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Canine Hemolytic Anemia

Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia in Dogs

Jun 18, 2007

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia is one of the most common of the autoimmune disorders known to affect our canine friends; causes include bee stings, infections, and vaccines.

Canines, like their human companions, are predisposed to developing many different autoimmune conditions. One of the most common autoimmune disorders to affect dogs is autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), which is also known as immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA). AIHA can occur as a primary condition or a secondary condition related to other autoimmune disorders or malignancies. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia is characterized by the development of autoantibodies that destroy red blood cells.

Breeds Affected

Females of all breeds, even when they are spayed, have a higher risk for AIHA than males. Although all breeds can be affected, certain breeds have a genetic predisposition for developing AIHA due to changes in their immune system regulation, a deficiency of pyruvate kinase enzymes, or abnormalities in their red blood cell morphology. Breeds at higher risk for AIHA include:

Old English Sheepdogs
American Cocker Spaniels
Poodles
Lhasa Apsos
Daschunds
English Springer Spaniels
American Springer Spaniels
Alaskan malamutes
Beagle breeds
Basenjis
West Highland White Terriers
Shih Tzus

Symptoms and Disease Course

Symptoms of canine autoimmune hemolytic anemia vary in severity (from very mild to fatal) depending on the titer of red blood cell autoantibodies and the dog’s general health. Fatality is most likely to occur when there is severe and rapid red blood cell destruction or liver involvement. However, fatality can also result from secondary complications. These complications include the release of coagulants from dying red blood cells. These coagulants, in turn, can cause the formation of blood clots that lodge in the heart or lungs. In addition, fragments of red blood cells or complexes of red blood cells and autoantibodies can lodge into the kidneys and interfere with renal function. Symptoms of canine AIHA include:

Anemia, with low red blood cell count, hemoglobin and/or hematocrit
Fever
Depression
Weakness
Fatigue
Pallor of the mucus membranes
Hematuria (presence of blood in the urine)
Enlarged Spleen
Seizures
Peripheral neuropathy

Clinical Signs Used for Diagnosis

Nonregenerative anemia
Spherocytosis seen on blood smear
Positive direct Coombs test

Known and Suspected Causes

As in humans, AIHA in canines occurs as a result of genetic and environmental factors. Dogs who are genetically predisposed develop AIHA when they’re exposed to certain environmental triggers. There have been several reports of canine AIHA caused by bee stings due to the constituents present in bee venom, especially melittin, histamines, hyaluronidase, hemolysins and phopholipase A. Other causes of AIHA include infectious agents (bacteria, viruses, and parasites), zinc toxicity from the ingestion of pennies, vaccinations, and certain medications, including antibiotics and analgesics.

Canine autoimmune hemolytic anemia may also occur as a feature in canines with various neoplasms, including leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma and various tumors. In addition, canine AIHA can occur in dogs with other autoimmune disorders, especially systemic lupus erythematosus and canine hypothyroidism.

Treatment

Treatment consists of corticosteroids such as prednisone and prednisolone as well as other immunosuppressant medications such as cyclophosphamide. Most canines respond well to a course of treatment lasting several months. In cases of relapse, a longer course of medication may be required. Other therapies for more severe cases include blood transfusions, splenectomy, and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy.

Resources

Pamela Davol, Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia, 1998, accessed November 21, 2006.

S Noble and P Armstrong, Bee sting envenomation resulting in secondary immune-mediated hemolytic anemia in two dogs, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Apr 199; 214(7): 1026-1027.

J Wysoke, P Bland van-denBerg, and C Marshall, Bee sting-induced haemolysis, spherocytosis and neural dysfunction in three dogs, J S Afr Vet Assoc, March 1990: 29-32.

The copyright of the article Canine Hemolytic Anemia in Autoimmune Disease is owned by Elaine Moore. Permission to republish Canine Hemolytic Anemia in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Buddy

Comments

Sep 4, 2008 3:08 PM

Guest :

Our dog Kozmo, a purebred Shih-tzu died from the disease this morning. He was just diagnosed on Tuesday and today is Thursday. Less than 48 hours after diagnosis, he is dead. People should know that this is a fast acting disease that does not discrimminate between old or young dogs. Kozmo was only three. There is no time to waste on deciding to treat or not treat. He didn't start showing symptoms of anything until Sunday, was very lethargic by Tuesday and dead by Thursday. We began treatments before the diagnosis was completely confirmed as my Vet recognized the urgency, but it was still unsuccessful.

Sep 4, 2008 5:38 PM

Elaine Moore :

I'm so sorry to hear about the sudden lost of your dog Kozmo to AIHA. In some cases, when the hemoglobin is quite low, blood transfusions are used to help prevent a hemolytic crisis.

But symptoms are often insidious. The urine can be bloody or blood tinged in AIHA but this would be difficult to notice without directly observing the problem. Losing a pet is very hard, indeed, and I sympathize with you, Elaine

Sep 8, 2008 8:31 AM

Guest :

Our beagle, Charlie, was diagnosed last Thursday and he passed away from the disease last night. He had shown lethargy and had a bloody stool which prompted the visit to the vet last week. He went downhill so fast we never thought this would happen so quickly.

Sorry for the loss of Kozmo - I share in your sadness.

