PREVIOUS SUCCESS STORIES
January 2008
Chancey
Chancey is a 12 year old spayed female Chow/Collie/Shepherd mix owned by Dale and Brent of Columbus, OH. Chancey was diagnosed with autoimmune hemolytic anemia on March 11, 2005.
When Dale was asked to describe Chancey’s symptoms prior to her AIHA diagnosis he replied, “Chancey was very tired and lethargic. From time to time she would fall over and not be able to get back up. She would not eat and appeared to be going downhill very quickly. After she totally collapsed, on March 9, 2005, we took her to the veterinarian where a series of tests were run and on March 11, she was diagnosed with pure red cell aplasia (PRCA), one of the four basic forms of AIHA.
“Chancey was initially started on 20 mg prednisone twice per day. When her PCV continued to drop, 125 mg Cyclosporine twice per day, was added to the treatment regimen. On March 20, Chancey had another alarming collapse and we rushed her back to the veterinarian. Testing revealed that her PCV had dropped to 8 and it was felt that she was near death. We were told that a blood transfusion was very necessary at this point. Our dear friend, Virginia, works at the clinic Chancey was being treated at and was aware of Chancey’s need for blood. She brought in her Chocolate Lab, Badger, to donate blood for Chancey and thankfully, Badger was a perfect blood match for Chancey. After the transfusion, Chancey was up and alert and ready to go home. This blood transfusion was the turning point in Chancey’s recovery and ultimately saved her life. As Chancey’s PCV started to increase and remain stable we slowly reduced the medications. At the present time, Chancey is on no medications for the treatment of AIHA. The only vaccination Chancey has received since her AIHA diagnosis is the Ohio state required rabies vaccination. She received a 3 year rabies vaccine in February, 2006 and had no complications or adverse reactions to the vaccine.”
When Dale was asked to comment on the current state to Chancey’s health he replied, “She is doing very well. Her PCV at her last blood check was 38. Chancey is a happy and healthy senior dog. She loves her daily, sometimes twice daily excursions to Goodale Park, our dog park in downtown Columbus. She enjoys playing with her dog friends and chasing the park squirrels. Chancey loves to swim and has ‘a blast’ when we go to the dog beach at a lake. She is slowing down a bit, which is very normal for a senior dog, but still is able to get around fine and go up and down the stairs in our home. This past summer, I had foot surgery and was unable to get around for a number of weeks. Chancey was such a comfort to me during this time, always staying close by. We are so thankful that our most beloved Chancey is still with us and doing so well nearly 3 years after her AIHA diagnosis. Our friend, Virginia and her dear Chocolate Lab, Badger, whose gift of blood made all the difference in Chancey’s recovery, both have a very special place in our hearts. We see Badger at the park daily and he and Chancey are best buddies.”
February 2008
Haley
Haley is a 10 year old spayed female Toy Poodle owned by Kim and Ed of Fuquay-Varina, NC. Haley was diagnosed with autoimmune hemolytic anemia on July 31, 2006,
When Kim was asked to comment on Haley’s symptoms prior to her AIHA diagnosis she replied, “Haley’s illness appeared to come on very quickly over a weekend. Friday night, Haley seemed very tired and by Saturday evening she would not get off her pillow to greet us when we came home. Haley ate on Sunday morning, but laid around all day. She would not eat her dinner Sunday evening, although she did drink some water. We thought her stomach was just upset because that sometimes happened. Sunday night Haley’s condition continued to worsen. She stopped drinking water, became very lethargic and would not walk. By the time we took her to the veterinarian, early Monday morning, her gums were very pale, almost a white or gray color.
”At the veterinary clinic, initial blood work revealed a PCV of 21 and the autoagglutination test was positive. Haley was kept at the veterinary clinic for several hours while they attempted to feed her and give her pills, which she vomited. Since she could not keep pills down, she was given 100 Units IV heparin, 1 mg SQ famotidine, and 4 mg IV prednisone. That afternoon, when her PCV dropped to 16, we received a call from the veterinary clinic telling us that we needed to take Haley to a Veterinary Specialty Hospital (VSH) where she could receive a blood transfusion. We were also told that Haley had only a 50/50 chance to pull through this. Since Haley was so weak, the drive to the Specialty Hospital saddened us, because we did not know if we would ever see her again.
