Good thoughts for Brutus

BEVOLASVEGAS

The e-vet did x-rays, an ecg, & bloodwork.  The only thing abnormal is that he PCV is 16% & his heart rate is a little elevated, which the doctor seems to think is cause by his PCV being as low as it is.  The e-vet thinks that it is IMHAI opted to go ahead & have him transfused since his blood count was as low as it is.  He is hospitalized, getting blood & IV fluids now.  If he makes it through the night, we are going to pick him up in the morning & take him to Houston so that he can see Bevo's internists.

That's an awesome idea -- I emailed you.  TCVM like you already do wtih Bevo actually rocks with IMHA (it helps the blood regenerate and 'move' properly) and the homotoxicology (which is almost a combination of TCVM and Homeopathy taken to the next level) Is *also* awesome for IMHA and Dr. Demers says the vet you use is awesome. 

Give me a call if you can when you get your head above water .. this disease is beyond difficult.  But absolutely -- Brutus has our prayers as well.  Megan sent me an email this morning "get your stickies out!" and I will!!

Brutus -- you were a good boy to let Mom *know* you weren't feeling good.  CAtching IMHA before they bottom out totally is hard.

I'm glad that he did okay thru the night and I hope they can figure out exactly what is going on and how best to treat it. I'm sure he was beyond thrilled to see your face this morning.

*Hoping he responds well to the treatment* vibes.

BEVOLASVEGAS

His spleen is about 3 times the normal size, which is, apparently, somewhat normal with this disease.  They did take a biopsy of it to make sure that spleen isn't the problem, but they don't believe that it is the cause. 

The spleen takes a huge beating with IMHA -- it "stores" blood to a degree -- and when the body gets RALLY low it goes  to the spleen FOR blood (which then irritates).

SO MANY things about this darned disease mimic cancer and other diseases.  I can't tell you how many times they have started to treat some part of Billy's IMHA or some side effect and *cautioned* me "WEll this could be ______________ BUT we think it's just part of the IMHA"

BEVOLASVEGAS

On an upnote, if him still being alive wasn't enough, he did seem a little stronger when we picked him up this morning.  He did raise his head & give me a little nub wag. 

Interesting note -- after they get a transfusion they FEEL better -- hence he was feeling good enough to 'wag' a bit.  And man, Billy's whole "how he was" got told by his tail. 

But they have to get stuck SO many times with this -- but the good part is every time they get blood they feel better so they at least don't get scared to go to the vet.  The trick is to slow down the darned immune system.

BTW - for those already going nuts from the acronyms:

AIHA = Auto-immune hemolytic anemia

and in most places now it is called:

IMHA -immune-mediated hemolytic anemia.  But it's commonly known by both monikers = IMHA and AIHA

Bot vets and human doctors fall all over those terms "auto-immune" and "immune-mediated".  There is a technical difference why some prefer the immune-mediated term (aparently "auto-immune" is almost an oxymoron of sorts)

In any event -- particularly for those of you wanting to pray and send good thots it may help you to know the whole 'deal" with this disease is that the body begins to turn against itself.  The body simply begins to kill it's own red blood cells.  A normal dog PCV (packed-cell volume) is about 35 - 50 (depends on the individual, breed, and many other things)  So a PCV of 16 is danged low.  12 and below is often fatal,

So the whole goal is to get Brutus's body to lay off itself.  pred is *always* the first drug they use (because it has the fastest response time actually) to give enough to suppress the immune system (to get it to lay off the body). 

Some around here are only too familiar with the disease.  Billy is an IMHA survivor.  Willow and Pirate both had  another immune-mediated-but-related disease "cytopenia" -- altho they were minorly different.  the "cytopenias" have to do with platelets rather than red-blood cells.

Outdoorschik lost Snickers to them.  Snickers had IMHA and was rallying, but then  she got thrombocytopenia *with* IMHA -- which is even more difficult and she didn't make it. 

So for those of you relatively new, that's why everyone has reacted the way they have.  This is just the most heinous disease system. 

Brutus -- we are pulling for you hon!!! *hugs*

Amanda, I'm so glad he made it through the night.  I'll be praying he responds to the treatment.  {{{{Hugs}}}}

Amanda, thanks for the update on your boy.  You & he continue to be in my thoughts & prayers.   I'm positive that seeing you was the high point of his day.  Please, please, please tell him that we're pulling for him.  Like Paige said, I'm trying to envelope you & Bru with love & health.  ((Amanda))

Amanda, I'm so glad Brutus made it through the night and seems a bit better this morning.  Prayers, good thoughts and crossed fingers and paws coming from us.

Joyce

 Sending good vibes to Brutus - we all have our fingers and paws crossed, too.

 Continued good thoughts and prayers. Hang in there Brutus!

 Stay strong, Mr. Bru! ((hugs)) And I don't care where you've been licking - I'm sending kisses and will accept them back.

Thinking about you and Bru, Amanda!!!

Keeping Brutus in my thoughts and sending loads of good response to the treatment vibes.

For those who would like to join us, our candle light vigil will start at:

 9pm Eastern Time, 8pm Central, 7pm Mountain, 6pm Pacific

Just light a candle in support of Brutus and his family, adding your own special prayers, good wishes, etc, as you light it.

Totally cool if you already started... you're warming up the crew. :)  Brutus, tonight there will be lights around the country glowing for you, big guy.

I've got my candle ready to be lit at 9pm. 

We're pulling for you, Bru, and lots and lots of hugs for all your family (human, canine, & feline), Amanda.

 My candle is waiting for 9pm. Hang in there Brutus. My thoughts go out to you.