Sep 8, 2008 12:33 PM

Guest :

Our Pokey a 7 year old American Cocker Spaniel passed away from AIHA last Monday with no warning at all. She was fine the day before, lethargic on Labor Day when we took her to the Emergency Vet and she began hemorrhaging from the rectum. We were informed that even a transfusion would not save her and possibly would be fatal to her. We can't believe there we no observable signs sooner. Is there a test for this, so that if this disease is present in our other dog we can use the steroids?

Sep 8, 2008 1:26 PM

Elaine Moore :

Hi,

I'm so sorry to hear that you lost Pokey.

With AIHA, you'd first want to look for signs of anemia. A complete blood count (CBC) is used to diagnose anemia. Symptoms that might prompt you to ask for a CBC include pale gums, weakness, loss of appetite, blood in the urine or stool, abdominal distention, breathing hard or panting, jaundice (yellowing of the whites of the eyes),vomiting and weight loss.

As you know, many of these symptoms are so common, especially in the hot summer months, that they're easy to go unnoticed. With the dog we lost, by the time we noticed she was sick, her normally black gums had become white. But ideally, a CBC would be used to diagnose anemia before it became severe. Since anemia can have many causes, your doctor would want to order a direct coombs test to determine if the anemia was autoimmune (AIHA).

Blood transfusions for canines aren't available in all cities. And to prevent a transfusion reaction your dog's blood would first have to be crossmatched with the dog donor blood the same way we do in humans. Since red cell antibodies in AIHA can also destroy the transfused red blood cells, blood transfusions are generally reserved for crisis situations. If available, artificial blood could also be used.

In 1998 the FDA approved the first artificial blood for use in canines, which is called Oxyglobin. The primary advantage of Oxyglobin over whole blood is that it can deliver oxygen to the cells several times faster then real blood and thus provide an "oxygen bridge" to the cells. This may give the body the additional time it needs for the drugs (corticosteroids, dexamethasone or immunosuppressants) to begin to work. Oxyglobin has a shelf life of up to two years and does not need to be typed and cross matched.

While blood tests sometimes seem unnecessary, a routine CBC and biochemical panel each year would help with early diagnosis and treatment. Best, Elaine

Sep 9, 2008 6:54 AM

Guest :

My Bullmastiff was diagnosed with this disease on Weds. of last week. He started to respond well and his red blood cells started to come up in number by Friday they were up even more. Yesterday I took him back to the vet for a re check only to find that they are back down to where they were last Weds. Our vet has put him on a stronger dose of preds and he is also on Cytoxan now too. All his tests came back negative for tick,coombs, etc. He did kill and injest a bumble bee last Monday and this is where we think all this is coming from. We are so very afraid we are going to lose him. He is just going to be three in Jan. I had never heard of this disease, I guess I have just been lucky. I have had Bully's since 1993. I am so scared that he may have cancer that is just not showing up yet. I take him back today for another re check to see if the cells are up. If they go lower our vet has sad that we have no choice but to then go for a transfusion which I have been told can open up some other issues and problems.

I am so very sorry for anyone who has to go through this. I think it is the hardest thing my husband and I have had to deal with, with dogs.

Thank you for letting me vent and share.

Sep 9, 2008 9:13 AM

Elaine Moore :

Hello,
I hope Bully makes a full recovery. You might want to ask your vet about using Oxyglobin instead of donor blood. Best, Elaine

Sep 9, 2008 10:05 AM

Guest :

In the midst of battling erythroid anemia with my whippet sized IG. He received a transfusion last week and is now on very high doses of Pred. My vet is considering introducing; Cytoxan, Imuran or Cyclosporin in an effort to raise his PVC count should additional medication prove necessary. No other cancerous were present on the bone marrow biopsy and all other counts were in the normal range. I want to thank my vet as well as the emergency center vets for their efforts and continued support as we fight to find a solution. My heart goes out to all of you who have faced this battle.

Sep 9, 2008 12:20 PM

Guest :

Thank you Elaine.

I just came back from the Vet and his count(My Bullmastiff) is up by one pt. Our vet feels the Cytoxan has kicked in and hoepfully we will be on an up swing. I go back again on Friday for another recheck. I did know about the blood you mention, but doing a lot of research on the web. Thank you for this site. It has give me a bunch of knowledge on this disease. I also think it is very important that everyone who can who has experience with this disease post. As it will only help others who come here. I know we are not out of the woods yet, but we take one day at a time and we are grateful for everyday that he is still with us and doing well.

Thank you again and I will post again on Friday.

Sep 9, 2008 1:06 PM

Elaine Moore :

Hi,
Thanks for the update on Bully. I wrote another article on canine AIHA today explaining how environmental triggers cause the immune system changes leading to AIHA and I describe some of the lifestyle factors that can help with healing. By the way, I love bull mastiffs. I always think of them as tall boxers. Best, Elaine

Sep 10, 2008 2:35 PM

Guest :

I lost my baby poodle three years ago. Did the transfusion thing and Prednisone and she still died. She was only 7. After reading all the sites on AIHA, I learned that vaccinations can sometimes bring it on. I had just had her shots, given her a heart worm pill, and then left her for a week on vacation. She got sick less than a week after we got home. It was a combination of all 3. Now I have a 3.5 lb. poodle that is now 3 and is due for her shots again. I really have a hard time now getting her shots knowing I could be killing her too. Is it really OK to only do the shots every other year. She is so small and only goes outside to do her business. Plus, I never leave town without her. I can't go through that again.

