Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Sway update, 12/12

sway is still holding onto a 21%...down a few points from a month ago but still hanging in there none the less. it has been 81 days since her last transfusion. from the outside she is still on the up and up and is able to move around, trot and attempt a jump (even though she only gets a few inches off the ground) she is still getting a weekly durabolin shot, and reduced meds on an every other day basis. she is also getting treatment (clavamox) for a urinary tract infection that refuses to go away. ...still awaiting that rise in her % number. best of luck to all dogs facing this disease! have the best possible holidays.

josh california

Thats great news Josh, we are really pleased for you. Jackie and Jasper

Jackie pembrokeshire; west wales; uk

Josh, Have they done a culture on the UTI? Maybe a change of antibiotics is called for? Glad to hear she is up and at them even though her numbers seem to be stuck. Enjoy everyday to the fullest. Penny

Penny hydra@tstonramp.com

Josh: I was wondering. Good to hear! I'm hoping you are at a stable waystation for the time being. Sway will indeed run and jump again but it takes a number of months. Best wishes, TBO & Lola

Tim CA

Josh, I like your news! Hope to hear more!

Al Florida

Josh, Great news for you and Sway hope u have a Great Christmas and A Happy New Year

Teresa Smithfield Kentucky

Josh, give Sway a big hug from us. What a fighter she is. Hope you have a great Christmas! deb and Duck

Debbie BC Canada

Way to go Sway!

leslie ca

Josh - Shortly after Shadow was first diagnosed (on Oct. 19, I wrote you and Patrice re: cyclo. Patrice because she seems to know everything about AIHA and you because Sway had had an adverse reaction to cyclosporine. I didn't respond to either of your responses to my inquiry, because Shadow was in such bad circumstances and I was in such shock at how suddenly this disease can come on, seem to consume your dog and your whole life (with none of your friends and/or family members understanding how in SHOCK and consumed by it that we are). The greatest advice I've received from this board is: every dog reacts differently to the AIHA cocktail. Shadow, like Sway, reacted to cyclo terribly, terribly, terribly! I told her primary AIHA vet; he backed her dosage down. She still reacted terribly. He put her on a five days on (at half dosage) two days off schedule. She still reacted terribly. Every time she took cyclo, she became more and more lethargic, disinterested and glassy-eyed. He went on vacation. I told Shad's local vet that I thought cyclo was KILLING Shad, and explained my anectdotal observations. She told me that, as a vet, she couldn't recommend that I deviate from the standard treatment protocol, but that I needed to trust my gut instincts. (She knows how much my dogs and cats mean to me.) So, I unilaterally trusted my gut instincts and took Shadow off the cyclo cold turkey. THAT's when she started to improve, almost immediately. Before I took Shadow off of cyclo, she'd had her third transfusion. After her third transfusion, her pcv was 24; it rose to 28 the following week ; then (back on cyclo) fell to 21. I (unilaterally) took her off of it. Her pcv rose - 10 days later - to 31.9. And, today (totally off of cyclo for three or four weeks), her pcv was 38.4! WITHIN THE NORMAL RANGE. I don't recommend that you take Sway off of cyclo as "cold turkey" as I took Shadow off it - Sway's been on cyclo for far longer than Shad was. But, based SOLELY on Shadow's and my (anecdotal) experience, some dogs just can't tolerate it: and, not only can they not tolerate it, it kills them. I'm not a vet: I'm just hoping to give you documented, anecdotal "evidence" that can help you and Sway's vet make the best decisions for you and Sway. Shadow sends her love to you both, as do I. Sandy & Shad

Sandy Utah

sandy- that is great news, very happy for you and shadow. sway has actually been off of cyclo for long periods of time, at points during weeks where she was diving and getting transfusion after transfusion. so she has been off of it cold turkey and it wasnt the answer to our issues like it seems to be for shadow. sway is on an extremely low dose of it...only 50mg every other day, and she seems to be able to handle that. originally per her body weight she was set to get a very large dose 150+mg 2x a day...and that, mixed with the high dosage of prednisone was absolutely depleting her body & killing her just as bad as the disease itself. and your right, every case is different and unique. there is no standard for expecting a dog to turn around when they have this disease. every dog reacts differntly.

josh california

This thread was discussed between 12/12/2007 and 17/12/2007

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