Could use some good thots...Snickers has IMHA

• 02-13-2008 7:03 PM

  In reply to outdoorschik

  kpwlee Joined on 06-17-2006 North Carolina Posts 7,203 Points 535	Re: Could use some good thots...Snickers has IMHA Reply Contact our best thoughts coming your way
  	Post Points: 0

• 02-13-2008 7:03 PM

  In reply to calliecritturs

  Janet808 Joined on 09-14-2007 Pgh. PA Posts 1,688 Points 345	Re: Could use some good thots...Snickers has IMHA Reply Contact I'm not sure what IMHA is.  I'm assuming it's not good.  Best wishes for a speedy recovery for Snickers.  I hope she feels better soon! Handle every situation like a dog. If you can't Eat it or Chew it. Pee on it and Walk Away
  	Post Points: 0

• 02-13-2008 7:59 PM

  In reply to Janet808

  outdoorschik Joined on 09-10-2007 White Mountains, NH Posts 650 Points 150

  Re: Could use some good thots...Snickers has IMHA Reply Contact Janet... it is "Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia".. the body begins to attack it's own red blood cells. Not good at all... we caught it early which is very positive. It is treated with an aggressive range of steroids/immunosuppressants and things they use for chemo. Could be a lifelong illness like lupus.. could be brought on by a bacteria or virus the body was trying to fight before it went haywire. Right now she's only on prednisone and baytril and we have to hope and pray she responds to just that.  She could need transfusions if her red blood cell levels drop too low... i'm looking at Oliver as a candidate for that. He's healthy and 60+ pounds so I'm hoping he'd be a good candidate.  www.dogslednh.com

  Post Points: 0

• 02-13-2008 11:05 PM

  In reply to outdoorschik

  calliecritturs Joined on 09-10-2007 Central Florida Posts 11,969 Points 3,770

  Re: Could use some good thots...Snickers has IMHA Reply Contact I've got quite an assortment of stuff to send you -- I hadn't gotten rid of anything from Billy (fear of a setback) -- but it's time to send it off to you JUST IN CASE it will help.  And funnily enough most of what i have is herbs that I'd stocked up on.  You rock -- the fact that you caught this VERY early is just awesome.  I am SO proud of you!!! "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart." Helen Keller

  Post Points: 0

• 02-13-2008 11:15 PM

  In reply to outdoorschik

  erica1989 Joined on 02-21-2007 Clearwater, Florida Posts 4,722 Points 505	Re: Could use some good thots...Snickers has IMHA Reply Contact lots of warm healing vibes coming from over here! You can beat this Snickers!!!
  	Post Points: 0

• 02-13-2008 11:31 PM

  In reply to erica1989

  huskymom Joined on 09-10-2007 Dryden ON Posts 7,946 Points 605

  Re: Could use some good thots...Snickers has IMHA Reply Contact  Aw Karen I'm so sorry.  This really has been a terrible winter for you hasn't it?  How awful.  I wish there was something I could do to help.  I'm glad you've got Callie.  (Theres a reason I named my girl what I did) I'm sorry about your grandma too.  And what a tough call you face.  If you need to talk at all, I'm just a pm away.  Jezabel

  Post Points: 0

• 02-14-2008 7:54 AM

  In reply to huskymom

  TheDogHouseBCMPD Joined on 11-06-2007 Maryland Posts 2,102 Points 290

  Re: Could use some good thots...Snickers has IMHA Reply Contact {{{{{HUG}}}}}  I'm so sorry you're going through this.  Like HuskyMom said, this really hasn't been your winter.  Will you have to board Snickers or will your DH be home to watch her?  Whoever watches her while your gone, just make sure they no to take her to the vet right away if something seems off, let them know it is NOT OK to just try to 'wait out' anything.  Again, I'm very sorry to hear all of this. ~Steph "Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea." - Robert A. Heinlein

  Post Points: 0

• 02-14-2008 10:20 AM

  In reply to TheDogHouseBCMPD

  spiritdogs Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 12,420 Points 1,045

  Re: Could use some good thots...Snickers has IMHA Reply Contact We're so sorry Snickers is ill - we are sending good healing vibes. Regional Director for Massachusetts, International Positive Dog Training Association Director, SeniorCare Pawsitive Connections Program AKC CGC Evaluator #3669 Therapy Dogs, Inc. Tester/Observer Sioux, CGC, TDInc. Maska, CGC, TDInc. Sequoyah, CGC Fergie, Retired Lap Dog, Age 20 1/2 Dancer, CGC, TDInc. (1989-2006) #1 Heart Dog In memory of Mike, please become an organ donor today. "If you talk to the animals they will talk with you and you will know each other. If you do not talk to them you will not know them and what you do not know, you will fear. What one fears, one destroys." - Chief Dan George "The fidelity of a dog is a precious gift demanding no less binding moral responsibilities than the friendship of a human being. The bond with a true dog is as lasting as the ties of this earth can ever be." ~ Konrad Lorenz

