Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Picture of Kahlu

I love to see pictures of the dogs on this board, so I thought I make the effort to put one of Kahlu up. It is one from better days, about 6 months before IMHA. Since he got sick, his coat is quite a bit lighter. At this point who cares about coat colour? I just want him to be healthy again. I keep this picture in front of my eyes and try to visualize him jumping that 26 inch bar in Agility. Think positive, right? He is still so very tired and pants so much. I thought after reducing the prednisone on Tuesday that it would improve a bit. I guess he is still on a very high dose (50mg), so we have to wait for a further reduction to see improvements. Have a good weekend everybody, Brigitte & Kahlu http://www.spphoto.ca/forum/kahlu2.jpg

Brigitte BC Canada

Brigitte, Your dog is so darn cute, he looks alot like my dog charlie just a different color. Charlie is white, and a labradoodle, but his coat is so much like a poodle. hang in there, think of the pred reduction positively. charlie did great when they reduced him to 20mg from 40mg. He is staying at 20mg for 4 weeks then hopefully we will reduce again, I'm not even thinking about relapse, its just not an option! I dont know who to put pictures on here, how did you do that? take care, Carol

Carol J Vancouver Wa

I cheated, my daughter did it for me!

Brigitte BC Canada

Brigitte Kahlu is one handsome guy and we enjoyed seeing his photo. Cheryl & Ginger

Cheryl & Ginger Pineville PA

He is one beautiful dog!!!!!!! I pray for continued healing. Sue & Ren

Susie Delaware

Brigitte, Thanks for sharing the picture of Kahlu. He is a very handsome boy. I love his curly top! I can see in his eyes that he's an intelligent and fun loving guy. You hang in there with him and fight as hard as you can to beat this. I believe the panting will lessen as the pred is decreased. What else is Kahlu on? Are you giving him supplements? Forgive me, but I can't recall his history and what might have caused his IMHA. Darcy is responding well to supplements, special diet, B12 injections, and massage therapy. She is on 5mg pred, soloxine, and doxycycline. I have found that a loving touch, soothing words, prayer, and lots of pampering play a big part in healing. I certainly wish the best for you and your darling Kahlu. Karen

Karen NC

Wow! What a gorgeous boy! I would love to give him a scratch on the head, all those gorgeous curly-cues! Thank you for sharing. I hope that you can start reducing pred and feeling better- no doubt better days are on the horizon. Karen- I'm happy to hear Darcy is responding so well to your loving touch and lots of holistic therapies. She is an amazing gal, just like her mom! melissa and tiggs

melissa slc

Kahlu says Thanks for the compliments everybody! Karen, he is on so much medication and supplements I always say, it is a meal. Besides the prednisone there is Azathioprene, Sucralfate and Misoprostol for his stomach, Dr. Dodds recommended Thyroin meds just because he is a poodle and for the last week Amoxicillin for the bladder infections. Then the supplements Milk thistle, Omega 3 Forti Flora and Cranberry concentrate. Recommended by Dr. Dodds Vitamin B12, Iron and Folic Acid. I have taken a Tellington TTouch workshop 2 weeks ago. I think it was very healing for Kahlu. He does carry his tail higher now. You are so right, the touching is so important. What caused his IMHA? I wish I would know. He was immunized 3 months to the day before diagnosis. He was on Revolution during the summer because we traveled to Arkansas. The two months before he was treated with Advantage because we had visiting dogs that were covered in fleas. Kahlu hates being groomed and he was at the groomers 2 weeks before diagnosis. So it could be a combination. I really wish I would know. Thanks so much for your good wishes. I am so thankful for this community. Brigitte & Kahlu

Brigitte BC Canada

Brigitte, Have you had Kahlu groomed since his onset of AIHA? Does he like going to the groomer? I still firmly believe that stress is a major contributing factor in the disease. My Ren was vaccinated two months before she was diagnosised with AHIA. She relapsed one month after a road trip vacation. Sue

Susie Delaware

Hi Brigitte, Kahlu is adorable! I love the color of his fur. 50 mg of Pred is still a very high dose, so I'm hoping his energy comes back and he seems more himself as you taper. -Leslie

Leslie

Brigitte, It sounds like you're doing all the right things for Kahlu. It should have registered with me that you were the one who posted about Tellington TTouch. I have been trying to find that and/or acuppressure workshops in my area, but have been unsuccessful. The only ones on acuppressure that I've found are far away, up in the mountains, and they are soooo expensive. I can do a little of it, using a chart that shows pressure points, but I just can't determine where the points are that follow the ribs. The massage is supposed to give them energy and make the blood circulate. Just rubbing in circles with the palm of the hand held flat, massaging the legs, rubbing the foot pads and in between the toes, up and down the sides of the spine, seems to make Darcy feel good. And, I agree with Brigitte that stress is a contributing factor. Darcy has done so much better since I quite carrying her to the vet. In fact, we've both done better. It costs a little more to have the holistic vet make house calls, but, in the long run, it's certainly worth it. I pray the very best for you and cutie Kahlu, that little curly top.

Karen NC

What a cutie boy you got there! I love his color and curls. I'm also reducing Tessy's prednisone (I think) this week. I'll drop it from 50mg/day to 40mg/day. Tessy also does quite a bit of panting at times and snores when she lays down. Hopefully the reduction will help some. I'll let you know how it goes. For the time being keep up the good work and give Kahlu a belly rub for me. I'll keep him in my thoughts and prayers. Johnny & Tessy

Jonathan

We just got back from a 30 minute walk in the woods! Kahlu was happily trotting along. It was so nine to see him stand in a creek. So today was two steps forward.... Susie, no he has not been back to the groomer since diagnosis, and I am dreading it. They cleaned up his face at the vet, so we could see his eyes and I cleaned him up around his anus, penis and his paws. Kahlu loves the groomer, but not being groomed. I thought the grooming might have something to do with his IMHA, but I am sure hoping that is not it. You can avoid immunizations, flea and maybe even heart worm protection, but how do you get around grooming a poodle? Kahlu got used to the clippers as a baby when he was still with the breeder, but he never liked it. Traveling has never been an issue with him. We have done so many road trips with him and he never seemed stressed. But of course now I question everything. He has to go to the groomer on Tuesday and I had a long conversation with her yesterday. She is awesome! She said they would work on him as quick as possible. I will be there with him and when he needs a break I can take him out and be there for him. She reserved 5 hours for him and has an other groomer helping her. She said we will see how it goes and he will tell us. I was so relieved. I will be even more relieved once it is over. Thanks for listening to me babble. Brigitte & Kahlu

Brigitte BC Canada

Brigitte, What a hansome looking boy. You might consider buying your own clippers and such to have your groomer use. With Kahlu's compromised system you don't want to take a chance of having anything transmitted to him. Glad he enjoyed his walk in the woods. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

This thread was discussed between 27/03/2009 and 28/03/2009

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