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Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Tiggs Update
| Well, things in our neighborhood are pretty good. We had another Pred reduction the other day. Tiggs is now on 5mg/twice a day, still on 30mg Aza everyday, and of course, Pepcid.PCV has been between 37-40. Actually my vet didn't want to reduce since he went from 40 two weeks ago, to 37/38 this week. I said I wasn't worried (ha, a miracle!) because Tiggy has been feeling good and has decent energy. Also, he felt so much better after his last reduction, that I really advocated for her to bring it down to the 5mg. I hope it was the right call, and so far, so good. But, the prompting for this post isn't about all that, it's that I happened to help a vet today in my line of work, and she is an eye specialist (only one of two in Utah apparently). I asked her why Tiggs' eyes are so goopy, they've been very runny with grey discharge. She looked at him, and said his eyes actually looked great, and that that the extreme muscle wasting aroud the head causes the eyes to retract a little bit and puts some pressure on the ducts. Plus where they would normally drain, something about the goop doesn't really drain that way with the new shape of the head, thus sort of collects. But, unless it's a funky color, it's harmless. Anyone else experience this? She also said his head would never really return to normal, even after Pred...is this true??? It also made me worry about his back legs, although Patrice reassured me they would return, though it could take a while. Thanks for reading and share any thoughts you might have! melissa and tiggs |
| Melissa |
| Melissa, I can't answer any of your questions, but I'm sure someone who can will post soon. Darcy's eyes have been a bit runny, but the discharge is clear. It has an unpleasant odor. I asked the specialist about it and she agreed that it was probably allergies and nothing to worry about. All she recommended was wiping off the discharge with a warm, damp washcloth. I do want you to know that I'm glad Tiggs is doing so well and you've been able to lower his meds. Thank you for the info and support you always offer. I'm praying for you and Tiggs. Karen |
| Karen NC |
| Hi Melissa! Talk about eye discharge. My American Eskimo's eyes have been running like crazy. She's always had some, but worse since being diagnosed. The odor is AWFUL!!! I am so glad she is not the only one. Maybe someone will know why. Did Tiggs start out with a higher dose of Aza.? Mia is down to 20 mg of Prednisone, but they haven't reduced her Aza. She's on 50 mg a day. Hope you get some answers on your questions! Good luck! Liz and Mia |
| Liz Nashville TN |
| Hi Liz, Tiggs' eye goop doesn't stink at all, and I think it makes sense what the vet I met mentioned about the wasting, and the shape of the head now creating some pressure on the ducts, etc. She and my own vet just said to make sure it's not yellow or green (infection), so hopefully Mia's isn't a funky color..I'm just bummed at the thought that his head might not ever fill back in, but it is a small price to pay if he is healthy. Tiggs' Aza has not ever been changed either- he's always been on 30/day only in the am. My vet only wanted to 'tinker' with one med at a time, and for now that is the Pred (which he started out at diagnosis in July on 120mg/day!!!), now down to just 10 mg total per day. I am hoping at some point that the Aza will move to an every other day schedule, as many here have done. But, I'm glad we're not the only one with goopy eyes :) I had tried to post a link earlier, but the system booted me out for trying to do so, but if anyone is intersted in the 'before and after' shots of Tiggy's poor head and eye goop, email me and I can share. It's quite drastic in my opinion. I know Josh and Sway have experienced some severe wasting as well around the face. Probably very noticeable since they have short hair and normally a very blocky pit bull head. melissa and tiggs |
| melissa slc |
| Hi Melissa, I see Tiggs and Fred are on the same path. getting better with all these side effects. freds right eye. his third lid is exposed and his eye is goopy it looks pitiful, but doesn't see to bother him, his head for awhile looked like a pyramid. with weight gain it does look better. He is on a high protein Prescription Diet food n/d. he has gained back most of his weight.... But this food really gives him bad gas.... phew!!!! So if its not one thing its another.... Let me know how Tiggs is doing. Here's to good health! |
| beth va |
| It may be worth having the vet take a swab of the eye and culture it for bacterial testing. Our Ethel had extremely goopy eyes for a long time, and the vets kept having us add OptImmune (cyclosporine) which did not help at all. After two days of an antibiotic eye drop (polymyxin + bacitractin + cyclosporine), it cleared up and has not recurred. A culture of the eye grew E. coli and some variety of hemolytic strep. Just a thought that it may be worth investigating further. |
| Brian Vermont |
This thread was discussed between 07/11/2008 and 17/11/2008
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