Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - New to this site

Hello all. I have come across this website over the weekend, and read it thoroughly and have decided to introduce myself. My name is Sandi, the mother of three teenage extremely busy boys, and a great 4 year old choc lab named Moose. Moose was diagnosed with AIHA in the middle of December. As some of your stories, it came out of left field. I couldn't tell you what his numbers are, I believe his RBC is still at 24 and has been now for approx 5-6 weeks. The meds that we are one are quite similar to those that are posted: 40mg Pred 2x day, 1gm Sucralfate 2x day, 35mg immuran 1x day, and 10mg fomatadine 2x day. Yes he is a walking pharmacy. We have to go today and get his blood work done. It just seems that this is dragging on and he is just not improving. He can't do stairs anymore and when he tries his back end just crashes into the stair that he is trying to climb up. His life basically consists of laying on his pillow and wagging his tail. What a far change of an active doy raised by three active human boys with his own toy chest! The reason I bring up my active family is because that is just what we are. This situation is really starting to put a ton of stress into our family dynamic. Husband is so distraught at continuing down this path, he wants to pull all meds and let nature take its course....We will not be doing that of course, but based on the blood work today we will be having a family meeting about what lies ahead. Heartbroken, and just needed to vent. Sandi

Sandi Chicago

Sandi, This is a very demanding path both in time, emotions and money. If you haven't read Joanne's site yet please do. It will give you a clearer understanding of what may lie ahead. http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/ Be sure to read the sucess stories. We all understand how hard this is but know that you have come to a place where you will find so much support from people all over the world who really do understand what you are going through. Best to you and Moose. Penny

Penny Lytle creek Calif

Hi Sandy, I am sorry to hear about Moose and his diagnosis, but welcome you to the group. Ditto on Penny's post. Please read and share the stories of the Survivors there. This disease is often compared to a roller-coaster and it is. Emotionally, it is quite a ride and you will never look at your dog the same. Our dog, a mini-schnauzer named Kent, was diagnosed one year ago with AIHA. After a transfusion he came home on pred. The pred was slowly reduced and as it was reduced, he really became his old self again. I want to tell you this because I am sure it is difficult in a very busy house to suddenly cope with this disease, but know that his tiredness now is NOT permanent. His body is resting as he recovers and the prednisone, a miracle drug, is also one with many side effects. As you reduce his dosage, he will become more and more himself. Please read Joanne's site and share with your family stories of survivors. Your beautiful Moose will appreciate all the love and attention you give him now and as he gets his energy back you will all have much joy together again. Please also look at the diet and supplement links. I wish i had known about these when Kent first became ill. Please keep us posted, Christine and Kent

Christine Florida

Hi Sandy. Sorry to hear about Moose, as Christine and Penny have both said, there is hope you know. The early days are the hardest, especially when you are new to this disease. I never heard of it until last October, but I have read a lot about it through this site and it's help me understand a lot. The most important being the success rate. Moose will need a lot of rest and won't be able to do of the things he used to do, not for a while anyway, but please remember, it will get better. Tricia

Tricia UK

Please tell your family to have patience. That is the nature of this disease. Just because your boy is not robust as usual does not mean he will not bounce back. We have all been through the tough times and understand your pain. Keep thinking 'recovery.' It is nor unlike having a family member with an illness. You just keep plugging away and pray for recovery. thoughts are w/you. My boy, Choe is a seven year old dachshund and a 17 month AIHA survivor. He had to have four blood transfusions. I thought he would never recover. But he is doing very well. He is now running down the street 'introducing' himself to all that he meets almost telling them, 'hey I had a tough time but I'm feeling good now.' Jan

jan philly

Oh wow! This has been the best discussion I've read yet since finding this site two weeks ago. I have been wondering the same as Sandi - if I did right by giving Jennie meds and fighting to keep her going. Thanks everyone above for giving me hope! Gail

Gail SD

Sandi - Sorry to see your post. I'm in Chicago as well - and have been living with an IMHA dog since last March. Happy to share any information on internists, etc. that may be of help to you to get Moose through this. Bonnie

Bonnie Chicago

Hi Sandi, I just wanted you to know you are not alone. This board is a great place for support. I see Bonnie has already replied, I can also offer to share our experiences with different vets and internists in the area. Feel free to email me off board. My Slinky (1.5 yo dachshund) was diagnosed in June. Fortunately she has responded well to treatment, but I remember the initial fear and emotions all too well. Listen to Moose, he'll tell you how to proceed. Slinky found a way to tell me she was sick and to tell me to keep fighting for her, and she has been climbing within normal levels for about 6 months now and is down to a tiny dose of prednisone every other day.

