Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Still numb after Lucy's AIHA diagnosis

Hi out there. I am kind of at my wit's end and I was looking for info on AiHA when I found this site. Four weeks ago I noticed one morning that my feisty, always hungry and active five year old pug, Lucy, wouldn't eat or drink, felt warm and was very very lethargic. As soon as I noticed this, I brought her into the vet, really thinking that maybe we had been outside too long and she had heat stroke or was dehydrated or something like that. Instead, she was diagnosed that day with AIHA. The vet immediately put her on 20 mg of prednisone, 25 mg of AZA, 1/2 baby aspirin and pepcid. Vet told me that she had to be kept very still and very quiet with as little activity as possible. Vet also made it clear that Lucy's prognosis was not good. Vet's been doing CBC panels two to three times a week. I don't understand. She was FINE on Thursday and diagnosed with this terrible disease on Friday. Her hemolytic numbers have improved greatly - 12 to hovering around 34- but her white count is bad. After reading a lot of these posts, I am surprised that my vet has over the past 4 weeks decreased the pred to 7.5 mg a day- which seems to be a fast withdrawal after reading these posts, but it could be because she is also on the AZA which should be kicking in around now?? Lucy's appetite and water consumption have increased tremendously, and she has good days when her energy level is up and bad days when she barely moves. She developed a horrible eye infection, and is on antibiotic eye drops, but there is a good chance she will lose her eye. She is so amazing. As soon as I go to the box where I keep her meds, she comes over and sits and waits for me to give her the pills. I have never had that with a dog before. She tries so hard not to urinate on the floor and lets me know when she has to go - to the point of waking me up in the middle of the night so that I can get her outside in time. At first, she didn't seem to be in pain, but now with the eye infection, she literally screams when the right side of her face is touched. She is cuddled up next to me almost all of the time. I don't know how long I can go through this with her. I had to put my 8 year old Max to sleep on February 14 of this year. He was a GSD and it was about three weeks from diagnosis to his passing. I felt so guilty about Max because he was so riddled with cancer that he must have been sick for a long time - but he never showed any signs of pain (a blessing a curse in GSDs). I brought him to the vet because he I noticed that for two days he was having trouble urinating. What we thought could be a uti or at worst a prostate problem that could be fixed turned out to be a cancerous tumor that had attached itself to his bladder muscles and after the specialists read his MRI it was clear that he had to be put to sleep that night since he could no longer urinate because of the placement of the tumor and was quickly becoming sceptic. Lucy's illness coming so soon after Max's passing is just blowing my mind. In addition, I have three other dogs that I need to care for - Gila, a 4 mpnth old GSD that I got just three weeks before Lucy was diagnosed, Charlie, my 10 year old cav, and Phoebe, my 8 year old papillon. The household has been turned into chaos. Charlie and Phoebe don't understand why Lucy is separated from them most of the time, and my poor Gila is crated for hours at a time and her training is being grossly neglected because I've been spending so much time with Lucy, not knowing how much time we have left together. I'm so angry at this disease. At the sudden onset, at the terrible symptoms at the potentially devastating effects of the meds, and at the absolute uncertainty of the progression of this disease. There are days when I am sure that my Lucy will just fall asleep and not wake up, and other days when I feel so hopeful that she will be okay. Today was such a bad day for her, with the horrible pain she had from the eye infection, that I had to crate her so that her condition would not be aggravated by interaction with Phoebe and Charlie, who, love sometimes to just pick on their little sister. So here I sit, with Lucy's crate at the head of my bed, Gila crated at the foot my bed, and Phoebes and Charlie just laying between the crates in confusion. I just don't know what to do...

Maris New York

Maris, I am so Sorry! I found this site when it was already too late for our little Girl. It is a Terrible Disease that takes so much of life out of our babies. There are people on this site that had been helpful in the short time that I had been asking questions. They will be very helpful to you and any questions. I wish you and Lucy the Best.

Kathy Crestline

I also Add that I am so Sorry about Max. I Know how you feel as we just lost our Lucky this past Sunday. Very Depressing and at times it's hard to function. Good Thoughts and Prayers being sent your way.

