Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Need help on a question.

I hope someone can help. I can't believe I don't have this written down anywhere, but I can't find it. Tomorow morning Lindy is going in for surgery on her foot to remove a thorn/sticker. She has been limping for over a week. I took her to our regular vet and he couldn't find anything. A couple of days later, we shaved the hair off of her left paw and saw a redness between the middle toe and the one on the left. We tried soaking it in warm water but nothing ever came to the surface. I know they aren't ever supposed to have anti-inflamatories/NSAIDS??? Is this right? I must have them write that on her folder, but also need to remind them tomorrow. Lindy was on Rimadyl when she replased, so believe that was a factor. I just hope they can find what is in her foot and get it out AND she comes out of this okay. They will let me stay with her until she goes under, which is what we did to have her teeth cleaned last winter. We've come so far... Thanks so much. Nancy

Nancy CO

Nancy, I can't help with your question about anti-inflammatories, but if Lindy suffers from arthritis/hip dysplasia, I've had really good success with a product called cetyl-M. There are horse, human and dog formulations. Cetyl-M is a natural product that actually helps rebuild cartilage and alleviate arthritic pain. I've taken it and so has my three-legged foster Lab when he came to me after his amputation, with great success. Could Lindy have cheat grass in her paw? Best of luck for a hugely successful outcome tomorrow. Sandy

Sandy Utah

Hi Sandy, Thanks for your quick response. Lindy does not have arthritis/hip dysplasia. She was originally given Rimadyl for a disk problem. After she was diagnosed with AIHA, the prednisone relieved the back problem and it has never come back, thankfully. It could be cheat grass, even though there isn't any in our yard that I know of. We do have evergreen bushes that have stickers on them, so it could be that. Thanks again. Nancy

Nancy CO

Nancy, I do believe you are right on the NSAIDS. I think a lot of people have it written on their dogs charts in really large letters as well as being on guard that everyone who might come in contact with your dog at the vets is aware of it. I am hoping it is just a minor routine sticker removal and Lindy is back on her feet literally soon. Keeping you both in my thoughts. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Nancy, For what it's worth, our Cassie got a thorn in her foot (in the same location as yours) and our vet advised us to use antibiotics for 10 days or so, keep it clean and then just let it work its way out. Where it was located in her paw would have meant they would have had to cut into the pad and that would have been a much more serious injury. After 10 days we just left it open, the vet said let her lick it as much as she wants and voila!... after about 3 weeks it just *disappeared.* She ignored it after a few days and stopped limping. There is nothing there to indicate that she had something in her paw. patrice

Patrice New York State

Hi and thanks Patrice, Penny and Sandy, I put NO NSAIDS on her CSU folder, though Dr. Bayliss knows this, but not at our local vet's. I just told them when she had her teeth cleaned. Now I will make sure they write it on her folder. Patrice, we have been soaking her foot for almost a week and it didn't open up, so now the surgery. I just hope it isn't cheat grass or foxtail. Uff. Anyway, thanks so much for responding! Nancy

Nancy CO

A stupid question perhaps, but what are/is NSAIDS?

nicky gvaz

nicky, NSAIDS are non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Here is a site for humans. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00284&return_link=0 Lindy was given Rimadyl prior to her AIHA diagnosis, which I thought was a trigger for her getting this disease. Hope this helps. Nancy

nicky CO

Sandy, I read your comment about Cetyl-M. My TC has arthritis and I have been giving him G&C but am always looking for a great product. How long was your dog on the Cetyl before you noticed results? Thanks~

Wendy Tampa FL

The vet scraped out the small swollen area on the inside of Lindy's toe and found some slight cell inflamation, but no thorn, etc. He just gave her a little gas and did a dental type x-ray to see if it showed anything, but nothing was there. He wants me to continue to soak it and see if the limping and favoring of that toe/foot goes away. If it was foxtail or cheat grass, it moved very quickly through this small dog's foot. The vet didn't think it was either one, so now we just have to see if the pain subsides. We were home after an hour and she just wants to EAT!! Thanks everyone! Nancy

Nancy CO

Yea! Hopefully no further treatment will be necessary. Still would be nice to know what it was though. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

I called Dr. Bayliss to give her Lindy's latest CBC, reticulocyte count and told her about her sore toe. She wants her on an antibiotic and told me to stop soaking it because it needs to dry out. Tomorrow she will confer with the regular vet who has been treating this toe problem. Sometimes it is almost impossible to find thorns/stickers, etc, that enter through the foot, etc. I guess they will figure this all out. Meanwhile Lindy just wants to eat! Her body might not be on pred, but her head is. Nancy

Nancy CO

Hi Nancy If you are pretty certain there is something in the foot you could try using a poultice - I have successfully used them on my dogs. I use the ones I have for my horses - in the UK they are called Animalintex. They are soaked in warm water then bandaged onto the foot and changed every 8 hours. Usually only takes a couple of days and no drugs! good luck. Gaynor

Gaynor UK

Wendy, Banjo was on Cetyl-M for about two weeks before he showed results. I took the human formulation for chronic lower back pain, and saw results in a month. I really like the product because it is natural and has none of the side effects of Rimadyl. If you try it, I hope it works wonders on TC, as it did on Banjo and me. Sandy

Sandy Utah

Sandy, I have order some, it sounds good and vet said it is safe to use. Meanwhile I have TC on liquid G&C and it seems to have helped. He is getting up with less effort and is not wimpering. Thank you, it is great to learn about these products from someone who actually used it and had success.

Wendy Tampa FL

This thread was discussed between 08/11/2007 and 10/11/2007

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