Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Please help: Zodie has IMHA

Hello, I hate to start right off with bad news questions, but I just found this site and am really glad to see some positive AIHA/IMHA stories here. Maybe you guys can help me. My 4 year old female boxer Zodie went into a local animal hospital last Sunday (4th day there now), and we have tested everything and confirmed it is IMHA. She is on an IV, prednisone and cyclosporine now (as well as another one in case it's a tick illness). The only test that has not come back yet is the advanced tick test. She's had x-rays & an ultrasound with nothing showing up there so it is not tumor-driven. She is not eating and throwing up what she does eat and they think that's medication related so they are stopping the tick meds and cyclosprine so it's a tough balance between getting her nutrition and treating her disease. Her CBC was holding in the mid 20's but now has dropped to 16. Her heart rate is now up to 120. We have two kids and we all love Zodie very much, but I just don't see her making it. I wish she was eating with these meds so she could get some nutrition and we could take her home. We have done so much testing and all of the incremental work to keep her going, and now the next thing is a transfusion if her counts drop any more. It's a very tough call but we have to draw the line someplace. The doctors are not too optimistic, saying they see about a 50% initial success rate, then a 50% rate of relapse. They offer to keep going of course but it just seems like such an uphill battle. I have read some good stories here which is refreshing. I would love to get any comments/recommendations from you all give Z-Dog's condition. Thanks, Greg in MA

Greg Horton Cape Cod

Greg, I am so very sorry to hear that your most beloved Zodie has been diagnosed with IMHA. While IMHA is a very difficult disease, dogs who have been diagnosed with it CAN and DO recover and go on to live happy heathly lives. It does take a while for the medications used to treat IMHA to start to work and in the meantime it is very normal for the PCV to continue to drop. If the PCV does drop too far, transfusions can "buy time" until the medications do start to work. Also at the onset of the disease it is very normal for a dog not to eat or to sometimes throw up what is eaten. If you have not read my Web site on AIHA/IMHA as yet, you might want to do so when you can. The URL is http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/ be sure to follow the links on the first page to many other sites on AIHA/IMHA that will be very helpful to you and do read the SUCCESS STORIES pages, they will show you what has worked for other dogs in terms of treatment options and give you a lot of HOPE. Some of these dogs have had very low PCV's and been given little to no hope by their vets but they did recover. I truly do know how hard this is so please be asssured that you, your family and of course your dear Zodie are in my thoughts and prayers during these most diffcult days. PS. If your vet is not a veterinary internal medicine specialsit you might want to have her/him consult with such a specialsit for another opinion in regard to Zodie's case.

Joanne MN

Thanks Joanne. Thanks for your quick response. There was an internal specialist at this hospital that performed Zodie's ultrasound yesterday. He was happy that he did not see anything except just a bit of an enlarged spleen which is normal for this condition. My wife and I just went to visit her at lunch time and got her to eat just a few pinches of food. They did try a second anti-nausea med but it did not help so now we have to see if stopping the meds will help get her eating. She's looking very tired but can still manage to perk up occassionally, and is as sweet as ever. The transfusions are $600 each here, and as you said they are really jus tgoing to buy her more time for the meds to kick in. We will probably end up doing one at least. They're going to see if she holds steady at 16 or higher today, so we'll know how that's going later this afternoon. I did read some great success stories this morning after I posted here. The hard part for me was deciphering out of the stories what the true turning point towards recovery was for the dogs. We've been trying so hard to identify what that will be but there is just nothing that is clear which adds to the frustration. FYI, I grew up in Minnesota (St. Cloud, Edina, Golden Valley) and I always miss the great people out there. Thanks again. I will head to your link and read up some more. -Greg

Greg MA

Greg, I'm sorry that your Zodie has been diagnosed with this disease. Sometimes it takes a while to find the right medications and doses that work and, if her PCV drops, a transfusion might be needed to keep her strong and give the meds a chance to kick in. My dog's PCV has gone as low as 8% before she received a transfusion, but she did get one when it was at 15%. She has had a total of four transfusions and actually did the best after her last one I hesitated on giving her the first transfusion, but, after much soul searching, I knew that if I didn't give it a chance that I'd never forgive myself and always wonder if she would have made it with a transfusion. Currently, her PCV numbers are low(I haven't had her tested in two weeks because I have decided not to put her through another transfusion)and has a fast heart rate, but she seems happy and has a hearty appetite. I don't regret her getting the transfusions nor do I regret having spent so much money on meds, etc. I know in my heart that I've done everything humanly possible to help her and also sent up many prayers to God. I pray that you find the best care for Zodie and make all the right decisions for her. Just do the best you can and continue to show her that she's loved. Karen

