Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - This is all very new for me

We have a beautiful collie X, she is about 5 years of age now. About 3 weeks ago, she came upstairs on morning as I was getting ready for work, as I looked from where I was standing, she had her 2 front legs on the top stair, I looked, she had her head down and looked and sounded like she was having a hard time getting her breath. I called her into my room , she came in but was a little wobbley on all fours. Needless to say I was shocked. That day I noticed she wasn't eating very much and seemed tired, not her usual self. I took her to the vet and gave her antibiotics, her gums were pale and she had a temperature. They decided to do blood tests and it seems she has "AUTOIMMUNE HEMOLYTIC ANEMIA". For the past week and a half she has been on medication, one of which is steriods, she has tablets she has to take 1, 3 x a day, 2, 2 x a day and one once a day. Since taking this medication, she is eating far morn than normal, drinking loads and seems real bloated and of course not very active,her breathing is also rapid ans she pants!. I hate seening her like this. She goes back for another blood test this Thursday and hopefully there will be a difference. I have noticed that her gums are more pinkish in colour. I just hope her medication will be cut down and that she will soon get back to normal again. I would be greatful for any feed back from other dog owners who may have experienced the same as what is happening with Trixie and if and how long did it take for you dog to get back to normal? Many thanks Tricia

Tricia UK

I know exactly how you feel. My little Lhasa Apso Ernie was diagnosed 2 weeks ago after about a week of not really being himself. Apparently it comes on very rapidly in some dogs and more gradually in others. Ernie was obviously more gradual and at first I just thought he was just a bit off colour. He's responded really well to the medication, his last blood test was a massive improvement and he seems much better in himself. It's a long road but we seem to be heading in the right direction.

Sue Northants UK

Thanks for that Sue. I'm happy I found this website, it's good to be able to share things and hear from other people who are going through the same thing. I'm happy to hear Ernie has made a big improvement, I take it his medication has been or will be reduced? From what the vet told me, sometimes dogs can get over this very quickly, however others do take longer.

Tricia UK

On Ernies last blood test he was very nearly back within normal range. He's having another test later this week and assuming he's improved a bit more we're going to reduce his pred by 25%. My vet seems pretty keen to reduce as soon as possible but everything I've read warns about reducing too soon or too suddenly, so I'm learning to challenge him when I feel it's necessary. He's the vet and I'm grateful for what he's doing for Ernie but I'm prepared to challenge him when his advice is contrary to everything I read about this illness.

Sue Northants UK

Yes, Sue, my vet said the same, re the medication, apparently dogs have to be weaned off it, slowly over a period of time. Hey I just some into on here about fleas, Frontline and AIHA! Makes you wonder.

Tricia UK

We are 70 plus days out from diagnosis. We have been having 25% pred reduction every 30 days. I gave Cranky Interceptor on Sunday before he got sick on Wednesday...that just weighs on my mind. Teresa and Cranky

Teresa Smithfield

Hi Tricia and Sue, My Golden Retriever (10 years old at the time) was diagnosed almost 2 years ago. It took us 1 year and 5 months to completely wean him from the medications. I truely believe that one of the keys to survival is a SLOW withdrawl of the meds. Yes, the meds can make your dog gain weight or lose muscle. They can get skin infections, have high liver values, have to pee constantly and pant. But these symptoms do subside after a SLOW withdrawl from the medications. My dog had many of these side effects and then some, and is now 12 1/2 and doing great! I was lucky that I was able to come home during the day and give Angelo a small meal and take him out to the bathroom. I woke up several times at night to do so as well. It was a small price to pay! There will be good days and bad days but don't rush it. Take care of your babies and don't forget to take care of yourselves too! You are all in my thoughts, Jeanne in NJ Goldens, Angelo & Archie

Jeanne New Jersey

among all the comments to wean off slowly, the dangers Prednisone itself poses must also be weighed, the shorter the time spent on Prednisone the better so the trick is to get the dog weaned off it as soon as possible once PCV has stabilized that is a personal decision based on the health of the dog, their recovery to a "normal" PCV value, and the damage being inflicted while on the Prednisone dosage and weaning schedules/strategies are not a black and white decision and must be made carefully on an individual basis with thorough research

Otto Brooklyn

Tricia, Like Sue with Ernie, Jasper responded really well to the medication. Its good to see an improvement with Trixie, the pred can take anything between 5 and 7 days to kick in so give it a chance to work. After Jasper's (spaniel collie cross) initial collapse on the beach, he spent 2 nights in the vets on a drip. He had a scan and x ray and they thought because of his enlarged liver that he had liver failure. We actually brought him home with the view of calling the vet out to put him to sleep at home!!!!! On the saturday afternoon his bloods came back and was put on pred straight away. He laid flat on the floor for 5 days, not eating or moving, only drinking water. We even had to help him up onto his feet and out to wee!!!! As the meds kicked in he improved steadily. We take each day as it comes and take nothing for granted. We have really good days when we think hooray and then not so good days when he is more lethargic and we worry all the time. The best way to describe it like a rollercoaster with ups and downs!!!