Kathy Crestline

So sorry to hear about your Lucy. It sounds like she is recovering from her anemia well. 34% is a good number. The eye infection is because of the meds. Your vet is decreasing the prednisone fast to get rid of all the nasty side effects. Cookie is the same (she went blind & her liver enzymes started to go up) Within a week after her second reduction her eyesight came back. We don't know how her liver is doing and it will be 2 weeks before we do. When did the eye infection start? It will take longer because her immune system is surpressed but after a week if it's getting worse rather than better then you might want to do something else to speed it along. Oral antibiotics would be an excellent idea to add on to prevent it from spreading. And, an eyepatch might make it more comfortable for her. Certainly, the loss of an eye is not a huge deal if it comes to that. Dogs make up for it with their other eye very well. Finally, many people here will recommend a vitamin supplement (pet tinic) and liver supplement (milk thistle/sam-e). I give my dog jarrows formula liver PF. I do believe it has helped a lot with my dogs energy and I bet her enzymes are much better.

Monet Sammamish

And, ask about anesthetic eye drops. This will also help with the pain

Monet Sammamish

Kathy - I am so sorry to hear that you lost Lucky this week. It's like having a hole in your heart and I know there is nothing I can say to ease that pain. It was so thoughtful of you to take the time to respond to my post. It made feel so connected that a stranger, in her time of grieving, reached out to help me. Thank you and bless you and your beloved Lucky. I am not very good with the computer, but I am going to try to find your story. I am sure that you did so much to help Lucky during this terrible illness and I would like to read your story for inspiration and strength. Again, thank you and bless you. Maris

Maris New York

Hello Monet. How is your Cookie doing? It is wonderful that her eyesight came back. Hopefully the liver will start to come back as well and the next set of results will show an improvement. I thank you so much for the medical information you gave. I had never heard of the milk thistle, pet tinic or jarrows formula liver PF - I will ask my vet them today. I'm wondering now if my vet is at all into natural supplements and what she will say. Lucy's eye infection started on Thursday - Friday she got the antibiotic drops. My regular vet was on vacation for ten days, but is back today so I am taking Lucy in this morning for her to check her out. My vet is amazing - she was in Hawaii on vacation, but every single time Lucy's CBC results came in she had them faxed to her and then she texted me to let me know what to do and how much to cut the medication and had me text her every with all of the symptoms and behavior Lucy was exhibiting during this time. Funny story about my vet - she has been taking care of my dogs and cats (when I had them) for about ten years- and I have never had less than three dogs during all that time and she saw me through the loss of four babies - three dogs and a cat. In October I was in an accident and I walked into her office with a cast up to my thigh, with a walker, for a routine office visit, and she didn't even ask how I was or what happened - she is definitely not a people person. But, on her vacation in Hawaii she was right on top of Lucy's condition and texted me every day to see how she was doing. To this day, I still need the walker, and she has never asked me what happened - LOL. Anyway, Lucy will be going to the vet in a couple of hours and I will ask questions about the supplements and I am guessing that once she sees her, she will put her on oral antibiotics and anesthetic eye drops for the pain. I think she went with the topical because she could not examine her and with Lucy's compromised immune system maybe she didn't want her on oral antibiotics until she saw her. My husband, who is a clergyman, is, as usual, in total denial of the severity of this disease because on the days that Lucy has some energy he thinks she is miraculously cured. He leaves the medical decisions to me, and he does most of the praying for her recovery. Thank G-d he is very compassionate and, although we are struggling like most in this economy to pay our bills, he never lets cost influence any treatment for any of our dogs. In fact, we are still paying off the thousands it cost us for Max's medical diagnosis before he had to be put to sleep. We both feel the same about Lucy and we will give her the best care we can. But, here's where the praying part comes in. Every Friday night, he reads out a "Get well" list and then the congregation sings a beautiful song sending out prayers for those who are ill. Unlike most clergy, he puts animals on the list and we send out love and prayers to loved ones - human or otherwise.. If you, or anyone else with a sick dog, cat, or whatever, would like to be put on this list, please let me know. I am not overly religious, but I do think the power of prayer can be awesome and I offer this to anyone who might feel comforted by it. If the thought turns you off, that's cool - it's a very personal thing. Just thought I would mention it. The medical stuff is so complicated and it was wonderful of you to let me know of some supplements that might help with the side effects of these devastating drugs. Obviously, I would greatly appreciate any information that could help ease Lucy through this horrible disease. She's so lethargic today and keeps crawling off to be by herself - a bad sign I think, but I keep bringing her back to us and when I do, that little curly tail starts to wag and I find my heart breaking and the tears starting. Gotta go pull myself together now - bad day. Thanks again for your info and for reaching out and I only hope that Cookie and all of you are feeling better and have a good day. Maris

