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Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Still Waiting...It's Past 6 Weeks
| My six year old Tibetan Terrier, Barkley, was diagnosed with idiopathic IMHA in mid-June, has had all the tests, scans, biopsies,etc. He has now had 5 blood transfusions (more waiting at his vet if needed)and has been on Prednisone, Atopica (cyclosporine), Azothioprine, Pepcid, Metroni...(the anti-diarrhea stuff),thyroid medication, Sam-E, Hi-Vite (now with miniscule aspirin dose added). His Prednisone was initially 20 mg twice per day, was lowered to 20 mg once per day after 10 days, and is now back up to the original dose. The Atopica was 100 mg twice per day for weeks but the diarrhea wouldn't stop so he is now almost done with his second cycle of 5 days on, two days off and at the same time the thyroid medication was added (and that was when the Prednisone was increased again). The diarrhea has improved until he gets to the end of the 5 day cycle (although it wasn't too bad yesterday) but he is now more often than not either totally refusing his wet food or eating only a small portion and then walking away. He will still eat his dry food throughout the day (was Eagle Pack chicken but at a vet's suggestion am now trying Royal Canin Digestive diet with low fat and increasing the amount given). He will still eat his WholeMeals bars but sometimes will only eat one half at a time. The panting has increased since the increase in the Prednisone and even after having his fifth blood transfusion on Friday, 8/1/08, his energy just has not seemed to have as much joy as it did after the first four transfusions. His PCV has gone as low as 7 and was 9.6 just before his transfusion on Friday. His white cell count was confirmed to be in the therapeutic range when he was tested on Friday but he just doesn't seem to be showing the come back that I seem to read has happened with many other dogs. I am just needing some reality testing about how long this process is likely to go on before I see his numbers staying up at least in the twenties without a weekly blood transfusion (that's on a good week). And when will his brightness return (although he will still go to the window and bark and will go after the cat at times...he's just not my old bubble of joy)?! I am not ready to quit but I'm just needing a check-in with those of you further down a similar road. Thanks and warm well wishes to all, Barkley and Cheryl |
| Cheryl Medford |
| your situation sounds very familar to what i went through... my dog sway didnt re-generate cells for 6 months. within the first 8 weeks she got 7 or 8 blood transfusions. we started her on an anabolic steroid called NANDROLONE and since then her count started to hold around 20%. the high does of meds really wore her body down over time and almost killed her. for the last 10 months she has held a count of around 18-28% PCV and is hangin in there for sure. i have a site where i document what we went through... i can send you the link if you put ur email in this thread. wishing Barkley all the luck in the world. |
| josh california |
| Thank you for your response, Josh. My email address is: elphaba@clearwire.net and I would very much like to read any information you...or any of the other owners who frequent this website...would be willing to provide. We need all the informed insight we can get. Wishing you and your amazing girl a long and non-suffering future. Barkley and Cheryl |
| Cheryl Medford |
| the reason why i need to send the link thru email is because when i post it here my account gets blocked for some reason... it must have a hotword in the URL that gets blacklisted. anyways, i sent the email just now! |
| josh california |
| I find this interesting as the emergency hospital gave Gizmo a transfusion the first night to keep her alive-blood count was 9. Then it went up to 23, but again fell to 17. I asked about another transfusion as we had paid for the whole amount and they only gave her half. The vet said they didn't want to give a second transfusion as that could have severe side effects and make her worse. They gave her prednisone IV's, flushes, and when we took her home tablets, and also anti-acids, and cyclosporine which is used for transplant patients helps with rejection. One thing it is important to not give them too much of an anti-acid as it can make them depressed! Our Gizmo was 15# so I had to cut them into 6ths. Good luck to you all. We are at the 11 months point and Gizmo is doing great-peppy and plays-her old self. We're down to 1/2 prednisone every other day. She has had a few UTI's due to the prednisone and has taken Clavamox. Oh and she has been on 2X a day Pet-Tinic vitamins this whole time. Our vet has treated many cases of this auto-immune disease with great success! |
| shantihhh SF Bay Area |
This thread was discussed between 05/08/2008 and 06/08/2008
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