Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Spherophytes? (SP?)- Macy

I am starting to really understand this disease as either bad news or good news-bad news. Never just good news. Anyways, Macy has been at the vet hospital for the past week. Her RBC is holding above 30, she is beginning to eat, and will play with a ball when I have gone to see her (every morning and every night). She is coming home tonight which to me is a miracle after the way she was when I took her in a week ago. Her bilarubin has come down from 40 to 10. The vet switched her to Imuran every other day because it was suppressing her appetite. All looks good EXCEPT the vet is now concerned with spherophytes still in her system. I am positive I am spelling this wrong but you know when the vet is talking in scientific terms and all you can think about is what the hell does this mean for my babies' chances so you don't really process it all? Anyways, her spherophyte level is still at 2 which means she is still killing her own red blood cells. The vet is hopeful that as soon as the Imuran and other drugs begin to work that this will go to zero. She is concerned though that these still remain. Does anyone have any knowledge/experience with this? Like I said, I know I am spelling this completely wrong but I know it starts with an S and is an indicator that she is killing her own red blood cells still even though her RBC is holding steady due to the Pred. R.I.P. (Run in Peace) Kahlu

Darren Long Beach

Darren, Check out this Web page which may be helpful to you: http://www.medvet.umontreal.ca/clinpath/banq-im/hematology/SpherocytesE.htm And please do hang in since there can be good news with the disease. If you haven't already, please check out the Success Stories at the Meisha's Hope AIHA/IMHA Web site: http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/successstories.htm

Joanne MN

This site may be helpful to you as well: http://diaglab.vet.cornell.edu/clinpath/modules/rbcmorph/sphero.htm

Joanne MN

Hi Darren It sound like Macy is doing well, particularly if he is playing ball - thats fantastic. Spherocytes, in my experience, is like you say, that there is still blood cell destruction going on - they are a particular type of blood cell. This appears on the blood result details when you get them - Im not sure how much is a lot but it sounds like the drugs are working in Macy's case. Like me, I think you are going to have to be patient. You say the RBC is over 30 - do you mean the PCV/Hematocrit is over 30? Does your report show a result for RBC, which is a combination of a number of things such as haemoglobin etc. - also reticulocytes - which given an indication of how regenerative things are. Are you able to post the results in detail? My vet was always concerned about "band forms" appearing - think that may be along the same lines. Best wishes Darren Silka

Silka Melbourne Australia

Hello Darren, I am so glad Macy is at home and doing well. It sounds like the stay in the vet hospital has done wonders for Macy - as it did for my Millie. It also gives us a little break from the constant worry.... If spherocytes are present, then there is some level of red blood cell destruction still occurring. As the disease is bought under control, this should stop. It would be good if you could check the spherocyte levels in some of Macy's previous blood test results to compare and I'm sure you will see a downward trend. You would expect the destruction is slowing because her PCV is climbing, concluding that she's producing more red blood cells than her immune system is destroying. You are certainly on the right track and I hope Macy continues to improve. All the very best, Samantha & Millie.

Samantha Geelong

Hi again I did not know what spherocytes were either - and they do not appear on my blood results, but they do make comments about them in the radiographer notes, sometimes marked by +, ++, or +++ the more plus signs the more there are. You will be an expert soon Darren! Silka

Silka Melbourne Australia

Yes Silka. I just checked Millie's too and I can see less as she got better. Samantha.

Samantha Geelong Australia

Alright...I'm disgusted...I had a lengthy response and my computer just froze on me! Anywho, long story short Tessy had the same problem with the spherocytes. Took a couple of months to get them to zero! With a crit of 30 that's evidence the meds are starting to work. We actually had to add cyclosporine to the mix cause the azathioprine and pred just wasn't doing the job fully. Once the cyclo was added it was a matter of a month and the spherocytes were at zero! Maybe you could discuss this option with the doctors. None of Tessy's results show the spherocytes. You'll probably have to have the blood sent out for a morphology to get these or have the doctors look at the blood under a microscope. I used to follow the WBC differentials quite a bit at the beginning just to see how the body was responding to the meds. Wanna watch for the right lymphoid response. Sending you and Macy all my best. I'll keep her in my thoughts and prayers. Johnny & Tessy

Johnny

Thanks guys for the responses. Macy is home now resting. She doesn't seem like her old energetic self but surely I am expecting too much too soon. Her PCV yesterday was 35 so she is definitely headed in the right direction. I just worry about all these drugs I am giving her. Pred, Cyclo, Imuran, pepcid, appetite stimulant, 2 drugs for nausea, doxy, aspirin, heparin. I think she is starting to fear me. I have to inject her 3 times a day for awhile. I mean, whatever it takes of course but it takes a toll on both of us. Hopefully the spherocytes go away in time. What I was not prepared for is the stress of having her home. I also have another dog and a 3 month old baby so it is a lot right now. I just worry about relapses. I get up to let her urinate every hour so I am not getting sleep either. But, all worth it to see her run out of the car the other night towards the front door. Her bilarubin dropped from 40 to 10 so that is good news. She goes back to the vet tomorrow morning for a full blood exam. I'll let you guys know the results. I really hope Coco pulls through this as well.

Darren Long Beach

Darren, Glad that Macy is at home. I don't think any of us are prepared for just how really stressful it can be. Having a young child makes it just that much more fun. Take a deep breath and remember to take care of yourself as well. You might want to invest in so,e pee pads for now. Lets you get just a wee more sleep. Macy will appear less than energetic for a while. Remember she is still low on oxygen and think how you feel when you have been sick. It justs takes a lot out of you. Hopefully tomorrows blood work will show a lot of improvement.

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

So glad to hear Marcy is home. Try to get some rest whenever you can day or night. Maybe you could take Marcy out less often at night. I would take Ginger out two or three times during the night between the hours of 11 and 6 when she was on the 80 mg of pred. She also was very good at waking me up to let me know she had to go out. I also bought a very BIG pill organizer to help me with all her meds, most of them fit in there but not all. It is overwhelming at first but in time you will get a routine down that works for you Macy and your baby. Sending prayers you way, Cheryl & Ginger

Cheryl & Ginger Pinevile pa

Hi Darren Welcome home Macy! Wow what a great PCV, she is doing well indeed. Im sure it will all fall into place, hopefully soon. All the best to all of you - you are doing an amazing job coping with all of that. I was feeling sorry for myself. Silka

Silka Melbourne Australia

Hello Darren, First off I want to tell you what an amazing person you are! It must be incredibly hard to cope with everything and still keep up your good spirits. I am soooo glad Macy has gotten to come home and fact fact that her pcv was at 35 is great. Good luck with her new blood tests and keep us posted. Give her a big belly rub from Coco....Kelly

Kelly Redding

Hang in there Darren! This disease can tax everything you've got, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. That would be Macy beating this and feeling like her old self again. It may take time, but your off to a good start. This too shall pass. Take care.

Mardi Northern Calif

This thread was discussed between 08/01/2010 and 12/01/2010

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