Sep 10, 2008 2:51 PM

Elaine Moore :

Hi,
I have several friends who now request blood antibody titers for rabies or whatever, before getting additional vaccines. The tests always show that they have sufficient antibodies (from their first vaccine) and don't need additional vaccinations. This is one approach.

Buddy in the picture above got very sick from a rabies vaccine he got when he was 10. Shortly afterwards he developed autoimmune myelopathy and died within a few months although he'd been perfectly healthy before that vaccine.

Last February I took our 6 month old boxer, Jezebel, in to be spayed. I had the vet give her her first rabies vaccine while she was there. She apparently made it through the surgery fine but stopped breathing after they reversed the anesthetic. They couldn't save her. There's no explanation for what happened but I suspect the vaccine played a role as I've since met people whose dogs died within a day after getting vaccinated.

There are some homeopathic vaccines that I'd consider if I thought our dogs needed vaccinations, but I don't plan on having them receive the standard "one size fits all" vaccines given routinely, ever again. If you check online you'll find that there are some alternatives to standard vaccines. Best, Elaine

Sep 11, 2008 9:09 PM

Guest :

My four year old Poodle, Tommy was diagnosed with this disease on Monday and died on Wed..He was hospitalized Monday morning, put on IV fluids with predsilone (sp) The only sign I had was that two weeks before, he was drinking a large amount of water and began to not want to eat. Thinking he had a UTI, he was put on Baytril for ten days. Hi s blood panel was all normal except for a slightly elevated white cell count.
He lost weight rapidly (three pounds between 08-18 to 09-08)and was very weak in a short time. I took him back to the Vet only to receive
this diagnosis. His blood panel was all over the place...some too high and some too low...a few normal. The drawn blood showed little bits of
coagulated (sp) blood. You could see it to the naked eye. I had never heard of this disease.
Jane O'Neil
Michigan

Sep 12, 2008 4:19 AM

Guest :

Hi Elaine,

We lost our Bullmastiff on Weds. I could not even bring myself to post until today. We are having a very hard time with all of this. As I am sure everyone who has lost a family member does.

Thank you again for all the info. And my condolences to anyone who has lost a pet to this disease.

Sep 12, 2008 9:05 AM

Elaine Moore :

Hi,
I am saddened to hear that you lost your poodle Tommy. Did the first blood count taken when the UTI was diagnosed show any signs of anemia?
If not, it's possible that the antibiotic Baytril triggered the AIHA. Antibiotics are a known trigger for AIHA. I just did a quick search and ran across a few other people whose dogs developed AIHA about two weeks after being prescribed Baytril. There's no way to know for certain what the cause was, but it would seem Baytril may be the presumptive cause. Although most dogs take antibiotics with no problems awareness might help people know what symptoms to be on the lookout for when starting a new medication. Best, Elaine

Sep 12, 2008 6:20 PM

Elaine Moore :

I am so sorry to hear that you lost your bull mastiff. It's just heartbreaking. My thoughts are with you and all the others on this board who lost their pets.Sincerely, Elaine

Sep 13, 2008 10:27 AM

Guest :

Thank you Elaine,

You try to do everything right. We feed the raw diet, give supplements and only run titers. I don't use frontline or anything else on my dogs. It is so sad that this disease comes out of no where and there is really not to much you can do, but try to stabilize the immune system so it stops attacking itself.

I am very sorry that you lost Tommy. I really feel we are very luck that our Bully did not die as soon as your Tommy did. My dogs diagnosed I have been told, die within 24 to 48 hours.

Thank you again Elaine for this site and your articles. I really appreciate it and I am sure others do too.

Sep 13, 2008 12:33 PM

Elaine Moore :

Dear Parents of
our beloved Caines, Kozmo, Tommy, Bully, Pokey, and Charley and Beauregard, Daisy and Jezebel. And Anyone Else Interested,

Despite our best efforts we're losing our precious best friends way before their time, and we're forced to stand by helplessly watching them suffer.

I'm contacting all of you as well as friends and strangers in the canine field to help us get the word out. I can find available data on vaccines, feeds, grain allergies, pesticide, flea control products, etc. FYI: This site has some excellent info:
http://www.elversonpuzzle.com/biospot.html

Over the next few wees I'll talk to some of the holistic vets regarding safer vaccines and optimal diets, and medication dosing by size. The I'll be going to the LDN conference in October to learn more abut its use in AIHA. If need be I'll raise money for as study on LDN in canine AIHA.

My goal is to get the facts together within the next few weeks and then I can start getting the word out, seeing who could help. Studies of drug safety are badly needed. Holistic therapies and their interactions are also important to learn about.

