skybarker Posted November 17, 2005 Report Share Posted November 17, 2005 I am sorry if this post is a bit rambling but when I took my beautiful 6 month pup in for spay surgery I was told she was anemic and they couldn't do the surgery.The vet did more blood work and said her anemia appers to be nonregenerative (some sort of bone marrow problem). The vet is going to consult with the pathlolgist and get back to me. The bloodwork found no evidense of parasites which could have caused this. We will retest tommorrow, but I am right now devastated. Has anyone had a good outcome with this sort of problem? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gadgetsmom Posted November 18, 2005 Report Share Posted November 18, 2005 I do not have a good outcome, and I do not know if it is the same problem, but my Gagdget had a condition known as "hypocellular bone marrow", of unknown etiology. (see my post under bone marrow in this section). He passed away at age 5, and I still do not have alot of information about the condition, other than his bone marrow stopped producing the necessary blood cells, including red blood cells causing anemia, and platlets, causing bleeding problems. Unfortunately, by the time we caught it, his platelet count was 15, 000 and it should be more like 200,000 and his hemoglobin was 6. He required multiple blood transfusions, and was started on multiple "chemotherapy drugs" to no avail. He passed away after 4 days in Intensive Care this past August. May I wish you the best of luck with your puppy, and hopefully you have caught your problem at an earlier stage. I would love to know how you make out. My thoughts and blessings are with you and your dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendy V Posted November 18, 2005 Report Share Posted November 18, 2005 I strongly urge you to see a specialist. A friend's dog just had a severely acute case of anemia and was referred to a cancer specialist, who did a series of tests to rule out multiple myeloma. Now they are testing for autoimmune hemolytic anemia. I don't know if this bears on your case at all, but it might require testing from a specialty clinic. Good lcuk to you, Wendy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debbie Crowder-BaaramuLuke Posted November 18, 2005 Report Share Posted November 18, 2005 Thank Heaven for pre-anesthetic bloodwork. My older dog Calvin was scheduled for a neuter, he had been experiencing prostate issues, and his PCV was very low, later found it to be IMHA. He was 8, and lived for another year and 2 months. It was not a good year, now that I'm three years beyond it. DEFINATELY get a referral to a good internal medicine specialist. 6 months is awful young. Bless your heart, we're praying for you both... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mosstheboss2000 Posted November 19, 2005 Report Share Posted November 19, 2005 I too would see a specialist ASAP! We just lost one of our dogs this year after a 6 month battle with IMHA(AIHA autoimmune hemolytic anemia ) It was originally misdiagnosed by our regular vet, but we went to see a specialist the same day and he immediately picked it up with the blood work ect.. I wish you and your pup the best. Cindy http://www.bordercollierescueont.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skybarker Posted November 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2005 Maybe, good news. The retest showed much improved numbers (almost normal) but my vet did not know why. They started her on an antibotic and deworming medicine (just in case, she did have a parasite problem which did not show on the tests) . We will retest her in a week. She sure seems healthy, I took her on a mile walk this morning and have been throwing frisbies and balls off an on since 7 this morning and she's still going strong (it's 5 P.M. here). My vet did say her numbers did not indicate AIHA. So I am starting to think things might not be bad. We will retest in a week. However, if I need another opinion, can someone recommend a good specialist in the Phoneix, AZ area? If so, send me a PM. Also, thanks for all of the kind wishes. I'll give you an update when I know more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skybarker Posted November 29, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2005 Latest test indicates AIHA, afterall. I will try to get another opion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tassie Posted November 29, 2005 Report Share Posted November 29, 2005 Oh, that's a shame. Still, if it wasn't clear, you may have caught it early enough to have a good shot with treatment. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mosstheboss2000 Posted November 30, 2005 Report Share Posted November 30, 2005 Check out the link below...very informative and supportive forum on AIHA. They may be able to give you a referral to a vet near you, it is VERY important that you deal with a vet that has had lots of experience treating dogs with this disease.... I wish you and your dog the best It is possible that it is something else as she would probably not be running around . Usually dogs will crash fast and become very ill willout proper treatment. Also there can be a unlying problem which could then cause AIHA. http://www.vetnet.co.uk/ Cindy http://www.bordercollierescueont.