Maris New York

(((Maris))) So sorry you're having to deal with this disease so soon after losing your Max. It's got to be hard to deal with. Glad you found this group for support and advise. My main goal right now would be getting the eye better. This (IMO) is something that should have been treated with an oral antibiotic as well as the topical eye drops. I actually can't believe they didn't give you something. I'd get some today and use at least a two week course...something broad spectrum. I'm sure the vet will give something good to use. Just tell him to avoid the sulfa antibiotics. Get copies of blood results also...CBC, Chemistry, thyroid panel results, etc. My thoughts and prayers are with you both! Johnny & Tessy

Johnny

Oh Maris, It is a terrible Disease. I Pray for a cure, and soon too! it is too late for our little Lucky, but it will help others. These are our little babies and Don't deserve to go through this, Neither do we. I still Cry day in and day out, And our Daughter isn't doing good which is now our concern. You have come to the best site. It is very Helpful, I just found it to late. :( This is the place to be for that extra advice. We were told about Pet Tinic but it was too Late for our Vet. to prescribe it as Lucky Passed away the Day after she had started on it. If we had found this site earlier, Okay, Another, "IF" I come back here to Check on the people and to make sure things are still going better in the Lives of their Fur Friends. Please Keep us Posted as we care. Hope the vet. Visit is okay today. Our Daughter told us through our long battle, "Where there's Life, There's Hope".....

Kathy Crestline

Maris, You remain in my Thoughts and Prayers!

Kathy Crestline

Thank you Johnny, Kathy and Monet for both your interest and concern and for your medical advice regarding Lucy. This has been a terrible week. The vet did put Luce on oral antibiotics. They were helping her eye, it appeared, but her numbers were not good - moved into the high 20's- and it showed it her lethargy and being a lot more out of it. And apparently, the numbers that reflect the white count and the auto immune part of IAHA were way off and not good at all. But, she's been home and we are enjoying her good days and worrying about her bad. She had a definite slump, but seemed to be stabilized even if at a lower point. Until this morning. I woke up, and first I noticed her very heavy and labored breathing - and then I saw an incredible amount of green gook covering her right eye and and some oozing in the left and saw that there was an enormous amount of swelling where here eye should be. As I moved over to pet her, she just started screaming - I have really never heard a dog scream until this disease. So, of course, we ran to the vet. Not good news. I'm still a little shaky, so I'm going to try to get this right. The cornea was actually detached and hanging from the eye - held in place by the green puss - and the retina was completely blown out and hard as a rock. Long story short, she is and will always be blind in that eye - that is if they can save the eye, which is questionable. But, not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. I've had pets missing ears, limbs - not a real problem- but of course they were otherwise healthy. She is also in danger of losing the other eye but if we don't move the furniture around too often, she'll be able to navigate everything okay (yes, I'm trying to make a joke). I had to leave her at the vet because she needed massive doses of antibiotics, shots, IVs, and eye drops every 30 minutes. Also had a CBC panel taken, so I am pretty worried about the results of those in comparison to the last set. Expect to hear from the vet in about 3 hours. The twice I called before I just asked the tech about her and was told she was sleeping and not in distress. I hate this disease that takes our babies and makes them suffer so. I need to know that she's not in pain and that I'm not doing this so I can wake up in the morning and feel her beside me and stroke her silky ears and laugh at her funny faces and expressions - so few now. I need to know when enough is enough for her and when she needs to stop being mitchered and medicated for me. I don't know - I just don't know.

