AIHA or IMHA

PS -- even if you go to ground beef and add frozen veg like turnip greens, spinach, sweet potato -- you can help get the iron up.  If you want to email me I'll tell you what I did for Billy.

Billy got some strange stuff but he LOVED it.  I don't try to give them "a serving of turnip greens" -- I cook the veggies and then dump the meat in last (don't over-cook it) and then I mulch it all up with just a plain old potato masher.  So they can't "pick things out" -- but all the flavors mingle.  frozen is typically cheaper than fresh -- you just don't want canned b/c of the salt. 

 Dear community,

I'm sad to report that my Bucky didn't make it.  Although his IMHA appeared to be under control, it appears that complications from his elbow infection were the cause.  On Tuesday morning he started throwing up, and by the next morning he passed on.  Although his life was short, he was a patient dog who taught us all so much.  He was diagnosed with IMHA at the age of 18 months.   He survived the initial crisis, but relapsed two months later.  Despite the odds, he survived that only to get an infected arm from a bursa.  The infection caused all sorts of complications due to immune-suppressing drugs, but we fought it valiantly.  Despite the disease, the quality of his life was very good.  Please continue to research IMHA and experiment with ways to help.

Our family has a hole in it right now, but we're looking to adopt another dog (hopefully a "rescue";) soon.  Best of luck to you all.

L.A.

labrickner

I am so sorry to hear about Bucky.  I think that rescuing a dog would be a great way to honor Bucky's memory. This disease is a killer and when you suppress the immune system you can save your dog from IMHA but open your dog to a whole other can of worms from infections to cancers. 

Bucky really was a surviver when you think about the Cushings Syndrome and the skin problems, not to mention the hole in his arm. 

You went above and beyond what most dog owner's would do and you tried your best.  People that find this thread here on dogs.com all seem to have that in common.  

I know what tremendous pain you're in and I am sending good thoughts your way. 

Please keep in touch if it feels OK to do that.  At the very least come back and let us know if and when you rescue a dog.

All My Best

Mike

 I'm very sorry for your loss. Bucky was fortunate to have such caring owners; without your excellent care he wouldn't have lived as long. You made his time here very happy.  Run free Bucky; {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

I am so sorry to hear of your loss.  My heart goes out to you and your family.  From the sounds of things you did everyting you could for Bucky.  He truly was lucky to have you there for him.  Hope all gets well for you and your family and I think it is a very good thing you are doing in rescueing another dog.

Prayers and best wishes,

Johnny & Tessy

Oh gosh, I am SO so so very sorry ... and yes, we DO understand.  Especially those of us who have had first hand experience in fighting this disease.  The "secondary" infections that rise up in place because of the immune suppression are SO scarey. 

I know sometimes it sounds crazy the way we encourage everyone to race to the vet with every "little" thing ... but there ARE no "little things" to this disease. 

As GratefulDawg says -- please stay in touch, and let us know where you go and how you are and when another 4-foot takes it's place in your lives.  "hole" doesn't even begin to cover how you feel.  When you've had a dog who is THIS sick, who needs so much medicine and so much **tending* generally -- all of a sudden when that's gone you feel beyond bereft.  You wake up thinking "I have to hurry - it's time for his meds ..." or "Did I remember to change that bandage" ... and then you remember there is "no need".  *SIGH*

It's unbelievably hard and unbelievably sad.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you. *hugs* Callie

I am so sorry to hear about Bucky. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I know you did all you could and were a great owner. You did everything you could for Bucky and I'm sure he knew that. You'll see him one day again.

Val 

Run free Bucky.  Your family loved you so much and they miss you and will never forget.  Go to the Bridge, you have many new friends to meet.

I am so sorry for your loss.  I have been there and know that you can never prepare yourself for that empty spot where your loving dog should be and now is no more.  Bless you for taking in a rescue when you are ready.  Prayers for you and your family.  Hugs.

I'm so very sorry for your loss. Run free Bucky.

We are so very sorry for your loss. 

Tessy had her CBC done today and there were several positive changes. 

Here's her CBC results:
WBC 6.4  down from 30.7  big drop!  reason to be concerned?
RBC L 3.91 up from 3.59
HGB L 10.3 up from 9.6
HCT L 29.3 up from 27.7  ...two points is alright ...better than a decline
PLT H 723 down from 1000+
MCV H 75 down form 77
MCH H 26.4 down form 26.6
MCHC 35.2 up from 34.5
RDW 14.9 up from 14.4
MPV 6.9

Diff:
%LYM 8.5 up from 2.1  big increase?
%MON 2.0 up from 1.0
%GRA 89.5 down from 96.9
#LYM L 0.5 down from 0.6
#MON L 0.1 down from 0.3
#GRA 5.8 down from 29.8  big drop?  more room for infection?

These numbers are being compared to two weeks ago.

The only thing that concerns me now is the large drop in WBC and the granulocytes drop.  We decided that since her HCT climbed a couple of points we would not do an azathioprine reduction.  We will recheck in two weeks time.

How's everybody today?  Furkids behaving?

Johnny & Tessy

I want to say that what I am using for "normal" is antech's reference.  different labs have different references.

Johnny&Tessy

WBC 6.4  down from 30.7  big drop!  reason to be concerned?

Normal is 4.0 to 15.5 so 6.4 is great. 

Johnny&Tessy

RBC L 3.91 up from 3.59

4.8 to 9.3 is the normal range.  So you are heading in the right direction there.  Only 0.89 to go!

Johnny&Tessy

HGB L 10.3 up from 9.6

Hemoglobin also is heading in the right direction.  Normal is 12.1 to 20.3  

The Hematocrit is going in the right direction!  Like you said, its better than a decline!  Can't wait to see it in the 30's next time!

The Platelets are high.. I wonder if Tessy is on Aspirin?  Callie mentioned it when Cyclops had high Platelets last CBC and we have her on an ultra low dose of aspirin - my vet agreed that it can't hurt when the Platelets are that high.

According to Antech the MCV would be in the normal range, although you have an H marked next to yours.  Normal for Antech is 58-79 and you're within that range at 77

Same goes for the MCH, if you were getting results from Antech it would be normal at 26.4

The differencial I can't help you with at all because it looks like they're using a totally different scale.  Maybe you can find out what lab they use, and we can find the website and get a reference chart to see where they put their normal ranges at.

But in general it looks like everything is moving in the right directions!  

Way to go!

Please give Cloppy some kisses from me, I think of her from time to time.

Will do Meg!  And please give Pirate some good lovin' from me too =)

Yeah...your reference ranges are slightly different than the ones we are using.  The ranges are printed out with the CBC results, which I get a copy of each time.  The analyzer they use is a "Vetnovations ABC Analyzer" ...very basic machine.  The only sucky ting is I cann't get a retic number from the anayzer.

Tessy does taker aspirin (8mg/day/for 35# dog).  Her platelets have been high since the get go and this is the first time the machine was able to read them is quite some time.  Usually they have to dilute the sample because if the number is greater than 900 the machine will not read it.  I think the highest her platelets went was near 1200.  This is by far one of the best platelet numbers she's ever had!  YAYYY

All of Tessy's "M" numbers are really close to being in the normal ranges.  Only the MCV (off by 4 points) and teh MCH (off by 1.9 points) are high...and not by much at all!

How's Clops today?  Is he behaving himself?