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliepoudrier Posted November 30, 2005 Report Share Posted November 30, 2005 Skybarker, (broken record time) Has your vet tested for tick-borne diseases? I believe some can cause symptoms of AIHA. It's worth a shot, since you won't make headway against the AIHA if there's an underlying cause that's not treated. See these sites, for example: http://www.antechdiagnostics.com/clients/a...02/sep02_02.htm This site seems to have some very good information: http://www.minden.com/nowhereelse/canine_tick_disease.htm J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendy V Posted November 30, 2005 Report Share Posted November 30, 2005 Skybarker, Julie's suggestion on TBD is a valid one. Also, if it is AIHA, the dog needs to be started on prednisone pretty darn quick. I question the use of the dewormer, since the dog is already immune-compromised. A second opinion with a specialist may be your best bet. And my dear friend that I spoke of in my first posting? The dog's blood values recovered quickly to normal within a week. 2 days later the dog was used on sheep and died hours later. So sorry to give you such a jolt, but urgency in this matter may be called for... Keep us posted, Wendy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliepoudrier Posted December 1, 2005 Report Share Posted December 1, 2005 Skybarker, I tried posting this last night but my computer crshed and it didn't go through. Then I couldn't reboot for some reason.... Anyway, the reason you will need to work closely with your vet is that the appropriate treatment (immune suppression with prednisone) for AIHA may be contraindicated in a dog that has an underlying disease, especially some of the TBDs. I know this discussion happens fairly often in Tick-L, but I can't remember the specifics of what is recommended re: treatment when a dog has AIHA and TBD. That's why it's important to make sure there's no underlying disease cause for the AIHA, since you could treat the symptoms of anemia and in the process suppress the dog's immune system so much that the underlying disease overwhelms the dog completely. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skybarker Posted December 2, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2005 Wendy V, Mosstheboss2000, and all, Thanks for suggesting that I take Starbuck to a specialist. I realized my regular vet was just guessing after the most likely problems were ruled out and that I had better follow up on that advice fast. I located an internal medicine specialist on the ACVIM website (http://www.acvim.org/) and took Starbuck and her records in yesterday. I found out that her anemia wasn't that bad except on the first blood test, and that an immune related problem (AIHA) could be ruled out because of her age and because she has real small red blood cells (a dog with an immune related problem would have large cells). Now, we need to find out why she has such small red blood cells. I should have all the answers next week. A re-cap of the tests allready done: A CBC showing she was anemic (HCT 21) Two follow tests where that number rose to 32 and 33 Tested negative for all parasites but treated with a dewormer and and Doxycycline (for any sort of blood born parasite) X-rayed to make sure she hadn't swallowed anything metalic which could cause her anemia Her original vet had prescribed Prednisone because of a few spherocytes in her last blood test (which her internist said I didn't need to give her, as this isn't an immune related problem). I am glad I am now working with a specialist. I'll let you know what they find, Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Watch Debatable Posted December 2, 2005 Report Share Posted December 2, 2005 From the second site listed when I googled onions + IMHA. (I lost the best dog ever to IMHA [weeps]): Remember, not all causes of hemolysis (red blood cell destruction) are immune-mediated. Onions in large amounts (and possibly garlic as well) will cause a toxic hemolysis. Zinc toxicity, usually from swallowing a penny minted after 1983, or from licking off a zinc oxide ointment applied to the skin, will cause hemolysis as well. In a young animal, a genetic red blood cell malformation might be suspected.And from PubMed: "This study provides the first clinical evidence for a temporal relationship of vaccine-associated IMHA in the dog." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skybarker Posted December 8, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2005 After two more blood tests (to check her serum iron level and liver function), we found she has the type of anemia which can be treated with an iron supplement. She should be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWBC Posted December 8, 2005 Report Share Posted December 8, 2005 What splendid good news. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tassie Posted December 8, 2005 Report Share Posted December 8, 2005 That is really wonderful news. Thanks for letting us share your relief. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eileen Stein Posted December 8, 2005 Report Share Posted December 8, 2005 That's wonderful! Skybarker, I'm so happy for you. A friend of mine lost her good old dog today after a long illness, and I was so hungry for some good news. Thanks for posting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanaD Posted December 14, 2005 Report Share Posted December 14, 2005 my dog is the same as what Wendy V just described, mind you, my dog is 13 years old and was taken into the vet to have her melanomas (2) removed (one very large, one we just noticed) but they did blood work on her first and her cells barely registered, they referred to her as the "walking dead dog" but she was still very alert and motivated, she was put on medication and now has to go back for more blood work for a follow-up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmetteabrakai Posted December 15, 2005 Report Share Posted December 15, 2005 This is so nice to read, and see the progression as it has unfolded. Skybarker you have followed through and done such a good job of taking care of your baby. Thanks for posting the question in the first place. Andrea d. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northof49 Posted December 15, 2005 Report Share Posted December 15, 2005 What a great Christmas gift to you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JoeysMom Posted December 15, 2005 Report Share Posted December 15, 2005 What wonderful news! I'm so glad to hear that all is well. Thank goodness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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