Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - New case - Prednisolone response time?

My adored 5 yr old JRT x Border Terrier although not yet a confirmed AIHA case has low PCV 22% and low platelets 77? He was given prednisolone injection on Wednesday evening and started 10mg prednisolone twice a day today (Thursday).He weighs approx 4.5-5kg. Prior to the pred. starting his PCV was 21 and today (thursday) it was 22 both in the morning and evening. Should I expect quicker increase? How long before i should hope to see an improvement, how long before the pred. should start to work if it's going too. More blood results and coombs test results back tomorrow. Apologies for lack of emotion in my post - can't go there right now or I won't be able to see the screen and my laptop will short circuit. Any info or words of hope gratefully recieved.

Kath Scotland

Kath- It is truly a case by case basis as AIHA really affects diff animals in diff ways... sometimes dogs respond within days of treatment, sometimes not for months... my biggest suggestion is make sure your vet has a history of treating this disease and if you get the hint that he isnt quite sure, get another opinion. Best wishes to your pup..

Josh California

Thanks Josh for your speedy response. I was a little dismayed when I didn't see an almost immediate response to the prednisolone. I am at the moment very happy with the knowledge regarding my vet/s previous experience of the illness but if I should at any time become unsure I will as you suggest look for another opinion. Just to throw in another question - with platelet level at 77 - (I guess this means 77000 or something like that)how high is the risk of spontaneous bleeding?

kath scotland

Hi Kath I am sorry to hear that your dog has a possible diagnosis of AIHA. Please visit this website as there information on treating AIHA. I agree with Josh and each dog seems to respond differently and some dogs need more then just prednisone. http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/treatment.htm Cheryl & Ginger

Cheryl & Ginger Pineville PA

Kath, Fully understand the emotion part. If you haven't found your way to Joanne's site yet please have a look. It will give you a lot of info in easily understood terms. http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/ Be sure to find your way to the success stories too. What is your boy's name? You will find a lot of support on this board so feel free to ask anything. It is hard enough to deal with our babies being sick but when you get diagnosed with something you have probably never even heard of it is mind numbing. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

His name is Mitch. I am sitting up with him tonight - he is quite bright in himself although very tired but I have noticed another 3 small bruises on his chest and I am sick with worry. I have read the sites you have directed me to - thankyou and about 200 others as well! Spent the last 3 days reading info and nursing Mitch. With low pcv and low platelet he may i believe have evans syndrome. Desperately waiting for the blood test results tomorrow and hoping there is something that can be done before he has a bleed. The anemia I believe is not critical right now but the low platelet could cause a fatal bleed. Feel sick, can't sleep and hurting desperately. Thanks for your support.

Kath Scotland

Oh Kath, How I hope that Mitch will rally. It is agonizing to have our beloved dogs be hammered by this aggressive illness. Best wishes, Ann (and Toby, the recovering Shih Tzu)

Ann CT

Kath, Go back to Meisha's Hope and read the May 2008 story about Casper. You can also read his current blog by searching Casper D Dog I can't post the link here because it blocked me when I tried but it should give you hope if Mitch is diagnosed with Evans. It is good that he is bright and the tiredness is due to the low oxygen levels. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Kath I see you live in Scotland are you attending a specialist vet hospital with your dog because if not, I highly recommend you get an immediate referral as if it is this disease you dont have time to waste and in order to rule out any other diseases like cancer etc which can in certain occasions be treated(as Nollaig was tested for all sorts of things to rule out all other reasons for her low pcv before they did a bone marrow biopsy and confirmed pure red cell aplasia a form of aiha) you need to get xrays and scans etc done.If the pcv keeps dropping your dog will also need a blood transfusion. Nollaig has pure red cell aplasia and has been treated for the past 5 and a bit months now at the University of Glasgow small animal hospital by a Rory Bell who is an internal medicine specialist and a very knowledgeable and experienced guy when it comes to this disease,I would highly recommend him particularly and Glasgow University vet school has an exceptional reputation. Maybe you would consider that option.Your vet can refer you. Their telephone number is 0141 330 5848 and website www.gla.ac.uk/faculties/vet/smallanimalhospital/ Any questions please e-mail me direct link above. Take care Kathleen

