Any info. on auto immune defiency in dogs please!
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Keisha's mom
Re: Any info. on auto immune defiency in dogs please!
this link has a wealth of info for you----read all you can---best wishes for you!
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Keisha's mom
Re: Any info. on auto immune defiency in dogs please!
Keisha's mom wrote:this link has a wealth of info for you----read all you can---best wishes for you!
http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/
Re: Any info. on auto immune defiency in dogs please!
Most vets, or a staff member usually always has a pet they have already cross-matched and will make available for blood transfusions. Some vets have clinic "pets" for an additional purpose of blood transfusions should they be necessary. I just cannot imagine 2 vets in your area do not have donor pets readily available should the need arise. Please drill your vet on this, perhaps he/she doesn't perform transfusions enough to truly know, and perhaps does indeed refer their patients to another emergency facility.
Do I understand that you have Casey home with you during the majority of the day? If so, please do all that you can to keep her stress reduced at all costs, keep her environment calm, quiet and comfortable, make sure she's kept warm if she has a low temp. Monitor her mucous membranes, and if possible, take her temp at least once or twice a day and notify your vet of any sudden changes in her.
Is she on a tetracycline drug, such as doxycycline? If so, is she taking it well?
I wouldn't have advised the raw liver, unless your vet thought iron deficiency might be a problem, but this should have been fairly obvious on bloodwork. Raw liver can be quite rich on the GI tract and can cause diarrhea, so do be sure to monitor her, you don't want to have to deal with serious dehydration as a result of diarrhea. If she is anorexic, ask your vet for a mild food such as Hill's I/D, that can be used on a temp basis, feed small amounts more often as long as she's keeping it down.
Your vet is probably monitoring her CBC and PCV on a daily basis, this will help him/her monitor the recovery process with meds, etc, but if the PCV drops considerably low, you may still be faced with a potential transfusion. Hopefully, the prednisone and doxycycline (if used) will aid in the anemic recovery.
You said several tests were done, but the ones I was concerned with are those sent to an outside lab (ehrlichia, lyme, lepto, heartworm, etc), they may take up to 5-7 business days for results, but your vet can call the lab to expedite the results. It is truly prudent to rule out the above when an anemic crisis occurs. If your vet hasn't done them, please ask him about them ASAP.
Hang in there, I know you're scared and this is a tricky condition, it sounds like your vet is treating appropriately, but without knowing what tests were done or how thorough they were, don't leave any questions or concerns unmet with your vet....discuss everything thoroughly with him so that you are prepared for what to expect, and hopefully toward a clearer diagnosis.
Do I understand that you have Casey home with you during the majority of the day? If so, please do all that you can to keep her stress reduced at all costs, keep her environment calm, quiet and comfortable, make sure she's kept warm if she has a low temp. Monitor her mucous membranes, and if possible, take her temp at least once or twice a day and notify your vet of any sudden changes in her.
Is she on a tetracycline drug, such as doxycycline? If so, is she taking it well?
I wouldn't have advised the raw liver, unless your vet thought iron deficiency might be a problem, but this should have been fairly obvious on bloodwork. Raw liver can be quite rich on the GI tract and can cause diarrhea, so do be sure to monitor her, you don't want to have to deal with serious dehydration as a result of diarrhea. If she is anorexic, ask your vet for a mild food such as Hill's I/D, that can be used on a temp basis, feed small amounts more often as long as she's keeping it down.
Your vet is probably monitoring her CBC and PCV on a daily basis, this will help him/her monitor the recovery process with meds, etc, but if the PCV drops considerably low, you may still be faced with a potential transfusion. Hopefully, the prednisone and doxycycline (if used) will aid in the anemic recovery.
You said several tests were done, but the ones I was concerned with are those sent to an outside lab (ehrlichia, lyme, lepto, heartworm, etc), they may take up to 5-7 business days for results, but your vet can call the lab to expedite the results. It is truly prudent to rule out the above when an anemic crisis occurs. If your vet hasn't done them, please ask him about them ASAP.