”At the VSH, Haley was given a blood transfusion. They also did a urinalysis, abdominal ultrasound and IV hydration. When we visited Haley, the day after the blood transfusion, she had more energy and looked so much better. She was being medicated with 5 mg prednisone twice per day, 1 mg famotidine twice per day and Doxycycline. Haley remained at the VSH for two nights and was discharged on Wednesday with a PCV of 28. When Haley was discharged from the VSH, Azathioprine was added to the treatment regimen. Initially we had blood work done weekly, then every other week, then every 3-4 weeks. As Haley’s PCV started to rise and remain stable, we reduced the prednisone and Azathioprine very slowly. It took until May, 2007 for Haley to be off all medications for the treatment of AIHA. Haley received her 3 year rabies vaccination in March, 2007 since we were not able to obtain a heath waiver for that vaccination for her. However, she will no longer be vaccinated for any other diseases.”
When Kim was asked to comment on the current state of Haley’s heath, she replied, “She is doing very well. Her PCV at her last blood check in November, 2007 was 50. Haley is back to playing ball like she did when she was a puppy. Most people can’t believe how well she is doing after all she has been through. Her only setback, if you can call it that, was in October, 2006. Because prednisone had made her a ‘crazy eater’, she damaged her salivary gland from chewing too vigorous on a rawhide stick. When the gland became blocked, the veterinarian drained it, while Haley was under anesthesia and also did a biopsy. Eventually we had to have the salivary gland removed on that side. Haley did very well after the surgery, however, now neither she or her Yorkshire Terrier brother, Cody, are allowed rawhide bones. Haley is so full of energy, it is hard to believe she will be 11 in April. We enjoy every day with her and feel so blessed to still have her with us.”
March 2008
Piper
Piper is a 4 year old spayed female Springer Spaniel owned by Zsuzsa and Jeffrey of Fairfield CT. Piper was diagnosed with immune-mediated hemolytic anemia on September, 13 2005.
When Zsuzsa was asked to comment on Piper’s symptoms prior to her IMHA diagnosis, she replied, “Piper had always been an extremely energetic dog. It was due to her lack of energy that we began to feel something was not quite right. One day when we took Piper for her daily hike, she lagged behind and was out of breath. She loves hiking and it was unusual for her not to lead the way. At first we thought she was just tired from the excitement of recently being boarded overnight as well as the trip to visit our family. Usually Piper bounced back from these events quickly, but this time things were different. Her personality changed and she became fearful. She also began hiding behind furniture and in her crate. When Piper lost all her appetite and refused water, we knew something was seriously wrong. Just prior to Piper’s IMHA diagnosis her gums were extremely pale and she was breathing heavily. Her stool and urine were orange in color and she had begun vomiting. Her condition deteriorated so quickly, that within a short time Piper was unable to stand up without falling down. From the time we first noticed that Piper was only slightly lethargic to the time she was in crisis was only a day or two.
”We rushed Piper to the veterinary clinic where blood testing revealed a PCV of 17 and she was diagnosed with IMHA. We were told our best chance of getting Piper through this crisis would be to find what had triggered her illness. Our veterinarian ran multiple tests to determine the cause of the IMHA, while we rushed Piper to the Emergency Veterinary Center for treatment. At the Emergency Center, Piper was given a blood transfusion and started on 25 mg Prednisone, twice a day, 50 mg Imuran, once a day and 40 mg aspirin once a day (for the first week after the transfusion). Since Piper had also tested positive for the tick born illness, Ehrlichiosis, 100 mg Doxycycline twice per day was added to the treatment regimen. Three days after the blood transfusion Piper had a PCV of 23 and was released from the hospital. After Piper’s release from the hospital, we visited our veterinarian for blood work every few days and added the supplement, Pet-Tinic to the treatment regimen, for the short term, to help get Piper through the crisis period. Because Piper responded to Imuran, within a month of the start of her treatment, we were allowed to reduce that drug to 50 mg every other day. In addition, Piper was started on one half Pepcid tablet to protect her stomach from the side effects of prednisone. It was challenging to get Piper to eat throughout her illness, so another change that we made was switching her from prescription urinary formula dog food to a natural higher protein dog food. Piper was tapered off of the prednisone very slowly over that first year. During that time, she faced many urinary tract and skin infections.
