Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - update on Phoebe

Hi everyone This is a message from a very ecstatic gill in UK - phoebe's full blood results have just come back from Royal Dick in Edinburgh (also a faecal test). Phoebe PCV is 32 - yes 32 cannot believe it. There is no blood in her faeces and it seems her cells are beginning to regenerate!! Thank you to one and all for giving me faith, hope and your love in helping Phoebe to reach this stage - Patrice - hopefully your prediction will come true!! and we will continue to climb. I know I can't get too excited (too late for that!!!) and am trying to keep a lid on things as I know how quickly it can all change, but I never thought I'd see the day that Phoebe was at 32. Now the scary bit - Andrew has discussed Phoebe's progress and has decided to start to reduce her Prednisolone (steroid) by half a tablet - she is currently on 3 tabs per day - and I know from reading some of your posts that this can be the scary bit and wondered if you have any advice on what to look out for (i.e. problems etc.). Joanne - received bandana today - Pheebs looks great - thanks for your kind words and prayers - can't wait to get her photo on the website for you all to see my darling Pheobe - looking, quite literally, in the pink!! I will hand out the leaflets to vets and will send some to Royal Dick in Edinburgh who have been so instrumental, along with Kirsty (Phoebe's vet) in getting her where she is today. We have also changed her diet slightly - and something which I have begun to give her after doing some research is (yuk) green tripe. Luckily we have a butchers locally who can get this for me and I thought it was so stinky Phoebe would not touch it - but she loves it - gobbles it up. she is still on her goats milk and pumpkin, oily fish and chicken and seems to be thriving (maybe a little too much). Sorry have not been on forum for a while but have been putting all my concentration into getting Phoebe well, but I do look in to check to see how everyone is doing. Hi, Johnny - still thinking about you every day! Kath in Scotland If you need to speak to anyone about your little one's condition, speak to Alistair Stuart and Marg Chandler at Royal Dick Small Animal Hospital in Edinburgh - if you wish to have tel. nos just email me and I will give you all the information you need. They have been marvellous and I really believe Phoebe would not be here today if it were not for them. The treatment she received (and still receives) is second to none and they keep in phone contact all the time. True dedicated vets. They also have first hand experience at dealing with this deadly disease and as Marg is an american she also has access to all the information which the wonderful guys on this forum are able to give. Please Kath - don't give up hope - Phoebe and I are living proof that love, prayers, loving friends and furbabies on vetnet can get you through the long hard days ahead - but there is light at the end of the tunnel - keep believing. Your in our prayers just as everyone prayed for us! Love and best wishes Gill and Phoebe

gill united kingdom

Gill, Yes, it is hard not to be estatic with good news. I think any improvement is worth celebrating it helps offset the bad days. I hope your original Vet realizes now that some of the info you glean off the internet is very useful. It is great that you do have Vets that do have experience with this now advising. I am also glad I don't have to prepare the tripe for Phoebe :) Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Thanks Gill, when I get more results back today depending on how they are we will decide on our next move. Went to see Mitch and he just seems so tired mentally, before he was physically tired but now he seems mentally tired too. His eyes are loosing their spark. Kath

Kath Scotland

Gill So so pleased for you and Phoebe, I can only imagine how you are feeling I would be, as Lionel Richie says, 'Dancing on the ceiling' and I pray to God Nollaig(whose 3) and I will be in that position soon. It has been nearly 6 months now and no regeneration whatsoever but I am not giving up on her as she certainly isn't! Karen and Darcy have been so helpful to me and given me such hope and strength to carry on this fight!Darcy was non regenerative for 7/8 months and turned it around, she's a beagle also. Please pray for all of us who are still fighting this disease,that we will have the strength and wisdom to carry on and make best decisions possible. Give Phoebe big kisses from Kathleen and Nollaig xxxx

Kathleen North Ayrshire

Hi Gill I am very happy to hear that Pheobe is doing so well, tell her to keep up the good work. I know that happy feeling you got when her PCV was in the normal range. Give Pheobe a treat from Ginger and I. Cheryl & Ginger

Cheryl & Ginger Pineville PA

Hi Gill I bet you are still ecstatic this morning with Pheobe's results ! I'm really new to this forum and I guess most of us only come here once our canine friend develops AIHA - it's a wealth of information, knowledge and support, which is so difficult to find elsewhere. Would you mind if I asked a few questions? Does Pheobe have AIHA or PRCA? What would you put her super ongoing recovery down to - was it a specific treatment plan? And does a dog need to be hospitalised to recover? And at what point should a dog be admitted ? Thanks, Claire

Claire Cumbria

Hi everyone Alistair our vet at Royal Dick in Edinburgh and Marg Chandler have told me to get a product called Forceval Junior which is meant for childern but which they have said is readily available in UK - so thank everyone for your advice. Claire I think Phoebe's recovery is primarily due down to the Atopica (cyclosporine)which does take some time to get into the system as do all the drugs that are given for this disease - also the steroid Prednisolone whilst awful to have to administer has always helped in her recovery. I do think that diet, quiet, no stress and lots of love and cuddles do help too. Phoebe was admitted to Royal Dick hospital in Edinburgh when her PCV was 17 and they thought that this was quite dangerous - and did not know whether she would survive - she is quite a stubborn little madam and would not eat so she had lost a lot of weight when she came home (I cried for about a week), but then slowly - very slowly - the weight began to creep on (and now she is a real little podge!!). The nursing she received at Royal Dick (whilst very expensive - I hope you have pet insurance?) was the best we could have given her and I am, even today, still in contact regularly with the vets who treated her their. Marg and Alistair are wonderful - so if you are able and can afford it - try to get your precious furbaby to Royal Dick if possible - you can even mention us to Alistair and Marg if you need to. also if you wish to have my vet's contact no. here for your vet to speak to then just let me know. Phoebe has PRCA and has had two bone marrow biopsies at RD and numerous tests to ascertain what her problem was. She is now (very slowly - thank god) regenerating. If you need to know anything else just let me know. Love and best wishes Gill & Phoebe

gill uk

Hi Gill Thanks ever so much for the information on Pheobe - it really does help to be in contact with someone first hand who has experienced PRCA. Unfortunately, Shaunna's pcv was only 9 yesterday (down from 12) so she's having a blood transfusion today. I just hope it goes well and it keeps her topped up until the drugs start to work. Nope, we don't have insurance, a huge, huge regret now ! But I think a referral - even just for the consultation - might be beneficial anyway. Many thanks for the offer of green tripe too - my husband tells me it's available locally. I better dash. Claire

Claire Cumbria

Gill, I am so pleased for you. I don't blame you for being so ecstatic. I am myself very pleased with the care and contact with the dick vet school. They have been fantastic. Onward and upward and maybe you could get Phoebe to send Mitch some of her fighting spirit. Kath

kath Scotland

Gill, so good to hear Phoebe is getting better. I know the feeling when thinigs finally start turning around for you. Keep up the good work and keep us posted. Johnny & Tessy

Johnny Nova Scotia

This thread was discussed between 04/08/2009 and 08/08/2009

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