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Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - white gums?
| Hello all! I came home today from work checked Molly right away. Her gums and tongue where white so I rushed her to the vet. By the time he drew blood and walked away and she started panting, they got PINK again! Her pvc was upr from 17 on discharge Sat. to 29!! I don't know why they looked so WHITE! I freaked out, was bawling all the way to the vet, broken down in office etc. Maybe from laying her around all day? They would be white? And the tongue too. He did her blood twice and it was 29 both times. I think they all looked at me like I had lost my mind. LOL I think the stress from this dreadful disease will do that so maybe I am. Of course noone here to ask another opinion before I rushed up there but an 8 yo, a boxer, a lab and my chickens! Anyhow has anyone experienced this? I was so happy with her count of course I bawled again...........:) |
| Amy txgoldenhorse@yahoo.com |
| Hey Amy, That is awesome news, 29 is great, it's on it's way up! I think we all panic, especially in the beginning. Those few minutes waiting for the blood to spin feel like an eternity, and I try to brace myself for the good news or the bad news either way. I never knew a few short minutes could be so agonizing. Patrice shared something recently that makes alot of sense about resting anemia. I always thought Tiggs gums, even now, look pale in the morning for a few hours, and then again at night, and that resting anemia seems to make sense. His gums are always nice and pink after a walk, dinner, a drink of water, etc. We all understand, trust me. I never hesitate to go in for a PCV whenever I think something is amiss, just to be sure. If nothing else, it just reassures you. thinking of you, melissa and tiggs |
| melissa slc |
| Amy, Oh dear, what a scare you had. I remember doing something similar when Chance was a puppy. It was silly, he was trying to get burrs out of his coat with his teeth, irritated his throat eating it and acted like he was in great digestive pain, eating grass and trying to throw up. Off to the vet for an emergency visit $$$. Here's what I am going to suggest you do. For the next few days keep a small diary of things you notice during the day, (add your meds that you give etc). Check the gums at several times of the day and mark it down in your diary. Also, if you have one, use a soft flexible thermometer and take Molly's temp several times a day too. You will begin to see a pattern. Dogs, and humans too, have body cycles during the day and night. Dog's seem to hoard more blood overnight, or at rest, in their spleen than humans do. Chance no longer has a spleen, but you might see Molly's gums be pretty pale while she is asleep or just waking up. If a sleeping dog is suddenly alerted to noise, the muscles around the spleen squeeze it very tightly and put a lot of that sequestered blood back into circulation. This helps the dog be ready for some kind of danger. It's controlled in part by the adrenal glands. 29 is an excellent regenerative response! Give yourself credit for carrying Molly this far. You have done well. my best patrice |
| Patrice NYS |
| Fantastic news about the pooch! Very good, very good. She seems to be responding well. You did the right thing Amy - behavior will tell you a lot, but I can also attest to the fact Kit was white, white, white - in the mouth/tongue/gums at an 8.8 hematocrit. I don't discount anything said about resting anemia, but do keep a close eye out for your dog. You are her only advocate - and you are doing a great job! |
| Cynthia GP |
| Amy, I'll share my story with you because I can relate to your scare. I have a 4 year survivor of AIHA and would take Spencer in for a blood count the second he looked pale. I had a very patient vet. He's been in the 40's and 50's for the past couple years now. Last month, I was getting ready to leave for work and took him outside as normal. I give him biscuits every time I leave. He turned his nose up at me. I tried peanut butter (always works) but he turned his nose up too. I looked at his gums and they were totally pale. I asked him if he had to go outside and he got off the couch and didn't even make it outside before he went. I rushed him to the vet and called my husband . He took a couple liver treats from the vet tech and by the time the vet came in and my husband got there his color was back and so was his attitude. It ended being a belly ache or something like that. So 4 years later I still panic and bawl too!! Kim and Spencer |
| Kim ny |
| I had the same thing happen a couple of weeks ago. Since Wylies diagnosis in April her gums have been a pale pink, trust me I check daily! She had a relapse on 11/1, gums still pale pink and pcv up nicely. I always check Saturday mornings if I need to get to the vet before they close. This was the Saturday after thanksgiving and I guess I was stressed. I checked her gums and they were a grayish pasty white. They have never looked like that. If the vet had been open I would have rushed down. So I was contemplating going to ER, but she was so active in the morning which was a good sign. My husband said to relax and wait a few hours. So I wait 4 hours. Well I checked her gums and they are af bright flush pinkish red. I am like what the heck, I kept checking every hour and the same. She went in a few days later for her scheduled PCV and she was at 47! I dont know if it was the azithropene( Imruan) finallykicking in or what, but she still has nice pink gums. And she is off the azi. |
| Laurie CA |
| This disease is an emotional rollercoaster.... |
| Ron B San Mateo |
| Amy --- glad to hear that Molly is responding to treatment. So glad that others here can be of help as you and Molly fight this disease together. Please take care. |
| Brenda VA |
This thread was discussed between 16/12/2008 and 17/12/2008
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