Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Rucca's battle

Hi All I'm thanking the higher power that I found this board. My 3 year old Dachsie, Rucca, was diagnosed with AIHA almost 2 weeks ago and my husband and I have been through an emotional/financial ringer. She is getting her 6th blood transfusion in almost as many days as her PCV has dropped to 10 after it was at 16/19/22/30 then back down again. She was happy and bright 2 days in a row and we thought we were in the clear. The specialist vet is not aware of the AIHA/Pure Red Cell Aplasia. I will get him the info I found here, first thing in the morning.Clotting factors are normal and liver biopsy was fairly normal as well. She had exploratory laproscopy(sp) 4 days ago to find a source of a bleed and they found nothing. She has blood-tinged fluid in her abdomen. She was on initially on cortisone, prednisolone, now on cyclosporin. I don't have exact doses but I'm trying to learn to save my dog's life. She is my love and I'm in for the long haul. Thank you all for sharing your stories. This site may be the 1st real step on the road to recovery. Please, if you can offer any other info I'd dearly appreciate it. I cannot eat or sleep worrying about my fur-kid Joanna

Joanna South Africa

Joanna, Am so sorry for what you are going through. You certainly came to the right place for advice and HOPE. I think one of the most important things is to get a vet on board who knows a lot about the disease. If your vet does not, it would be good to change rather sooner than later and see a specialist (internal medicine) or go to a teaching hospital. Your vet should be at least willing to consult with a specialist. If you go on Joanne Dickson's Meisha's Hope website: http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/index.html You will find lots of information check the link for the success stories, they will give you information and most of all hope that Rucca can make it! Best wishes to you and your little girl, Brigitte & the poodle boys

Brigitte BC Canada

Joanna....waving to ya allll the way from Nova Scotia!!! I'm glad you found this forum. The folks here are one of a kind and the support is some of the best you can find! Just wondering what you mean by the Specialist vet is unaware of this disease. I'm assuming the vet diagnosed this for Rucca or is it assumed to be this? Six transfusions in six days is a LOT of blood!!! Did they crossmatch the blood after the first one? It could be an issue of the body rejecting the same blood time after time! If you can get copies of all the bloodwork for us that would help. Is Rucca on anything for her stomach? Sucralfate/prilocek/pepcid? If not now's the time to get one! Gotta prevent ulcers and the sort. What tests did they run so far? Ultrasounds/xrays? Tick born disease (are there ticks there?)? DID THEY DO A THYROID PANEL ON HER??? I wonder how easy it would be to ship a sample of blood from there to California? I've sent from Canada with no problems and I know others that have sent internationally to Dr. Dodds at Hemopet. This would be an excellent first step if you can afford to do so. If not at least ask them to run a full thyroid panel for you. Might be worthwhile adding low dose soloxine to stimulate the bone marrow. Is Rucca in the hospital still? I'll keep her in my thoughts and prayers. Johnny & Tessy

Johnny

Hi Joanna, I just found this board also and I really don't have any advice to give you ( because I am so new to this) but I can give you prayers for Rucca. My fur baby, Gracie was diagnosed on Oct. 11 ( Columbus Day) so I know how you feel. I am so sorry Rucca has had to have 6 transfusions. I agree with Johnny to be sure Rucca is cross matched. My vet just cross matched Gracie again in case she needs another transfusion because her PCV is starting to drop. Keep reading the success stories on Meisha's Hope. They are keeping me going. With warm thoughts, Gwen and Gracie

Gwen Rhinebeck

Oh dear, I am so sorry to hear about Rucca, you are right thinking this site will help. My Jack Russell Archie took ill on 1st March this year and his pcv got was as low as 10 but we are now drug free and so far so good. The help and knowledge I gained from the users of this site was so valuable to get us through the dark days and believe me everytime we read of a new case - we're right there with you as you fight the struggle. Our prayers are with you, keep us updated. Sue and Archie

Sue and Archie Cambridgeshire UK

Joanna, I am so sorry your dear Rucca has been diagnosed with this awful disease. Please keep us posted and know that any questions you have can be posted here and most likely someone else will have shared the same experience and will be able to offer you advice. Keeping you and yours in my thoughts and prayers. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Hi Everyone I'm so grateful for any help or advice. To answer the earlier question my dog was diagnosed with AIHA, the vet also believes she has Pure Red Cell aplasia but cannot do the bone marrow biopsy because he's concerned about excessive bleeding. She has a platelet problem so as soon as she is transfused-within hours/days her PCV drops as the blood runs out into the body cavity. She is bloated and unhappy but we have been taking her home during the day so she can feel like she is living a normal life. When she is in the hospital, she gets extremely anxious and depressed and refuses to eat. When we arrive for our 3 times a day visits, she perks up straight away. My poor little fighter.Apparently the Thyroid tests cannot give conclusive results because she is constantly losing blood and is being transfused so I'm not sure what else to do. I'm seeing a Veterinay master Specialist tomorrow and hopefully we can start a new treatment regimen to give her body a chance to produce enough platelets to cope. I also have a friend who is a herbalist so she is preparing a custom herbal mix for my baby. She was just switched to Vincristine and re-started again on cortisone.

Joanna South Africa

Joanna, You might want to read the May 2006 Success Story of Macy who was diagnosed with pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) in August 2004: http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/archives16.htm (Scroll down to the May story) Jill, Macy's owner caregiver updates me on Macy every year. I last updated Macy's Success Story in August 2010. Also you might want to read the October 2006 Story of Kobi who also had PRCA http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/archives17.htm Kobi is no longer with his owners but he did live for almost 5 years after his PRCA diagnosis While PRCA is very difficult dogs CAN recover from it and go on to live happy healthy lives.

Joanne MN

Do you know any of the blood numbers? You should ask for and get copies of the bloodwork to share with us. CBC's are best to get as opposed to just PCV's. Are you giving her anything for the stomach....sucralfate would be a good option here. Ask the doctors about using cyclosporine along with the prednisone. The veterinay formula Atopica would be best to use but if you go a generic route make sure it's modified cyclosporine. Cyclosporine (Atopica) would be one of the better working drugs for this. Please keep us posted on how things go tomorrow. My thoughts and prayers are with you both. Johnny & Tessy

Johnny

Joanna, sorry your Rucca is having trouble...this such an emotional roller coaster for all of us, but their is always hope. My poodle girl, Tori was diagnosed first of August with IMHA and we almost lost her. She is fighting a good fight and we are now decreasing her Prednisone. At first, you can't help but check and recheck the gums and notice every little change in their routine. And believe me this is very important until the meds kick in and improvement begins. Your vet needs this info in order to properly treat Rucca. You love her and it is hard when your doggie is so sick. Someone told me though that unless something else is wrong, AIHA/IMHA is not painful for your pet...they are just so very tired. Know that you are in our prayers and this blog is full of loving and concerned people with good advice, suggestions, but most of all ENCOURAGEMENT! Blessings, Cindi

Cindi & Tori PBC

Hi Joanna Just wondering how Rucca is doing. Hope and pray he is showing some improvement. Cheryl & Ginger

Cheryl & Ginger Pineville PA

This thread was discussed between 26/10/2010 and 01/11/2010

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