Karen NC

Greg, I'm so sorry to hear about your dog Zodie. It's a shock when you hear this diagnosis from your vet. When my vet told me that Ren had a form of amenia, I thought that's an easy fix. Little did I know that Ren would face weeks of treatments. Everything from a transfusion to countless doses of medications. My beloved Ren did recover after many weeks. Exactly one year later, Ren had a relapse. This time the disease came back with a vengance. She was very near death this time. Ren is once again recovering but still taking a meriad of medications. Like Joanne said, dogs can and do recover form this horrible disease. It takes a special, dedicated pet owner to deal with this disease. I appreciate each and every moment that I have with Ren. And you will find that you will love your dog all the more too. God places these special pets in our hands because we are willing to care for them. Read some of the threads on here and Joanne's site. These pet owners give everything they have; time, money, and mostly love. Sadly, even to the end sometimes. You are Zodie will be in our prayers for a full and lasting recovery. SUE

Susie Delaware

Greg and Family, I am sorry that you have had to join this board but you really have come to the right place for support. Hopefully after you have had sometime to look through Joanne's site and this board it will help you understand what you are up against. The most important thing is to have a Vet that is well versed in treating this disease and is open to your input on treatment. It is also very important that they also believe that this can be beat. You might also check with Dr. Dodds at Hemopet. It may save you some money on the transfusions. My dog had two transfusions and I don't remember it being quite that steep. I know you said they were giving her anti-nausea meds but are they giving anything like pepcid to coat her stomach when giving the steroids? Every dog seems to have a different time table as to when you might see positives so don't lose hope too early. It is a genuine emotional roller coaster ride but know that there are plenty of people here to lean on. Kepping you and Zodie in my thoughts and prayers. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

greg- i just wanted to come here and say that this thing is beatable... dont let any negativity about this disease supress your will to fight forward... its a scary disease no doubt, but it can be overcome in many cases and there is plenty of dogs here to use as proof... id say the most, and i underline this 10000x over, is find a specialist that is 1-very familiar with this disease & 2-who is positive and open to the possibilities of going forward. these are so important in facing this disease down. dont let any vet tell you or imply that you shouldnt have much hope. i wish ZODIE well, praying for her.

josh california

Thanks for all of the support guys. We really appreciate it. The vets at this hospital are certainly open to all options but I think they just don't want't to give the impression that it's 100% that she'll come out of it. I am an engineer and overly-logical thinker at times so it's probably more me than them as the stats cannot be denied. But, we all love Zodie so much and when we see her of course we just want her to get better. And I am a true "dog person" who just feels so close to all dogs for some reason. I just love them and especially mine. They are really a gift to humans I think. Last night we decided to give her a transfusion. She was at 16 all day yesterday and had still not been eating. This morning they said her post transfusion number was 21, and they'll be checking it again shortly. We brought some deli roast beef with us to visit her last night and she ate 4 pieces, which was terrific. However, they said she did throw up overnight again. So she'll be there through today and overnight again tonight, without the cyclosporine and tick meds to try and get her stomach under control and see how her CBCs level out. They have tried multiple drugs and Pepcid for her stomach. Her tick panel came back yesterday and she was "low positive" in a few tests but she did have Lyme over a year ago so she does still have antibodies from that so they don't think it's currently the main aggressor. However, they do want her back on the tick meds at some point. Again, thanks for the thoughts. I will be reading more today and will check out the references you all have listed. -Greg