Please email me within the next two weeks at elainemoore@wildblue.net with any details you noticed that might be important, or suggestions for our study and its presentation, or anything that might help. Then as I write something up I;ll share it with you to help me edit and revise. We can keep the letter as a page on my website and we can send it to many people

Rather that say what someone should or shouldn't do, we can show how a dog of a certain size faired after using a certain flea shampoo or vaccine on our list. We could have follow-ups for what patients must look for if they use these products. We'd note their resposnse, relases after vaccines, etc..
I think you get the idea. I'll take this thread off the board for now. so email me at wild blue or mooredaisyelaine @aol.com and I'll start sending copies of papers I've found and all that I've learned. We can work together to help others. No one should ever have to go through this. And hopefully we'll all heal through our online action group. Best, Elaine

Sep 14, 2008 10:43 AM

Guest :

Our Peyton is only 9 mos old and is suffering from AHA. He became very lethargic and experienced "fainting" spells. After 4 visits to 3 different Vets, we found our Angel. He promptly put Peyton on Prednisone, an antibiotic. His PCV dropped to 8 and he underwent a blood tranfusion 3 days after diagnosed. His PCV is now 17 and we take him for PCV checks 2x per week. Please, please have some research done on Heartguard and Frontline as we gave Peyton his monthly dosage and this occurred 1 day following this. He has always experienced fatigue and lethargy after administering these meds. I and my husband think this was the culprit of his agonizing experience. How can a dog that weighs only 5 lb tolerate a dosage that is for 5 to 25 lbs. Thank you for all you do for those of us who are suffering. My heart goes out to those who lost their loved one!!

Sep 14, 2008 5:21 PM

Guest :

My 8 year old shih-tzu Jewel was diagnosed on 9/9 with sudden onset, she had a spell of respitratory difficulty and vomitting and we took her to the vet immediately. She had been active and normal till that day. She was diagnosed rapidly and started on high dose prednisone and azithioprine the same day with IV therapy. By the next day she had dropped so low in pcv abd hct and started with bloody urine that she required a blood transfusion. On 9/11 she was still dropping her pcv but was stable and making some new cells on her smear. On 9/12 she dropped again and our vet recommended taking her to Cornell Medical Center.
She has been scanned and tested completely and they can find no reason for her AIHA. She has had no recent immunizations, meds or diet changes. The only new exposure we can think of is a herbal Sargent flea treatment that we did about 4 weeks ago. Our vets looked at the ingredient list and could find no ingredient linked to the disease.
She has had 2 more transfusions and received Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy on 9/13. She is on aspirin and pepcid and iv fluids with potassium. It breaks our hearts to see our beloved dog so sick yet she still wags her tail and licks us when we come to see her. We are going to give therapy a few more days and pray that her immune system stops killing her cells. Is there anyone out there who has had similar treatment with immunoglobulin? We are looking for any encouragment anyone has. Lynne

Sep 14, 2008 8:18 PM

Elaine Moore :

Hello New Guests,

Intravenous immunoglobulins work well in humans although the effects are temporary. They're great for managing a crisis situation until other meds can kick in.

The products for flea control may not show a link to AIHA because they've never been tested for their role in contributing to autoimmune problems. I'd put them at the top of the list for suspected environmental triggers. I plan to continue researching this. Best to both of you, Elaine

Sep 15, 2008 6:58 PM

Guest :

We just lost our best friend, Gracie, to AIHA on Wednesday, 9/10/2008. She was perfectly fine on Sunday, 9/7. Monday evening, 9/8, when I got home from work she had thrown up on the floor and seemed very quiet. She got sick a few more times, would not eat or drink and remained very quiet - not her normal happy-go-lucky wiggle worm self at all. First thing Tuesday morning I took her to our regular vet, her blood count was 11 - extremely low, and she had a fever. They also did x-rays and noticed that her spleen was enlarged. They told me I needed to rush her to an emergency vet for a blood transfusion asap. We made it to the emergency vet within the hour and she received her first blood transfusion soon after. Early Wednesday morning her blood count was up to 23 and her fever had gone down. Later Wednesday morning she received another blood transfusion. Wednesday afternoon, shortly after her second transfusion, she started having neurological symptoms that were most likely due to a blood clot. The vet told us with tears in her eyes that she didn't feel that Gracie was going to make it. She had suffered too much damage from this terrible disease that she would not be able to recover from. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do, but I know after seeing her like that it was the best thing for her. She was suffering so much. She still managed to lick the tears from my face even though she could barely raise her head. She was still trying to take care of me when she was struggling to hang on herself. Gracie was a female Cocker mix that we adopted from the animal shelter 5 years ago. We believe she was 7 or 8 years old. She gave us more love and devotion in the time that we had her than we could have ever given back to her. We always called her our angel dog. Now she truly is an angel. This disease struck with no warning. I keep thinking back trying to put the pieces together to make it all make sense, but I can't. She showed no visible symptoms until Monday, and by Wednesday she was so very sick that we had to let her go. It is very hard coming home and not having her greet us at the door and having her snuggle up as close as she can get to me on the couch. I wish there was something that would have clued me in sooner that something was terribly wrong. I would give anything to turn back time to have her back. Our house feels so still and lonely without her smiling face. I truly feel for anyone who loses a pet to this terrible disease.

Sep 15, 2008 8:56 PM

Elaine Moore :

I'm so sorry to hear about your Gracie. My heart goes out to you and the others who've lost their best friends this week. I guess we can just be grateful for the many precious hours our pets give us. Dogs are such a joy. It's just so hard when they're gone. Sincerely, Elaine

Sep 16, 2008 8:04 AM

Guest :

First I feel for everyone going through the trauma of this disease. My Pug Cooper was diagnosed last wednesday, PCV 15. He had a blood transfusion and it went to 26. today it is 27 and he seems really good. when he felt his worst he gave me kisses and comforted me. i am still scared of a thrombus. he does not want to put all his weight on his right back leg. I pray he gets through this. Enjoy the time you have with your animals. Have faith.

