Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Tori's Treatment

Patrice and all who have been encouraging and praying for us~ Tori continued to bruise where ever we touched her, so we went in to the vet this morning. CBC results below: Last Thursday's Today's: RBC 44.96 (low) RBC 4.83 (low) HCT 37.4 (normal) HCT 36.3 (low) WBC 5.81 (normal) WBC 8.67 (normal) PLT 83 (low) PLT 70 (lower) The vet has increased the Pred to 5mg in the morning and 5 mg in the evening. Gave her a Vitmen K shot this morning and starting tomorrow,Vit K1 Chew(50mg) 1/4 1xdaily for 21 days. Patrice, I told her about Dr. Dobbs and what I had read about the thyroid med helping to produce the platelets and she argreed! So, Tori started on the exact dosage that Dr Dobs recommemded~1/2 of a .1mg tablet every 12 hours because Tori is only 9 lbs. She has also taken her off all her toys, play hard treats/chew bones and we must soften her dogfood with water. All rest and "no rough housing" this week! It is too dangerous for injury and internal bleeding. Although, I did not email Dr. Dobbs our vet took her name and website and knows she can consult Dr. Dobbs. I will email her and thank her for her protocall for "bleeding" and let her know our situation should Tori's condition worsen. I'm so grateful to our vet Dr. Breeze and the staff at the Animal Hospital, who are on top of this since the onset. You all are so great in helping us manuver through this maze of unexpected crisis. Blessings, Cindi & Tori (currently fighting ITP)

Cindi FL

Cindi, I sure did a "high five" dance when I read this! Your vet is great! I have great optimism that this will succeed. Everything sounds like it is a good plan. Now you have a lot of work ahead of you. Keep the faith. my best patrice ps It is Dr. Dodds not Dobbs! Jean Dodds

Patrice NYS

Cindi, Good thoughts and Prayers going your way. I wish that we would have known about this site and Dr. Dodds when our little Lucky had been diagnosed With Autoimmune Disease. This site is so helpful to so many, I wish you the very best..... Tori, the best to you too! :)

Kathy Calif.

Wow! Already showing improvement in 24 hours!!!!! Her bruising has stopped. I pray that the platelets are improving quickly. Hate that is is back on the high Pred, but it is necessary. Hope it does it's job before any unwanted side effects began. Thanks for your thoughts of compassion and pray. Blessings, Cindi & Tori

Cindi FL

Cindi, Good News! Prayers will continue.

Kathy Calif.

I got the nicest reply from Dr. Dodds conerning Tori. She writes her comments in RED and she agrees with her current treatment and sent a good article on Immune-Mediated Hematological Diseases. Has three study groups and the findings. Very good info. If any one would like it, please email me (FreeinChrist1 @aol .com Please remove spaces)) with your email and I will send in out, as it is a WORD document. We all owe Dr.Dodds a ton of gratitude for her and Hemopet and the services she offers. Continued prayers for our furbabies! Blessings, Cindi & Tori (IMHA/ITP)

Cindi FL

Hi Cindi, we too had a Tori, she too had imha and imt, she was diagnosed at age 2 and fought this disease for 10 yrs. we joined this forum in 1992, when it was brand new. just like the crew now, the crew then was very supportive and informative with info on how treatment was going and how the pooches were doing and passing on every new nuance that was found, we had Joanne to thank, and most of us remained in contact well past the animals recovery or god forbid the bad scenerio. take care Bev

Bev canada

Tori's platelets are back up! But now her original anemia (IMHA) shows she has relapsed. CBC results: RBC 4.26 (Low) HCT 32.2 (Low) PCV 40 (down from 43 last week) MCH 30.5 (High) %Retic 0.6 Retic 24.6 WBC 19.47 (High) NEU 15.31 (High) MOMO 2.71 (High) PLT 345 Everything else was normal. We talked about a bone marrow aspiration and decided not to put Tori through it. Tomorrow we are adding Cycloporine for two weeks only, Azathioprine and Melatonin (from the drug store) which is suppose to help according to the latest research. I will know what dosages and directions tomorrow after I go pick up the meds and then I will post it. Trying to get my head wrapped around this new attack, so I will stop and go love on my Tori for awhile. Blessings to ALL, Cindi & Tori (Evans Syndrome confirmed)