Greg MA

Hi Greg and Zodie, Kent was diagnosed very late with AIHA - by that I mean he had the symptoms but was diagnosed with epilepsy before AIHA - then given very low chances of survival. He did not have epilepsy - he had low RBCs and Hematocrit. He had an emergency transfusion, 3 days in hospital, and was home, on prednisone alone. He was fine from Feb - August, when he developed pancreatitis (we did give him pork chop, and had taken him to the beach where he swallowed sand - both showed up in xrays, and that never happened again). His story is a long one, and sadly he passed away just a little over 3 weeks ago - NOT From AIHA. It was almost two years that he survived this disease. He was given lousy odds, our vet was not optimistic, and did not refer us to a specialist until 8 months later. So, there is hope. Every dog can beat the odds, and I believe it is up to us as their guardians to give them the best odds of doing so. Please find an internal specialist, and consider taking zowie to a teaching hospital where they have greater capacity and up to date knowledge of treating this disease. If it is tick related then she will need to take the doxy. She should also be taking sucralfate to coat the gi tract and you need to watch for dark/black poop - and for diarhea. She will not want to eat much if taking antibiotics but there is almost always something they will eat - even baby food. YOu may want to consider varying her diet and trying new foods - Kent LOVED carrots, apples, brocolli, etc, and was finiky and changed what he wanted by the minute it seemed, but its still doable and worth it. I homecooked for him and he did well with this. Boiled eggs were always a big hit too. Keep lots of water available for zoe - filtered is best - and lots of fresh ice in the water - kent only drank water with ice in it - i think it soothes their throats. Get ready for a roller coaster - emotionally and financially. Emotionally, we are all here to help, and financially start looking into Care Credit and such as soon as you can. This disease CAN be expensive, but from my experience, i would have gladly spent 5000 in the beginning and knew exactly what i was dealing with than 10,000 later because i didnt earlier. There is a link to Kents pictures further down the page where I posted - you can see before and after pictures. Kent recoved and lived a wonderful life that I never thought would happen in the beginning, and i have never been sorry to have hung in there and tried everything i could. If you have questions, go ahead and ask! Thats what we are here for! Take a deep breath, another one, and give your zowie a big hug. Best, Christine

Christine Fl

Greg, I just wanted to give you my two cents on the subject. When our almost 2 yr old golden, Cooper, came down with this disease he was immediately started on prednisone. After 4 days this wasn't doing the job, so he was admitted to the hospital with a HCT level of 13. He was transfused that night, and his level rose slighlty. On Saturday, a different vet came on duty and decided to add a second medicine, Imuran, and give him 24 hrs. to see where things went. As it turns out, his numbers started to come up, and he was released on Sunday evening. That was on Oct. 26th. I can thankfully say, as of today, Cooper is on no meds, his numbers continue to stay in the 40's and as far as we can tell his IMHA crisis is over. Our new vet does believe it is from Lyme Disease, which he tested borderline positive for, and was treated for 3 weeks with doxycycline, which our original vet did not put him on. I just wanted to give you some hope, and maybe some help in dealing with this terrible disease. Good luck to you all!!!

Kathi New Jersey

Hi Greg, I'm sorry to to hear about Zodie, but as everyone here has stated, you can do this! Tiggs, a 5yr old pit mix, was diagnosed at a PCV of 10 in July, and our vet was also realistic that he might not make it the week. We made a promise to take it one day at a time and try everything we could. He also required a transfusion and many days I thought we wouldn't see the next one, but Tiggs kept on fighting. He's doing so well now, and is in remission. It has been six months. It's not an easy road, but we are so happy Tiggs is still here with us. If Zodie is having trouble eating or with vomiting, we had great success hand feeding him Hills A/D which is a high calorie easy to digest canned food. Also, we got him on Cerenia for nausea, which was instrumental in helping him keep food and water down. Best of luck, we'll be thinking of you! melissa and tiggs

melissa slc

Thanks again guys. You are all wonderful, with great stories. I am going to ask the doctors about Imuran, as I have seen it mentioned a few times here but not by them. They do have an internal specialist who is there today. I will be speaking with him when I visit at noon. I did just hear from them again. Her count has remained at 21 after her transfusion. Since this is her fifth day there (and not her last) they were worried about missing something so they did another chemical makeup test today. When they did it on Sunday, the only thing that stuck out was her liver test, just slightly elevated. Ultrasound showed nothing except a slightly enlarged spleen. Now today, there are signs of Pacreatitis, with Amylase count above 2500 and Lypase at 6000...both way above normal. They are going to do another ultrasound just in this area. They suspect that this may be why she is vomiting and not because of the meds, and said it's treatable with meds and no food right now then a bland diet. I'm not sure if they think this could be a root cause for all of this or is just a side effect. Initial test results from Sunday would mean the latter I would think (but what do I know). I was worried that this could indicate a sepsis problem but they don't think that's the case. Any thoughts on this appreciated. As far as the tick numbers, the internal specialist thought they were so low that they should not be considered and they will stop giving her the Doxy. So much good info and positive feelings here. It really helps. Thank you. -Greg

