Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - This is a new case posted 23/02 from Myriam

Myriam, belgium-europe, cat-dogwoman@hotmail.com hello, my cocker became ill this week: she wouldn't eat, was depressed and had a fever. we are still waiting for the rest of the results of the bloodtest, but the vet has diagnosed her as having anemia. would this mean automaticly that she has aiha? it's weekend now and i am searching the internet for more info. could someone please help, because i am very woried. thank you

Posted for Myriam by Tricia Belgium

Myriam. I'm so sorry to hear about your Cocker, hopefully when you receieve the results of the blood tests, you will have a better idea as to what is causing the anemia. You have come to the best place for information on AIHA, if this is what your Cocker has. My thoughts are with you. Tricia p.s. I have sent you an email

Tricia UK

myriam, so sorry to hear about you cocker.Make sure your vet has alot of experiance with IMHA is your dog does have it.May thoughts and prayers are with you both. Kathy

kathy pacifica

Hello, just heard from the vet. he says shakira's both red and white bloodcells were low because of an infection. he seems to think antibiotics should cure this,which I'm already giving her. he thinks it would be an accute condition, but is still careful about the prognoses. does anybody have a view on this? I hope everything is well with you. myriam

Myriam belgium

Myriam, I am so sorry to hear about your Cocker becoming ill. It can be very frightening to hear this news so suddenly. Let's try to figure out what is happening. Do you know what kind of tests your vet has had done? There can be many causes of anemia other than AIHA. Some of them can be ruled out very quickly by just a few simple questions, other causes require a little investigation. Some other causes include tick diseases, ingestion of foods containing onion, eating a coin that contains zinc, certain medications, recent vaccinations, low thyroid, some cancers etc. Some of these can cause a primary anemia, others can cause a secondary anemia. By this I mean, for instance, the substance zinc can cause a direct anemia that is not related to the immune system, this would be primary. A recent vaccination can indirectly stimulate the immune system in a way that it not only develops antigens to the diseases it is supposed to protect against, but it might develop them against the body's own blood cells. A tick disease can develop in the blood cells that causes the body to create antigens against the blood cells. Some malignant tumors can cause an indirect anemia. Knowing more of the history of your Cocker would help determine what is happening. Have you been traveling in the last few months? Do you spend a lot of time in the woods where there might be ticks? Could your Cocker have eaten a coin? Were there recent vaccinations? Do you often feed your dog scraps from the table that might contain onions? An infection of the kidney might have this kind of suppressive action on the red and white blood cell lines. What is the name of the antibiotic that you have been prescribed? Did your vet do a careful manual exam of the internal organs? Was there any difference in your Cocker's weight from other visits? Have you noticed any unusual lumps or bumps anywhere? When you get your results from your blood test, ask for a copy. There are many people here on this list that can help you read this and understand it better. My best, Patrice

Patrice New York State

Hello Patrice, all I know for the moment is: low red and white bloodcells and signs of infection meds:vetrimoxin 2/day we're back at the vet thursday, so hope for more news. good advice to ask for results of the blood test; over here they never give you the results on paper, I think. Thank you for the respons! Myriam

Myriam belgium

myriam, the thread from Patrice had so much info about IMHA if that is what your dog has if your dog seems worse tomarrow dont wait till thursday till if it is IMHA time is not on your side watch the gums make sure they arnt pale and watch her energy level.its very important Kathy Bellas mama

kathy pacifica

thank you all for being so helpfull and concerned.of course my shakira is doing better, or I would have taken her back to the vet straightaway. that's why I'm still not sure she has this disease. she eats well,has no more fever, has energy to play even. I will know more tomorrow. myriam

Myriam belgium

Hello, After doing well last week, shakira had a relaps and has since had injections twice. The vet now put her on Moderin 16mg/day and Zitromax 250g/day to exclude any infection. Does anyone have any experience with Moderin as you always seem to use Prednison? I do hope this will work! hope everything is better over on your side. myriam

Myriam cat-dogwoman@hotmail.com

This thread was discussed between 23/02/2008 and 10/03/2008

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