IMHA Side effects of treatment drugs

• 10-30-2009 12:40 AM

  Coach T Joined on 09-10-2009 Posts 3 Points 5

  IMHA Side effects of treatment drugs Reply Contact Hi to all and thanks for responses to my earlier posts. "Killer" has now survived IMHA and diabetes for 3 months. She was originally placed on 25 mg of prednisone every 12 hours and later began a regimen of azathioprine. Because of the prednisone, she also takes 26 units of insulin every 12 hours for her diabetes. She has been improving in many ways--pcv is now 36, up one from last week, and blood glucose level is still improving. My question for the forum is concerning the side effects of the drugs being administered. We have treated with antibiotics twice for infection--that seems to be part of a normal routine here, and I haven't noticed any of the worst sounding side effects of azathioprine. Killer is developing the "prednisone tummy" as my vet calls it. I am concerned about how this weight gain will affect the rest of her health. My vet was thinking that once her pcv got up to 40, we could think about tapering off on the prednisone. Killer has also started having some dripping nose bleeds. These seem to happen when she eats and drinks. I am thinking this is because at these times her head is below her heart. I can place her food up a little higher, but am wondering if others have experienced these symptoms along with the disease or its treatment. I do realize that all membranes are thinner now and bleeding can occur more easily, but other than that I don't know what could be causing this. Any help on this one? Thanks, ***

  Filed under: IMHA AIHA H3N8 Post Points: 0

• 10-30-2009 1:10 AM

  In reply to Coach T

  willowchow Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 8,141 Points 445

  Re: IMHA Side effects of treatment drugs Reply Contact Hi Killer's mom!  I will try to answer some of this as best I can for you.  Willow had a similar disease called IMT.  And, it's treated pretty much the same way as IMHA.  I can tell you that the tummy will go away as the prednisone is tapered off.  It will take some time, but it will happen.  The other symptoms will diminish too like the panting, excessive drinking and eating.  If your vet isn't already doing it you should be checking her liver and kidney function.  These drugs can really elevate their liver values and mess up the kidneys.  If you aren't already using milk thistle and SamE you might want to ask your vet about that as well.  And, also she should be getting a Pepsid daily to protect the stomach.  I've heard of the bleeding from the nose before.  It could be from just chaffing due to the excessive drinking.  Willow had extremely chapped lips and was bleeding due to all the drinking she was doing. We treated it with a Vitamin E stick.  So, depending on if your dog is a messy drinker it could be that.  It could be low platelets.  Have they told you if her platelets were OK.  Bleeding from the nose is definately a possible symptom.  And, IMHA can easily turn into IMT (low platelets).  Or, they can have them both at once (Evan's syndrome).  So, I would definately just for peace of mind bring this to the vets attention ASAP.  Hopefully, some of the other IMHA survivors will see this and add to this because there could be other causes that I'm not aware of.  Hope Killer continues to fight the good fight.  These dogs and what they tolerate have earned my respect.  Lori

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• 10-30-2009 8:46 AM

  In reply to willowchow

  calliecritturs Joined on 09-10-2007 Central Florida Posts 10,865 Points 3,330

  Re: IMHA Side effects of treatment drugs Reply Contact One of the huge risks in this (and similar) diseases is that it can so quickly morph into another auto-immune disease.  ONE of those is various versions of "cytopenia" (pancytopenia, thrombocytopenia, etc.) where the platelets are attacked rather than the red blood cells.  THAT risk is pretty huge.  That means they bleed far far more easily than before -- and literally can bleed internally just from the effort of walking across the floor.  For that one reason, please call the vet *today*.  They will need to check the platelet level just to be sure somethng new "auto-immune" hasn't begun.  Beyond that pred has all sorts of side effects -- and thin membranes and skin can be one.  This is just one of those things that you tend to have to jump when *anything* at all unusual happens.  Even if a side effect may be "explained" by the drug -- you can't assume that safely.  Does that make sense?

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