AIHA or IMHA

Dana Terry

Lil Girl has started having the bumbs they look like milia on her belly and on one leg. She doesn't seem to be itching them and they don't seem to bother her. Has anyone else seen this with IMHA dogs? She has also developed very thin skin from Exogenous Cushings - we are hoping that will go away since we have greatly reduced her meds. I would love to show a photo but I am not sure how to add it to the post.....can someone help? Dana & Lil Girl

All the big drugs can cause skin problems -- particularly pred and cyclosporine.  It can increase allergies (because those ARE immune-related) which can be bumpy papules (papules are hard tiny bumps but they don't have pus in them, as pustules do). 

You can either upload a picture to Dog.com's site (click on "Photos" above and then "Upload a photo";) OR it has to exist on another place online. 

To embed a pic IN a post you click on the little "tree" icon that's above the white box where you type in a post.  You paste the URL in there to get it to appear in a post.

IF IF IF you are using a picture that is in your pictures on here, you have to click on that picture (when you are in your own photo section via clicking on your name above) and you'll see at the bottom left of that picture " View Sizes" -- click that and then the 'size' of the pic you want and THAT ONE PIC will come up on your screen -- that's the URL you want to embed in the post (otherwise you'll get a little red x)

Hi Everyone,

I haven't posted in awhile, lots going on.   We take Fiona in tomorrow for bloodwork, and if all looks well, we will start the weaning process a week from now.    So far, shes been doing well, getting more and more like her old self, but still low energy.  Her appetite is incredible still!  I had to go back to work this week; hubby is off and was supposed to be her caretaker, but his father was put in hospice care last Saturday and well, things have just been very difficult.  Our neighbor has come over twice a day to "pee" her and pet her and make sure her water bowl is full.   She's weathered the barrage of fireworks quite well.   Actually, storms and such have never really bothered her but I was a bit concerned this year since the heavy artillery was legalized in Michigan last fall.  There have been some serious boomers for the last week but she just raises her head every now and then and goes back to snoozing.  Such a trooper!  

Prayers and continued good wishes to all and their furry babies.

Lisa L

So far, shes been doing well, getting more and more like her old self, but still low energy. Her appetite is incredible still!

I think I've told you before -- BE THANKFUL for that low energy. I was helping a woman (she never got as far as posting here) last week -- she had several little dogs (like 6) and it was mostly a mad house most of the time with a ton of barking, etc. I tried to stress to her that she needed to keep him as quiet as possible and unfortunately she really didn't take me seriously. He didn't make it -- blood clot in the lung they think. I tried to tell her it might be worth giving him some sort of sedative to keep him quiet and not racing all over and making the heart work hard ... but I honestly think it is hard for people to realize how unbelievably SICK these dogs are and **will be** for many, many, MANY months.

So if her body is keeping her sedentary (particularly in the heat) that's a good thing from one point of view. Of course we want them to feel betterbut that will come as they get off the drugs. These drugs generally just plain make them feel ICK.

Lisa -- have a LONG LONG talk with your vet about wean-off. I can't remember exactly what drugs Fiona is on -- but you do NOT want to wean off at all fast. many many MANY months.

I say this and a lot of people really don't understand -- it's honestly NOT just about weaning them off because the drugs are habit-forming/addictive. That's PART of it.

The truth of the matter is -- you have to help the immune system re-create NEW habits.. In any auto-immune disease the immune system is stuck in the "on" position.

The immune system *should* turn 'on' in response to a threat (from a cold to an allergic reaction). But then it should turn OFF. on .... then off .... on in response and off when it's ok.

But presently the immune system is stuck "ON" -- DRIVINGLY SO. To the point where it **looks** for other things TO attack. And particularly if you don't know what actually triggered the onset of the disease, you have to make sure the body has **NO** excuse to go after something else. The potential for relapse or for it to morph into **another** immune-mediated disease is HIGH. so you wean off slow, so the body literally gets used to NOT hurting itself.