Hang in there, I know you're scared and this is a tricky condition, it sounds like your vet is treating appropriately, but without knowing what tests were done or how thorough they were, don't leave any questions or concerns unmet with your vet....discuss everything thoroughly with him so that you are prepared for what to expect, and hopefully toward a clearer diagnosis.
..........Traci
Re: Any info. on auto immune defiency in dogs please!
She's not doing well. She's vomiting a lot, the doctor isn't sure if all of that is due to her prednisone or from what is ailing her. She mostly vomits from drinking lots of water, its difficult to limit her when you have other pets in the house. I don't want to stress her by isolating her. If someone like my hubby were here it would be easier but all of my pets want to be in the same room with me. They whine, cry and dig at the door even the cats.
The meds must have increased Casey's thirst. She's on prednisone, doxycycline, detox, and amino B plex #1. She's keeping the meds down as well as the liver they must be helping because she's drinking and eating and has normal BMs. She's still anemic, her tongue is a little more pink than it was but not much. I won't find out until tomorrow if her blood count has improved. The doctor is running more blood tests and won't have the results until tomorrow. I will be leaving this eveing to take some x-rays over to our regular vet from the emergency vet's office. She wants to look at them more thoroughly.
I am still so uneasy about all of this. Its so hard not knowing what's wrong. They haven't totally ruled out the IMHA but they say it really doesn't appear to be it from what they've seen in other dogs that have had it.
Thank you for the prayers and healing thoughts please keep them coming
The meds must have increased Casey's thirst. She's on prednisone, doxycycline, detox, and amino B plex #1. She's keeping the meds down as well as the liver they must be helping because she's drinking and eating and has normal BMs. She's still anemic, her tongue is a little more pink than it was but not much. I won't find out until tomorrow if her blood count has improved. The doctor is running more blood tests and won't have the results until tomorrow. I will be leaving this eveing to take some x-rays over to our regular vet from the emergency vet's office. She wants to look at them more thoroughly.
I am still so uneasy about all of this. Its so hard not knowing what's wrong. They haven't totally ruled out the IMHA but they say it really doesn't appear to be it from what they've seen in other dogs that have had it.
Thank you for the prayers and healing thoughts please keep them coming
Re: Any info. on auto immune defiency in dogs please!
I hope it all becomes clearer soon and Casey can be treated and get hopefully better! My best wishes!
Re: Any info. on auto immune defiency in dogs please!
A sad update:
Casey has been diagnosed with the Immmune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia. I guess the blood work indicated it this time. We go back again Thursday for more blood tests. The vet wants to try to see if she will respond to meds. Right now she's steady not better but not worse. The vet said her bone marrow was good. She's having problems with vomiting, so the vet has prescribed Pepcid twice a day. Most of the vomiting is right after drinking a large amount of water. No diarrhea, she's eating ok now so that is an improvement from last week.
I don't want our girl to suffer but I do want to give her a chance. I feel heartbroken right now and so unsure and so alone. Hubby left yesterday and won't be home for two weeks that makes my heart ache too. I guess time will tell us how well she's responding to the meds. If she starts going down hill, I am tempted to end her suffering. Do any of you think I am wrong for considering this?
Casey has been diagnosed with the Immmune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia. I guess the blood work indicated it this time. We go back again Thursday for more blood tests. The vet wants to try to see if she will respond to meds. Right now she's steady not better but not worse. The vet said her bone marrow was good. She's having problems with vomiting, so the vet has prescribed Pepcid twice a day. Most of the vomiting is right after drinking a large amount of water. No diarrhea, she's eating ok now so that is an improvement from last week.
I don't want our girl to suffer but I do want to give her a chance. I feel heartbroken right now and so unsure and so alone. Hubby left yesterday and won't be home for two weeks that makes my heart ache too. I guess time will tell us how well she's responding to the meds. If she starts going down hill, I am tempted to end her suffering. Do any of you think I am wrong for considering this?
Re: Any info. on auto immune defiency in dogs please!
How did your vet confirm it, and were the tick/immunological profiles sent out?
Depending on the cause will depend on the recovery. If her PCV is not dangerously low and she responds to the prednisone and doxycycline and antibiotics, she has a good chance at full recovery.
