AIHA or IMHA

• 08-13-2009 4:48 PM

  In reply to outdoorschik

  GratefulDawg Joined on 12-24-2008 Posts 270 Points 40	Re: AIHA or IMHA Reply Contact outdoorschik: If you are nearby I'd be happy to provide a dog or dogs for blood transfusions    Thats very cool =)  They say my dog Domingo is too small to give Transfusions but someday I'd like to have another big dog and be able to help like that.
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• 08-13-2009 4:52 PM

  In reply to Smokie's Mom

  GratefulDawg Joined on 12-24-2008 Posts 270 Points 40

  Re: soooo sweet Reply Contact I'm not sure why they don't have type specific dogs available for donation?  Because you can only do Universal one time and then you have to have typed and cross matched blood. I came very close to doing Oxyglobin but I found out later that IMHA dogs don't do well on it at all.  I guess it beats nothing if there is no other choice but I was very lucky that there was type-specific blood available at the teaching hospital.   I hope Smokie keeps the HCT up and doesn't need another Transfusion.

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• 08-13-2009 5:11 PM

  In reply to GratefulDawg

  Smokie's Mom Joined on 08-11-2009 Posts 39 Points 5

  Cross your fingers Reply Contact   I hope Smokie keeps the HCT up and doesn't need another Transfusion. Me too, his at 15 and if goes lower, we'll have to do something, the vet says all dogs respond differently to the Oxyglobin.  It's kind of a last resort but worth a try.  I'm trying to get my husband to bring more of the medallions to him because I can't make it up there till 8pm PST and I'm affraid his count will drop before then.  I don't know if he's eating any of the canned food they offer him or the treats I left.  I guess for now I just have to wait for news and try to get some work done.

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• 08-13-2009 7:15 PM

  In reply to Smokie's Mom

  calliecritturs Joined on 09-10-2007 Central Florida Posts 10,861 Points 3,330	IMHA or AIHA Reply Contact It's hard to know *what* to do -- when their 'crit gets low they feel really sick to their tummy and food sounds awful to them.  You may need to dilute some and give it by syringe.  Meat baby food works pretty well.  Even liverwurst -- which isn't uber wonderful but it's attractive usually.
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• 08-13-2009 7:29 PM

  In reply to calliecritturs

  Smokie's Mom Joined on 08-11-2009 Posts 39 Points 5

  Re: IMHA or AIHA Reply Contact I just can't wait to bring him more of what he ate yesterday, hopefully I can leave at 6 but it takes and hour to get there depending on traffic.  He's on an antibiotic for a urinary track infection.  I'm not up on all the meds like you guys but I know we brought 4 precriptions with him when we moved him from Alpine Animal Hospital to SVS on Monday night.  I looked at the check out invoice and found Predinisone, Famotidine and Doxycycline.  I remember the Internal Medicine Specialist telling me they put him on something for his stomach she was worried the drugs he was given could be damaging it.  Sorry for changing the title name before, I didn't realize it made the replies harder to find.

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• 08-13-2009 8:30 PM

  In reply to Smokie's Mom

  FrisbyPI Joined on 07-17-2009 Rhode Island Posts 118 Points 0	Re: IMHA or AIHA Reply Contact I was so excited to read that Smokie ate well yesterday! Yeah! I hope he's up to eating today, too. Often the prednisone stimulates the appetite. The famotidine is Pepcid. And, don't worry--I changed the subject title when I first posted, as well. We're sending lots of love, prayers and positive energy your way! Kate and Frisby
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• 08-13-2009 8:33 PM

  In reply to GratefulDawg

  FrisbyPI Joined on 07-17-2009 Rhode Island Posts 118 Points 0

  Re: AIHA or IMHA Reply Contact GratefulDawg: I'm not sure why they don't have type specific dogs available for donation?  Because you can only do Universal one time and then you have to have typed and cross matched blood. This is a really good question for Dr. Dodds/Hemopet. When I get a minute tonight or tomorrow, I'll send an email and ask a couple of questions about transfusions so we can understand it better. Kate and Frisby