Sep 16, 2008 8:13 AM

Elaine Moore :

Thanks for writing. Best wishes for your little Pug Cooper. I'm glad he's over the major hurdle and hope he recovers quickly. Please keep us posted, Elaine

Sep 16, 2008 9:22 AM

Tinypackge :

My dog Andy, almost 3yr old rottie has just fallen to the same disorder. Thinking nothing of his sleepy, just lay around behavior, I thought he was just under the weather with the heat and all, and his sister always wanting to playand telling her to leave him alone. when just yesterday he came running to me and all of a sudden he collapsed and started shaking went to the bathroomand passed out. He just fainted. At first I thought he had a seizure, so we rushed him to the vet and after taking a look at his gums he said Andys very anemic. So they are running all types of test, and his pcv levels are now down to 15 and so far he's not responding to the prednisone. I'm still a bit in shock and don't want to hear that they can't make him better. He's not the get into trouble one, it's his sister who's always looking for something to get into so I was ruling out him eating the wrong things. Harley (his little sis) is so miserable along with us that he's not here, she keeps looking around the house for him it's so sad.

My heart goes out to all the wonderful people who have lost their dogs to this crazy, hit so fast disease. I'm hoping one day they will find some more info for the future. or a precautionary measure when they are puppies.

Thank you for letting me tell my story, will keep you posted when we find out more information on Andy and how's he's doing and the next steps to take.

Sep 16, 2008 9:57 AM

Elaine Moore :

My thoughts are with you and Andy and also your family and little Harley. While corticosteroids and immunosuppressants will help reduce autoantibody production and reduce the autoimmune process, Andy might need a blood transfusion to increase his PCV level. You might want to ask your vet about this possibility. We're all wishing Andy the best. Please keep us updated, Elaine

Sep 16, 2008 11:06 AM

Elaine Moore :

If anyone suspects a certain product of having an adverse effect on their pet they can report it to the FDA's veterinary medicine program; See http://www.fda.gov/cvm/contactCVM.html

In a preliminary study of the FDA database, products listed as causing autoimmune hemolytic anemia include ProHeart6 for heartworm, and EtoGesic, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.

In other publications, certain flea control products and antibiotics are also reported as causes of canine AIHA along with the rabies vaccine, parvovirus vaccine, and other combo vaccines.

Sep 16, 2008 12:24 PM

Guest :

I too have recently lost my dog (ESS - female) to this awful disease which struck with such speed and ferocity that she was taken within hours of a diagnosis being made. I first noticed symptoms on Friday but no more than off food, put it down to a little cold as was sneezing but by Sunday morning she had collapsed by my front door and though I took her to the emergency vet she died at about half eleven that night just as I was on the way with my other dog to give her an emergency blood transfusion. Needless to say I am in a state of shock and devestated, Holly was only 7 and to see the speed at which this disease attacks.

Sep 16, 2008 12:53 PM

Elaine Moore :

To Holly's Owers,
I'm so sorry to hear that you lost your dog Holly. This disease is truly devastating. My heart goes out to you and your family, elaine

Sep 21, 2008 8:27 AM

Guest :

Our dog Swix is going through this right now. She just wasn't herself last Sunday and I brought her into the vet first thing on Monday morning when I noticed her pale gums. Her main vet is closed on Mondays and I had to try a differnt one who diagnosed her with a virus and put her on Baytril. She had 105 fever so they also gave her something to bring that down. We were told she was experiencing something as if you and I were to get the flu and it would take a few days for her to get back to normal. On Wednesday her gums were still pale and I brought her to her regular vet who diagnosed her properly and put her on Pretnisone right away. Her red blood count has continued to drop each day and was at 19 last night. Her vet has said that if it drops to 14 it will be time for a transfusion, however if we notice the medicine start to work and her count go up the transfusion may not be needed. We know she is in a danger zone and just hope she pulls through.
I did give her her regular monthly dose of heartguard and frontline on 9/11, just a few days prior to her syptoms showing up. I don't believe the Baytril has anything to do with it because she was put on that after. We feel that its awfully suspicious that this occurred right after the frontline/heartworm. -Danielle

Sep 21, 2008 9:56 AM

Elaine Moore :

Dear Danielle,
I hope that Swix recovers quickly. I've heard from several people whose dogs developed AIHA within two weeks of having Frontline treatments. You might want to ask about adding Transfer Factor too. Transfer Factor has been reported to help several dogs with AIHA according to reports on Shirley's wellness cafe. Best, elaine

Sep 21, 2008 11:12 AM

Guest :

Elaine, thank you. I am slowly coming to terms with what happened and have been over and over the events leading up to Holly's death and am so full of guilt that I did not react sooner to her symptoms as I wasn't around part of Saturday as it was my birthday and I was at a friends for tea and feel that I failed to to give her more attention, but I honestly thought she was just a bit under the weather and ensure she had fresh water and wrongly assumed she was going to the toilet as she had not soiled where she was. Well I know I cannot bring Holly back and I know that even if I had of taken her on Friday when she may still have not survived. It's just that I loved her so much and feel that I have let her down.

