Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Trixie's update

Hello everyone. Well, the vet phoned me yesterday and she had Trixie's blood test results back (this was her 2nd test) and, good news! she has really improved, I was asked to cut her Pren down to just 1 a day rather than 2 :+) and continue the other medication, I shall be taking her back in 2 weeks time to see how she is doing on just one Pren. xx

Tricia UK

Tricia, That is really good news, we are so pleased for you and Trixie. She has turned around really quickly. What are her pcv and rbc counts? We start our first reduction next Wednesday, down from 20 mg to 15 mg for 2 weeks ....then down to 10mg per day for a month..... with a blood test inbetween just to check progress.....!!!!!!!!!! We are doing it slowly. Jackie and Jasper

Jackie pembrokeshire; west wales; uk

Great news Tricia. Looks like Jasper, Ernie and Trixie are all pretty much at the same stage. Ernie started his first dose reduction on Friday, from 10mg per day down to 7.5mg per day. He's going for another blood test this coming Friday. The ideal would be to do a blood test 10 days after the reduction but Ern's vet is going to be away for a week, so it was a case of do it before he goes or wait til he comes back. We haven't discussed when his next reduction might be but I'm in no hurry. Ern has done so well that I'm not prepared to risk a relapse by reducing too fast.

Sue Northants UK

Sue, Have you noticed any differences, or improvements with little Ern with regards to the reduction. Whilst Jasper is improving, the impending reduction is causing me a few worries.....sometimes being on the medication is like having a safety blanket. I know he needs to come off it, but like you I am always fearful of a relapse....!!I really don't want to go back to that awful weekend!! Keep up the good work guys, Jackie

Jackie pembrokeshire; west wales; uk

I can very much relate to the feeling of medication being a security blanket. I resisted our vets suggestion of a reduction 2 weeks ago because I felt really strongly that it was too early. Now I feel it's probably the right time to try and reduce but I'm constantly worried and probably behaving like an over anxious parent. We're only 4 days into his reduction and to be honest I've noticed very little difference. His colour and temperature are both fine and he's showing no signs of any deterioration. If anything his energy levels are showing a very slight improvement. In the last couple of days he's starting to show a little bit of interest in playing with my other 2 dogs, which hasn't happened at all since his illness started. Fortunately I share my home with 2 friends who love the animals as much as I do and because we all work different hours it means that 90% of the time someone is here with Ernie. It helps that there are 3 of us to look after him and sometimes they help to keep me grounded when I'm being over paranoid.

Sue Northants UK

Hi there. Yes I agree with what you said about the "security blanket" I feel like that also, I am watching Trixie most of the time, I must have checked her gums at least a dozen times today lol, wondering if they are looking a little pale since the reduction of her medication! I think she is doing ok. Last night she came upstairs and slept on the carpet along side my bed. That's a first in a few weeks! she is also jumping up on the sofa to curl up now :+) So I would say there is some improvement, however, I'll still be making a close check on her, now that her Pred has been cut down, she is on 25mg now and not 50mg. Sue, Trixie's energy seems to have picked up also, well it has over the past few days. Jackie I can understand how you are also feeling, I also fear of a relapse, but all we can do is keep an eye on them and if we have any doubts call the vet. xx

Tricia UK

I'm glad i'm not the only one who is over cautious....!!!! That's a great sign that she has made it up to bed and on the sofa. I slept downstairs with Jasper for the first 5 nights when he was initially diagnosed. He slept on the floor on his blankets in the living room and I slept on the floor next to him. 5 days in, I managed to get his blankets into the washing machine and thought it would be a good idea to hoover up as I hadn't done it all week because he couldn't move. I started hoovering in the dining room and brought the hoover into the living room.........to discover Jasper sitting on the sofa out of my way!!!!!!!!!!!CHEEKY SO AND SO!!! Needless to say.........he came upstairs and I slept in my own bed that night!!!! LOL!!!!!

Jackie pembrokeshire; west wales; uk

Ernie likes to sleep in the cats hammocks on the radiator, and when he was at his weakest he just didn't have the energy to jump up. Needless to say there was always one of us around to give him a lift up! In all the years I've kept dogs I've never had one that's such a total baby as Ernie. Of course his illness has made us all indulge him even more and he's one very spoilt little boy!

Sue Northants UK

good job Trixie---+

josh socal

This thread was discussed between 23/10/2007 and 24/10/2007

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