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Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - My Sweet Bailey
| Hello All, I'm not even sure if I am joining the forum - I've never done this before. But - it was such a relief to read all these posts dealing with the very same thing we are struggling with ! Bailey is our 8 yr old Cockapoo - we have her and her sister Annabelle. Bailey is lying here on the bed with me - breathing a bit hard and panting periodically and I so wish I could help her ! I brought her home this afternoon after 2 blood transfusions and a million tests. We are, of course, keeping a close eye on her but it's hard to know if she is mostly exhausted from her condition and from all the trauma of the last 24 hrs. and being away from us - or - if she is decompensating. Her PCV was 11 so they transfused her but she only got to about 16, then they transfused her again and she got to 19 this morning. I am driving her to Auburn teaching hospital on Thursday for a consult. Bailey, too, has been on phenobarb - for about 1 and 1/2 years and I read that it can cause anemia - and so many of your dogs with AIHA were on it too ! She was started on estrogen (DES) last spring for 2 urinary accidents and about 6 weeks later we knew something was wrong - she was severely anemic with decreased platelets too. It appeared to be estrogen toxicity, we took her off the estrogen, she got transfused and we had that agonizing waiting game. After many PCVs and 2 months she started bouncing back and her PCV went all the way to 39 ! Yee-haw. But then about 2 months later I saw her "eating dirt" again which she did when she was anemic in the spring and my husband said she had been sluggish on her walk the day before. So, I took her right in and sure enough, her PCV was 22 and has been dropping ever since. The big mystery is why/how did she get better and then get bad again ? Sorry for so much information - would love to hear back from anyone. Thanks, Nancy |
| Nancy Atlanta |
| Nancy, I am so very sorry to hear of your Bailey's illness. From reading your post I am not sure if Bailey has been diagnosed with AIHA or some other form of anemia.If you have not read my Web site on Canine AIHA/IMHA as yet: http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/ you might want to do so when you can. Be sure to follow the links at the bottom of the first page to many more sites on AIHA/IMHA that will be very helpful to you and do read the SUCCESS STORIES pages. They will show you what symptoms dogs with AIHA/IMHA have presented with as well as show you what treatment options have worked for these dogs. It is good that you are going to Auburn for a consult. Has Bailey been tested for tick borne dieases? In not please make sure that is done. Please know that you and Bailey are in my thougths and prayers during these most very difficult days. Keep us posted on what you learn at Auburn and how Bailey is doing. |
| Joanne MN |
| Dear Nancy, I am so sorry your Bailey is so sick. If you have not already done so, please go to the Meisha's hope website to learn more about the disease: http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/index.html You will also find a link to the success stories. Please go there and you will learn about many dogs that have recovered from this disease and are doing well. Don't be sorry for giving a lot of information, actually I would have liked a little more:) What else was done for Bailey when she had the initial anemia? Was she on prednisone or other immune suppressant drugs? Was her anemia even considered immune mediated? From the time frame you gave I suspected she was taken of prednisone too quickly, but of course that is just a wild guess. I am glad you will take your little girl to a teaching hospital. I am sure she will get excellent care and the vets there are up to date with the disease. Best wishes to you and Bailey, Brigitte & the poodle boys |
| Brigitte BC Canada |
| I too am very sorry to read that Bailey is sick, please know that I will keep her in my prayers. Please post how much she weighs and what are the name of medicine's and dosage is is on. It is a good idea you are getting another opinion at teaching hospital and perhaps they can get her heading in the right direction. Please keep us updated on how Bailey is doing. Cheryl & Ginger |
| Cheryl & Ginger Pinevile PA |
| Any word on how Bailey is doing? Looking for an update if you got one Nancy. Johnny & Tessy |
| Johnny |
This thread was discussed between 22/09/2010 and 28/09/2010
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