Sep 21, 2008 10:43 PM

Guest :

To anyone reading this article:

My little miniature schnauzer/yorkshire terrior mix got this awful disease sometime between Tuesday morning and Wednesday afternoon. She's just over 5. I got lucky. I took her to see her doctor and he noticed immediately that her gums were white, indicating a lack of red blood cells. A blood test proved to him that she was critical and within 30 minutes we were on our way 60 miles from home to a wonderful animal hospital. She was immediately put on medication and after a couple of days they did a liver biopsy and bone marrow biopsy. No cancer! And the marrow showed that she did indeed have IMHA, but that her marrow had already begun to fight. She was in the hospital 8 days and sent back to her doctor who, with the complete assistance of her doctor at the hospital are slowly making progress. She's not the dog she was before all this happened, but she is improving and I'm hoping one day I'll have my old Ginger back with me. My advise to anyone reading this is to take your dog to the doctor immediately! Even one day can make the difference. I wish you luck.

Sep 23, 2008 2:14 AM

Guest :

Hi, to the previous post, you don't know how many times I've berated myself for not taking Holly to the vets on the Saturday and blame myself for being so wrapped up in other things happening, I had my dad arriving the next day and as it was my birthday quite a few people popped in to see me, though I should have known as Holly was not her usual barking self and didn't really bother with them, but I just thought she was a little under the weather and kept an eye on her. How I wish I'd looked at her gums as I'm sure I would have seen how pale they were. And now after reading your post I feel even more of a failure to her and only hope she is forgiving me as I know I will never forgive myself for not acting sooner. To make matters worse my husband who also adored Holly as much as I did is away in the Falklands and whilst I had the opportunity to say goodbye to my darling girl he did not. The hardest part is knowing what to say to my 3 year old who loved Holly as much as Holly loved her. All I have are the memories and the knowledge that she had a very happy 7 years with us and she will always be in my heart but rest assured I will be extra vigilent in the future. A good friend of mine tells me that Holly will always be with me, and that there will be a day when we can be together again.

Sep 23, 2008 4:47 PM

Guest :

I am in a state of total confusion. I lost a 5 year old Cocker Spaniel to AIHA about 5 years ago. He was diagnosed on a Monday and died Wednesday afternoon. Now I have a 10-year old cocker spaniel that had just been diagnosed with the same thing, my vet said I was unbelievably unlucky. This vet is the same vet that treated my first cocker and now I am terrified whether he is treating the condition appropriately. He prescribed Prednisone (40mg) per day and told me to come back in 3 days for another blood test. I've done research on the internet and keep seeing this condition being treated with prednisone plus other immunosuppressive drugs. I am so conflicted as to trust this vet or to go somewhere else and get a 2nd opinion. There doesn't seem to be a consensus of what the right treatment is. I have gone through the pain of losing one dog to this condition, I want to be sure I exhaust all my options in trying to save this little guy.

Sep 24, 2008 3:33 PM

Guest :

Our 2 year old Cocker, Maggie was diagnosed with AIHA in April. She was fine one day and rapidly went down hill the next day. She has been on prednizone since April, slowing decreasing the dosage. She recently went on Anthromizine (sp), but every time her red blood improves, her white blood increases. She is now on Baytril. I feel like we are missing something as she does not appear to be getting any better, yet not necessarily worse. She is in great spirits, just overweight from the prednizone and tires easily. Is there anything else we can try to help improve the red blood and reduce the white? I'm ready to locate a specialist to review her records and give their opinion. This disease is so sad...my heart goes out to those who lost their pets. I want to do everything I can to help Maggie. Suggestions? Thank you. Julie

Sep 24, 2008 6:37 PM

Elaine Moore :

Hi,
It's good that Maggie is hanging in there since April. I'd look at the information on Transfer Factor on Shirleys-wellness-cafe and add that. If the AIHA was triggered by a vaccine, which is turning out to be a very common cause, this will help her immune system heal. There's quite a few good sources for Transfer Factor in Shirley's report. Best to you and Maggie and everyone else who wrote this week, Elaine

Sep 24, 2008 8:23 PM

Guest :

Hi,
My yellow lab,Eli,was diagnosed on Monday 9/22 and passed last nite 9/23. He was only 6 and my entire family is just devastated. The vet thought we may have caught it soon enough. He had started to have a little respiratory congestion on Fri, called the vet and they thought maybe it was just allergies,but his condition worsened by Sunday and we took him in on Monday. He was a wonderful dog and I miss him deeply. I feel somewhat guilty for not realizing he was sick. Please take care of your pets, they are precious. Flo, Wisconsin

Sep 24, 2008 10:10 PM

Guest :

