Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Trixie-I'm a little concerned?

Trixie's Pred was lowered to 3/4 mornings and still her normal 1/2 evenings(nearly 4 days ago)She hasn't been panting in a long time, even when she was on 1 pred morning and 1/2 evenings. Yesterday she began to pant and last night I could hear her panting when I was in bed. I got up at about 1 am and let her out in the back garden for a wee. When she came in she was still panting, I decided to bring my douvet downstairs and stay with her. The panting sounded awful, real harsh. Have any of you experienced this with your doggies, when the dose of Pred was reduced? I was always under the impression high doseage of Pred does cause panting but also thought when the medication was lowered the panting lessened? Many thanks Tricia. p.s. her gums are still looking fine and she seems to be well in herself. Last night I actually thought she would no longer be able to catch her breath!

Tricia UK

Tricia, I would be concerned about the harsh panting, especially since it had gotten better before this latest reduction with her pred. Lindy had very labored breathing while on high doeses of pred but I don't remember that it got *worse* when she was cut back. How is her activity today? Does she seem okay otherwise? You may want to talk to her specialist about this if it continues today. Nancy

Nancy CO

Hello Nancy Thanks for your message. Today she hasn't been too bad at all. I did call her Vet this morning, he said normally with the reduction of Pred, the panting will be less, but he went on to say, Pred can do strange things. He asked how she is in herself, I told him this morning she seems better. He went on to say her PCV could have dropped, or she could have a chest infection. He said to see how she goes and if she doesnt improve to take her in and they will check her chest and do a blood test. So far today and its 6 pm here now, she is doing ok with hardly any panting at all. Her gums look pretty good also. Hopefully it was a one off. Tricia

Tricia UK

Hi Tracia, I'm glad to hear Trixie is doing good today and her gums are still pink. Lindy would sound terrible with her breathing to the point, I too thought she was going to not be able to breathe anymore. She was on pred for over two years, so it took awhile for me to not be worried over how she sounded. Hopefully this was just one of those pred things and she will be fine. Nancy

Nancy CO

Since Nancy has been talking about Lindy I thought I would mention that you can read Lindy's AIHA Success Story at the following URL http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/archives18.htm Lindy is the January 2007 Success Story at the Meisha's Hope Web site

Joanne MN

Thanks Joanne for posting Lindy's success story site. You are so dedicated and spend a lot of time getting the word out that dogs do survive this disease and go on to have happy lives! Hugs, Nancy and Lindy

Nancy CO

Tricia, Jasper has had a dip with every pred reduction. Nothing you can really put your finger on.... just not himself. This lasts for 3 to 4 days and then he perks up. The only thing I can put it down to is his body having to compensate for the reduction in meds. Nevertheless he causes us concern each and every time even though we have started to read the signs. Jackie and Jasperdog

Jackie pembrokeshire; west wales; uk

Tricia...the high doses of prednisone have suppressed Trixie's ability to produce "cortisol". The reason you want to wean her slowly off the pred. is so it her adrenal glands will start to be stimulated and produce the cortisol on their own. The dogs lose the ability to react to any kind of stress and when the dosage is lowered they react accordingly. It is a fine balance to get them off before the prednisone affects their stomach or causes "muscle wasting" and taking them off too fast and causing a relapse. Good luck....Ron

Ron B San Mateo

Thanks again for your replies. I contacted Bristol hospital yesterday and explained about Trixie's excessive panting, almost a rasping sound. I was told she may have a chest infection and to take her to her vet, just to have her checked over. If she does have one, then she will be put on antibiotics to help with this. I'll know more this evening. Yesterday and also this morning I noticed she is not panting as bad, nothing like the other night! Bristol Hospital also suggested our vet do a PCV test towards the end of the week, to see what changes there are since she has been put on a lesser dose of pred. It's a week today that it was lowered. Tricia

Tricia UK

This thread was discussed between 23/02/2008 and 26/02/2008

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