Greg MA

So sorry to hear about Zodie - it sounds like you are doing everything right. Unfortunately we lost our 7 month fight agains this disease a couple of weeks ago but I'm sure we could have won if we hadn't make a couple of mistakes. Millie responded well initially and only had a relapse when the vet dropped the pred from 20mg down to 10mg (too quickly). That was the main mistake as she then crashed and never seemed to recover after her blood transfusion. Ultimately she was on 20mg pred and Atopica twice daily with various stomach protectants. Treating this disease is like jumping through a number of hoops - all moving. But this site was a wonderful source of help and support and where I found most of the information. Print off the questions to ask your vet and keep on their backs. Good luck - thinking of you and Zodie. Clare, Oxon, UK

Clare

Hi Greg, Don't give up! Keiko was diagnosed with IMHA in June of 07. She had a blood transfusion when her RBC went down to 11. She was on prednisone and Imuran (Azathoriprine) until April of 08 and then just the Imuran which she is still on. She has been doing amazing!! Lots of ups and downs but so worth the fight! She has a low white blood count right now but we are reducing the Imuran and the WBC is slowing coming back up. Hang in there, you have a long journey ahead of you, but try to stay positive. Jess and Keiko

Jess BC

Hi again Greg, Tiggs is also on Imuran (Azathiaprine) and this was started immediately upon diagnosis in conjunction with Pred. He was initially on 120mg/day of Pred, and 30mg Aza/Imuran per day. He weighed 65 lbs at diagnosis. Also, be sure they are adding a stomach protectant like Pepcid or Sulfacrate to prevent ulcers from meds. The drugs, especially Pred, are very hard on them with many unpleasant side effects. Imuran is a second line drug, it takes several weeks to work, but has less side effects, though is hard on the liver and can cause bone marrow suppression. Also, don't be surprised if her counts yo-yo for a while. Tiggs was up to a 30 the night of his transfusion, then dropped back into the teens within a day or two. Luckily he didn't drop low enough to require a second transfusion. Also, one critical piece that is now gaining acceptance in the med protocols is very low dose aspirin, as many AIHA dogs perish as a result of clots. The conventional wisdom says that Pred and aspirin don't mix, but in a very low dose it can save their lives. In studies at CSU in Ft. Collins,where we obtained a second opinion, aspirin has proved to help in the initial crisis. You sound like you are an educated and informed person, that is very helpful when learning all you can about this terrible disease. Keep the faith! Thinking of you guys, melissa and tiggs

melissa slc

PS. the aspirin dose we used was 1/4 of a baby aspirin. Ask your internal med doc about this.

melissa slc

Here is a link to an abstract on a study in regard aspirin and Imuran (azathoprine) mentioned in the post by melissa http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15934255?dopt=Abstract Hopefully your vet has read the whole article which appeared in JAVMA

Joanne MN

Thanks. I was just there to visit Zodie and talked to them about Imuran. As stated above, it's a more long term drug and more of an alternative to cyclosporin that preg. I will look into the aspirin info and will talk to them about it when we go back as a family to visit this evening. Looking forward to what this afternoon's ultrasound shows us! -Greg

Greg MA

Greg, Sorry to hear about Zodie, but you've found the best spot for information, there is a wealth of knowledge here. I would like to second the opinion of making sure you look into low dose asprin. Print out the study and take it to your vet incase they have not read it. I lost my Ollie to a blood clot and am still quite upset about having that lack of knowledge about the asprin. Have you discovered if Zodie is regenerative or non-regenerative? The turnaroud time is slower with non and I am convinced if Asprin would have bought Ollie time, he would have overcome this. Good luck and hang in there for the long haul, you CAN beat this!

mj ny

Greg, your story sounds like Maddie's when she was diagnosed with AIHA 1 1/2 years ago. There were times I was ready to throw in the towel, but the specialist asked for one more chance to see if she could find something that might be causing the problems we were seeing (persistent high fever, weight loss, diahrrea, non-responsive to particular meds), and I did. Today Maddie is doing fine. She hasn't had a relapse, although some minor issues have surfaced, but are treatable. Don't give up; She won't, and your attitude is important to her responding well. Best wishes!