  Post Points: 0

• 02-14-2008 4:50 PM

  In reply to spiritdogs

  outdoorschik Joined on 09-10-2007 White Mountains, NH Posts 650 Points 150

  Re: Could use some good thots...Snickers has IMHA Reply Contact I believe in dog.com vibes :) Today snickers' values were unchanged... yesterday 26, today 26 for the red blood cells and he could see little baby red blood cells in the microscope. That is all apparently very good. They expect some further downslide before the medication begins to take effect so the numbers remaining the same were, as the vet put it "a BIG DEAL" She's going to be starting on some chinese herbals very soon (thank you Callie :)) and she got accupuncture today. Saturday morning at 8AM we have a blood recheck, but I can bring her in tomorrow if anything seems off at all. Then, she'll go back in Monday morning to have more accupuncture and a blood test at which point I'll determine if I'm going on my funeral trip. If I go the vet agrees that if she's in this same shape the best thing is probably to keep her home with a pet sitter. Stress could send her "over the edge" with her immune system as weak as it is so boarding at the vet might be bad and driving her with me since she is petrified of the car would prolly be bad as well. DH is in another state so he won't be watching her. I'm supposed to avoid carbs and feed mostly protein/veggies for a while. Thanks everyone for the good thots... I think they work. www.dogslednh.com

  Post Points: 0

• 02-15-2008 6:45 PM

  In reply to outdoorschik

  outdoorschik Joined on 09-10-2007 White Mountains, NH Posts 650 Points 150

  Re: Could use some good thots...Snickers has IMHA - had a bad feeling today.... Reply Contact ... so I rushed her in to the vet after work even though her appt. was not til tomorrow morning. Levels had dropped 4 points. We've added another drug (a human anti rejection drug) Got her immune panel back, bad news, there are anti-nuclear antibodies indicating a strong possibility this is the lifelong form of the illness. I get SO anxious over this stuff, makes me just feel sick to my stomach all day as well :( www.dogslednh.com

  Post Points: 0

• 02-15-2008 7:35 PM

  In reply to outdoorschik

  jessies_mom Joined on 09-10-2007 Indiana Posts 5,064 Points 140	Re: Could use some good thots...Snickers has IMHA - had a bad feeling today.... Reply Contact    I'm so sorry Karen; this is so awful for you. I'll be praying for Snickers and hope that the drugs get her levels back up very soon. Janice
  	Post Points: 0

• 02-15-2008 8:52 PM

  In reply to jessies_mom

  GraniasBard Joined on 07-24-2007 Posts 134 Points 0

  Re: Could use some good thots...Snickers has IMHA - had a bad feeling today.... Reply Contact Oh, dear heart--my Emma is a survivor of IMHA, and her levels were already at 23 when we caught it (and we know now that her "normal" is 57, so this was HUGE!!!).  I'm so glad that you have this resource and that you know more than I did at that point; we'll be praying--and pulling--for you! IMHA is tough...but you've already found one of the best resources in this board. <3

  Post Points: 0

• 02-16-2008 12:00 AM

  In reply to GraniasBard

  calliecritturs Joined on 09-10-2007 Central Florida Posts 11,969 Points 3,770

  Re: Could use some good thots...Snickers has IMHA - had a bad feeling today.... Reply Contact Yeah folks -- big I-Dog prayers and good thots for Snickers -- she's GOTTA EAT.  Please concentrate on that -- for her to kick in and EAT so she can tolerate the meds.  It's such a biggie with this disease.  They feel SO sick when their pack cell volume is down -- it makes them VERY sick to their stomach.  Then they don't *want* to eat. "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart." Helen Keller

  Post Points: 0

• 02-16-2008 12:20 PM

  In reply to calliecritturs

  jessies_mom Joined on 09-10-2007 Indiana Posts 5,064 Points 140

  Re: Could use some good thots...Snickers has IMHA - had a bad feeling today.... Reply Contact calliecritturs: .  They feel SO sick when their pack cell volume is down -- it makes them VERY sick to their stomach.  Then they don't *want* to eat.      There are 2 canned RX diets from Hill's that may help. Both are high in fat and protein and low in carbs, and designed to support a weak immune system; The a/d is for dogs recovering from serious illness and the n/d is for dogs with cancer. http://www.hillspet.com/zSkin_2/products/product_details.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441760567    They're supposed  to be very palatable; maybe worth a try.                               Janice

  Post Points: 0

• 02-16-2008 6:48 PM

  In reply to jessies_mom

  outdoorschik Joined on 09-10-2007 White Mountains, NH Posts 650 Points 150

  Re: Could use some good thots...Snickers has IMHA Reply Contact  ... she's laying on a comforter now with a piece of it over her. She just plain old doesn't care about food or the other dogs getting it... in fact she prefers when they get it, then she doesn't have to eat it. Her breathing is not normal and she just doesn't want to do ANYTHING. I took her in to the vet this morning, her levels are the same as yesterday... i don't like the vet we had today, she spent 10 minutes talking to me about how many bad things can happen and looked at Snickers the whole time like she was a "dead dog walking", she kept saying, "well I just want you to know that she might not respond to the meds, or this, or that... blah blah blah" It's all stuff I know.. it's almost like she was insinuating snickers was going to die anyway so why bother. I was near tears and it has thoroughly made me depressed and anxious to the point of chest pains today...which of course does not help snickers, I'm sure she senses it all. It doesn't help that I'm supposed to leave on Monday to drive out of state for a funeral and I feel like if I leave her it could kill her since she already doesn't want to fight. then I call my parents (my grandmother died) and they don't help at all... they are the least understanding of the value of my dogs to me and my mother told me if I didn't come she was sure my father would die of a heart attack over it all. www.dogslednh.com

  Post Points: 0