AIHA or IMHA

I haven't been posting to this much because I'm trying to remain positive and upbeat.  But, this disease and the others who have it are never out of my mind-not even for one day. 

 Such a nice picture you have posted Sandra.  I have refused to get Cyclops a rabbies vaccine, I may check into a waiver or something later but I'm sure that is something my current vet has never heard of or done before. 

My vet had never done it before either -- it's not something generally advertised because frankly they don't want people trying to get out of it.  Kansas is the ONLY lab in the US that does it, and you literally have to have a pretty darned good reason FOR having a rabies titer done.  Either you have to be travelling out of the continental US with a dog (to deal with quarantine) or have a dog with a serious health problem like IMHA, etc.

The vet's office has to find out from Kansas State how to send them the blood AND then the vet's office has to contact the state/local authorities to find out HOW to do the waiver.  You can do some of that, but it's the vet's office that has to do it.

Usually rabies only becomes an issue if you want to 1) get the dog licensed or 2) if the dog bites someone or 3) need to kennel the dog.

Finding out how to get the titer done/waiver obtained takes a while.  Given that Arkansas just passed legislation to do a three year rabies protocol will make it easier.  Look at Kris Christine's thread about it.

I wasn't even going to bother with the waiver but after that scare this past weekend where she got aware from me I think I will.  My vet is aware but not sure if her illness will put her in the category where it will be OK to do. 

Callie, would the waiver be accepted if she did happen to bite? 

The waiver has to do with licensing -- beyond that it's going to be up to your local/state laws what they do to interpret that.  I have never had to be concerned about that so I'm honestly pretty dumb about it.  My concern is always getting the waiver to keep them licensed so they are covered for pet therapy.

I hope you can check into it and find out about your waiver.  I don't know why they can't take the scientific approach and say that if the antibodies are in the blood and you are willing to pay for the titers from Kansas that you can't get your rabies tag that way instead of a booster.

 With Cyclops she would never bite, wheras if it was Domingo I'd be a little worried (she never has bit but she does bark at strangers).  I never let Cyclops out of my sight so there are no real chances of her getting picked up by animal control. 

 Our state just went to a 3 year law so maybe her last vaccination of March 2008 would be good until 2011.  

 By the way, Cyclops is doing great - the vet at OSU wants to lower her Cyclosporine from 150mg 2x/day to 125mg 2x/day after her next CBC on April 15th.  At that time it will be a month since we started her on the iron pills so we can see then if her iron levels have come up to normal or not.  

Hope Willow is doing fine.  

GratefulDawg

By the way, Cyclops is doing great - the vet at OSU wants to lower her Cyclosporine from 150mg 2x/day to 125mg 2x/day after her next CBC on April 15th. 

  Awesome; way to go Cyclops!!!! I spoke with my vet about titers and he said the reason many vets don't do them is because there hasn't been a study done showing a link between the antibodies and immunity although common sense says if the antibodies are there in sufficient numbers then re vaccination should be unneccesary.

Cyclops, way to go!  Great news, Mike. 

That is such good news for your little girl.  And I hope you can fix it so she never has to have a rabies vax again.

jessies_mom

the reason many vets don't do them is because there hasn't been a study done showing a link between the antibodies and immunity although common sense says if the antibodies are there in sufficient numbers then re vaccination should be unneccesary.

Why do they call it *common sense* when it's SO uncommon? *sigh*  I mean -- the POINT of doing a vaccination is to MAKE antibodies!   And ... do we humans have a polio vaccine every year?  Smallpox?  Even tetanus goes for seven years.  ???  That logic just doesn't even make starting sense.

I'm so happy to read that Cyclops is doing this well! 

I have recently found out that one of my beagles has IMHA. I really don't understand a lot about it and am pretty upset about it. I am sitting at work wondering how Cooper's blood test went yesterday and I'm waiting to hear if his blood count is up, down, or the same as last Thursday. Last Monday, Cooper had a blood transfusion because his red blood cell count was at a 9%. After the transfusion his count was 22%. Last Thursday's result was 21.7%. Now I am hoping his count went up even if it was a little bit. Cooper is on three different meds and if his count doesn't go up or goes down, he has to go on another med that is really expensive I hear. I am so frustrated and confused. He is such a great dog and he's a fighter. I recently found this website and one day I just sat and cried while reading it. It's great to know that others are out there dealing with the same thing. If I can learn from all of you, maybe I can be a bit more positive and try things to help Cooper.

I'm so sorry you have a dog with IMHA.  I have never had to deal with such a devastating disease but just wanted to offer some words of support and comfort.  I hope your dog can get stabilized with the meds.  I'll keep you and Cooper in my thoughts and prayers.

I just heard from the vet. Cooper's numbers went down. :(  He is at 14.9%. The vet is putting him on Cyclosporine. I'm not sure how many mg yet. He's already on 50mg Doxyclycline twice a day, 25mg Prednisone once a day, and 50mg Azathiprine once a day. The vet told me to give him 100-150mg Ferrous suphate too. I'm going to Walgreens to pick up the new meds and the Ferrous Sulphate.

I guess I don't know what to think right now. He said Cooper could have bone marrow cancer but he doesn't know if doing a bone marrow biopsy will be worth it. He said it's painful and it might not give us any more info.

 Any suggestions or thoughts?

Thank you!  I appreciate your kind words and prayers.