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Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - UK Treatment costs?
| Hi everyone I found this wonderful place this evening and have been reading for hours now - what an inspiring and helpful group of people you all are. My little Cairn terrier Max has just been diagnosed with AIHA - he's really unwell and still an in-patient with the vets since Thursday. I haven't really known what questions to ask the vet as I've only now had a good chance to read up on this condition. I've had Max for only a few weeks, he was a rescue dog whose elderly owner has died so I have no previous medical history. He is about 6 years old. I'm sad because in the last few months he's had a bereavement, gone to a rescue,had vaccinations, antibiotics and dental surgery and a lump removed - then come to me and had further vaccinations and antibiotics for an infection. Sounds to me like he's had so much happen it's almost inevitable he's now got this AIHA. Tomorrow I go back to the vets to see how he has responded to treatment so far. He's been on IV infusions of fluids, plasma and immunosuppressants - I didn't know enough on Friday to ask the vet intelligent questions such as what drugs was he having. I know his Hematocrit/PCV was only 13% - not good. He seemed so poorly just lying there - he did lift his head to see me but that was all. I feel really bad as I was away on holiday and my mother was looking after him when he became unwell. Can I ask UK people - how much does treatment cost? I have insurance but not sure how much we are looking at and I'd like to give him every chance to get through this. Can anyone tell me the rough cost of drugs per month in the UK? Please keep your fingers crossed for Max - tomorrow is a big day for us. |
| Theresa South East Kent |
| Theresa So so glad you found this site,it will really help aandprovide you with the info and suport you and Max need at this trying time. First thing to learn is don't let the vets give up on Max,most dogs can and do make a full recovery from AIHA some dogs recover quickly others take longer.Also something you said that Max had vaccinations and then further vaccinations recently has made me think he could have vaccine induced AIHA and that is something other people on this forum who have had direct experience of this would be able to advise you on but I know dogs with this can and do recover especially as you know the 'trigger' of the illness. Please email me on the address link above and I will send you some info on a wonderful holistic treatment called biopreparation that I highly recommend you start Max on asap,and you can use it along with the conventional meds without a problem.I am using it for Nollaig my beagle who has IMHA in the form of pure red cell aplasia and she is doing so well on it. I hope and pray Max is one of the lucky ones that makes a quick recovery from this and that he gets to enjoy the rest of his long life with you and put this difficult time behind him. Take care Kathleen and Nollaig |
| Kathleen North Ayrshire |
| Theresa, Boy your little Max has really been through the wringer hasn't he? Thank you for rescuing him. If you haven't been to Joanne's site please follow this link http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/ It will prepare you for the fight. I can't tell you about the costs but we have a lot of posters on your side of the pond who will offer lots of advice. Keeping you and Max in my thoughts and prayers. Penny |
| Penny Lytle Creek Calif |
| Hi, Sorry to hear about your situation and hope Max is doing ok.The costs can be quite high I'd estimate that Joey's treatment has cost approx £4,500 so far and may be higher.Please keep us posted on how you both are, Best wishes, Corrie and Joey. |
| corrie marney dagenham essex uk |
| My little Lhasa Ernie did battle with AIHA 2 years ago. The major part of the cost was the initial tests and diagnosis, at about £300 as far as I can remember After that it was around £40 a time for the blood draws. His medication itself was actually the smallest part of the cost at about £15 a month. Obviously the bigger the dog the more the drugs will cost but I guess a Lhasa and a Cairn are fairly similar in size. Ern was lucky and had a fairly rapid recovery compared to many, he was med free after 4 months and has shown no sign of a relapse since. The total cost of his treatment was probably in the region of £1000, and worth every penny for the happy healthy dog I have today. Sue |
| Sue Northamptonshire |
| Hi Theresa Sorry to hear about Max being so poorly, but stick with it and you'll get there in the end. My first bit of advice would be to contact your insurance company and just check if they have any limitations on the policy. My Billybob wasn't insured and during his ten month battle, I think in total we spent around £5,000. Unfortunately he lost his fight but I would have paid anything to get him well. Good luck for Max always. Steph |
| Steph Gloucestershire UK |
| Hi Theresa I'm very sorry to hear about Max's diagnosis and am pleased you have found your way to this site as it is full of valuable information as well as support. I am without insurance like a small handful of others on this board and since the end of July we have spent approaching £4,500...and treatment is still ongoing for Shaunna who has PRCA. Of course, the cost of treatment is so dependent upon length of recovery and whether you call upon the services of a specialist animal hospital. Good luck, Claire |
| Claire Cumbria UK |
This thread was discussed between 21/09/2009 and 26/09/2009
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