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• 08-13-2009 8:56 PM

  In reply to GratefulDawg

  FrisbyPI Joined on 07-17-2009 Rhode Island Posts 118 Points 0

  Re: AIHA or IMHA Reply Contact GratefulDawg: These posts with the dog info are starting to take a page per post and I think we really need to do something different to keep a data base of that information.  I'm going to work on it with Judah and we'll set up a site where we update so that we we are not burying the conversation with these huge posts. I'd be happy to set up a 'survey' with the database fields on my SurveyMonkey account and send out the link (https). People can click on the link, add their info and submit. The data can be downloaded into an Excel file (and several other file types, as well). I'll can check with a vet up at Tufts Vet School to see if they might be interested in somehow collaborating, if there's interest in that. Let me know what you think.   Kate and Frisby

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• 08-13-2009 10:36 PM

  In reply to FrisbyPI

  willowchow Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 8,132 Points 445	Re: AIHA or IMHA Reply Contact error
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• 08-13-2009 10:36 PM

  In reply to FrisbyPI

  willowchow Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 8,132 Points 445

  Re: AIHA or IMHA Reply Contact ANOTHER WILLOW UPDATE--She went back to grooming today for the first time in over a year!! This was a big part of her life before she got sick last summer. I picked a new groomer, closer to our house who I spoke to at length about her illness and her needs now, etc.  She was great with her and she said she definately wants Willow to come back.  Keep fighting!!  We had some pretty dark days too.  Lori

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• 08-14-2009 12:17 AM

  In reply to FrisbyPI

  GratefulDawg Joined on 12-24-2008 Posts 270 Points 40	Re: AIHA or IMHA Reply Contact Sounds like a great plan to me.  You'd end up having quite a database of info there.  The bad part about IMHA is that the dog has to make it past that initial crash phase before it really matters what to do at all.  But for the dogs that survive the crash, the collected info might really be useful.  Anything you can do would be great!
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• 08-14-2009 7:51 AM

  In reply to willowchow

  GratefulDawg Joined on 12-24-2008 Posts 270 Points 40	Re: AIHA or IMHA Reply Contact willowchow: ANOTHER WILLOW UPDATE--She went back to grooming today for the first time in over a year!! This was a big part of her life before she got sick last summer.   Alright!  Wow Willow is a very pampered doggers!
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• 08-14-2009 7:58 AM

  In reply to GratefulDawg

  GratefulDawg Joined on 12-24-2008 Posts 270 Points 40

  Re: AIHA or IMHA Reply Contact  I got an e-mail from my vet at OSU.  She said that sometimes if the blood sits out at room temp for too long you can have a decrease in the glucose reading.  She said that I was correct, 27 is not a glucose reading that is compatible with life.  She also said she wants me to continue on with the Aspirin for another month and gave her blessing to decrease the Cyclosporine another 25mg per dose.  The only thing I'll do differently is to make sure I make it clear to have the lab work sent off to Antech next month.

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• 08-14-2009 11:37 AM

  In reply to FrisbyPI

  amsten Joined on 08-06-2009 Posts 59 Points 5	Re: AIHA or IMHA Reply Contact I'm in favor of the creation of a data base.  When we first started researching what was being done, I had a lot of difficulty finding specific information about treatment.  There's a lot if info on what IMHA is, but not much on how it's treated.  How would a person access the data base?  Would it be on this site?  Amsten
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• 08-14-2009 11:51 AM

  In reply to amsten

  amsten Joined on 08-06-2009 Posts 59 Points 5

  Re: AIHA or IMHA Reply Contact Yeah Willow!  I love how wonderful they look and great they seem to feel after being groomed.  Jazz is actually in desperate need of a bath, but I'm too afraid to stress her right now. How are our other doggies doing? Jazz is having TCVM today in our home.  If someone asked me a two weeks ago whether I would ever consider an acupuncturist for my dog, I'm pretty sure I would have thought they were crazy.  Funny how things change when the time comes.  We have an afternoon appointment for a blood test at our regular vet as well.  I'll let you all know how it goes. Well wishes and prayers to everyone! Amsten

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