VetNet®
VetNet® AIHA discussion forum
VetNet® Forum
Lifelong Learning Network
www.vetnetlln.ac.uk
Veterinary Recruitment
Premier Partner Program
Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Nancy Questions
I really don't think my Nancy is going to make it. I think we are not going to choose the multiple transfusions. She is starting not to eat again and her last PCV was 19 on Wed and I think it is dropping fast. Can anyone tell me, are they in pain if you just let the PCV drop??? When is the time to let them go??? I think we have made the decision that we can't go on like this too much longer...I don't want her to suffer, but she doesn't look happy either. As long as she is eating something, do you guys think it is OK to let her stay?? The vet says she is still hoping the drugs will work.. I doubt if they will... I have a call in to my vet now to discuss the possibility of using the anabolic steroids that have been suggested... AnnaMarie |
| AnnaMarie Illinois |
| just drawing from my personal journey, sway has had the disease for 15 months now, and still her highest PCV count has only been a 28... but for the last 10-11 months she has been living a rather normal life and been relatively happy... for most of that time she maintained a RBC count of around 20-22. as long as you can find a way to stop the consistent dropping in the count, and get it to hold...u can go forward with this. in our case the anabolic steroid was what allowed her count to maintain and stop dropping. the weakness and refusal to eat, atleast with sways case had alot to do with the high amount of meds she was on. this improved dramtically when meds were cut back. i am wishing NANCY well. |
| josh/sway california |
| Anne Marie, I'm sorry to read what you and Nancy are going through right now. In itself, from everything I've read, IMHA doesn't cause them pain. As you know, the meds take time to kick in and I do know that some of them can cause side effects, including loss of appetite. I think I mentioned in a message before but, if you want a second opinion before you make any choices, let me know - we ended up working with a second internist who had a ton of common sense and so much compassion - she definitely looked at Murray as an individual case, taking everything into account. I hope you are having a better day, Bonnie |
| Bonnie Chicago |
| AnnaMarie. did your vet discourage you from choosing multiple transfusions? This is only my individual atory, but I know my boy would not have made it w/o several transfusions. I feel your pain and understand your worry. But as I said in the previous post, please do not give up at this juncture. It just may take some time to stabilize her. Jan |
| jan PA. |
| AnnaMarie, Please read the post I put under your last thread. Some of the meds can take at least six weeks to begin to be effective. Barkley's low PCV counts ranged from 7 to 10 so Nancy actually sounds pretty good compared to that. I have information about the anabolic steroids Josh has referenced in the other post I sent to you. I hope you don't read my entries and discount the information in them because my Barkley did not survive. I also hope that your fear and hurt from all you've been through twice now don't keep you from being able to look objectively at Nancy's situation...in whatever direction your decision finally goes. With transfusions Barkley would once again eat and ask for food and roll in the grass and chase the cat and Bark at the door...His transfusions bought us our last precious 8 weeks together...and most of that time he was not having no quality of life. He even would get up on the back of the seat and anxiously await me lifting him down so that he could go in and "visit" all the folks at the vet's office who had also come to love him. And there were doggie kisses...and now still nose prints on the windows of my car from his vet visits. Each moment is filled with richness...and with the transfusions does not have to be filled with suffering. Nancy may be tired but not necessarily tired enough to be tired of life. I'm not suggesting that you push her beyond when she is really ready, just that you consider the time frame for the meds to have a real chance. Yet, in the end, you have shared her heart and she yours...and the two of you will know what is best. I truly understand your angst and hope you find your answer together with as little pain and fear as possible. Cheryl (and always Barkley) |
| Cheryl Medford |
This thread was discussed between 29/08/2008 and 30/08/2008
Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) forum index
This thread is from the Vetnet archive. The live Vetnet forum is active now.
