We almost lost Coal last night

Keymaster

Amy,
I am glad to hear this. The vet may very well appreciate this valuable information.

A blood transfusion is helpful for the anemia, (though a PCV of 30 is fine, no worries) but it’s not very helpful with low platelets. They have a very short life and if transfused wouldn’t last very long due to the autoimmune destruction. Dr. Dodds protocol, the two drugs mentioned, plus the addition of thyroid medication, helps release stored platelets and encourages the production of more platelets. She does not recommend transfusions for thrombocytopenia. She does recommend “fresh Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)

Open this article and print it also for your vet. Courtesy Hemopet.org Veterinary Blood Articles

https://my.imatrixbase.com/clients/14145/documents/Blood_Literature/Treatment_of_Bleeding_Disorders.pdf

“THROMBOCYTOPENIA
1. Identify underlying cause (e.g. immune-mediated, infectious, neoplasia, drug-induced, etc.) and treat as appropriate.

2. Use L-thyroxine therapy at 0.1 mg per 10 pounds body weight twice daily for 7-10 days. Start 48 hours prior to elective surgery where applicable. Continue thyroid replacement if patient is still bleeding or has thyroid disease. Thyroid supplementation promotes hemostasis by improving platelet function, stimulating thrombopoiesis in bone marrow and other sites, and enhancing protein synthesis of von Willebrand factor and other coagulation factors.

3.For patients with PCV at or below 15%, transfuse Packed Red Blood Cells in saline at 3-5 mL per pound (or equivalent volumes of fresh whole blood) given once or twice daily. There are insufficient numbers of platelets in freshly collected whole blood to achieve hemostasis in severe thrombocytopenia or thrombopathia (platelet dysfunction). However, the plasma component and platelets present can provide some thrombopoietic and hemostatic benefit to sustain the patient until the underlying problem and requisite therapy have been managed.

4.For control or prophylaxis in special situations of severe, chronic thrombocytopenia (e.g. oncology patients on chemotherapy) or acute life-threatening bleeding from thrombocytopenia, fresh Platelet-Rich Plasma
(PRP) can be provided. This treatment is not recommended routinely for immune thrombocytopenia as platelets are rapidly destroyed. Repeated use of PRP is not advised as immune sensitization (alloimmunization) to platelets and white blood cells is likely to develop. To reduce alloimmunization, PRP should be processed after collection through a special filter set that removes most of the white blood cells. Only filtered PRP should be used for sustaining the platelet needs of chemotherapy or other patients with severe platelet disorders.

5. Avoid drugs or biologics that impair hemostasis and/or induce thrombocytopenia.
These include:
•
trimethoprim–sulfonamides
•
modified-live virus vaccines
•
ormetoprim–sulfonamide
•
estrogens”

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