New to IMHA

[Deborah]

Hi all —

My GSD-mix dog, Maya, is just (mostly) diagnosed with IMHA. It started 12/23 & we got her to our vet on 12/26 (holidays are a lousy time to have a sick dog…!) Her WBC were high & RBC low, so started with antibiotics. Two days later, more blood tests — numbers were worse, so added heavy dosage Prednisone, vitamins. Two more days, numbers still declining, so we headed to Cornell Univ. Vet Hospital, which thankfully is just an hour away. We left Maya at Cornell last night, where they are continuing testing and therapies. Maya is between 10-11 years old & the love of my husband and my life, so though the vets are warning us that she is very sick, we are hopeful. Today of course, I’m looking for any information I can find on IMHA & found this forum, which looks informational & supportive… so here I am.

[Patrice]

Hi Deborah,
I am sorry to hear about Maya. This is a tough time, I agree. You must live near me in Upstate NY, Cornell is close by.

Can you describe the symptoms that made you feel something was wrong? I would like to determine if there are some contributing triggers that you haven’t thought about yet.

There can be triggers that lead to developing IMHA that may be treatable. We have found that there are usually more than one that can lead to the expression of IMHA.

For an older dog I think of a lifetime of vaccinations and the possibility of a recent booster shot. In Upstate NY we have a great risk of tick bites and this is a strong trigger for IMHA. This is treatable. Sometimes older dogs develop benign or malignant tumors and this can contribute. Older dogs that have had a lifetime of sensitive digestive tract can develop IMHA. Dogs on certain medications may be susceptible. Exposure to viruses can lead to IMHA. As you mentioned antibiotics I wonder if there is some infection like a UTI?

You can see that it is important to think back and try to remember changes in Maya that you may have thought were inconsequential at the time.

For an older dog I would recommend a full CBC and chem screen. Also a urinalysis and stool sample. The vet should carefully examine the abdomen and might even want an abdominal and chest xray to look for unusual growths and changes in organs.

Please let us know about these things. Could you obtain copies of the lab work?
My best Patrice

[Vally]

Hi Deborah, I’m so sorry to hear about Maya and I know you and your husband must be so worried right now. We’ve all been through it, so we do understand.

Maya is where she needs to be right now and hopefully they’ll get to the bottom of everything quickly and get her on the right drugs.

Please keep in touch and let us know how Maya is going.

Regards, Vally

[Deborah]

Thanks Vally & Patrice –

Antibiotics were started right away, while waiting for full tick-borne illness bloodwork, Lyme was negative immediately, but I understand starting with antibiotics is typical. When she didn’t respond in two days, vet added Prednisone & guessed at possible autoimmune disease. Two more days, RBCs still dropping & we headed to Cornell. She has had great workups, ultrasound,X-rays, all tests — we have a growing pile of copies of labwork –multiple blood tests & today received a blood transfusion which bumped her RBCs up pretty quickly. All of her vitals are good, no jaundice & she’s eating. Tomorrow, she will have a bone marrow biopsy, which should be the final test to determine if her IMHA is secondary, or primary.

The most recent booster she had was for Lepto … We adopted her over nine years ago and of course, she’s been vaccinated for everything for all these years. We did have a hard time getting her diet set — she has a typical nervous GSD stomach, plus a bad start in life. In hindsight, she was licking at dirt this past fall, particularly near rivers and such, which may have been a sign?

Vets seem very hopeful, so we’re clinging to that … I spent a couple of hours “visiting” her this morning, lots of cuddling & I explained to her that she had to work hard/fight to get well!

Truly appreciate your feedback!
Best, Deborah

[Vally]

Hi Deborah, thank you for updating. We worry about “our” dogs.

If you’d like to send a copy of the test results through, Patrice can run her eye over them. She’s brilliant at understanding what’s happening and can explain it to you. Use the Urgent Advice which will allow the attaching of documents.

Personally, I would not do the biopsy. It doesn’t change anything, nor will it change the treatment plan. It may simply answer some questions. That was my specialist’s advice to me. You could ask whether there is any benefit to Maya having it done.

I’m sure Maya listened to you, and hopefully she will be stable very quickly and can go home.

Vally