Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Sneezing and dry nose

Since Maggie has been on the Cyclosporine (starting back around early Nov.) she's had a sneeze when she wakes up or gets excited. She has an intermittent runny nose and when its not runny, its all dry. She did not have the sneeze during her hospital stay, so I also wonder if its something environmental. I am cleaning only with boiling water and not using the fabric sheets when running the dryer. I am running a humidifier to help moisten the air of my apartment given that the central heating seems to dry things up. It appears to help a bit, but not fully. Now that she seems to be responding well and addressing her anemia, just wondering if these are side effects to the immuno suppression. Her spirits are up and she is happy on her little walks, setting off at a strong pace and even hopping gleefully at times through the snow. Her Prednisone is down to 10 mg 2x daily (since Nov. 17) so her body is recovering from the effects of the steroids, even while her HCT/PCV increases. (up to almost 32 this Friday from 29 the prior week) So I just want to see if there is anything I can do for her poor nose, of if I just need to wait it out.

RobertN Superior

we had similar symptoms with either runny nose or very dry nose -- i think it is the cyclo and pred together -- once we were off cyclo the dry nose went away, we had to stay on pred for a while longer due to the ever so slow tapering and that brought with it a stuffy nose. now that he has been off all meds for two weeks now the stuffy nose is starting to go away - we still have the dry flaky skin. the vet told me it takes a while for all the drugs to get out of their system and then for their system to resume normality -- we go back in two weeks for a weigh in and pcv -- i will ask again about lingering symptoms. their poor little bodies have to endure so much with the disease and then all the meds to fight the disease. glad your maggie seems to be feeling better!!

charlie

Thanks charlie. Fortunately, for all practical purposes, we are no longer on pred for immuno suppression (20 mg/day) as it was attributed with Maggie's tendency to throw clots. Maggie's PCVs are still rising without the pred and she is now in the low 30s. So it appears to be mostly a symptom of the cyclo. We'll wait it out, and I'll give her whatever support I can with humidifiers and lots of h2o.

RobertN Superior

Robert, I first thought of kennel cough, but this seems to be going on for too long and is absent the usual coughing, correct? I am on many other dog lists and one that is frequented by vets is reporting an outbreak in many place in the US of a more virulent form of canine flu. Perhaps this is what Maggie has contracted? my best patrice

Patrice NYS

Patrice - Correct. No coughing. The only reason why I think this is not viral, but rather a side effect is that it started immediately after I started her on Cyclosporine. During her hospital stay, I did not notice any sneezing or dry nose, however she was in oxygen for 6 out of 7 days. Further, apart from the sneezing, she is pretty much "back to normal", bounding around in the snow, trotting in front of me during our short walks and showing really good energy. Her full body "wiggles" have returned just today. Its as though small but important aspects of her personality are coming back incrementally. So I believe it is a side effect of the medicine. I keep asking the vets, but they don't seem very concerned, especially since Maggie otherwise appears to be improving so well. I only ask because I don't want to expose her to anything that may stall her recovery. So your point about canine flu is well-taken. I am keeping her from any interactions with other pooches until we really start to reduce her Cyclosporine. Thanks, Robert

RobertN Superior

Robert, I carefully looked through every known side effect of cyclosporine before I wrote you. I could not find anything resembling what you describe as a side effect, even at 3-5x the standard dose. The only thing I could find that might be related was the mention of pruritus, or itching. This might be an indication of a small allergic reaction, but it was only mentioned once and wasn't on the serious side effect list. I think it is pure coincidence that this started when you began the cyclosporine. I am wondering if being on oxygen for several days dried out her mucosa and irritated her throat and sinuses? They may have even intubated her at one point if they anesthetized her. I had that done to me last year for a surgery and it did irritate my throat terribly for a week or so after. I sounded like Patrick not Patrice. Try some local, natural honey on something she can lick like a kong. Perhaps that will help. From reading the CDC website information about the canine flu, it can be a mild case in some dogs and serious in others. If she does have it, it's probably mild and isn't going to bother her much. Take her temp once a day to make sure it is below 103 degrees. If you see it rise and she feels warm to you call the vet for advice. While this flu is benign in most cases, it is a stronger version of doggie flu and can become more serious. If there is even just one case at a clinic it seems to spread quickly. my best patrice

Patrice NYS

Robert, i love your comment about maggie's full body wiggles returning -- that is how we measured success in our home -- just wait till she is off cyclo- the wiggles really seem to get going - even seem more than before this dreadful disease, i think they are truly happy to be feeling better. Great that those pcv numbers are staying in the 30's, your great care is paying off dividends!

charlie

RobertN, Haven't seen you post in a couple of days, Praying that all is well with you and Maggie?

Kathy Calif.

Vitamin E for the dry nose can work wonders!!! :)

Johnny

Just like that, the sneezing ended. So maybe it was viral. Maggie has good energy, happy tail wagging and improving muscle tone and we will check her CBC and liver values this Monday with the hope of maybe once and for all taking her off the final 20 mg of Prednisone. She feels well enough now to get into the trash, take things down from my counter tops and cause general mischief. I am starting to take her on longer walks and she trots along, occasionally breaking into a jog. I keep her from interacting with other dogs and away from things that might cause her immune system to overreact. Otherwise, I am relaxing a bit and allowing her to be a dog. I've noticed that the last couple of evenings, she has been falling soundly asleep. I am thinking that this has to do with the timing of me extending her walks and allowing her to run loose a bit more.

RobertN Superior

Robert, it makes me so happy that you start to see the old Maggie again! A word of caution on reducing the prednisone, It has to be done very slowly or you could trigger a relapse. here is something I copied from the Misha's Hope Q&A page: Q: When and how often should the prednisone be reduced? A: Once the disease is in remission, the dose of prednisone can be lowered by 25% to 35% every three to four weeks until the lowest dose that keeps the disease under control is reached. It is important to do blood tests before each prednisone dosage reduction. If the dog is receiving more then one immunosuppressive drug, change the dosage or frequency of only one drug at a time. Best wishes, Brigitte

Brigitte BC

Brigitte, During Maggie's hospital stay, from Nov. 14 to Nov. 21st, it was determined that the prednisone was at least partially responsible for her pulmonary thromboemboli, so it was immediately and radically reduced from 80 mgs to 20 mgs per day. During that time, she continued to be regenerative and her PCV values not only stabilized by increased. Yes, I know, we are lucky! Since Maggie's discharge, her HCT has risen from 27 at discharge, to 29.5 over two weeks ago to 31.8 last Friday, with a slight uptick after a previous dip, in her reticulocytes. We are testing her this Monday. So for all practical purposes, Maggie is just on a maintenance dose of prednisone. Her continued immuno suppression is a result of the cyclosporine and azathioprine. The strategy is still to slowly reduce her meds. Perhaps she will be reduced from 20 mgs to an even lower dose. Maggie's vets are very conservative so I trust them to be very cautious. I totally agree. So we are very lucky that the immuno suppression continued unabated and without relapse despite the huge and rapid reduction in prednisone. I am nervous about Monday, but Maggie seems to be doing well so I have faith in her meds and continued treatment as well as the fact that she continues to show regular improvement.

RobertN Superior

Good luck on Monday, i am sure it will be a great visit -- we will all be awaiting your good report...:)

charlie

This thread was discussed between 04/12/2011 and 10/12/2011

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