Ask your vet for a bland diet to be used on a temp basis...Hill's Rx I/D would be good for this, but if he feels calories are necessary, try A/D...feed smaller amounts more often to prevent nausea and vomiting. I would ask about sub-q fluid treatment you can do at home if your vet feels she is dehydrated. This could help reduce the excessive water consumption, and ease nausea as well, since the sub-q's would help in hydration.
Depending on the cause will depend on the recovery. If her PCV is not dangerously low and she responds to the prednisone and doxycycline and antibiotics, she has a good chance at full recovery.
Ask your vet for a bland diet to be used on a temp basis...Hill's Rx I/D would be good for this, but if he feels calories are necessary, try A/D...feed smaller amounts more often to prevent nausea and vomiting. I would ask about sub-q fluid treatment you can do at home if your vet feels she is dehydrated. This could help reduce the excessive water consumption, and ease nausea as well, since the sub-q's would help in hydration.
..........Traci
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CrystalsMom
- Posts: 248
- Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2005 4:55 pm
- Location: Long Island, New York
Re: Any info. on auto immune defiency in dogs please!
Oh Beth, I am so sorry to hear this. Take one day at a time and see what the outcome is. Casey may do very well and you won't have to face that decision at all.
The breeder I got Crystal from told me one of her dogs was purchased by a couple who lived in Manhattan and had a house in the Hamptons. They brought the dog out there and after some time the dog became ill with IMHA and they suspected it was a reaction to a tick bite. The dog needed to go back to Manhattan for transfusions and treatment, but she said the dog did recover although he had a somewhat weak immune system.
I am hoping you hear something favorable from your vet this week.
The breeder I got Crystal from told me one of her dogs was purchased by a couple who lived in Manhattan and had a house in the Hamptons. They brought the dog out there and after some time the dog became ill with IMHA and they suspected it was a reaction to a tick bite. The dog needed to go back to Manhattan for transfusions and treatment, but she said the dog did recover although he had a somewhat weak immune system.
I am hoping you hear something favorable from your vet this week.
Re: Any info. on auto immune defiency in dogs please!
I'm sorry Traci for not being able to give you all the answers to your questions. I do appreciate your help. The last test was a blood test superchem. I don't know what all it involved. I think they are ruling out so many other things it could be and her symptoms are pointing towards the IMHA.Traci wrote:How did your vet confirm it, and were the tick/immunological profiles sent out?
Depending on the cause will depend on the recovery. If her PCV is not dangerously low and she responds to the prednisone and doxycycline and antibiotics, she has a good chance at full recovery.
Ask your vet for a bland diet to be used on a temp basis...Hill's Rx I/D would be good for this, but if he feels calories are necessary, try A/D...feed smaller amounts more often to prevent nausea and vomiting. I would ask about sub-q fluid treatment you can do at home if your vet feels she is dehydrated. This could help reduce the excessive water consumption, and ease nausea as well, since the sub-q's would help in hydration.
Her tongue looks a lot pinker tonight. I gave her some of her meds earlier. Again she gulped down the water and vomitted. I wonder if I should wake her and make her drink more often? If so how often do you suggest? Maybe she's going too long without drinking. She is sleeping a lot.
On the night I had to take her to the Emergency Clinic and they monitored her. Here is some of what they saw with vitals:
T 100 P 130 R 40
PVC 19 TS 6.2
They have detected a heart murmur, but our regular vet thinks that is from her meds. Sorry I don't have much more to offer. The Emer. Clinic folks included info. and gave me a copy along with our bill so that is why I have that info.
Re: Any info. on auto immune defiency in dogs please!
I'm sorry to hear this Beth! I can imagine the turmoil you are in now. Like Crystalsmom says, take it one step at a time. When all the tests are done you and your vet and Traci surely will come up with an approach that is best and easiest. My best wishes and warm thoughts!
If she vomits out the water immediately after drinking she won't be adequately hydrated, right? Maybe best to talk to your vet about the sub-q Traci mentioned. Or would watering down her food be a possibility?
If she vomits out the water immediately after drinking she won't be adequately hydrated, right? Maybe best to talk to your vet about the sub-q Traci mentioned. Or would watering down her food be a possibility?