Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Update on Tori

It's been 6 months since we have had a complete CBC on Tori. She is doing very good considering we almost lost her last August!!! For those that do not know, she had zinc toxicity due to an O-ring that she ingested and got lodged near her esphogus and stomach, which in turn caused the sudden and quick onset of secondary IMHA. After a hospital stay of 4 days intense, meds, fluids, IV's and a blood transfusion when her PCV dropped to 10, we brought her home at 18 PCV. It has been a scary journey, but one we are thankfuk to be on, as we had excellent vets and terrific care AND our Tori (almost 9 yr old mini poodle)is doing so good in recovery. Yes, we are always overly watchful as to any usual behavior or symptom of relapse or some other problem due to her compromised immune system ~ but we are taking one day at a time and grateful for each and every day we have together. We thank you all for your prayers and we continue to pray for you. Speaking of prayer, we would love your prayers as we take her in for her bloodwork this Tuesday morning and the decision to wean her completely off the prednisone. She is only taking 1 tablet of 2.5 mg every 5th day, Pet Tinic daily and Sulfcrate an hour before the Pred. Blessings, Cindi & Tori PS~Johnny, she has not had another attack of Pancreatitis in 6-7 months. Adjusting her diet as you suggested worked. Thank you. Hope you and your fur friends are doing better, too.

Cindi Panama City Beach

Cindi, That is great news. Hopefully Tori will be off all meds soon. Congrats to you both!

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Wonderful news and I wish Tori continued good health. Cheryl & Ginger

Cheryl & Ginger Pinevile PA

Cindi, How wonderful to get these good news! Tori is a fighter and you are a great caregiver! Tuesday will be a special day, it is summer solstice! We will be thinking of you and wish you all the best, Brigitte & the poodle boys

Brigitte BC

Hi Cindi, I am newer this list and really appreciate the positive update on Tori. I certainly wish you both the very best on her blood test results. The removal of prednisone is also a topic I am very interested in clarifying before I get there with Dylan. So far I have not had a lot of input on this topic, although I did research earlier on high dose prednisone (time for some research on low dose). I am still a ways from where you are in your weaning off prednisone, but from what I understand from my veterinarian, that 2.5 mg every 5th day would mean that the body is producing and using mostly cortisol (the natural hormone) and that the adrenal glands are close to fully functional. It is also my understanding that this means Tori's immune system is already fully functional and that she is not immune compromised. So I would think this means removing the prednisone altogether would not change much at all. From my discussion with my vet, I believe she said 2.5 mg every second day of prednisone would not be much different from the natural level of cortisol found in a senior dog (Dylan is 10 1/2). Clarifying this is important to me, as this is the decision I will be facing with Dylan in the next month or so. I have already felt some anxiety about this decision as we are now doing 10 mg (split in 2 doses) every second day and will be discussing the next reduction tomorrow with my vet. The thought of not having prednisone there is certainly stressing at the moment, but if the stimulation from prednisone is not significantly different from not using it at all, then it is more of a psychological comfort (which maybe at the moment I very much still need). Every time I talk to my veterinarian I like to have more knowledge and new questions, as it makes that decision a lot easier when it comes time. Although every dog is different and the effect of prednisone has variability as a result, knowing more about this might make your decision easier as well as mine? Good luck with Tori's blood work, Richard & Dylan

Richard Burnaby

Well, we went to the vet, but do not have the CBC results to share yet. The machine at the vet's was messing up, so they sent it off for accurate results. Will give you the results as soon as we get them. Meanwhile all treatment stays the same. Thank for your prayers! Blessings, Cindi & Tori

Cindi Panama City Beach

Hi Cindi, I see no one has the answer to my question, but I did speak to my veterinarian about it. Tomorrow I will be reducing Dylan to 5 mg/day every second day. If all goes well for 2 weeks, we will remove prednisone completely from there as any further reductions are within the normal range of the bodies ability to make cortisol, which prednisone replaces. Once prednisone is funtioning in the range of the bodies normal cortisol output, the immune system is not suppressed at all. There may be anti inflamatory poperties still present, however. Of course during both these reductions I need to pay close attention to symptoms related to prednisone withdrawl and the adrenal glands kicking in. We are currently low enough now that they should already be working on the day off prednison. But, at these low doses, this is where you can see the effects of adrenal glands not working as they need to be. Dylan is doing very well though so I don't expect any issues, however. Tori's adrenal glands will have already been functioning for a while given her dosing 2.5 mg every 5th day. She should be good to go. Of course I am also concerned about re-occurance of AIHA and in my vet's experience, if you can get off prednisone without seeing AIHA return while removing prednisone, she indicated that it was somehwat rare to see AIHA return. It is in cases where they cannot get off the drug that she sees the return of AIHA more often (no absolutes and every dog and case are unique). This may be because of what triggered the disease in the first place, which certainly seems to vary a great deal. In Dylan's case it seems whatever triggered it has been gone from her body for some time already. This is certainly not the case in many AIHA/IMHA dogs. Understanding underlying conditions and triggers more thoroughly, prednisone efficacy, diet, etc. These are the things I feel I need to know so much more about. I hope to do just that, despite the fact that Dylan does not seem to need it. Good luck, Richard and Dylan

Richard Burnaby

Woo Hoo Tori (and Cindi)!!! Keep up the good work! Johnny & Tessy

Johnny

Praise the LORD! Tori's blood work came back great. She is in the normal range for everything including her liver profile!!!!! I will get a copy of the CBC this Saturday. But phone call was a relief. They want to see her in 3 months and at that time will reduce the Pred. We are not in a hurry, since no complications from taking them at this time. Decided to do the 1 yr Boratella, because of grooming. So far so good. Some decisons are a bit concerning, but she does need some protection when around other dogs. Thanks so much for your kind words and prayers. Your encouragement is so much appreciated. Praying for you and your furkids! Cindi & Tori

Cindi Panama City Beach

What great news Cindi! Always wonderful to hear such positive stuff!

Sharon PA

This thread was discussed between 20/06/2011 and 24/06/2011

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