Cindi FL

Off to the vet to pick-up meds and directions,,,Staying positive and praying for quick response and little to no side-affects. Blessings, Cindi & Tori

Cindi FL

Cindi, Sorry i don't remember, have you talked about thyroid supplement to your vet? This was part of the turn around for my dog. Dr. Dodds usually adds it to the protocol. Best wishes, crossing fingers for good results, Brigitte

Brigitte BC

Yes, Brigette, Tori is on Soloxine. Just got back from the vets. Since Tori does not have a tranfusion option this time they are treating this relapse with an aggresive plan. Here are the meds: Currently: Prednisone 5mg every 12 hours Soloxine 1/2 tab every 12 hours Vit K 1/4 tab every morning Sulcrafate 1/2 1mg tab at least 1 hour before the Prednisone Added today: Atopica (cyclosporine) 1 50mg capsule misday to avoid drug interaction for 2 weeks Melatonin 6 mg every 24 hours for immunosupport along with immunomodulayors Pepsid 1 tab crushed in her noon meal. To be added: Azathioprine 4mg every 24 hours (on order) CBC to be rechecked in 2 weeks or sooner if we see any changes. So here we go again...got to make a med schedule to avoid messing up times and dosages and a journal to jot down any noticeable changes. I agree, this disease is most unpredictable and frustrating and all we want is to help our furbabies to get well and STAY well. Prayers for all and thanks for your comments and suggestions. It is good to have this place to share the good, bad and indifferent! I will email Dr Dodds and let her know what's happening. Blessings, Cindi & Tori (Evans Syndrone confirmed)

Cindi FL

Forget to say, the vet discussed a bone marrow asspiration and we decided against it. Thanks Patrice...we all agreed it wasn't really necessary in her case. Her gums are a bit pale tonight. Praying the med suppressant kicks in soon!!!!! Blessings, Cindi & Tori (Evans Syndrone)

Cindi Fl

Cindi, I may not be here everyday but I think about Tori many times during the day. I think you have an excellent protocol, so similar to Dr. Dodd's bone marrow failure protocol. It is nearly exactly what I used with Chance, with just a few small differences. We started the cyclosporine (as Atopica) at the highest dose recommended for dogs with atophy (inhaled allergies) and it took not quite 3 weeks to see some small upward increase in the reticulocytes. It was a very tiny amount that first CBC, but both Dr. C and I did a happy dance because we knew it was the beginning of recovery. It was just in time, Chance was nearly beaten down by the side effects of the prednisone. He had not made his own blood or white blood cells for 3-4 months. The following weeks were extraordinary as the reticulocytes continued to rise. Within a few months Chance was inwardly recovered. He looked awful (because of the side effects of prednisone) but he eventually recovered his muscle tone and beautiful coat. There was never a relapse of bone marrow failure. He had a very strong will to live and continued to run our household with delight. But he did develop a heart condition a few years later. He survived to 12 years of age, which is a good age for a Giant Schnauzer. You will not get much sleep for a while, you will be exhausted. It can be very emotional, but for Tori's sake, put that aside for now to be positive and cheerful. Take small breaks to refreshen yourself. I made sure I read a bit of a good book (no, not a medical book!) everyday, got my hair done, rented a good movie, cooked a special meal. We didn't go out much until he was much better but life was as normal as possible. I felt that if he was not going to make it, at least I could make sure his time remaining with us was good. my best patrice

Patrice NYS

Thank you so much Patrice for keeping us in your thoughts. I'm grateful we caught it early and I remember the first time with a HCT of 12 and we really thought we had lost her then. Like Chance, she has a strong will to live and be a part of our lives. I am thankful you had Chance for some more time. He was blessed to have you, I'm sure! Sometimes we are so consumed with their care, we do forget ablout ourselves. Thank you for the reminder. Once she has her next medication, I am now planning to go down and lay on a raft in the pool! A little Vit D will be good. Have a great day! Blessings to all! Cindi & Tori (Evans Syndrome)

Cindi FL

To those requesting Dr Dodds Info~ My apologies for responding to your email requests for Dr Jean Dodds IMHA document. Most of your mail went into my junk mail and I had to retrieve it yesterday. Blessings to all, Cindi & Tori (Evans Syndrome)

Cindi FL

This thread was discussed between 19/09/2011 and 26/09/2011

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