My 6 year old poodle Mimi was diagnosed with IHA yesterday. Just like many of you I'd never heard of this. I left her in the care of my mom Wednesday morning, Tuesday at home she was running around as usual, actually she was pretty hyper. Friday when I picked her up the first thing that struck me was that she was not jumping or running around to greet me. My mom told me she had to be sick because she wouldn't eat any chicken. Mimi would swin the Nile for a piece of chicken. I picked her up and was immediately alarmed because she felt lifeless in my arms. I thought she ate something bad and was mad at me for leaving her for a couple days, she gets upset when I have to leave her. We don't have a regular vet so I got recommendations from co-workers. Guess I'm already blessed to have her survive until she made it to the vet Tuesday morning, she's really been holding on. Her PVC was 14 and we discussed a blood transfusion but the vet was not entirely in favor considering she was killing her own blood cells, she wasn't sure if giving her another dog's blood was a good idea. But she was afraid Mimi would die before the medicine could work. Her PVC went up to 15 today which isn't much progess but my mom and I went to see her and she perked up, licked our hands and even stood up on her own. She seemed to have some energy, she was probably just excited to see us. But for the first time in a few days I could smile. It has been a rough weekend, I didn't sleep much because I was watching her all night because I was scared she would die. Now that I've found out what is wrong with her, there is no consolation. It has been such an emotional rollercoaster. My heart goes out to all the pet owners who have lost their best friend and whose lives have been turned upside by this sudden, destructive illness. I haven't lost my baby yet but I know its something I may have to face and right now I just can't accept that she won't be at the door to greet me when I get home from work.

Sep 25, 2008 6:22 AM

Guest :

I now wonder whether Holly's condition was triggered by her vaccine which she had only had about a month and a half ago. Of course I will never know now but I am more aware of this aware of this awful disease and am telling all my doggy friend owners to look out for it as it is merciless. Good luck to anyone whose pet has been diagnosed with it and is receiving treatment!

Sep 25, 2008 8:20 AM

Elaine Moore :

Dear Flo,
I'm so sorry to hear about Eli. It's hard to tell when our pets are just a little under the weather or truly ill. Sincerely, Elaine

Sep 25, 2008 7:03 PM

Guest :

Mimi is doing fairly well. Her pvc count was 18 today and I brought her home. We haven't had to give the blood transfusion and I'm so happy that I was able to look beyong my emotions and grief and research this disease so that I could made good decisions about my dog's health. I decided to wait on the transfusion because my vet didn't sound 100% sure, she was concerned that Mimi would die before the medicine would have time to work. I couldn't afford the procedure and needed to calm my nerves and think about what was best for Mimi and I. She ate chicken and dog food at the vet so were pretty hopeful. I know she's not out of the woods yet but she's alert and perky but she's not supposed to move around much so I'm trying to keep her quiet. I know most of the people who have posted on this site have lost their animal but there are some people who are looking for information about this disease and will run across this site just as I have. I hope this will give someone peace of mind and some hope that some dogs can recover. We have a long way to go but I'm truly blessed for however much time God grants me with my baby. BTW, the nurse informed me they recently had a dog with AIHA who was almost dead when he was brought in but he made a full recovery and did not receive a transfusion. -courtney

Sep 25, 2008 7:40 PM

Elaine Moore :

Courtney and Ginger's Owner,

Thanks for letting us know your dogs have made it over the crisis. This is encouraging news for others. Please give us updates on Mimi and Ginger. Wishing you the very best, Elaine

Sep 28, 2008 5:14 AM

Guest :

We have just lost our beloved collie cross to AIHA. He collapsed on Monday 22 and died on Wednesday 24. He was elderly but still very fit. We had his teeth cleaned 3 weeks ago and he was prescribed Baytril as a precaution after his teeth cleaning. I know we will never know if that caused it or if there was an underlying tumour. I did notice that he had been sneezing occasionally but thought there was just something in the air. He still had a swim on the morning of the night he collapsed. Can't bear not knowing if I contributed to his death by letting him swim or cleaning his teeth. Could anything in water cause it?

Sep 28, 2008 12:42 PM

Elaine Moore :

I'm so sorry to hear that you lost your collie this past week. I've heard of Baytril being linked to AIHA, but it's often difficult to determine an exact cause. I haven't heard of anything in the water that might contribute. The rabies vaccine is also a known trigger and so are certain flea products. My thoughts are with you, Elaine

Sep 28, 2008 3:38 PM

Guest :

Our dog lexi started to pee blood. At first is was not bad at all but got worse and worse throughout the day, to the point where it was a dark red color. When we took her to the vet at first they found NOTHING wrong with her. Not to our suprise there was something wrong with her and after visiting another afterhours clinic that night they diagnosed her with this. She is currently on 20 mg of prednisone and 10 mg famiotidine. Her RBC was at 24%. We want to do everything we can to save her but also are not in the best financial situation but we decided we would do whatever we could if she has a chance. She is still peeing blood but its much better, and her gums are still pale but have gotten better. Does this mean she is responding well to treatment? The next option the vet suggested would be to do a transfusion, and still the vet did not seem very hopeful. I realy wish we could take her to a reliable vet because I dont feel like we are getting the best service. PLEASE help, we are trying very hard to save her

Sep 30, 2008 8:51 AM

Guest :

Wanted to update you on my Shitzu Jewel that I posted on 9/14. we have been very lucky so far. Jewel was treated at Cornell Medical Center with IGG IV therapy after 3 blood transfusions. She has been on prednisone and immunosupressant therapy Aziothioprine. Additionally aspirine therapy, prophylactic antibiotics, pepcid and carafate. She was hospitalized for 11 days and we took her home on the 19th. She continues to raise her pcv and everyday seems to be doing better as far as activity, eating and her skin color. We have been very lucky and although the price of her treatment approaches 5k we are optimistic about her long term recovery. I hope this gives hope and info for those who are looking for info. Lynne

Sep 30, 2008 9:35 AM

Elaine Moore :

Hi Lynne,
Bravo for Jewel! She definitely sees to have made it over the hurdle. It's great info to hear how well IVIG worked for her. Please keep us posted on her progress. Best to you and your family, Elaine

Sep 30, 2008 5:29 PM

Guest :

Dear ms. moore,

My Maltese Pearl has just had her second transfusion of packed red cells, and just had an exploratory surgery that showed her liver to be very enlarged, but no tumprs. Several biopsies were taken, but ZI don't have results yet, She si on large doses of Immuran, Prednisone, and Cyclosporin, ass well as Marin and Denosyl, and Transfer Factor. Her blood count is back down to 25 in only 4 days following the last transfusion. What do you think her prognosis would be? I am so afraid for her.

