Page 69 – Second Chance AIHA Dogs

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Keymaster

Hi Leza

We are also from the UK – we lived about 20 mins outside Oxford & moved to France in 2007, so I know exactly what you are saying. Fellow Blighty’s then! I think it depends on your relationship with your vet as to getting the results without specifically asking – we were very lucky that our vets were superb where we used to live, BUT goodness before that, I’ve had some not so good ones over there too. In my opinion, you should be entitled to any test results – you have paid for them, so they really do belong to you – I’m sure you could very politely insist on copies. I do remember being shown some in the past over there, but not being given a copy unless I asked. Anyway, you can get round that little problem, I’m sure.

We would really like to see any test results, especially any blood tests & pathology slides/smears – it would help us to help you. I had never heard of this awful IMHA until Worzel was diagnosed & had to do a lot of research & learn as much as I could as I wanted to know EXACTLY what I was dealing with. Some of the lovely people on this site helped me through that very bad situation & now it is my turn to help, I hope. Regarding the anti-clotting meds (again!), if you are unsure about anything, we can help if we could see those results in full. I know you will be forceful if you need to be – you will look after Molly, I have no doubt.

The UK does not have such a high incidence of IMHA as in other countries, probably because we don’t have so many tick borne diseases at the moment. But they do exist & no doubt it will get worse with global warming, animals travelling more, more vaccinations etc. This also means that vets don’t have the experience of seeing & treating the disease either – that’s no disrespect to them at all. It’s very rare, full stop. Your vets have done a really great job getting her through the first stages & hopefully will be open to suggestions too.

As Patrice mentioned, we are very interested in Molly eating snails – this definitely could be a trigger. I remember before I left the UK, that many more cases of something called lungworm (also called French heartworm – not to be confused with another type of heartworm we have here) were being reported in dogs, which is extremely dangerous. This worm is sometimes found on slug, snails & their slime & can cause blood abnormalities – has she had a recent cough at all? Some dogs can be infected, but have no symptoms. One of the several blood problems lungworm can cause includes hypochromic anaemia (which means pale coloured red cells with a low count) &/or bleeding problems. A possibility. Worth testing for maybe? – here’s some info:
http://en.wikivet.net/Angiostrongylosis
http://www.dfordog.co.uk/article-be-lungworm-aware.html

Last boring question bit – what antibiotics is Molly on & what for? That might give us a clue as to the cause too.

It’s wonderful to hear Molly is eating well – you will have to give her more food – my greedy boy was always ravenous on the pred too. Feed me, feed me NOW! I always feel happier when they get their appetite back & want to be a little more active. She is doing really well, Leza.

Let us know how you get on tomorrow – sending loads of hugs from me & my boys
Sheena, Worzel & Ollie xxxxx

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Keymaster

Hello Pam and precious Ella. I am so sorry you are here, but SO glad you found this site. We have all been right where you are (Sadie’s Story) and we know how scared and confusing it all is – I was totally a dear in the headlights.

It sounds as though your vets have a good grip on this horrid disease AND that the communication is good – that’s key. We too, have been lucky enough to have a (well, several now) wonderful vet(s). And, as Ella, Sadie responded quite quickly to the regiment. BUT, she was weaned too fast, and lead to relapse. She again relapsed in October 2014. But she’s a fighter and doing well now, thank goodness.

You mentioned traveling with Ella. It’s a slippery slope and I totally agree with Patrice and Sheena – home is the best place. On occasion, I do take Sadie with me. Her last relapse was when I was staying with my grand children in GA (we live in FL). I had to take her to two vets there (knew one, not the other) and we immediately put her back on prednisone (alone) and that actually did the trick in just a few days. We now, again, are weaning very slowly from that relapse. Geeze.

I tell you this because, I so wish I would have take EXTRA medication (higher dose) for the “what if’s” and will for now on ALWAYS carry the 20mg prednisone with me when I travel with her, which now is not often. She was actually still weaning from the last relapse and was on a VERY low dose (2.5mg am only) of prednisone.

Also, I THINK, not sure, but I think she may have had fleas on her (she’s on no flea/tick medications now). It’s hard to check her because she’s jet black. My son has a huge back yard that Sadie loves to run in – AND roll in. Let’s see, GA. Yep. Fleas. So, perhaps that could have caused the anemia and hence, the relapse. And this year in FL has been equally as bad.

I am now trying to figure out just WHAT the heck we can use to keep the fleas off. I now use a flea comb (thank you Vally!), Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth and a product called Richard’s Organics Flea and Tick (it does NOT kill them, just stuns them and they fall off). I then put them in water and they drown, down the toilet. I put the Food Grade (ONLY) Diatomaceous Earth in her bed, in the area rugs where she lies and under our (high bed, it’s her domain under there – a huge tent) poster bed (high off the ground). Anywhere she lies. It’s a bit unsightly, but I think it’s really helping. I just bathed her and there was one flea (huge, but only one) – he’s toast now. So, it’s much better than the 30 I had found just a month ago.

Also, I wanted to say, it took me a while to realize I can not take her everywhere with me anymore. Yes, broke my heart – I travel much. I still take her to my son’s and my daughter’s home (both in GA), because she absolutely loves the grandchildren AND my daughter has Sadie’s sister, Sophie-dog, and they adore each other. My son has no animals, other than the wild children. :)

When I leave Sadie (as everyone else, no more dog parks, no kennels, etc.), she now stays with her ‘greyhound buddies’ down the street. The greyhounds’ (five of them) fur parents are the best and they know Sadie’s vet (he care for the greys, as they are part of a large greyhound rescue group here in Tampa). Sadie thinks she’s a greyhound (please don’t tell her otherwise….). They are hysterical together. I pay them, as I would a kennel, as a donation to the greyhound rescue – a tax write-off. It’s a win-win situation. Perhaps, you could find someone that would be willing to do something like this or even a barter system – you trade off. I have another friend that I do that with (Sadie, like me, loves all pups), another cocker spaniel, Buster – great buddies.

I am so glad that Ella is doing well. You are so right, the prednisone has horrible side affects. The muscle atrophy is really cruel. BUT, Ella’s muscle tone will come back. You will be amazed, as Vally, Patrice and Sheena have said.

Hang in there – you are doing a remarkable job, both of you!!! I know this brings about some lousy life changes, but Ella IS a survivor and your care and diligence is the reason why. I like the word “remission” (thanks Sheena!) – keep it up Ella!

Sending our love, Linda and Sadie

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