Stephanie Chicago

Hi Sandi, Just like all the others have said, this disease can be a roller-coaster and very expensive. I consider everyone on here like a part of my family as they have helped me learn more then I could have ever learned from my vet or any book. Our Holly 3 year old dachshund is still fighting hard after being diagnosed last March 2007. She had a little setback a few weeks ago, but is slowing coming back from that. I also know what you are going through with your husband, as my husband has said the same exact thing. We adopted Holly from a rescue Dec 2006 and he just thinks the drugs are hurting her but knows that she needs them in order to live at this point. So anytime you need to talk or just vent we are here for you! Linda

Linda Sapphire

Thank you all for your kindness and support. Moose's PVC is still the same and his marrow is not producing the cells that it is supposed to. We have had a family meeting and have decided to give him another two weeks and hope that something changes. I am not sure if anyone on here has been through this as we are very distraught at this time. Please keep us in your thoughts. Sadly, Sandi

Sandi Chicago

Sandi, We will pray for Moose in hopes that he will turn around. I think you will find many on this board who have been or still are in your position. All you can do is love him and hope that he is strong enough to overcome this. Linda

Linda Sapphire

Sandi, Trixie was exactly the same, she also wasn't producing cells (Bone Marrow), but with time she has begun to regenerate and they are remaining. All I can say, as others have stated also, this is a slow process. It takes time for the medications to kick in, but it will happen. Thinking of you all Tricia

Tricia UK

Hi Sandi I can only say hang in there. My Bertie took quite a number of weeks before he started regenerating again(6-8), all the while his pcv sat around 28. It can take time, the most important thing is that it Moose has stabilised. The day it does go up, you wont be able to wipe the smile off your face. Bertie was diagnosed in Dec 2005 and all up was on meds about about 6 months and pretty similar to what Moose has been prescribed. It is important that you must reduce meds very slowly once they start responding. Some dogs take even longer depending on size of course. Bertie is only a small dog. But with each reduction you see some of your old dog come back.. My bertie was 7 months old when he was diagnosed and in April will be 3 years old and you would never know that he was so sick today. I think you should give it as much time as possible, I know how hard it can be on family, I lost my partner over it. I was in shock myself for the first 3 weeks when Bertie was diagnosed. Hang in there and look forward to happier times, but just know that it can take some time. Be strong. We will all pray for your family and your Moose. Lisa

Lisa West Aust

Sandi..your post could be written by me!!! Trooper is a border collie for 3 teenage hockey players...(2 boys and a girl)...so she has been the referee to driveway hockey...and since diagnosis 12/11 is weak. The imuran took a long time to kick in....and my 45 lb dog is on 50 mg every other day. Your boys and you will be in our prayers this week. I believe I know your stress and feelings because I have them every day myself. I hold on with every lab test result. I come downstairs every morning and have a sigh of relief that she is still here... It has made me very sensitive to families with a chronic illness....the toll is so great. I am sorry to ask, but all the other bases are covered...treated for a tick???? We spent a month on antibiotics after diagnosis. Bone marrow and spleen biopsy???

Chris Connecticut

Sandy,you are so lucky you have had him stay well for so long i wish i had that much time with my bella.dont give up the fact that he has maintained with out tranfusinons so far you are way ahead of most of us just keep plugging aeay PLEASE dont give up he will pull through you have to belive that.enjoy every day and just take it one day at a time i went back and forth 3 times a week just stay strong for your dog and keep a possitive attuitude...our prayers are w/you Kathy

kathy pacifica

sandi, my post is right below yours on the thread.Its been 2 weeks since i lost my Bella and i feel like i should have tried longer. She crashed and my hubby said we couldnt afford another transfusion,because she wasnt re-generating. but ill always wonder if we wouldnt have tried 1 more time if maybe we couldnt have save her.we ll never know because when she became so weak,wouldnt eat and couldnt get up to potty i gave up.i wish i didnt now after reading all the stories about the other IMHA dogs.But we already spent 5,000.00 dollars and my husband said we couldnt keep going i wish i had unlimited funds because i would have kept trying to save her.It was just so hard.A few days are good then some bad it is such an emotional roller coaster.I feel for you so much right now.MY prayers with you BELLAS MAMA

kathy pacifica

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and Moose. It is a long road but well worth it. It is a good sign that he has not needed a tranfusion at this point. The meds do take a while to kick in.

leslie ca

This thread was discussed between 18/02/2008 and 24/02/2008

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