This is why you don't take these dogs to "events" or to dog parks or even PetSmart. You don't let them sniff all over at the vet. Because in all those places they are easily exposed to other diseases. Be totally anal about keeping ticks off them (and most tick products are mega no no's!!)

BECAUSE you don't want them to relapse.

Think ahead about your schedule -- it takes enormous planning to even take them away for a weekend.

When dogs poop and pee they shed sickness cells and vaccines (among other things) in their urine and ***. WE all know that we can't kennel these dogs because they can't have vaccines.

But EVEN SO -- you don't WANT your dog at a kennel or daycare (even if they've still got months before vax run out). Why? Because when people drop off their dogs to be kenneled, most of them didn't bother to get the requisite vaccines until a few days (or the day OF) departure.

Thatf vaccine is shed in the stool for around two weeks. Your dog sticking their nose where that dog's poop was? (even if it washed away in the rain or got picked up) -- it's just like your dog getting a vaccine!!

Lisa -- I'm not scolding you -- Just taking an opportunity to explain more. It''s summer -- everyone has things to do, people to have over, and family stuff. It's HARD to have a sick dog at those times.

Lori101866

Bella is doing better, come to find out that my other dog had the diarehia. 

That's great, Lori -- I know how worried you have been!!! 

Tara -- I thot they had Charlie on cyclo, not aza.  That's why I asked if you needed the Atopica (US brand name of cyclosporine).  I shudder when I hear vets use it for allergies (that or pred *sigh*). 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Often folks send me meds no longer needed.  So if anyone can use cyclo (10 or 20 mg) or azathiaprene (just a few tablets) let me know via email ok?

Well We had a REAL SCARE Today and are still Very Very Freaked Out.

Muffy as most of you know had Surgery approx 1 month ago and had her spleen out, uterine stump removed and two biopsys done.

Everything went smooth and she seemed to be healing up great.....For over the last week she had been even eating all 3 solid meals a day like a little piggie....Very Alert and Happy, BEST SHES BEEN THROUGH ALL THIS..... 

Well earlier Today which makes me cringe even thinking about it her whole incision opened up and her stomach and intestine came out......I quickly and gently grabbed her and her insides and rushed her to the ER...They did Emergency Surgery and Thank God she came through it Good and everything is back in place inside her which to me is Amazing......

I thought for sure when seeing this happen that she wasnt going to make it but by the Grace of God she did and is now in stable condition.....Not Out of the Woods yet but at least shes alive and the surgery went well.....

The Doctor said its called Dehiscence which is when the Incision opens up and the above happens......What has them perplexed is that the surgery was 1 month ago and everything looked perfect with the incison site and the outside stitches had been removed and everything looked great....The only thing they can think of was that with all the pred and cyclo that it slowed the healing process down inside her at the incision...

Now they said they used a permanent inside suture of some kind...!

Also We were also OVERLY OVERLY CAUTIOUS and Muffy wouldnt jump up and down on the couch or even walk up and down the stairs by herself with out being carried gently.

Boy first this damn disease, then the other surgery and now this......It'll be sometime to make sure she heals properly but as long as she pulls through were Happy.

Right now I'm Feeling like shes a Superwoman Dog going through all this....She really has a strong spirit and will for sure.

Well Please Say a Prayer for her if you guys can.....Right now I'm still shaking and all I can do is PRAY PRAY PRAY.

I'm going back in Monday morning to see her and will post back then.

Thanks and PRAYERS FOR EVERYONE AND EVERYONES DOGS.

Rene & Teri

MuffysParents

The Doctor said its called Dehiscence which is when the Incision opens up and the above happens......What has them perplexed is that the surgery was 1 month ago and everything looked perfect with the incison site and the outside stitches had been removed and everything looked great....The only thing they can think of was that with all the pred and cyclo that it slowed the healing process down inside her at the incision...

Now they said they used a permanent inside suture of some kind...!

Also We were also OVERLY OVERLY CAUTIOUS and Muffy wouldnt jump up and down on the couch or even walk up and down the stairs by herself with out being carried gently.

