IMHA: RBC Help!

    • Puppy

    IMHA: RBC Help!

    My 4 year old dog has been dealing with IMHA for some time and today we received RBC results that are in a different form than we're used to. (different lab this time) We typically have received them as what I think is a percentage, normal range we were told is around 40-50. Today, however, we received a count of 2.6 million. Can anyone tell me what that translates to in percentage? Your help is appreciated and, yes, we know the number is low.

    • Gold Top Dog
    There is a thread here somewhere that is 100+ pages, all about IMHA. If you post there, you might get some answers quicker than in general health. I don't know, for sure.

    Sorry you have to deal with this stupid cruddy disease. My boy has survived a similar, less severe immune condition and I know how stressful it is. BTW, we LOVE pictures around here :) and I'd like to know your kiddo's name, too!

    • Puppy

    Thanks for the reply! My dogs name is Dexter and he's a beagle/lab mix. I'll add a picture to my profile in a minute. THANKS!

    • Gold Top Dog

    Wow -- as much experience as I have with IMHA and bloodwork I  can't answer your question.  The vet should be able to answer your question. 

    As Meg mentioned we have a gigundo thread on IMHA -- This is a link to the first page

     http://community.dog.com/forums/t/90432.aspx?PageIndex=1

    And this is to the last page:

    http://community.dog.com/forums/p/90432/791958.aspx#791958

    I have made an index of the pages -- but I don't have them all "linked" in yet  But I'm happy to email it to you if it would help you find stuff you need to know about.  In fact, I'll just copy it in here (I may lose linebreaks on this -- it's not terribly Word friendly)

     

    General Introduction/overview of IMHA  -- Page 1/Post 2, Page 14, Page 65/Posts 12 & 15

     

    IMT & IMP (Thrombocytopenia & Pancytopenia) -- Page 1/Post 7, Page 54/Post 7, Page 58/Post 11

     

    First post by Gratefuldawg re: Cloppy's IMHA  -- Page 1/Post 15

     

    Milk thistle & Sam-e  and Marin, Denosyl, Denamarin -- Page 2/Posts 3-4, Page 19/Post 6 - mid-page, Page 48/Posts 10 & 12, Page 49/various, Page 88 (later pages contain comparative info)

     

    Financial help & description of Care Credit  --- Page 3/Post 8

     

    Triggers & discussion of "triggers" of IMHA  -- Page 3/last half of page, Page 26 /Last several posts

     

    Dictionary of IMHA terms - helpful for those beginning this journey & signs of relapse -- Page 4/Post 5, Page 34/Post 7, Page 89/Post 1

     

    Emotional toll and decision-making difficulties of  guardians  -- Page 4/last 3-4 Posts

     

    NRIMA (non-regenerative immune mediated anemia) & description of that specific type of IMHA  -- Page 11/Post 7

     

    Pred side-effects (the more severe ones -- beyond drinking/eating -  muscle spasms, sudden arthritis onset, emotional/ muscle side effects of pred (including suggestions & pet massage) -- Page 12/Last Post, Page 15 & Page 39/Post 3, Page 72/Post 12, Page 88

     

    Prednisoone & cyclosporine side effects (particularly various- skin problems & UTIs-cyclosporine side-effect &  discussions) -- Page 13/1st half-page of posts, Page 18/Post 9-mid-page, Page 22/Post 8, Page 34/Post  12, Page 38, Page 48., Page 60 & 61/ Page 63

     

    Food suggestion helps specifically for IMHA -- Page 14/Post 1, Page 42

     

    Stomach protectant  -- Page 14/Post 1, Page 31/Post 3, Page 34/Post 7 & 9, Page  40, Page 66/Posts 14 & 15, Page 67/1st half pg, Page 87

     

    Cyclosporine levels - need to have blood word drawn to check  -- Page 15/Post 8

     

    Nose/dry/cracked -- discussion of ultra dry nostril/edges of lips as cyclo side effect -- Page 18/Post 9-mid-page

     

    Herbs generally & how to use & choose -- Paged 20/ Post 4

     

    Cyclosporine Generic- IMPORTANT POSTS -- Page 23/Post 13 & Page 40,, Page 43/Post 11, Page 60 -two forms of generic cyclosporine; Page 97 costs; Page 98 more specifics on modified/un-modified and where to get.

