Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Oliver Blood Results :)

I finally heard from the vet and it's good news! (I don't like repeating myself on this site and bore everyone ad nauseum with all the same info but here goes) Long and short, pre-transfusion last week, on Thursday, Oliver's PCV was 14 and Retics were 45,000. Friday his blood test was done. Vet calls today and says Oliver's PCV was up to 22.3 and his Retics are at 85,500. I know this is to be expected post transfusion but its wonderful, after 1 1/2 months to see an upward count instead of slowly dropping. His has never, knock on wood, shown any clinical signs of being sick. He eats, he drinks, he poos, etc. Occasionally tripping/stumbling when he's walking but thats to be expected from what my vet says. He goes for another blood test on Friday. His gums and eyes have been pinker. Even a few days to a week of better results is awesome. I can put the scotch away for another week! :) JK. I know there may be more ups and downs in the days/weeks/months to come and maybe more transfusions, but I can't explain how relieved I am right here and right now and if that carries me through the results next week, I'll take it. His thyroid results aren't back yet. Vet said it could take a few days. So there it goes. Day by day, week by week. You guys are my extended family and have been awesome throughout this. I'm there for you too. Here's to all our pups beating this awful disease. Will keep you all posted and will be checking this site multiple times throughout the day to see how all of you and your pups are doing. Take care.

Mardi Northern Cali

Mardi, Don't feel like you are repeating yourself. I find it helpful to have all the details in one place and it probably helps others who may have missed some of your threads to know what Oliver has been through. Celebrate the good always. Hopefully this is the turning point. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Mardi I am going to bring the Scotch to celebrate. That is very encouraging news! Cheryl & Ginger

Cheryl & Ginger Pineville PA

Mardi, EXCELLENT NEWS! You are the person responsible for helping Oliver, give yourself a reward for doing so well. Take a Mommy day off if you can squeeze one in..... Just to be clear, reticulocytes are not increasing because of the transfusion. These are cells that are generated in the bone marrow *by Oliver* in response to anemia. This 85,000 is a small number but it is higher than 60,000 and that is VERY IMPORTANT. I'll bet next week you see numbers up to 450,000 or more. It takes them around 3-5 days to drop their RNA and thus, mature into workable red blood cells. Nutrition is very important. Esp all B vits, iron, high quality protein. Add in omega 3's in some form, either fish oil capsules, high omega eggs, or cooked fish like salmon. Fresh clean water. If there are high liver values, be cautious with red meat and fatty foods. my best patrice

Patrice NYS

Thank you all. That's good to know Patrice! I had thought the retics increased because of the transfusion. I asked about his liver/kidney counts. We are doing another check on Friday to include that info. Vet said higher liver can be expected because of meds. As far as the added supplements, fresh water. I'm on it. He is getting good stuff, especially the bio-algae capsules which I believe has helped him as far as tolerating the meds etc. He has also been getting Cataplex since he was first diagnosed. Gets these chewables 2 x per day, 3 tabs each time. Thank you all again! I surely hope his retics are really high next week. I'll do everything I can. To think that if I hadn't found this sight, I would have taken advice of the vet I had been going to for 20 years and believed "There is nothing we can do". This was said within a week of finding out he was sick. Six weeks later, my pup is still next to me.

Mardi Northern Cali

So happy to here Oliver is doing well! We have another minor canine emergency, thankfully NOT an IMHA related one, but our dog Honey is having some paw infection, and hasn't responded to antibiotics/inflammatories, so going in for paw-ectomy to find out if there is an object stuck in there, so I'm out of the loop here on the board, but happy to hear good news when I pop in. Way to go Oliver, way to go Mardi, keep the faith! melissa and tiggs

melissa slc

Mardi, sounds like Oliver has himself a good mommy. The fealing one gets from seeing the numbers finally improve can be overwhelming...at least I know it was for me. It was such a great relief to finally see improvement. Like Patrice was saying, nutrition is very important. Kepe up the good work and keep us posted. Bravo Oliver! Johnny & Tessy

Johnny

happy for you and oliver...

Josh California

Hi, What good news, Keep us posted, Corrie &Joey.

corrie marney Dagenham Essex

Hi Mardi Way to go Oliver - I know just how you are feeling - I know everyone says don't get hung up on numbers but its fantastic when you see them going up - I will be celebrating for you both with a glass of wine and a toast - well done Mardi for getting Oliver to this stage!! Kind regards Gill & Phoebe

gill uk

Thank you everyone and the same back at ya!

Mardi Northern Cali

This thread was discussed between 25/08/2009 and 27/08/2009

Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) forum index

This thread is from the Vetnet archive. The live Vetnet forum is active now.