Honestly an hour away is good -- you don't make the trip often but just getting that input is SO valuable.
When the PCV (packed cell volume) falls so low the nausea is a result of that. Just getting blood DOES make them feel better.
I'm just going to plop the index right here for you -- it's not linked yet (which is why I haven't posted it) but you may want to check out things like the "definitions" and general overview -- Also -- longer term the use of milk thistle is hugely helpful to enable their bodies not to be damaged by the drugs:
General Introduction/overview of IMHA -- Page 1/Post 2, Page 14, Page 65/Posts 12 & 15
IMT & IMP (Thrombocytopenia & Pancytopenia) -- Page 1/Post 7, Page 54/Post 7, Page 58/Post 11
First post by Gratefuldawg re: Cloppy’s IMHA -- Page 1/Post 15
Milk thistle & Sam-e and Marin, Denosyl, Denamarin -- Page 2/Posts 3-4, Page 19/Post 6 – mid-page, Page 48/Posts 10 & 12, Page 49/various, Page 88 (later pages contain comparative info)
Financial help & description of Care Credit --- Page 3/Post 8
Triggers & discussion of “triggers” of IMHA -- Page 3/last half of page, Page 26 /Last several posts
Dictionary of IMHA terms – helpful for those beginning this journey & signs of relapse -- Page 4/Post 5, Page 34/Post 7, Page 89/Post 1
Emotional toll and decision-making difficulties of guardians -- Page 4/last 3-4 Posts
NRIMA (non-regenerative immune mediated anemia) & description of that specific type of IMHA -- Page 11/Post 7
Pred side-effects (the more severe ones -- beyond drinking/eating - muscle spasms, sudden arthritis onset, emotional/ muscle side effects of pred (including suggestions & pet massage) -- Page 12/Last Post, Page 15 & Page 39/Post 3, Page 72/Post 12, Page 88
Prednisoone & cyclosporine side effects (particularly various– skin problems & UTIs-cyclosporine side-effect & discussions) -- Page 13/1st half-page of posts, Page 18/Post 9-mid-page, Page 22/Post 8, Page 34/Post 12, Page 38, Page 48., Page 60 & 61/ Page 63
Food suggestion helps specifically for IMHA -- Page 14/Post 1, Page 42
Stomach protectant -- Page 14/Post 1, Page 31/Post 3, Page 34/Post 7 & 9, Page 40, Page 66/Posts 14 & 15, Page 67/1st half pg, Page 87
Cyclosporine levels – need to have blood word drawn to check -- Page 15/Post 8
Nose/dry/cracked -- discussion of ultra dry nostril/edges of lips as cyclo side effect -- Page 18/Post 9-mid-page
Herbs generally & how to use & choose -- Paged 20/ Post 4
Cyclosporine Generic– IMPORTANT POSTS -- Page 23/Post 13 & Page 40,, Page 43/Post 11, Page 60 –two forms of generic cyclosporine; Page 97 costs; Page 98 more specifics on modified/un-modified and where to get.
Doxycycline – IMHA occasionally as mis-diagnosed tick disease or caused by tick disease -- Page 24/first half page &Page 34/Post 7
Giving Meds easily - suggestions on giving pills, organizing & training-- Page 25/Posts 4 & 5, Page 40/Post 5 – Page 41; Page 97/Post 11
Iron – discussion of serum iron & checking bloodwork for after a few months -- Page 26/Posts 4,6 & 9
Rabies vaccine (must not have) – rabies titer discussion (to obtain state waiver) -- Page 27/Post 3 & next several posts
Not responding/Obtaining help - going to a vet school vs. specialist – don’t wait! -- Page 28/Post 2+ several
Page 30/Posts mid-page, also some page 33– discussions on skin problems as side effects from cyclosporine & pred
Aspirin– Baby aspirin doseage & discussion of stomach protectants - Page 31/Post 3, Page 66/Posts 14 & 15
Wean off -- discussions of lowering/weaning off drugs – Page 34/various, Page 46
Signs of relapse Page 34/Post 7
UTIs– discussion UTIs as cyclo side effect & treatments -- Page 34/Post 12, Page 38, Page 48., Page 63
Cyclosporine absorption– general discussion re: dairy inhibition of absorption Page 39/Last half of page
Beef heart – iron foods Page 42
Page 44 – discussion of drugs NOT to use w/IMHA (triggers)
Page 45/Post 12, Page 68/Post 3, Page 72/Post 3 – Slippery elm cocktail (suspected ulcer/stomach help)
Page 49/Post 3, Page 57 (all) -- Milk thistle & sam-e , Marin, Denosyl & Denamarin (discussion/contrast)
Page 50/Post 3 to Page 51, Page 55/Post 15 – Vaccines as IMHA triggers
Page 53/Post 3 – good post regarding Killer T-cells & IMHA
Page 53/Post 8 - Homeopathics to treat & help treat IMHA
Page 57 – Various discussions on milk thistle
Page 63 & 64, Page 76/Post 6 – discussions about drugs to treat UTIs while on cyclosporine (Baytril particularly)
Page 66 – discussions on cyclosporine vs. azathiaprene and how long to work
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Page 72/Post 5 – Pepto Bismol contra-indicated
Page 76/Post 6 – Dr. Dodds discussion of IMHA triggers
Page 70/Post 3 – TCVM (Traditional Chinese Veteirnary medicine) helpful, acupuncture/ Chinese herbs
Page 80 & 81– food discussions (diet with IMHA generally)
Page 82/Post 12 & Page 83 – various drugs/recommended drugs for IMHA & general side effects vs. “official stance” of what vets say about side effects
Page 88/Post 12 – Knox Nutra Joint to help with arthritis side effects
Page 91/Post 15 – More on baby aspirin
Page 92/Post 13 – various things that can inhibit cyclosporine absorption
Page 95/Post 5 – most of page – discussion of various heartworm preventives/flea preventives use with IMHA dogs
Page 97/Post 11 – temporarily lowered PCV can be caused by the spleen re-storing it’s supply of blood
Page 98 – discussions throughout page of the weakness some dogs show for several weeks as IMHA side effect