Ruth Aptos

Hi all, We have not given up and are more optimistic about her chances than ever. Her count has been holding in the low 20's since her transfusion (36 hours ago). They held her off of food yesterday to give the pancreas a chance to settle down, and she did take food this morning. They are injecting anti-nausea meds into her 3x daily so hopefully she'll hold it down. She lost 5 pounds this week and we just need to hope she'll keep her blood level up and get eating again, then maybe bring her home tomorrow. We have been there twice daily to visit her and that has to keep her spirits up as well as ours. We have given her so much love this week. DOgs are truly special creatures. I gave a doctor the study about Imuran & ultra low dose aspirin last night. Since we're still in this early stage of getting her stabilized, that is maybe not the highest priority at this time but will be important once we take her home. Thanks for that info. You guys have been a big help this week. It's been so tough and hard to be optimistic. You have really helped with that. Thank you! -Greg

Greg MA

Yayyy, Greg, that is fantastic news. I'm so happy to hear she is doing better. Hang in there! About the aspirin thing...it is a little bit high priority because most dogs will throw a clot within the first week to two of IMHA because the blood is so clumpy during the initial crisis. So, you may consider getting this on board sooner than later. Also, don't worry too much about the weight loss as long as she can keep some calories in. Pred will eventually stimulate the appetite so much, that most dogs will gain a lot of weight once they pull through the crisis. Tiggs is now a fat little barrel, and about 12-13 lbs heavier than his pre IMHA weight. He looks like he swallowed a wine cask. All of our best thoughts and love going out Zodie's way! melissa and tiggs

melissa slc

Greg, I haven't had the chance to read all of the responses to your post, but one thing I can tell you is to visit and spend as much time with Zodie as you can, so that she knows what she's fighting for, and that you're there for her. One of the biggest regrets I have after losing my Rocco was not seeing him enough in the hospital. At the time I didn't know what this disease was, and the vet told me on a day to day basis that he would be coming home. He passed just 4 days after being diagnosed, and one day after the doctor said he was coming home. I could have spent more time with him. I'll always wonder what went through his mind while at the hospital. Things like wondering if he thought we abandoned him or gave him up or didn't love him anymore. Let Zodie know how much you love her, and make sure you do whatever you can so that you can't have ANY regrets should, God forbid, the worse happens.

Glenn NJ

Hi Glenn, Thanks for those thoughts. I'm sure that Rocco always knew how much you loved him. There is always so much to think about in hindsight, and doubts that can creep into our thoughts. Many things I have read this past week have referred to that, but also referred to knowing how much love you gave in your time together, and remembering how important that was. -Greg

Greg MA

My 4 year old golden retriever, Hunter, was diagnosed with this disease I had never heard of on Oc.t 9, 2003. He spent 8 days in ICU being pumped full of the usual treatment drugs, 2 transfusions (his HCT dropped to 9.7 ) He was also given tagament (?) for his tummy. I went to see 3 times a day taking him fresh boiled chicken, which he ate every day til the last day. Sadly my Hunter did not come home BUT he was not only fighting AIHA, but also severe liver damage brought on by the 6 month heartworm preventative injection ProHeart6. as the histopath report came back (we had necropsy done) he had "drug induced necrosis of the liver". Many of the dogs that had reactions to ProHeart6 developed AIHa, liver damage, seizures, gastrc bleeding. My Hunter just happened to develop 2 of them, as some dogs did. I do believe he could have handled AIHA alone as he was young, healthy and strong still sricken with these two things at the same time. There is hope. It can be a long road, but just recently a golden from here had to be sent to the bridge. Angelo had been diagnosed about4 years ago but he beat AIHA and at just shy of 14 years, old age caugt up with him. But he lived a good liveaftr diagnosis, as many do.

SANDRA Texas

Greg: I'm really sorry to hear about Zodie and that you've had to join us here on the board. But there really is no better place to ask for advice, get some encouragement and vent to people who understand what it is you're going through. Hang in there and keep us posted. We're all here for you and we will be keeping Zodie and your family in our thoughts and prayers. Rita, Mike and Sheba

Rita IA

Hi, My name is Samantha. My 11 year old Maltese Sh*tzu X Millie was diagnosed with IMHA on Thursday. I was very shocked, and extremely frightened, I still am. Millie was vomiting bile for about 1 week and her appetite had decreased. She was still loving going for her walks though, no sign of lethargy. I took her to the vet Monday 19th, they thought kidney problems initially, and her PCV was around 36. We took her home on Wednesday night 21st, she was still burning hot and had unusually pink skin. We took her for a walk and she was so tired and I had to carry her home. Straight back to the vet on Thursday morning, different veterinarian who immediately suspected IMHA. Blood tests showed a PCV of 14. She was immediately started with an injection of Cortisone and on tablets. By Friday morning, the vet rang us and told us she had not responded and that she wanted our permission to do a blood transfusion. This morning (Saturday 24th), and Millie's PCV is up to 25. She came home, and is lethargic somewhat but her gums still look pink and I'm monitoring any changes closely. She is on Prednisone twice a day, and Imuran (which can take a few weeks to kick in). I am terrified of what might happen, and take every little sign that she is relapsing. The vet said her cells have stopped clumping, and she is regenerating red blood cells - which she told us to take as positive signs for a recovery. I had never heard of this disease before, it's comforting to read other experiences and know we are not alone in dealing with this. We only adopted Millie just over a year ago, but she is the sweetest little dog with the most gentle heart. She does not deserve this. She was vaccinated just over 3 weeks ago, vet thinks it has to be linked. I will never vaccinate Millie or my other two dogs again. What is everyone's thoughts on vaccinations? Samantha.

