Lemonlime Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 My dog was rushed to the emergency vet tonight and has been diagnosed with "Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia" (IMHA) (to be confirmed by a lab tomorrow but vet is certain) To say I am crushed is an understatement. We have been told that he has a very aggressive form but the good news is we caught it early. His blood count is at 33 tonight and they are monitoring him over night. He was fine yesterday and depressed and urinating blood tonight, Im in total shock. He is my heart dog. The vet mentioned starting chemo. Does anyone who has been through this have any advice or experiences to share? (I am of course listening to my vet) but I want to hear from people who have been through this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tassie Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 I'm probably not the one who should be replying to you, since I lost my first Border Collie to this horrible ailment 9 years ago - he was 12 and 3/4. OTOH, his PCV was only about 18 I think, so he was much sicker than your boy. Dogs can recover from this - but unfortunately it does have a high mortality rate. From what my vet said, the initial treatment may be transfusion, and high doses of immuno suppressants. The treatment in itself is pretty nasty. When it's acute like this, it comes as such a shock, since you get virtually no warning - like your boy, mine went from being apparently fit to being very very sick within a couple of days. I do wish you the very best for your boy. Thinking strong thoughts for you both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danois Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 (edited) Hi groupfive - I recall that Fiery Di (who might now be just Di) went through this. I recommend a group called CIMDA - they are a UK based Yahoo list but with international members. It is Canine Immune Mediated Disease Awareness and all members have dogs affected by IM issues. The moderator Jo is a terrific source of knowledge and there is a lot of literature on the site. http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/CIMDAsupport/ I had a dog with IMPA and he developed (or it had been suppressed or hidden because of the drugs) IMHA at the end. I cannot offer any advice re treatment for the IMHA as my boy had too many fires to fight that it was kinder to let him go. Please don't take this as an indication of how it goes as each case is obviously different and Angs had a number of things wrong. I am pleased you have a diagnosis and hope that your dog responds well to treatment. Edited February 1, 2010 by Danois Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pointees Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 Thinking of you and your boy. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 I have known two dogs who've survived it. Google it - there's a lot of information on the net about it. Good luck. My friend's dog's blood count dropped to 8 - she survived with very full on nursing from her owner and a very knowledgeable and hard working vet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemonlime Posted February 2, 2010 Author Share Posted February 2, 2010 Thankyou everyone for your kind words. Danois I have joined that group, they are a wonderful bunch of people! He ate last night and was stable, his blood count dropped to 31, which could be worse. He has started on cortisone and atopica, we went straight for aggressive treatment since we were so lucky we caught it early, the disadvantage is his form on IMHA is in his blood stream and it is very aggressive. We have the option of keeping him where he is and continuing fighting with drugs, or I can be referred to the specialist who can do a host of tests to find out the cause of this and where to go from here. I dont know what to do, im so scared I will make the wrong choice. Please keep my boy in your thoughts :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diva Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 I had a Belgian Shepherd diagnosed with IMHA. He was very ill for a number of days, on cortisone for a number of months, but did pull through. Best wishes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkySoaringMagpie Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 I have had a dog with this and unfortunately he died 5 days after onset despite the best available medical care. There is a lot of information on the web, but it is a very serious illness and unfortunately the survival rate is not encouraging. Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst Please let us know how he gets on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mita Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 I have had a dog with this and unfortunately he died 5 days after onset despite the best available medical care. Same for the little dog next door. Except he made it to 9 days. Warmest thoughts coming your way. I hope you get lots of support & good info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puglvr Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 I have a girl who had it. her blood count was just enought to keep her alive so she had a blood transfusion and was on immune suppresants. lHowever the susequent blod test came back as inconclusive. She was kept on immune suppresants and then gradually weaned off. She was 8 months old when this happend and is coming up 7 now. She has not been "sick" since has in fact had a litter of pups. It may not have been IMHA so maybe you will be lucky and you dog may be the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemonlime Posted February 2, 2010 Author Share Posted February 2, 2010 I last heard from the vet at 1pm, his blood count had only dropped 1 to 30. He is apparently a little trooper like I knew he would be but obviously not feeling well. He is still urinating large amounts of blood. I will go to visit him at 5pm and speak to the vet. I dont think I will move him to the specialist unless the vet feels it is a must, while he is stable and comfy where he is, I dont want to upset him more. Thankyou for your well wishes, I need them!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peacefrog Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 (edited) Groupfive, all the well wishes in the world to you your precious little mate!! My little girl was hospitalised at the vet specialists yesterday, her blood work came back and her platelets are 0 and her bloodwork isn't where it should be (red or white up or down, I just can't get my brain functioning to remember anything they've told atm), they started her on cortizone over night but she isn't repsonding as yet and some other blood thing has dropped off overnight so she may need a blood transfusion very soon if that doesn't pick up. Apparently it takes a few days for the cortizone to start working but the waiting to see if she will perk is killing me. Edit to add: I saw the vet this afternoon and my baby has ITP (immune mediated thrombocytopenia). She is very active and looking so much better, but not out of the woods until her levels creep up. Here's hoping our babies pull through!!!! Sorry for the hijack of your topic but I came in here to see if anyone else had gone through the same illness with their dog and whether my girls symptoms might be similiar - and low and behold I saw your topic. Edited February 2, 2010 by peacefrog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pointees Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 He's a little fighter! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbesotted Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 sending good thoughts. CIMDA is a great group one of my guys had immune mediated thrombocytopenia and a good friend lost her girl to IMHA.. it is tricky to treat but there are successes. remember as he improves keep him quiet as there appears to be propensity for blood clots... good luck helen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemonlime Posted February 2, 2010 Author Share Posted February 2, 2010 Peacefrog, fingers crossed for your girl!!!!!!!! I have been to see my boy and he looks like crap but he IS responding to the drugs. He is on 3 different drugs, very strong. The vet wants to hit his immune system hard and shock his body into producing red cells, it is his only hope. Basic IMHA drugs alone wont save him, he is extremely anemic. She said his body is fighting and creating new red blood cells like crazy, we are trying to flush his kidney to prevent a kidney infection he cant fight because he is still urinating a lot of blood. But then you run the risk of the IV fluids thinning the blood. So far so good. His PCV levels are still at 30. This is gut wrenching Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkySoaringMagpie Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 This is gut wrenching ;) Yes it is, tho it sounds like he is holding steady so that is good news. from all of us who have been through it before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pointees Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 (edited) Glad to hear his body is responding, he seems like a real little fighter who just wants to go home. And by the sounds of it, he's going to be home. Still thinking of you and your boy groupfive! Edited for bad spelling Edited February 2, 2010 by Pointees Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tassie Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 This is gut wrenching Yes it is, tho it sounds like he is holding steady so that is good news. from all of us who have been through it before. What SSM said. Hang in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peacefrog Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 Any news this morning?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vizeuse Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 As others have said - hang in there. A friend's dog had the intravascular form and survived. It was a bit of a bumpy ride (one step forward, two steps back), but she made it. Paws crossed for a great outcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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