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Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Relapse?
| At what point is considered a relapse? Is it just the red cells dropping a bit? Wiley had his CBC today and the red cells dropped to 30. We are increasing the pred back to 20mg. Would that be considered a relapse? The vet was very happy that I noticed he wasn't right and brought him in right away. I know all dogs are different but when I read the boards, I know there are two other dogs that were diagnosed around the same time as Wiley and their counts are much, much higher and getting off meds. I just wonder if this all means that he doesn't have as good of a chance of survival. His red counts just never got higher than 37% and down he seems to be on the decline. |
| Lisa CT |
| Lisa, People define relapse differently. Here is one defination I found online: 1. To fall or slide back into a former state. 2. To regress after partial recovery from illness. 3. To slip back into bad ways; backslide. n. (rlps, r-lps) So whether or not you want to call it a relapse is maybe up to you and your vet. If I were you I would not compare Wiley to other dogs on this board diagnosed at the same time. All dogs are different and respond to the disease and the meds used to treat it differently. In reply to your question as to whether Wiley's chance of survival are less becasue of this, I would have to say that since you caught this relapse/setback (whatever you choose to call it) early, Wiley has a very good chance of surival. My Meisha has severeal relapses/setbacks and she lived for 9 years and 10 months past her AIHA diagnosis and for many of those years she did so well, to look at her you would never have ever been able to tell she had been sick a day in her life. Maybe you might want to just call this a "bump in the road". Hugs to Wiley from me and my canine gal, Maggie AKA the Magpie. |
| Joanne MN |
| Dear Lisa, Sorry to hear of this "Setback" for Wiley. Kudos to you for recognising it so early! That's great! You absolutely cannot compare Wiley to other dogs on this board. When my Millie was first diagnosed, there were two other owners on this board with their dogs who were diagnosed within a week of Millie. Millie was the slowest to respond - and I too was frustrated while other owners got results, but I was still waiting for a rise in PCV and the chance to start reducing meds. One of these dogs didn't make it, Zodie, and the other, Madison, I believe is medication free. What I am trying to say is that Millie and I made it in our own way - slow and steady. I'm sure Wiley will too - and with such a vigilent owner like you, he will be fine! Patrice did say that some dogs never return to the PCV they had pre-IMHA. High 30's may be the new "normal" for Wiley. Millie's last blood screens before she was sick had her PCV at 49, 50 and 48 (over 2 years). Now I am suprised if we get a reading over 42. 46 has been the highest in all the tests we've done over the last 18 months. Just do slow, steady reductions - no more than 25-33% at a time when Wiley is ready to reduce the risk of a "relapse". I remember someone saying to me "IMHA is a marathon, not a sprint". How true those words are. Hugs to you and Wiley, Samantha & Millie. |
| Samantha Geelong |
| Lisa, Unfortunately each dog seems to respond to things differently. I felt bad when my Salome was doing so well. Her PCV at diagnosis was 14 and in a month was up to 29 and she wasn't having any of the problems I read here daily (I felt sort of guilty.) Then she crashed and was gone 3 days later. It is a disease that needs so much more research and maybe some day there will be guidelines and timelines to follow. I will continue to make donations to Meisha's Hope fund until that day arrives. Just try to take things as they come and don't let someone else's seemingly fast progress get you down. Keeping you and Wiley in my thoughts and prayers. Penny |
| Penny Lytle Creek Calif |
| Hi everyone, thanks for the responses. I don't think its so much that I am comparing him to other dogs as just trying to prepare myself for the worst. It has been a long battle so far and I just don't want to have false hope. Not that I really know anything but it just seems kind he is having a tough time keeping those numbers up and it seems that that in itself might make his prognosis worse. |
| Lisa CT |
| Hi Lisa Wiley might be one of those who have to say on a maintenance medication to keep his PCV in the normal range. Ginger's PCV has only gone over 39 once in the last 3 years and I think most of the time it is in the very low 30's or upper 20's. I now go by how she is acting and eating instead of worrying so much about the numbers. Ginger has remained on a maintenance dosage of Pred and Cyclosporine and if we remove one or lower the dosage her PVC drops and we have to start all over. How is Wiley acting and is he eating okay? Cheryl & Ginger |
| Cheryl & Ginger Pineville PA |
This thread was discussed between 01/09/2010 and 02/09/2010
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