Rene -- you folks are amazing.  Your presence of mind to simply get her back to the ER ... bless you!!!

Let's light a candle for Muffy!

 I am so very glad she's doing well.  What a horrific scare.  That's a traumatic thing to happen even for a young dog having it's spay done.  Did they tell you to put anything around her to lessen the strain on the incision? (like a shirt or similar?)   All of your carefulness is likely what has kept this from happening previously -- but KEEP on being careful.

You aren't alone Rene -- I will continue to pray and lift you guys up!!

lacal98@sbcglobal.net

 What a horror!  Callie is right, to have the presence of mind to scoop her all back together and get her to ER in time is amazing.  I am so glad they were able to get her sewn up permanently.  So scary that they think the meds could slow down healing that much.  A month out and she still opened up like that.  We are all praying for Muffie here.

MUFFY UPDATE -- I heard from Rene this morning: 

"I just got off the phone with the doctor and they said she had a rough night with her blood pressure but they are doing everything they can to keep her stable..."

I am so happy Muffy will be fine.  I bet you you guys freaked out when this happened.  I am so glad you were around at the time.  I will be praying for miss muffy and tell her Bella is thinking about her.

I am so happy to be home from vacatin, its been a long stessed out week away from Bella.  The girl watching my dogs, was texting me every morning telling me that one of the dogs had the diareha.  Also the first day she tells me that Bella wont eat anything, so I asked her to hand feed her before she gave her, her medications.  I was a nervous wreck, because Bella has never had the runs before and has never had any accidents in the house.  Come to find out that it was Bella after all, it was my other dog, and I think he was just stressed out about the family being away.  Anyway by the 4th of July, he was still having the runs in the house, I think this girl was away more than she was there at my house, and I knew poor charlie couldnt help having these accidents in the house, so I called the vet to ask what to give him and they were closed for the holiday !!!!  Geez what else can go wrong !!!!  So I sent this girl of to cvs to ask the pharmacyBe what to give him.  So she cured poor charlie and finally by day 4 of our vacation, charlie and Bella were eating well and charlie was feeling better. 

Bella looks and feels good so far,  I take her to the vet on Thursday for a blood test.  So we will see for sure how she is.  I had the girl check her gums everyday and I checked them as soon as I walked in the door, she came running up to me and got right up on my lap and gave me the biggest kiss !!! 

Tara, I am so happy Charlie is doing so well.  He is just about finished with his medications isnt he?

Lori - I am SO glad to see you post!!!  I'm glad Bella is doing really well!! RAH!!!!

When you leave someone in charge like that, there are SO many things that you just can't **BELIEVE** that they don't understand.  I have sometimes agonized over the "notes" I leave -- even at a kennel -- JUST to make sure they'll do what I asked!!

I have had vacations like that (and it turns out to be no 'vacation' at all because you worried your way thru it!!)

You may want to get "The Pill Book Guide to Medications for Your Dog and Cat"  (Dell Reference, 1998).  That will give you the "dose" for something like "how much Pepto can I give my dog" or "Can my dog take Immodium? How much?"

Hi I am Tabitha and our sweet Caroline, 3 year old Shih Tzu was diagnosed on July 5th with IMHA.  I immediately turned to the internet and found this forum.  I have been in contact with Callie which has been extremely helpful for my emotional state while being in the early stages of this disease.  Caroline is on day 5 of this horribe rollercoaster and she continues to remain the same having her PCV levels at 20.  She is doing well on her meds and has had no issues with vomitting or diarhea.  She is still eating which keeps us positive. 

Please keep our Caroline in your prayers.  As newly finding out about this disease I have so much compassion and prayers for all of you that have been going through this with your furbabies. 

I thank you in advance for already giving me information, hope and support just by reading through your posts.  Hope everyones babies are doing well.

Tabitha

(hugs to Caroline) --we've got to make that pic of Caroline you sent me small enough to upload.   She's another Cutie Patootie, folks!!!  (a little shih tzu)

Caroline, I'm so glad to see you!!