”Over the winter of 2007, we noticed Piper was nauseous and no longer interested in eating. We brought her in to the veterinarian for a checkup where it was discovered that Piper’s liver enzymes were elevated. We also were told she had periportal fibrosis thickening on her liver. Our veterinarian was concerned about Piper’s liver and decided to slowly begin reducing the Imuran. We were relieved to see that as we tapered down the Imuran, Piper’s liver enzymes dropped to a normal range and her appetite returned. We kept her on a low dose of Imuran through her IMHA anniversary date in September 2007 and then completely discontinued the Imuran in early October 2007. Prior to the Imuran being completed discontinued Piper was taking 12 ½ mg twice per week, one dose given on Monday and one dose given on Thursday.”
When Zsuzsa was asked to comment on the current state of Piper’s health she replied, “Piper is doing great. We know she is feeling better now because she is playing with her toys again and her silly sense of humor has returned. She has a tail wag for everyone and is the happiest dog around. When she last had blood work done on February 8, 2008 she had a PCV of 50. Piper is completely off all medications for the treatment of IMHA and has been in a sustained remission for over two years now. The most challenging part of treatment for us were Piper’s infections. She has a history of chronic urinary tract infections, therefore, it was necessary to monitor her very carefully. We would routinely run a urinalysis every 6 weeks when we did the CBC just to make sure she was OK. Several times that testing found infections that we had been unable to detect just by watching Piper’s behavior. While Piper was on immune suppressants, our veterinarian advised us to limit Piper’s interaction with other dogs to reduce her risks of illness. She has now told us that we can once again treat Piper like a normal dog, which is an incredible feeling. Recently we were required, by our state, to have Piper vaccinated for Rabies and although we were concerned how she would react to this vaccination, she has been fine. Piper is back to her daily walks in the neighborhood and she has made lots of new friends. She's very active and loves chasing squirrels and waiting for the mail each day. We celebrated her fourth birthday in January and you would never know, by looking at her, what she has been through with IMHA. When we look back over the past 2½ years of Piper’s illness, we just cannot believe how far she has come. This has been a long emotional journey but that only makes us even more grateful for the gift of each day with our special girl.”
April 2008
Newman
Newman is a 6 year old neutered male Miniature Australian Shepherd owned by Louise of Georgetown, Ontario Canada. Newman was diagnosed with immune-mediated hemolytic anemia on October 16, 2006.
When Louise was asked to comment on Newman’s symptoms prior to his IMHA diagnosis she replied, “The onset of Newman’s illness came on very suddenly. There was a tiny spot of blood in his stool one morning but otherwise he seemed normal. When we went to the park, early that afternoon, he still seemed fine. At the park, I threw the Frisbee, Newman caught it, brought it back, I threw it again, he caught it again and brought it back to about 5 feet away from me (he usually puts it in my hand) where he stopped, dropped the Frisbee and laid down. This was completely out of character for Newman and I instantly knew something was wrong. For some reason, still unknown to me, I immediately walked over to Newman and lifted his lip. His gums were stark white. I let him rest for a moment and then encouraged him to get up and walk around a bit. He got up, walked around and seemed to be feeling better. We walked the short 10 minute walk back to our home, Newman, trotting right along side my other dog, Emma. When we got home there was some color in Newman’s gums and he seemed pretty much normal, although perhaps a bit more quiet.
”The next morning when I let Newman outside, he went to the bottom of the stairs and urinated on the spot, took two steps and had a bowel movement. This was very unlike him, since he usually sniffs around and checks out the yard before doing his business. I noticed the stool was orange and contained a small amount of blood. Newman appeared very lethargic and his gums were white, bordering on yellow. He ate his breakfast but with some effort, again, not like him at all. I immediately called the veterinarian and then took Neman into the veterinary clinic. By the time we got to the veterinarian’s office, Newman’s gums and the whites of his eyes were yellow and he was running a fever. I told the veterinarian 'I think Newman has Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia.' When she replied, 'Why would you think that', I told her about my friend Cindy, who had lost her Border Collie, Moss, to IMHA. Tests were run and Newman was started on an IV. When the veterinarian said she wanted to keep Newman overnight, I originally resisted but then agreed. The veterinarian called me that evening to tell me Newman had a PCV of 17 and that she thought he did have IMHA. Newman was started on prednisone and monitored throughout the next day and night. His PCV went up the second day but by the morning of the third day it dropped dramatically. I took him, IV included, to a veterinary referral/emergency clinic to see an internal medicine specialist. My veterinarian was completely onboard with this decision.
