AIHA or IMHA

Coopbay

I just wanted to let everyone know that Cooper is down to 10mg of pred in the AM and 5mg in the PM. He has really started to act like his old self. Yesterday he jumped up on the couch 5 times!!!

 Awesome; I'm so happy for you!

Honestly I *always* had another urinalysis done literally about 2-3 days after.  Because you don't want to wait so long that the antibiotic you just gave then allows that bacteria to become RESISTANT to that drug --- see if the bacteria successfully "live thru" the course of antibiotic and then are allowed to flourish then they become resistant to it and with IMHA you are SO limited as to what antibiotics can be used it is dangerous to allow ANY resistance to develop if you can help it.

The "belly" you are referring to is because of the pred -- and general steroid use, but mostly because of the pred.  It will linger a few months past weaning off the pred but it is a specific pred side effect.

And remember -- stinky, dark urine isn't the only sign of a uti -- my dogs DRINK MORE when they have a uti -- I almost never ever see dark stinky urine.  Nearly always I see more frequent urination and more frequent drinking and THAT is my clue to a UTI.  It can be different with different dogs AND it can be different in different phases of treatment.

hi all:

sorry i've been MIA lately. my husband's family was here and it was a bit hectic. we took izzy to get a pcv yesterday and she is at 50. i am trying to get her in to see an IMHA specialist at michigan state vet school - i just sent him an email, so we'll see.

not much else to report! i hope everyone is doing well.

:-)

jess and izz 

Johnny&Tessy

She's been off the 8mg aspirin for almost 2 weeks now

Just wondering why she is off the Aspirin?  I'm hoping to remove clops from the Aspirin but I'm waiting for he Hematocrit to peak and for her Platelets and other blood work to all be in the normal range before I do.  

Considering that the main reason dogs with IMHA who survive the original anemia die is from thrombosis/clots, I am wondering if he switched Tessy to Heperin or if any reason was given for discontinuing the Aspirin?  

Clops had her blood draw today.  Will be hoping that the Serum Iron is finally in the normal range.  I have a feeling that it will be normal once her HCT has leveled off, its my doctors theory that its low because of the rapid climb and will normal out when her HCT is back to normal.  Hopefully will get to lower her pred to 75mg 2x/day depending on the CBC results.

izzywieds

michigan state vet school

Jess,

Can't wait to hear a review of MSU's vet school if you get Izzy in there.  I'm trying to complile a database of clinics and schools that people have had good experiences with and would recommend.

Glad to hear nothing else to report.. no news is good news.

Have a happy 4th.

Mike

I also wondered why the aspirin was discontinued.  It was on Dr. Dodds' recommendation so I guess she knows what she's talking about and I have to trust someone I guess.  Tessy goes in today for a urinalysis and a CBC.  I'm hoping to see a little improvement with regards to her numbers.  This'll be the first testing since we started reducing her prednisone.

Isn't that alot of pred for cyclops to be taking?  75mg sounds almost right but twice a day sounds a little excessive.  I hope his iron levels are down to normal.  Tessy's is high and the only way to test it is to have the blood sent out.   

I'll let ya all know how the tests turn out for Tessy later today.

 Have a good day,

Johnny & Tessy

Results are in on Tessy's CBC and Urinalysis today.  Excellent news...HCT is up from 29.8 all the way to 34.5!!!  Happy joy happy!  RBC up from 3.92 to 4.52.  HGB up from 10.1 to 11.7 and platelets down from 616 to 461!!!!!!  Everything seems to be going in the right direction now.

Urinalysis results are as follows....old/new

Refract S.G. - 1.034 / 1.014

Stick:

• ph - 5  /  6
• Leukocytes - 2+  /  neg
• Nitrite - neg  /  neg
• Protein - 2+  /  2+
• Glucose - normal  /  normal
• Ketones - neg  /  neg
• Urobilinogen - normal  /  normal
• Bilirubin - neg  /  neg
• blood - 4+  /  1+

 Micro:

• RBC - 4+  /  OCC
• WBC - 4+  /  neg
• Casts - ---  /  neg
• Transitional Cells - 2+  /  occ
• Epithelial Cells - 1+  /  occ
• Sperm - 0  /  neg
• Debris - 0  /  2+
• Crystals - none seen  /  neg

I'm unsure as to what this all means but her doctor said that the UTI was almost cleared up and wants to put her on another round of antibiotics.  THANK YOU CALLIE!!!  Tessy's doctor was going to prescribe a sulfa antibiotic and I remembered what you said about them and told her NOPE!  I have two options as to what to use.  One is a pill form called Cephalexin and the other is an injectable form of antibiotic called Cefovecin that supposedly will stay in the system for at least two weeks.  I haven't decided which to use yet cause I was hoping that maybe someone here might know which one is best.  These were the two picked because of a skin condition called Klebsiella Oxytoca. 

If anybody knows of these drugs and can give me any advise on the pros or cons it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Johnny & Tessy

I don't know much about the injectable vs. Cephalexin, but I think to be safe I'd lean towards the Cephalexin - if she has a reaction to the injectable there's no going back, but you could stop giving the pills if you needed to.

What Megan said -- but cephalexn is very safe.  Not a typical for a UTI but often used in IMHA b/c it's so easy on the system and a 'safe' drug. 

Make sure you do a probiotic -- ceph can upset the stomach. 

I don't like stuff that stays in the body -- particularly not with IMHA.

Thanks Megan and Callie.  You two must be reading my mind.  That was the first concern I had with the injectable.  I'll be getting the cephalexin today for her.  It's $15 cheaper so I guess I win there also. 

Thanks again,

Johnny & Tessy

Honestly mine get a sardine every day -- I got tired of Omega 3's that were rancid and they SO love the sardines and the extra protein is good (and has calcium in it as well).  I just use the ones either in water or olive oil (don't drain it -- give them the liquid too)

calliecritturs

mine get a sardine every day

 good tip =)

 Latest CBC has me a little worried.  I'm still waiting for the Serum Iron results so I don't have those yet.

 Everything is about the same as it was last month, HCT is 46.7 (36-60)

 Platelets are now in the normal range  357 (170-400)

 Everthing else is statistically the same as last month's CBC except one thing is now out of normal range and into the LOW range.

 Lymphocytes.  689  (690-4500)  Last month the Lymphocytes was 1368. 

 As soon as I get the Serum Iron I am going to forward the info to OSU. 

 I googled about Lymphocytes and from the way I am understanding this the drugs we are using are killing the Lymphocytes which is what we want to do to lower the immune system.  People are saying that its good to have it on the mid to low side of normal.  The fact that its below normal now (although just barely) means to me that we need to lower the Cyclo.  We'll see what the vet says.  In a way this could be good news althought I tend to worry regardless.  

Cyclops is doing great, has a ton of energy for a 64 pound dog who is going to turn 11 on July 8th.  

Hope you guys all have a great 4th of July.