Maris New York

Maris~ So sad to hear about your loss. It is a very hard fight and for some of us who think we are just making heaway with our beloved furbabies, WHAM something else happens. My prayers and thoughts of healing during your grief are with you. Blessings, Cindi & Tori (IMHA/Evans Syndrome)

Cindi PCB

Maris, I am so sorry to read your latest post about your poor Lucy. I think trying to decide whether you are doing it for them or yourself is always the toughest part. Having lost 3 dogs in the past few years all to rapid onset of "rare" diseases I believe they let you know when they want to fight as they will let you know when you need to stop. Hoping you get better news when you speak to the Vet. Keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers. Keep us posted. Hugs Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

So sorry to hear that Lucy isn't doing well. I suggest finding a holistic vet if things aren't getting better. Not as a replacement, but a complement. Holistic vets use herbs which offer different benefits than drugs. So if a drug isn't working, you can add an herb and you get twice the healing power. Holistic vets are good last hope option. I personally have not been to one because Cookie has never been in such bad condition but Christina has so if it's something you're interested in you can ask her. I promise that after the infection clears her PCV will go up again. Cookie's went down with the liver trouble. Their little bodies can only handle 1 disease at a time :(

Monet Sammamish

Please know that Lucy is in our prayers and we hope she can make a turn around soon. Sending a big hug and please let us know how Lucy is doing this morning. Cheryl & Ginger

Cheryl & Ginger Pinevile PA

Oh Maris, I'm so sorry! You and Lucy will remain in my Thoughts and in my Prayers...

Kathy Calif.

Hi Maris I was just wondering how Lucy is doing? Continued prayes are being sent for her. Cheryl & Ginger

Cheryl & Ginger Pinevile PA

I can't thank all of you enough for your words of concern, support and interest in Lucy. Honestly, it makes such a huge difference in my frame of mind and my ability to care for her through this. THANK YOU. We had a very difficult few days worrying about her eye. Three days of eye drops every hour on the hour and half hour - in addition to two more medications being added to the list. But this little girl is a fighter. The eye is looking better and the infection has not spread to her good eye. We do not know yet whether the eye will have to be removed, but the vet thinks there is a possibility that it can be saved - which would be quite a relief because I am not looking forward to subjecting her to the stress of an operation and anesthesia right now. Also have her on probiotics and milk thistle in an attempt to counteract the effects of the meds. She has stabilized around 34, which is really good, but her white count skyrocketed. I thought this was a good sign because it meant she was fighting the infection, but the vet had a wait and see attitude. So we are waiting. Another vet appointment tonight but I think she's looking pretty good. She is experiencing very strange behavioral changes. She fluctuates between total lethargy with short spurts of activity and extreme aggression towards my other dogs - totally out of character for her. Vet said the aggression is probably a side effect of the prednisone. I guess she might be in more pain or discomfort than she is showing because she is now crawling off to be by herself a lot of the time- she never did that before. I know we have to get this horrible eye infection under control and then see what happens. My heart and best wishes go out to all of you who are also facing challenges and heartbreak dealing with your babies. Maris

Maris NY

Maris, Your girl Lucy sure is a fighter! I was happy to read that she is feeling at least a little better. this disease and the pain from her eye makes her very vulnerable, I am not surprised she reacts crabby to your other dogs. I would try and keep them separated as much as possible to avoid stress. Has Lucy been tested for hypothyroidism? sorry I am not up on all of her meds. It would be well worth it to check that out. Thyroid supplement could help with her blood building and also with her behavioral problems. Keep fighting Lucy and Maris! Best wishes, Brigitte

Brigitte BC

My cocker spaniel Millie was diagnosed with this heartbreaking disease last Friday. Her RBC was 13 and went down to 11. We were told that if it got to 8 that she was beyond hope. After a long delay (on the vet's part) we located a veterinary hospital an hour away and over the weekend she received 3 blood transfusions and is on a line that feeds her steroid treatment and pain relief. Her RBC raised to 28 and stabilised until yesterday(5 days later) when her blood count has started to drop by 5% and I am desparate for any help, or any treatment ideas. Poor Millie is residing at the veterinary hospital and is severely depressed at being away from home - she is too unstable to be brought home. I am thinking that the steroid combination/treatment is not right/correct to combat this disease. Maris - your story has given me hope that Millie could have a future and would love for her to be added to your husband's 'Get Well' list. I live in hope that her strong personality and undevoted love for us will pull her through.