”When he arrived at the emergency clinic, Newman’s PCV was back up to 20 but by 9 P.M. it had dropped to 16 where it remained overnight. Newman wasn't eating and his heart rate was slightly elevated. Even though the Coombs test came back negative, there were spherocytes present. The next morning, when Newman’s PCV dropped to 10, he was given a blood transfusion. Later that day, Newman’s PCV rose to 24 and over the next two days his PCV fluctuated between 20 and 27. On October 23rd, when Newman’s PCV was holding steady at 24, he was discharged from the veterinary hospital. At the time of his discharge from the veterinary hospital, Newman was on 30 mg of prednisone and 25 mg of Azathioprine per day. One thing I noticed after Newman was discharged from the veterinary hospital was that he was very wobbly. He couldn't shake, like dogs do when they get out of the water, without falling down. He would flip himself over on his side whenever he tried to shake. He also appeared to have a permanent tilt to his head. I spoke to the specialist, who had noticed this as well, and he consulted with a neurosurgeon. It was thought that Newman had had a small brain embolism but given that his steadiness was slowly improving, he was expected to make a full recovery, although some head tilt might be permanent.
”On November 17, 2006 Newman’s blood work showed his white blood count to be 1.6. It had been 2.5 two weeks earlier. It was suspected that the Azathioprine was suppressing the bone marrow. The Azathioprine dosage was reduced by half, which resulted in a normal white blood count at the next blood test. Newman's PCV rose slowly, but steadily, over the next several weeks. As his PCV rose, we slowly decreased the medications. The prednisone was discontinued in February, 2008 and at the present time, Newman is taking 6.25 mg of Azathioprine every third day. Newman was receiving a rabies vaccination every 3 years, however, he will now no longer receive any vaccines, whatsoever. We use Sentinel for heartworm prevention, once every 8 to 10 weeks. I would not be giving Newman any heartworm preventive at all, except for the fact, that we have traveled to several high heartworm areas over this past year in our effort to qualify for the World Cynosport Games. Newman's specialist believes that Newman would have difficulty dealing with heartworm and it’s treatment if he were to contract it, therefore, he feels that we would be better off preventing heartworm. Newman receives no flea or tick preventative."
When Louise was asked to comment on the current state of Newman’s health she replied, “Newman is doing very well and is completely back to his old self. His PCV was 43 at his last blood check on March 6, 2008. He appears to have fully recovered from the embolism with no more head tilt, whatsoever. Newman has tons of energy and has gone back to competing very successfully in agility. So successfully, in fact, that he qualified for and competed in the World Cynosport Games in agility in Scottsdale, Arizona this past November. Newman has continued to train and compete in agility since the World Cynosport Games. He competed in an AAC (Agility Association of Canada) agility trial in January, 2008 and placed 2nd in the Steeplechase at the 22 inch jump height. His weight is good, his coat is good and his energy level is amazing! He is always up for anything and squeaks with anticipation long before we arrive at the 40-foot indoor lap pool for dogs where he swims twice per week. All the dog sport success is wonderful but it doesn't compare to each morning when we get up and Newman runs up and down the hallway just happy that it's a new day. How can I not smile at that? I am so very happy to have Newman back to his old pre-IMHA self and I am so grateful for every day I have with him.
”If I could give any advice to someone dealing with canine AIHA/IMHA, it would be to take your dog to a specialist if at all possible. Find an veterinary internal medicine specialist who is experienced in dealing with the disease. Do some research and ask lots of questions. Most of all, know that even when it looks bad for your dog, you have to keep the faith. It can take a long time for the medications to work and your dog to recover. Newman and many other dogs are proof that dogs can survive AIHA/IMHA and return to the life they lived prior to their AIHA/IMHA diagnosis.”
May 2008
Casper
Casper is a 6 year old neutered male Miniature American Eskimo Dog owned by Leslie of Santa Clara, CA. Casper was diagnosed with Evans Syndrome (immune-mediated hemolytic anemia and immune-mediated thrombocytopenia occurring at the same time) on February 19, 2006.