Kathleen North Ayrshire

Sorry Kath forgot to put my email link in.Here it is above now. Kathleen

Kathleen North Ayrshire

Hi, My kent first had aiha, then relapsed with Evan's Syndrome. I want you to know this: He recovered and lived more than a year after, and did not die from aiha or evans, but from a sudden cancer. He was in hospital for 5 days, had a transfusion that was in two parts, a Barium swallow to patch internal small bleeds, and sometimes on his first day at hospital had to get oxygen. None the less, he recovered. He came home from this a little more fragile, and a little more Kent in personality - he knew what he had been through. Make sure you have a knowledgable and experienced vet with the right facilities, and make sure they are willing to consult if necessary with experts like dr. dodds, who i suggest you consult with asap. You are in my thoughts, Christine and angel Kent,

Christine Fl

Hi I had typed a really long response earlier today and the the computer lost it! I lost the will to write it all again at the time. Thank you all so much for your support, Penny - I read Caspers story what a a cutie and it gives me hope. Kathleen I here what you are saying and I don't just accept what the vets tell me - I question, ask, tell them what I know or have read and ask them to consult others where possible. Having said that I have a great relationship with the vets working with Mitch and they do have experience and they are consulting with vet school. Christine - more hope , thanks. Mitch is a typical terrier and a real little fighter, if it's down to strength of character he will pull through! I will post what has been done seen etc in my next post. Thanks to all Kath

kath scotland

Kathleen I just reread my previous response back to you and it sounds rather abrupt - sorry that was not intended - just typing in a hurry and not reading the way things can come across in text. Kath

Kath Scotland

Kath, I am so sorry to hear about Mitch's condition. I am going to suggest that you ask your vet if they have tested for any tick diseases that might be prevalent in your area. I am familiar only with those that are in the US, but I am aware that tick disease are world wide. A tick disease can be responsible for anemia and dangerously low platelets. If this were the case, it would be treatable by simple doxycycline (an antibiotic) in high, lengthy doses. One particular tick disease responds better to Imizol. If your vet seems unsure about tick disease in your area, contact your local health department to determine if they are showing up where you live. While this isn't always the cause of this serious condition, it is common enough to take that diagnostic step to be sure to rule it out. I am on a tick email forum and I can say for sure over the years I have read thousands of emails from desperate owners with the same symptoms as Mitch. And in most of those cases (not all), once diagnosed and treated for tick disease, the recovery was almost immediate. my best patrice

Patrice NYS

Mitch's History So Far 25/07 - On holiday - Mitch feverish, very tired and weak, sore paw - minor graze bleeding more than expected. 26/07- Still on holiday! Same as above. Gum bled slightly also, red spots in throat and under tongue - had been playing with stick on 24/7 so disregarded it. Spoke with a local vet in evening. 27/07 - Saw local vet (on holiday at time so not my own)! Temp 40.5'F. Everything else as above, vet seemed unconcerned about small minor bruises on belly and in mouth - as was I - he's a terrier - always up to something! Prescribed Clavaseptin for Unknown fever - 125mg 2xday 28/07 - Came home from holiday early for Mitch's sake and saw own vet. First time I noticed blood in stools Temp 39.5 PCV - 21% Platelets - 77% (above bloods taken but results not recieved till 29/07 pm so delay in starting meds) 29/07 Temp 39.2 Continue Clavaseptin and start Prednisolone 10mg 2x day Aseptin -?mg 2 x day 30/07 Temp 38 a.m. PCV 22%, platelets 65 p.m PCV 22% Coombs test negative (vet believes maybe false neg) 31/07 Noticed 4 more small bruises on body Only tiny amount of blood in stools today Mitch taken into vets for obs etc. a.m. PCV 17/18 p.m. PCV 16/17 No blood in urine Abdominal scan clear Chest xray clear That doesnt look too reader friendly but thats been the pattern of things if anyones interested. Kath

Kath Scotland

Patrice, I have considered and researched the Tick issue and discussed with the vet. I cannot find any evidence of tick disease that would cause these symptom and indeed the vets are not aware of any. Ehrlicosis? is not found in UK only found in dogs brought in from abroad and rocky mountain fever not here either. I will exlpore this avenue again though and if anyone knows of anything ticks do carry in Scotland - I know of Lymes but I don't think it's related to AIHA symptoms. thanks for your suggestion kath

Kath Scotland

Kath, If you read anything, read this page. A good friend has dedicated a whole website to tick disease. Anything you read here has been approved by the vet on our tick forum. http://blackgsd.googlepages.com/quietkillers http://dogsandtickdisease.googlepages.com/ Patrice

Patrice NYS

This thread was discussed between 30/07/2009 and 31/07/2009

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