Lu UK

Lu I reposted this for you in a brand new thread of your own so that more people can see it and offer you advice....Nollaig's pcv was at 8% when she was diagnosed in February 2009 and she's here today healthy and happy(and at one point I was advised by my very experienced specialist vet to take her home and spoil her and bring her back when ready to put her to sleep) so not true that no hope for Millie.Nollaig had prca a form of aiha where the precursor red blood cells in the bone marrow are being attacked the pcv tends to drop slower than in aiha which means the dog has more time for the body to adjust...does Millie have aiha or prca do you know?Are her white cells and platelets ok? In Nollaig's case it was only her red cells affected.There are many people on here who can help and please make sure you contact Dr Jean Dodds at hemopet as she helped many dogs on here to recover(including Nollaig by getting her on thyroxine and laurabolin injections) and is more than willing to help so if you email her Millie's story: hemopet@hotmail.com Best of luck Kathleen and Nollaig xx

Kathleen North Ayrshire

Forgot to say Nollaig's pcv dropped on average 4 to 5% a week

Kathleen North Ayrshire

Dear Kathleen and Nollaig, Many Thanks for your interest in my story. I have emailed Dr Jean Dodds and pray that she can help my Millie. Millie has confirmed AIHA but tests have failed to identify the cause (cancer etc has been discounted). I am told that the red blood cells that Millie does have are grouping together; so clotting is also a worry, in addition to the fact that immuno-suppressant drugs have since failed to stop Millie's immune system from attacking itself. I am not sure re: white blood cells etc I will find out when I speak to the vet tomorrow. Sincere thanks for your help - I will tell Millie of your help : ) Regards, Lu

Lu UK

Hi Maris How is Lucy doing? Sending prayers Cheryl & Ginger

Cheryl & Ginger Pinevile PA

Thanks for your post Cheryl. Lucy appears to be doing better. Vet told me over the weekend that her right eye will have to be removed soon, but she's not ready for the surgery yet - she needs to get before being subjected to the anesthesia and stress of an operation. She can still see a little out of the other eye - cornea is ulcerated but this will probably clear up in time and very good chance she will not lose sight in that eye. At this point, even if she loses her sight, there is no indication that the eye will have to be removed. Big problem now is elevated white cell count - 34,000 and climbing. Thankfully, she now does not appear to be in pain. I had such a high today over such a little thing. She was pretty much staying on my bed all day, but had to stop that because she started urinating on it. She wasn't interested in her old bed, so I bought her a new one, really plush and comfy looking. Brought it home and neither she nor my other dogs showed any interest in it all day. But when I woke up tonight to give her the eye drops, there she was all curled up and comfortable in the new bed. It really made me happy to see that during the night she moved from the hard floor to the bed and seemed really comfortable in it. Like she added something new to her world and was showing an interest in something. Please tell me about Ginger- tried to find your thread but couldn't. I hope that means she is doing well and getting better. Prayers to you as well, Maris & Lucy & Phoebes & Charlie & Gila

Maris NY

So HAPPY to read that Lucy is doing a little better, she really is a fighter. It is amazing how we took so many little things our dogs did for granted before they got sick are such milestones now. I cried the day I saw Ginger playing with one of my other dogs after not wanting to be bothered with them at all for months. Ginger was diagnosed with chronic AIHA in Sept of 2007, she is still on a maintenance dosage of cyclosporine and pred. and doing just fine she is a 12 year old Golden. Thanks for asking about her. Keeping Lucy in our prayers Cheryl & Ginger

Cheryl & Ginger Pineville pa

This thread was discussed between 10/09/2011 and 27/09/2011

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