Samantha Australia

Samantha, Sorry to hear about Millie. I wanted to share my thoughts about vaccinations. Most folks on this website know the story about my dog, Ren. She has been battling with AIHA for over a year now. There was a good long remission time during that year. Anyhow, Ren usually gets her vaccination in September of each year. The last time she was vaccinated (before the onset of the disease) she had a terrible reaction. She started scratching uncontrollably and developed huge hive spots all over her body. I rushed her to the vet right away and the vet gave her an injection of steroids. The vet even stated that Ren was having a sever reaction to the vaccine. She made it clear on Ren's records that she should NEVER again be vaccinated. That was in September; by November she had full blown AIHA. A connection?? I don't know and the vet can not say that there was a connection. But in hindsight, I believe that this may have been the precursor to AIHA. I have read several studies that suggest vaccinations trigger this disease. Millie will be in our prayers for a full recovery.

Susie Delaware

Samantha, I'm really sorry to hear about Millie. My thoughts are with you. We brought Zodie home today. After her transfusion a few days ago, her CBC got up to 23 (from 16), but then dropped to 19 where it's been for the past day. We're going to get her tested daily so we'll see where she is at tomorrow. We have her on pred & cyclosporine and an anti-nausea med, and prescription bland dog food along with boiled chicken/turkey & rice. She is eating and holding it down which is good, and drinking ALOT of water. She is peeing alot too but I am a bit concerned that her urine is really dark. Not sure if it's bilirubin or blood. I asked about the ultra low dose aspirin, and they said I should wait 2 days then start giving her 20 mg daily. I think they are worried that there may still be some internal bleeding that coudl worsen by giving her aspirin now. We've decided that we cannot give her another transfusion so we're just hoping that the meds will kick in and she'll keep eating and getting rest. We just want her to be comfortable now and we're really glad to have her home with us. Thanks, Greg

Greg MA

Greg: We're glad to hear that Zodie is home and that she seems to be doing a little better. It's important to remember that her PCV will fluctuate a little from day to day so you always need to consider how other things are going (eating, showing a little interest in things, gums are not as pale, etc.) when you hear that number. The little things will become reasons for rejoicing and you will find yourself "celebrating" the small things you used to take for granted. We will continue to keep you all in our thoughts and prayers and hope to hear more godd news in the days to come. Rita, Mike and Sheba

Rita IA

Greg, I am so glad you have your girl home. As Rita said don't get too lost in the numbers, while they are important her behavior will give you a lot of clues to how she is doing. The pred does make them extremly thirsty and will result in a lot of extra potty breaks. Also remember the disease itself is not painful they are just really tired from the low oxygen levels. Thinking of you and Zodie Peny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Thanks guys, Overall it's been a good day. A lot of sleeping for the Z-Dog but also good eating, taking meds and a good trip to the vet. Her number was 20 today so nice to see it stable. Just one day at a time. They put her on a bland diet for her pancreatitis, and they gave us prescription food that she doesn't eat too much of. She is loving the boiled turkey & chicken though. We tried rice but that was not a big hit. Any other ideas of foods that I can make that fit into the "bland" category? Thank you all so much for your thoughts. It means a lot to all of us! -Greg

Greg MA

Greg, sorry to hear about Zodie. My prayers are with her. Our Maggie became ill Christmas Day and 2 days later was no better, so took her in and she was diagnosed with AIHA. She's come a long way in this past month. The Vet hopes to start tapering prednisone soon. My thoughts will be with you and Zodie.

