 Awareness & Fund Raising Initiative |
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Awareness & Fund Raising Initiative |
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When a dog is diagnosed with autoimmune hemolytic anemia/immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, its owner/caregiver is seldom prepared for dealing with such a serious life-threating illness. Many times their first question will be, what can I expect in terms of survival and quality of life for my dog.
The "Success Stories" page is presented in order to answer those questions. We hope to show owner/caregivers whose dogs have recently been diagnosed with autoimmune hemolytic anemia/immune-mediated hemolytic anemia that there is indeed hope. Over the coming months we will feature dogs who have been diagnosed with this disease and who are now living normal lives. Many of them have had no reoccurrence of the disease whatsoever. I hope you will be encouraged and filled with hope as you read these stories. I plan to change the stories on a monthly basis, so stop back often.
Kelly is a 10 year old spayed female Cocker Spaniel owned by Michelle and Scott of Plantation FL. Kelly was diagnosed with autoimmune hemolytic anemia on January 20, 2007.
When Michelle was asked to comment on Kelly’s symptoms prior to her AIHA diagnosis she replied, “The onset of the disease came on very quickly. We had always described Kelly as the puppy that never grew up. She didn't know how to walk, since she galloped everywhere. She was the dog who always seemed to have a smile on her face and loved to make people laugh. Just prior to Kelly’s AIHA diagnosis, it appeared as if her energy was completely drained. This dog, who so loved life, seemed barely alive. She didn't want anything to do with food (this from a dog who normally loved food so much she scarcely chewed it, because she wanted it so badly!) and she could barely stand or lift her head. This behavior was such a sudden and shocking change from her usual happy, energetic, and mischievous demeanor. Kelly had gotten into the garbage the day before we noticed any symptoms so, when she was sluggish and would not eat, we thought she just had an upset tummy from the garbage. But when this lasted a second day and she started to vomit, we took her to the veterinarian. Our biggest worry, at the time, was that she had swallowed a chicken bone and it had caused internal damage. Blood work at our regular veterinarian’s office revealed a PCV of 8. Based on that in-office blood test we were urged to rush Kelly to an ER animal hospital.
”Upon admission to the emergency care hospital, Kelly had a PCV of 7 and was autoagglutinating. Kelly was given a blood transfusion, which she rejected, and was started on subcutaneous fluids, prednisone, antibiotics, antiemetics (drugs effective against vomiting and nausea) as well as drugs to prevent GI distress. When we did not see any improvement in Kelly after 5 days, we transferred her (with IV’s still attached) to Coral Springs Animal Hospital. We had learned that Dr. Rebecca Seaman at this hospital was a very good internal medicine/oncologist who had had some success with AIHA. Heparin injections as well as other antibiotics were added to the treatment regimen at this hospital. On January 29, when Kelly’s PCV had climbed to 18 and her appetite had improved, she was released from the hospital on the following medications: ½ tab Carafate dissolved in water every 8 hours, one hour before Pepcid; 25 mg Imuran, once daily; 50 mg Cytotec, every 8 hours; 10 mg Pepcid AC, every 12 hours; 125 mg Ciprofloxacin, once daily; 15 mg prednisone, every 12 hours; 5 mg Reglan, every 8 hours and 1.3ml Heparin, subcutaneously for 2 days.
”Blood testing on February 2, 2007 revealed Kelly’s PCV had risen to 20 and there was no autoagglutination. The Carafate, Reglan, Ciprofloxacin and Heparin were discontinued at this time. Over the next several months, as Kelly’s PCV continued to rise, we slowly lowered the prednisone dosage. When Kelly’s PCV reached 44 on August 15, 2007 the prednisone was discontinued. The Imuran dosage remained at 25 mg once per day. Over the next couple of months we lowered the Imuran dosage, until it was stopped on October 30, 2007. On that date, Kelly’s PCV was 51 and her slide agglutination test was negative. When Kelly had blood work done 6 weeks later, her PCV was 43 and her slide agglutination continued to be negative. At the present time we are doing blood work every 3 months. As a result of her illness, Kelly will no longer receive any vaccinations.”
When Michelle was asked to comment on the current state of Kelly’s health she replied, “Kelly is in excellent condition and continues to be a 10 year old puppy. Her PCV at her last blood check on June 28, 2008 was 45. Her tongue is a dark pink and her gums are a good color. Her appetite is insatiable and she is as mischievous and curious as before her illness. She is really back to being Kelly. It is almost as though she had never been ill. She lives every moment to the fullest. Kelly is back to being the loving, silly, funny, impish, adorable little bean that she was prior to AIHA. It's sometimes hard to believe that our littlest one was on the verge of death, but Kelly proved that her love for life and for her family was stronger than any disease. It's as though by sheer stubbornness and will power Kelly stayed with us. She is a tough little girl with a heart that just won't quit.”
The Meisha's Hope Award
Do you have a wonderful veterinarian who has gone beyond the call of duty in treating your AIHA/IMHA dog? If so nominate him or her for the 2008 Meisha's Hope Award. To learn more Click Here
New!! To read about the winner of the 2007 Meisha’s Hope Award and the Honorable Mention Nominees Click Here
To read about the winner of the 2006 Meisha’s Hope Award and the Honorable Mention Nominees Click Here
Editor's Notes
To view more Success Stories, click below to visit the Success Stories archives.
If you have a dog or know of a dog who has survived AIHA/IMHA for at least one year and you would like their story told on this page please email me at jdickson@cloudnet.comBack to TOP of page All contents on this site Copyright © 1998 - 2008 Joanne Dickson. All rights reserved.