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Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Sulfasalazine....know anything?
| Mag has started having bad diahrea.... The vet prescribed him Sulfasalazine today. I can'tfind much good info on the internet... |
| Shannon Florida |
| Shannon, This site:http://www.vin.com/proceedings/Proceedings.plx?CID=WSAVA2002&PID=2585 says "Sulfasalazine. Sulfasalazine (SASA) is considered by many clinicians to be the first-choice drug for canine colitis. The recommended dosage range for SASA in dogs is 20-50 mg/kg up to a maximum of 1.0 gm q8h in refractory patients or those having severe disease. I use an initial dosage of 12.5 mg/kg q8h. It is important to continue induction therapy for a minimum of 4 weeks before modifying drug dosage. With resolution of signs, SASA dosages are gradually decreased by 25% at 2 week intervals and eventually discontinued while maintaining dietary management. Caution is advised in using SASA in cats because of their sensitivity to salicylates." and then there is this site: http://www.chicagovma.org/pdfs/ceprograms/Chicago-VMA-Canine-IBD-2008.pdf which says: "Sulfasalazine – Sulfasalazine is a highly effective prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor that has proven efficacy in the therapy of large bowel IBD in the dog. Sulfasalazine is a compound molecule of 5- aminosalicylate (meselamine) and sulfapyridine linked in an azo chemical bond. Following oral dosing, most of the sulfasalazine is transported to the distal gastrointestinal tract where cecal and colonic bacteria metabolize the drug to its component parts. Sulfapyridine is largely absorbed by the colonic mucosa but much of the 5-aminosalicylate remains in the colonic lumen where it inhibits mucosal lipoxygenase and the inflammatory cascade. Sulfasalazine has been recommended for the treatment of canine large bowel IBD at doses of 10-25 mg/kg PO TID for 4-6 weeks. With resolution of clinical signs, sulfasalazine dosages are gradually decreased by 25 per cent at 2-week intervals and eventually discontinued while maintaining dietary management. Salicylates are readily absorbed and induce toxicity in cats, therefore this drug classification should be used with great caution in cats. If used in cats, some authors have recommended using half of the recommended dog dose (i.e., 5-12.5 mg/kg PO TID. Sulfasalazine usage has been associated with the development of keratoconjunctivitis sicca in the dog, so tear production should be assessed subjectively (by the pet owner) and objectively (by the veterinarian) during usage." and then there is this Web site http://www.marvistavet.com/html/sulfasalazine.html which you might want to read in its entirety |
| Joanne MN |
| Hi, Kent was prescribed sulfasalazine at one point, and i did research, and found in the small print that it is contraindicated for autoimmune disorders - it can contribute to AIHA. I dont have the info for a website, i read the small print when i got the prescription. I refused to give it to Kent. The vet had never heard of it being contraindicated. But it was right on the warnings etc. I think there are other options for treatment. We went with Baytril i think or another antibiotic. Christine |
| Christine FL |
This thread was discussed between 05/06/2009 and 06/06/2009
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