Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Newly Diagnosed Cocker

Our 3 yr old Cocker Spaniel, Sadie, has been diagnosed w/AIHA(5/2/08). Negative Coombs Test - but I guess this is not unusual. She has received one transfusions - counts were 19, dropped to 13, and after the transfusion are around 20-21. She is very lethargic, thirsty and weak. This is very difficult to watch as we don't know what is normal. She was sent home after the transfusion, only for us to bring her back because her breathing was so rapid. Our vet kept her overnight and her count was steady at 20-21 today - brought her home again. Any information about what to expect or what is "normal" would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

Sherie Saranac

Sherie, This is a very difficult disease to understand and each case is a little different. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Please check out Meisha's Hope web-site. Joanne has provided owners with a wealth of information. See the site below... http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/treatment.htm Ann Marie

Ann Marie FL

Sherie, I am sorry Sadie has been diagnosed with this terrible disease. You will find a lot of help and comfort on this board. As Ann Marie said read up at Joanne's site it will tell you a lot of what to expect. Be sure to read the success stories as well. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Hi Sherie, I am sorry to hear about Sadie. Every dog seems to react differently to this disease. My dog Cali had a PCV of 9 when she received her first transfusion & was hospitalized for 4 days. The first transfusion (Used Oxygloublin)didn't do much & a second was needed.(Used real blood) They released her when she was at 27, but by the next week was down to 15 again. She was borderline on going back to the hospital, but since she was eating and didn't seem overly weak they let her stay home, but doubled her prednisone. A week later her PCV was at 25, but she was retaining tons of fluid. They backeds down the prednisone & she was still at 26 on her next check & she has gotten rid of all the excess fluids. My Vet actually said Cali was the reason he liked being a Vet, because she was different then any other patient he had treated with this disease. He actually had to do some homework. I thought WOW aren't we lucky! Hopefully Sadies medication will kick in soon & no further transfusions are needed. You can expect Sadie to become a peeing machine. Sleeping at night is like having a newborn-You will be up several times. Cali has slept with me & my husband since the first day she came home so anything else would be punishment to her. Good Luck & keep us posted. Dee

Dee WI

Thank you all for the encouragemenT and support - this is indeed a horrific disease. Sadie is back in the hosptial - PCV dropped back to 13 - second transfusion was given - PCV 18 - they have added Cytoxan (37.5 mg) to her regimen. I hope we are doing the right thing - it breaks our hearts to see our beautiful little girl struggling like this. Jo Anne's site was very helpful and has helped me understand some of these treatments - and yes - given us hope. Her WBC high - so I guess the Cytoxan isn't the worst thing we could do. The disturbing news was that she has a positive marker for Lupus - yet only one - not the 3 they usually look for. Hopefully, this is a false positive - but the vet doesnt think so. Please keep Sadie in your prayers - Thanks.

Sherie Saranac

Hi Sherie. I'm sorry you have had to join us here at this site but it is a great source of information and support. Besides the Cytoxan, what medications is Sadie on? A couple of things that are important to address in the early days of this disease: When a dog's PCV drops into the 20's or lower, there is an increased risk of blood clots. Many dogs die from blood clots that get lodged in the lungs. Ask your vet about prescribing either Heparin or children's aspirin. These are anticoagulants that will greatly reduce the risk of pulmonary embolisms. You vet will be able to decide whether or not they are advisable in Sadie's case. Also, it is very important to protect your dog's gastrointestinal tract from the harsh meds that she will be taking for the next while. Ask your vet about starting your dog on Sucralfate AND Famotodine (Pepcid AC). Sucralfate is a prescription medication that is quite inexpensive and you can buy Pepcid anywhere. Whenever your vet does a CBC, ask for a copy of the printout. That way if you have to talk to other vets or specialists in the future, you will have the information to forward to them. I also kept daily notes of my dog's behaviour, temperature, activity level, etc. Having it written down made it easier to look back on and spot any patterns or things out of the ordinary. Before vet visits, write all your questions down. That way when you get in to see your vet, you won't forget anything. I found in the early days I was so emotionally drained and had so much new information flying at me that if I didn't write my questions down, I wouldn't remember them. You said that Sadie is very lethargic, thirsty and weak. My dog was the same until his PCV rose to normal and we were able to start reducing the prednisone dosage. My dog didn't respond to prednisone alone and was also put on cyclosporine and azathioprine. He has done very well on that combination and is now in remission from this illness. If you are finding that Sadie isn't responding, you could ask your vet about adding those meds. Good luck to you. I will keep you both in my thoughts and prayers. Please keep us posted and remember that everyone here can empathize with you. This is a great place to ask questions. Take care. deb and Duck