jackie pembrokeshire; west wales; uk

Tricia, My TC had IMHA last January, but the vet did not tell me what it was, he thought it may have been Ericlosis ( a tick disease) same symtoms but the tick tests all came back negative. TC responded well to the predisone and by March he was off all meds. He looked great in August and we boarded him at the vet while we were on vacation, they gave him all his vaccines as he had not told me TC had IMHA and I did not know the dangers of vaccine's for an IMHA dog at the time. On Sept 10th I have him a heartworm tablet and on Sept 12 he had a relaspe. 2nd time around we took him to a vet Oncologist who treats many IMHA dogs in our area. He is home and improving but this is a horrible disease, many dogs relaspe. I have read it could be from reducing meds to quickly or b/c of the vaccines. Seems there is no definite answer. Hang in there!

Wendy Tampa FL

Thank you all for your replies, they mean a lot to me. It's been really helpful hearing all your experiences and being able to compare. Tomorrow, of course Trixie will be off to the vet for another blood test, this will show, hopefully that there is an improvement. I can't really see any change in her, she is still very quiet and lays on the floor, on her side, not sleeping, just really staring, poor baby. I do hope that as soon as the results come through, they will be able to cut her medication down a little and hopefull I'll begin to see some improvement one way or another. I do know it will take time though, the hardest part will be the waiting! Thank you all again x

Tricia UK

It's horrible seeing them so ill and not being able to make them feel better. Ernie is actually not too bad at the moment, he seems quite lively and willing to play ball a little bit. As yet he hasn't put on much weight with the steroids but he's eating more and weeing for Britain! He's also a lot more grumpy and short tempered than usual, not sure if that's the steroids or just the fact that he isn't feeling well. I'll know he's really better when he starts pelting round the garden with his 'imaginary friend'. He usually enjoys a good bundle with my other 2 dogs but on the occasions when they can't be bothered to play he uses his invisible friend as a stand by. Fingers crossed that Trixies blood test brings good news.

Sue Northants UK

Tricia, Good luck at the vets tomorrow with Trixie. Jasper had to have his medication altered in the first few weeks. Whilst his red blood count was improving there was still evidence that the disease was destroying them. The first few weeks can be a little hit and miss and if she hasn't responded well enough to her current drugs there are other drugs to try. These things take time. Ask the vet what her red blood count and her PCV count is. It will give you and indication of how she is doing compared to last time. Jaspers first RBC was 2, then it went to 3.6, and then 4.8. Each test was taken 10 to 12 days apart, apart from the last one which was 3 weeks later. Jasper had his latest blood test yesterday, but the results haven't come back today. So we will probably find out tomorrow morning now. His results are sent off to the lab as they don't do it in our vets!!!!! Fingers crossed for you both, Jackie and Jasperdog PS. He bounced around on his walk this evening!!!!!

Jackie pembrokeshire; west wales; uk

Hi Sue and Jackie. Yes, it is awful seeing them so unwell. Jackie, it's the same here, the blood has to be sent way!! I am going to ask if they can push it through and hopefully I'll have some news by Saturday and yes I will certainly ask what her blood count is. Sue, with Trixie she isn't grumpy, but is just very quiet. I'm not sure if she sleeps when she is lying on the carpet as each time I look at her, her eyes are open, and I have the feeling she is saying, oh dear, what's the matter with me? I have noticed she is not panting as much this evening:) Tricia x

Tricia UK

That's one of the reasons I moved Jaspers appointment forward a day. If we are looking at as possible reduction this time I don't want to have to start it close to the weekend!!!! When Jasper was really quite ill he just laid down watching us with his eyes. He was really quiet. He didn't eat for 7 days. The pred will make them lethargic, aswell as a low red blood count. Jasper is only on 20 mg a day, divided into 2 doses.Some dogs are on larger doses, depending on size, weight and where they are in their treatment. Am I right in thinking Trixie is on a higher dose Than Jazzy at the moment? The RBC and PCV count levels are important, but most important is the controlling of the disease. Once there is no more hemolysis the RBC will improve more rapidly....., she will have more energy and be more like her usual self....There may be blips on the way! We will be thinking of you both. This board is brilliant for help and support.

Jackie pembrokeshire; west wales; uk

Hi Jackie. Trixie is on 25mg 1 tablet twice a day, so 50mgs a day, she is a collie x, so her size is much like a collie, however she has gained some weight since being on the medication. Thanks for your warm thoughts. As I said, I do hope that if her blood levels have improved, they will reduce her medication a little. Will post tomorrow when I get back from the vets.

Tricia UK

This thread was discussed between 16/10/2007 and 17/10/2007

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