been diagnosed with AIHA. He has been in hospital since last night, and i am devastated. I went to see him today and he looks really bad. The vets still cant get him to eat anything, so he hasn't eat now for 5 days. He is on a drip to put fluids back into him. I've looked at quite a few web sites to get to grip with this illness, and am just praying that he will be alright. I feel as if someone has chopped off my right arm, my friends have good intentions, and have phoned to see how Jake is, but no one no's how upset i feel. I cant sleep and cant stop crying. Just hope i will have my little dog home soon. :-(

Frances UK

This thread was discussed between 05/09/2010 and 14/09/2010

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