Debbie BC Canada

Hi Deb Thanks for the encouragement and advice. Sadie is on 40 mg of prednisone (they just bumped it up from 30), and a prescription med for her stomach (not sure what it is exactly). Today her level rose to 22 - but we're still very scared. She has responded well to the Cytoxan - no vomiting. When we went to visit her today her tongue was actually pink again, she sat up to eat and stood to drink. She went outside on the leash and did her business :-) w/o help - my husband has had to hold her up just to pee. She wagged her tail in greeting and even when laying down she had her head up part of the time. Thanks for the great advice about copies - you are so right - my head is reeling and the emotional roller coaster ride is unbelievable. I am praying tomorrow brings more good news. The vet is saying she wants to keep her in the clinic until her levels reach around 30. We miss her a lot here - but know that she probably is resting better there. I am glad to here your dog is in remission - I will keep you both in our prayers as well - thank you again for your kindness. Sherie

Sherie Saranac

Our cocker was on the same treatment, cytoxan, did well on the drug, had very little side affects, she handled the disease very well, she got it when she was 2 and survived to see her 12th birthday. Take care hugs, Bailey black and tan, very precocious pup. and her human mom.

Bev canada

Bev thanks for the encouraging news - reading about the drug's side effects really upset me - but so far Sadie is tolerating it well - the vet reassures us that a lot of side effects that humans get, dogs don't or they are much less severe. It's reassuring to know that another cocker tolerated it well. I have been reading so much - sometime it get so overwhelming - thanks again. Sherie and sweet Sadie (black)

Sherie Saranac

Sherie So sorry to hear about Miss Sadie...I actually growing up had a cocker named Sadie that passed away about 2 years ago...a blondie but she was actually the one that made me fall in love with cockers thus getting my girl Lucy a parti cocker who sadly has this horrible disease. She was diagonsed at age 4 (a week after her bday) and is now 7 and (knock on wood) has been in remission twice...we're on our second go around. She had a couple relapses last year due to trying to wean her off too quickly and her allergies causing an immune response and she crashed. But know that this disease will be a COMPLETE rollercoaster. As all the others have said you need to keep documentation and also educate YOURSELF on this disease to be able to communicate well with Sadie's doctors. Lucy has had TWO very wonderful internists that have both commented to me how easy it is to discuss Lu's treatment with me because I understand what they are talking about and I have researched the treatments and other ideas for treatments myself and am able to give suggestions and ask questions. I'm sure after all of us have gone through that we could ALL be IMHA experts! Please please don't give up on Sadie...we encouraged Lucy everyday and for every little tiny thing. Every day she was in that clinic I told her not to give up and to fight because together we were going to beat this thing but it was up to HER to tell me if she was willing..I know I sound stupid but honestly I think our encouragement is what helped her through her darkest hours. They can hear you and they understand. They are like children...they can sense it in you. Sorry to ramble but please let me know if there is any questions or anything that we can help you with! Much love from me and Lu to you and Sadie...she'll be in our prayers!

Crissy Kansas

I just want to thank everyone for the support - we lost Sadie this afternoon - she is at peace - we are heartbroken. Thank you all again - Sherie

Sherie Saranac

Sherie - I am sorry to hear that you lost your dear Sadie to IMHA. It sounds as if she was doing okay and then just crashed. It's so hard to lose your dog so suddenly to a disease you'd never heard of before. Please take comfort knowing you did all you could and think about the wonderful life you had together. Please take care and let us know how you're doing.

Brenda VA

Sherie, I too am sorry that Sadie could not beat this awful disease. No matter how hard they fight sometimes it is just too much for them. I hope that you can remember the happier times with your dear Sadie and in time the tears will be replaced with smiles when you think of her. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

I too am really sorry about Sadie. As you may know we are struggling with Zeke at the moment. Think of the good times. We are doing that at the moment with Zeke.

TERRY SPAIN

Sherie, I'm so sad to hear your news about Sadie. Please take care of yourself now and give yourself time to mourn your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you. deb and Duck

Debbie BC Canada

So sorry to hear your news about Sadie, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Tricia UK

This thread was discussed between 05/05/2008 and 12/05/2008

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