Dorri

Greg - Glad to read Zodie has had a good day - I've been following your story and hope for the best for all of you. You can try plain meat baby food - when my dog was in ICU three months after his IMHA diagnosis, they began introducing small amounts of baby food to get him back on food and that's what we went home on. Similar to pancreatitis, it was important for us to keep it bland, just as you are doing. Be sure to read the labels carefully and be sure it contains no onion, onion powder, onion "anything". In Chicago, I can get Beech-Nut stage one that is a single meat (chicken, turkey, beef) and water. With pancreatitis, you may want to start with the lowest fat variety and see if she likes that - my dog LOVED it. Best of luck - Bonnie

Bonnie Chicago

Glad t hear Zodie is stable. If she has pancreatitis, ask if you can supplement a digestive Enzyme, This is from B natuals website "To reduce the work load on the pancreas following an attack of pancreatitis, a low fat diet is recommended, preferably spread over several small meals a day" Try adding some cooked oatmeal or boiled yellow potatoes, which helps absorb ammonia and reduce nitrogenous wastes in the liver. Laurie

Laurie CA

Dear Greg, That's great to hear about Zodie, it's great when you get them home. I sincerely hope that all goes well for you guys. It is comforting for me as Millie fights on, that there are others who can understand what we are going through. What an awful disease this is. Samantha.

Samantha Australia

Hi guys, Just wanted to give an update on Zodie. She's been home for 5 days now. her CBC has remained at 20, but she has gotten stronger every day. She's eating very well, and is not just laying around liek she was. She'll get up and follow us around, go to the door if people come or when we come home, and even growls a little (when we're playing around). She's not running or playing with her toys yet but there is a lot of improvement! So we're just hoping that the energy level keeps climbing and she keeps eating, then the blood numbers will follow. Fingers crossed! -Greg

Greg MA

Hi Greg. Really encouraging news about Zodie. Keep up the good work! deb

Debbie BC Canada

Fantastic news! Last Friday, Zodie's CBC rose to 30, from 20 last Monday (it had been at 20 for a week). Then today it hit 33! Awesome!! She's looking better every day and putting some weight back on. Her energy level is still lower than average (for a boxer) but she's certainly not lethargic. This is so great. The doctor said we'd keep her on the same meds for a month then re-assess. It's tempting to think that this was all just a bad reaction to something that she's worked out of her system, but I know I'd better be careful with that. We'll keep hoping to see her stay healthy! -Greg

Greg MA

Wow, that is fantastic news, way to go Zodie! Glad to see the vet not rushing to reduce her meds. Its so hard to be patient and wanting to reduce because of the side effects we see. I think it takes time for the meds to kick in to see improvement. My Wylies PCV is higher now after her relapse than when she was orignally diagnosed, go figure. Part of me thinks it was because they dosed her pred down to quickthe first time. Laurie

Laurie CA

Hi all, An update and a question for you all. Zodie's CBC is still around 33-34 which is great. She's eating well and still on the same meds (Pred, Cyclo, Prilosec). Her energy is not great though but she has her moments. One thing we have noticed in the last week is that when she is laying down, she'll get some tremors pretty consistently. It seems to go with her breathing. It doesn't seem pain related but could it be? It's kind of like she's just cold but it's very consistent when it starts, and she lays very still when it's happening. Is this some kind of side effect to the meds or could it be something else to worry about? Thanks! Greg in MA

Greg MA

Greg, I just had a vet appointment yesterday with my dog "Ren". I asked the vet about these tremors. Ren's legs seem to quiver (for lack of a better word) when she is standing. The vet said that was a side effect of Pred. The Pred. weakens the muscules and makes all movement more difficult. It's great news that Zodie is doing much better! SUE

Susie Delaware

Glad to ehar Zodie is holding her numbers, thanks for posting Laurie

Laurie CA

Tiggs does that tremor thing when he's breathing and laying down. I think he may have done that before he got sick though too. He has short hair, and I think he's cold? I don't know, but I cover him with a blanket anyway. But, I do know exactly what you are talking about, and it is a different kind than the one that Sue is mentioning, because Tiggs has those too, that is for sure the hindquarter weakness from the high doses of Pred. But, to me, they seem like two different kinds of shaking. I always say the one when he is laying down is like a quiver or something. There are so many weird things that go on with all of these drugs, who knows! Glad Zodie is doing better! melissa and tiggs

melissa slc

Hi Greg. Really great news about Zodie's numbers! Wow!!!! The tremours could be a side effect of the cyclosporine. My dog's head used to tremble from time to time and just briefly. As we reduced the meds, it stopped happening. deb and Duck

Debbie BC Canada

Greg, My dog Salome used to quiver like you see horses do. I can't say what it was from because she only made it a month into treatment but she didn't do it prior to the meds. Glad to hear Zodie is holding in the 30's! Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Hey Greg, your story gives me so much hope for my Tessy who also has AIHA. My prayers and thoughts will be with you and Zodie.