     

    Doxycycline - IMHA occasionally as mis-diagnosed tick disease or caused by tick disease -- Page 24/first half page &Page 34/Post 7

     

    Giving Meds easily - suggestions on giving pills, organizing & training-- Page 25/Posts 4 & 5, Page 40/Post 5 - Page 41; Page 97/Post 11

     

    Iron - discussion of serum iron & checking bloodwork for after a few months -- Page 26/Posts 4,6 & 9

     

    Rabies vaccine (must not have) - rabies titer discussion (to obtain state waiver) -- Page 27/Post 3 & next several posts

     

    Not responding/Obtaining help - going to a vet school vs. specialist - don't wait! -- Page 28/Post 2+ several

     

    Page 30/Posts mid-page, also some page 33- discussions on skin problems as side effects from cyclosporine & pred

     

    Aspirin- Baby aspirin doseage  & discussion of stomach protectants - Page 31/Post 3, Page 66/Posts 14 & 15

     

    Wean off -- discussions of lowering/weaning off drugs - Page 34/various, Page 46

     

    Signs of relapse Page 34/Post 7

     

    UTIs- discussion UTIs as cyclo side effect & treatments -- Page 34/Post  12, Page 38, Page 48., Page 63

     

    Cyclosporine absorption- general discussion re: dairy inhibition of  absorption Page 39/Last half of page

     

    Beef heart - iron foods Page 42

     

    Page 44 - discussion of drugs NOT to use w/IMHA (triggers)

     

    Page 45/Post 12, Page 68/Post 3, Page 72/Post 3  - Slippery elm cocktail (suspected ulcer/stomach help)

     

    Page 49/Post 3, Page 57 (all)  -- Milk thistle & sam-e , Marin, Denosyl & Denamarin (discussion/contrast)

     

    Page 50/Post 3 to Page 51, Page 55/Post 15  - Vaccines as IMHA triggers

     

    Page 53/Post 3 - good post regarding Killer T-cells & IMHA

     

    Page 53/Post 8 -  Homeopathics to treat & help treat IMHA

     

    Page 57 - Various discussions on milk thistle

     

    Page 63 & 64, Page 76/Post 6 - discussions about drugs to treat UTIs while on cyclosporine (Baytril particularly)

     

    Page 66 - discussions on cyclosporine vs. azathiaprene and how long to work

    P

     

    Page 72/Post 5 - Pepto Bismol contra-indicated

     

    Page 76/Post 6 - Dr. Dodds discussion of IMHA triggers

     

    Page 70/Post 3 - TCVM (Traditional Chinese Veteirnary medicine) helpful, acupuncture/ Chinese herbs

     

    Page 80 & 81- food discussions (diet with IMHA generally)

     

    Page 82/Post 12 & Page 83  - various drugs/recommended drugs for IMHA & general side effects vs. "official stance" of what vets say about side effects

     

    Page 88/Post 12 - Knox Nutra Joint to help with arthritis side effects

     

    Page 91/Post 15 - More on baby aspirin

     

    Page 92/Post 13 - various things that can inhibit cyclosporine absorption

     

    Page 95/Post 5 - most of page - discussion of various heartworm preventives/flea preventives use with IMHA dogs

     

    Page 97/Post 11 - temporarily lowered PCV can be caused by the spleen re-storing it's supply of blood

     

    Page 98 - discussions throughout page of the weakness some dogs show for several weeks as IMHA side effect

    :

    Hope this helps -- I wish I could interpret that bloodwork but *I* have never seen anything like that.