snoopy

[jill]

Hi everyone im new to this site, our Dog Snoopy has been diagnosed with AIHA 2 weeks ago , his blood level was 15 -14 for this time, then he started to suffer from diareh which we think had blood in it and the level went down to 10 , he has just had a blood transfusion , which has taken it back up to 16.The vet has not been able to found out why Snoopy has this , he is suggesting we try another autoimmune suppresser with the predisoner?( steroid) and Snoopy is on a antibiotic , the other alternative was to do another big bone marrow test were Snoopy would have to be put out, we are worried what to do for the best, any advice would be gratefully received thanks x

[Brigitte]

Hello Jill,
I am sorry your Snoopy is so ill and you had to find us, but glad you did! First and foremost, this is a serious disease and not very common, but we have lots of proof that dogs can recover and live a happy and healthy life after.
Please give us as much information as you can. We never complain about a post being too long. The more we know about Snoopy,(weight, breed, age) about the medications he is on and the dosage, the better we can help.
Your vet is on the right track to add an other immune suppressant. This is usually recommended, either azathioprene or preferably cyclosporine. One of the worst side effects of cyclosporine is however poverty:) It is expensive but very effective. Why is Snoopy on antibiotics? Has a test for tick disease been done? If not I would highly recommend it! It is easy to do with a blood test, so not as invasive as a bone marrow biopsy. I am not a big fan of them because of that. If the result would change the course of the treatment I might do it, but if it is just for knowing what is going on and nothing would change in the treatment, I certainly would not spend the money and put my dog through it. One medication I would make sure Snoopy is on is sucralfate, a strong stomach protectant. The high doses of prednisone are very harsh on these dogs intestines and can lead to ulcers and bleeding. You want to avoid that at any cost. Sucralfate has to be given away from all other drugs so it does not interfere with absorption. An other drug that is often saving these dogs lives is a small dose of aspirin. Clotting has to be avoided, it is very common and often deadly in these dogs. The risk of clotting can also be checked in a blood test.
Please give us some more information! Do you have Snoopy home or is he still in the clinic? Is he eating? what are you feeding? How is he acting?
Hang in there Jill, there are many people on this forum that are happy to help you with any question you might have. You are not alone in this!
Best wishes,
Brigitte

[Sheena]

Hello Jill, hello Snoopy

Just to add to Brigitte’s welcome – I am also very glad you’ve found us. All of us have been through the horrible scenario of hearing our dogs or cats have this disease & the feeling of loneliness & worry that goes with it. I’m so sorry you are going through this too. Most do get better – the prognosis is really good with the right treatment, which is vital for the best recovery – I cannot over-emphasise how important that is. All Brigitte’s advice is absolutely essential – another immuno-suppressant is needed. And sucralfate. And most likely & very important, n anti-clotting medication such as aspirin, plavix, clopidogrel.

If you can upload any test results (all you have would be great), especially a blood smear & CBC, via the Urgent Advice area, we will have a good look at what is happening to Snoopy. Here it is:
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/urgent-advice/

In the meantime, please know you have lots of support from everyone on here – anything we can do to help, just ask. This thing can be beaten. Give Snoopy a hug from me.
Big Hugs
Sheena, Worzel (diagnosed Dec 2012, in remission, aged 14 at least now) & Ollie

[Vally]

Hi Jill,

A welcome from me too. I’m so sorry your Snoopy is so ill. The terror that this puts you in is horrible.

Just as Brigitte and Sheena have said, the more information you have the better.

Many of us don’t know what has caused this. Bingo was hypothyroid so that’s a possibility, but I’ll never know for sure.

I agree with Brigitte, a bone marrow biopsy really just might give you some answers, but it doesn’t change the treatment. I would NOT go ahead with it.

Ask anything at all. We’d all love to help.

Vally & Bingo (diag Nov 2011, in remission)

[jill]

Thakyou so much, ive been feeling really helpless, Snoopy is a Lurcher cross Saluki , he is 5, he collaspsed on us one evening and his gums were white, we got him straight to vets, were they did test and confirmed auto immune hemolytic anemia , we had never heard of it,he was put on prednisone, synulox and somethingto line his stomache , his blood level was 15,in the first week they did loads of blood tests, a ultersound, and small bone marrow test which didn’t show anything, after the first week they took level again which was the same and they said it was stable by the second week he seemed weeker and and at end of week had 4 lots of diareh in 2 days which was dark in colour I rang the vets straight away we had apt next day were they did another blood level test which had gone down to 10, the vet said he needed a blood transfusion, he had that on this last sunday,it put blood level up to 16 vetb had hoped for 20, but after itSnoopy still had bit of diareh and now bit of vomiting with blood , vet said could be an ulcer and started meds for this as may have been a side effect of steroid or a bug antibiotics to, wevwere due to pick him up yesterday from vets but hubby said whats the point if his still losing blood in diareh ? the vet said he will keep him overnite to se if he has anymore and also do another blood count in morning, he rang me this evening to say he had done small poo but no sign blood in it , he used to be fed james well beloved before being ill but went off it vet suggested chicken and rice which he loved at first but then towards end of second week went off this also would only eat ham and bit of tuna! im praying his blood level dosent go lower overnite, the vet is rining me in the morning to let me know, Tuesday 3rd Feb, thankyou so much for your help, kind regards Jill xx

[jill]

ps .I have made a note of all your suggestions and will b asking for Snoppys blood tests and results also, does anyone know roughly how much the cyclosporine is?

[jill]

Will Snoopy need to be on 2 auto immun supressents?

[Vally]

Jill, as to the cost of cyclosporine. I’m in Australia so I think it’s very different. No idea of the cost in USA but in Australia from the vet it was about $125 for 30 capsules. Someone will probably know the cost there. But, cheapest way to get it is to ask for a prescription from your vet and get it from a pharmacy. It’s a human drug. When I did it this way I was paying, from memory, about $60 for 30 capsules. It was around half price.

Here’s the information about it.
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/AIHA_Terms/cyclosporine/

Usually 2 drugs are needed. Prednisone works quickly, but it has a lot of side effects. So a second drug is used. Cyclosporine is the drug of choice as it actually targets the T-cells, doing the damage, with fewer side effects but it takes a little while to start working. Once stable, you start to lower the prednisone (because of the effects) and then slowly lower the second drug.

If Snoopy were already responding, prendisone would probably be enough, but if Snoopy is not getting better yet, you definately need a second.

Vally
xxx