When Leslie was asked to comment on the symptoms Casper displayed prior to his Evans Syndrome diagnosis she replied, “Now that I look back on everything, it appears Casper’s illness came on over an extended period of time. After Casper received a Bordetella vaccination and had his teeth cleaned in November, 2005 he was never the same. Prior to these procedures, in the morning after he urinated and had a bowel movement, he would want to play but after them he would go back to his bed. Other then this morning tiredness, Casper was his usual hyperactive self. In December 2005, I occasionally noticed a red spot on Casper’s belly which would disappear after an hour or so. At this point, he was still active and normal. Then on January 18, 2006 I found dozens of red spots and bruising on Casper’s thighs and belly. The veterinarian said she had not seen anything like this before and concluded it must be allergies. She prescribed antibiotics for two weeks and Casper seemed fine except his stool was turning orange.
"On February 19, 2006 Casper suddenly collapsed while playing ball. After a few seconds, he got back up and wanted to play again, but we made him rest the remainder of the day. That night, when he started up the stairs to go to bed, he collapsed again. After we saw his gums were white, we took him to the veterinary ER where the veterinarian on duty diagnosed Casper with Evans Syndrome and immediately started treatment. Within hours Casper’s PCV dropped to 8 and his platelet count fell to 7,000. The veterinarian told us Casper was in need of a blood transfusion and referred us to a veterinary internal medicine specialist. Over the next few days, Casper received 3 blood transfusions, 1 Oxyglobin infusion, 2 doses of Human Immunoglobulin and was started on 100 mg Neoral, 20mg prednisone, 5mg Pepcid and 25mg Metronidazole. When Casper’s PCV and platelets dropped after the transfusions, the veterinarians recommended that he be put to sleep. Casper was so weak that he could not even sit up or eat but still he would not give up. After nine days of hospitalization Casper’s PCV and platelets stabilized and he was able to go home. Several months later he was weaned off all medications because he had developed Cushings disease.
”On April 9, 2007 Casper jumped onto the bed and fainted. After seeing his white gums, we took him to the ER, where he was diagnosed with an Evans Syndrome relapse. He was given one dose of Human Immunoglobulin and was again started on Neoral, prednisone, Pepcid and Metronidazole as well as Imuran. Casper was released from the veterinary hospital the next day on the following medications: 100 mg Neoral, 20 mg prednisone, 25 mg Imuran, 10mg Pepcid and 25mg Metronidazole. As Casper’s PCV and platelets rose, we slowly reduced his medications.”
When Leslie was asked to comment on the current state of Casper’s health she replied, “Casper is doing well and continues to show a love of life that is just inspiring. His most recent blood work on March 24, 2008, revealed a PCV of 45 and a platelet count of 400,000. Because of the fact that Casper relapsed with Evan’s Syndrome, he remains on 2.5 mg prednisone, 25 mg Imuran and 10 mg Pepcid daily. He will probably remain on these medications the rest of his life to prevent further relapses. Even at his lowest point, Casper kept his happy disposition. Now, to look at him, you can hardly tell he has ever been sick a day in his life. Although, our life has not been the same since Casper's illness, we try to make the most of it and we both have adjusted to Casper’s new limitations. He used to be a super hyper dog but he now tires more easily and spends the majority of the his time indoors where he happily runs around and plays with his toys. Casper makes us smile everyday with his many antics. Although Casper loves to meet people and other dogs, we are very careful where we take him, since he can no longer have any vaccinations, flea or heartworm preventatives. It is important for us to make sure the dogs he meets are healthy and will not be carriers of any diseases. We are so thankful for each day that we have Casper with us. He brings such happiness to everyone he meets and is an inspiration to all those who know what he has been through. He is a testament to the power of prayer. We are forever grateful for the multitude of people who prayed for him to get better.”
Editor’s Note:
To earn additional income to help pay Casper’s veterinary expenses, Leslie opened Casper N Caboodle, an online store selling dog themed shirts and gift items. Since Leslie wanted to help find answers to the many questions that surround AIHA/IMHA, she also created a special section in the store to sell items dedicated to AIHA/IMHA with all commissions going to the Meisha’s Hope AIHA/IMHA Fund #338 at Morris Animal Foundation. To purchase some of the Casper N Caboodle AIHA/IMHA merchandise for yourself and help in the fight against AIHA/IMHA at the same time Click Here
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