Jonathan NS

What a great info. site I hit upon. Last Tuesday we took my 1 yr. 5 month old shep mix for his 3 yr. rabies vaccine. The minute we came back from the Vets she called and said get him to the hospital cause she spun his blood and there was yellow serum ( jaundice going on ). He was in a hemolytic-anemia-crisis and could possibly DIE! He'd been perfectly FINE before his vaccine.....played for 40 minutes in the yard before his vaccine. His pcv was 18, but went up to 26...no transfusion needed....he's home on prednisone, pepcid, doxycycline ( in case of some slight infection )and also on pro-biotics to add good bacteria to his system. He seems to be stable for now, but boy are we shocked by this crazy "disease". He also has a heart murmur from the anemia...I think this started with his 1 yr. boosters back in Oct. we adopted a puppy in Sept. that died from parvo 5 days later, and my 2 older wonderful sheps died from cancer last year. I'm numb from so much crying the past year....Cody has to be o.k. Good Luck to all....Tammy

Tammy F. N.J.

Hi all, Zodie has been doing OK in thes epast weeks. Her CBCs dropped to 30 and have stayed there (were as high as 34). More importantly, she's been eating well and has had some nice bursts of energy. Yesterday we had a scare though. Due to some miscommunications she did not get her medicine in the morning (30 mg Pred & Cyclo). By afternoon she was lethargic, breathing heavy and not eating/drinking. By the time I got home last night she was the same and looking very bad, with white gums again. We realized then the she had not gotten her morning meds and gave them to her. By the middle of the night she started drinking again and today she's eating and drinking and getting a little energy back. This was really scary. These meds must build up a dosage in her body and it was about 20 hours without it. It is really because of that that she got so bad so quickly? This just shows how fragile she still is. Thanks, Greg

Greg MA

Greg, This is a nerve wracking time for you and Zodie. The numbers will fluctuate up and down. The long rang goal is of course to keep the red count in the normal ranges. It is important to give the meds on time. Pred must be given every twelve hours. It all gets complicated. Ren's medication schedule starts at five am and goes on until nine pm. Cyclosporine must be given on an empty stomach as well as milk-thistle. Carafat (sucralfate) should be given on an empty stomach also. Somewhere in between the meds, Ren gets to eat. SUE

Susie Delaware

Hey all, Zodie's health has not gotten better in recent days. I took her to the vet yesterday and her CBC was down to 14. That's lower then the 16 she got to in the hospital when we gave her a transfusion before. She's very weak. We are adding another drug (25mg a day of Azathioprine) on top of the pred & cyclo. We just cannot put her back in the hospital so we're trying to keep her as comfortable as we can at home. She's still eating some chicken breast and drinking water. Keeping our fingers crossed for some improvement. Thanks, -Greg

Greg MA

Hi Greg, Sorry to hear about Zodie's PCV drop. I'm praying for a turn around for her. A good sign is, she is still eating and drinking. The aza may take some time to kick in. Give her lots of love. SUE

Susie Delaware

Dear Greg, I am so sorry to hear about Zodie. I remember your original post - Zodie was diagnosed a couple of days before my dog Millie. I remember taking great comfort in your posts as Zodie started to progress and get better. It gave me great hope for Millie. Please keep us updated on Zodie's progress - I am hoping so much she pulls through. Thinking of you, Samantha & Millie.

Samantha Geelong

Hi Greg, Boy are we going through the same thing....I'm sorry Zodie isn't doing well again....my Cody was having a steady improvement and now today he's acting like when this started 2 weeks ago...just laying there, depressed...not really responsive...I'm taking him to the Vets in a few hours to have his PCV levels checked....last night he went in the garbage and got out the raw chicken wrapper ( prednisone makes him hungry ) and I'm wondering if he's feeling crummy from that....I'm worried about salmonella, but he's already on an antibiotic and pro-biotics, but the pred weakens their immune system....this is such a crazy disease. Does Zodie have the heart murmur that goes with this alot? Cause Cody does, and we got alot of snow and cold temps here, and maybe it's more stressful on his system.......so many questions, not enough answers, right? Best wishes to all of you right now....Tammy

Tammy F. N.J.

This thread was discussed between 21/01/2009 and 03/03/2009

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