Thanks
Brenda 826aol.com

Oct 1, 2008 10:51 AM

Elaine Moore :

Hi Brenda,
I'm sorry to hear Pearl's blood count is falling and her liver problems continue. If her count would hold between 20 and 25 this would be a good sign. It sounds like her antibodies (that target red blood cells) are destroying the transfused cells. Intravenous immunoglobulins, while expensive, are another good option. I'd also continue the transfer factor. The herb milk thistle and the supplement N-acetyl-cysteine are helpful in liver problems, especially if a toxin was ingested. You might want to ask your vet about adding them. I'll keep Pearl in my prayers. best, Elaine

Oct 3, 2008 8:34 PM

Guest :

Today we lost our beloved 14 year old mixed breed baby, Nicoal to this disease. In July, at her yearly checkup, she was a healthy senior dog. She had no other illnesses, conditions, etc. blood panel and all enzymes checked then were good. On Sunday, Sept. 28, she was her normal self. On Monday, she followed her normal morning routine and we first realized something was wrong when she didn't beg at lunch. Monday afternoon for whatever reason I checked her gums and her inner ears;both were pale, so I called our vet and went at once. She was diagnosed at once. At that point, her red blood cell count was at 24, she was given a shot of dexamethosone(?) and I was given 20 mg prednisone(along with something to protect her stomach) to give orally. On Tuesday, she vomitted about 10 minutes after giving her the prednisone, so I called the vet and we went there again. She was given another shot and blood work showed her rbc to be at 15. We were referred to a clinic where xrays and an ultrasound were done with negative results. On Wednesday, her rbc was 6 so a transfusion was done bringing her rbc to 16. It held overnight and on Thursday we went to see her. Though she was weak, she was happy to see us. This morning, her rbc was back to 9,she was retaining fluids and was clinically worse than when the rbc was at 6. We decided to let her go before we got to the clinic. Once we got there, she was definitely a different dog than she had been yesterday. After 2 1/2 hours of nuzzling and loving on her, she let us know it was time.
I had never heard of this before our case but both the vets we dealt with were very knowledgeable about this disease. Both were baffled though, as we cannot find a cause for it. She had no tumors, no exposure to chemicals, pesticides, had had no recent vaccines, no bee stings, etc. The ultrasound showed all her organs to be clean and functioning as well as younger dogs. She was on no medications except an occasional coated aspirin for arthritis, which she had not been given since spring. We realize she was an older dog but with having excellent health, she could possibly have lived another year. We do know that she did not have pain, she was just very weak. She did not whimper or make any sounds this morning. she was restless until she had us surrounding her then it was as if she told each of us goodbye. She then laid on her side and her breathing was very shallow. Within a few minutes she left us. We sympathize with anyone that has faced this.

Oct 5, 2008 8:35 AM

Guest :

Dear Elaine

Pearl died in my arms on 10-4-08 at 6:15 a.m. I miss her so much and cannot imagine my household with out her in it. She was so much a part of my life.
Please continue to try to find a cure for this horrible disease. My Pearl put up a tremendous fight for her life and lived almost a month with it. The vet said she had a trmendous will to live. I will miss her every day. I loved her so much.

Brenda

Oct 5, 2008 8:46 AM

Elaine Moore :

Dear Brenda,
I'm so sorry to hear about Pearl. Sincerely, Elaine

Oct 5, 2008 1:13 PM

Guest :

I just wanted to pass on my thoughts to Brenda on her loss, I checked daily to see Pearl's progress and am so saddened that yet another faithful well loved companion has fallen victim to this evil disease. x

Keri Lynn

Oct 5, 2008 9:23 PM

Guest :

My sweet little puggle was diagnosed with IMHA yesterday afternoon after my rooomate found him in a puddle of bloody urine. After the diagnosis at my vet, we were immediately transferred to an emergency hospital that specializes in internal medicine. As of this evening, his RBC count continues to drop - he got a partial transfusion - now its the waiting game again to see how he responds to the medication and transfusion. I can't believe that this is happening to me. I lost my dear cat in January to this same disease and Fatty Liver Disease...which came first...I don't know. Could there be something environmental poisoning my animals and potentially myself? I just can't belive that two pets in less than a year from the same home have gotten this horrible disease. I am hoping and praying that Charlie will recover, unlike my dear friend Oskar.

Should I be testing my home for toxins of some sort? If so...where should I start?

My thoughts and prayers go out to all of you who have experienced this horrible disease.

Chase

Oct 6, 2008 9:42 AM

Elaine Moore :

Hi,
I'm so sorry to hear your puggle was diagnosed with IMHA and hope he responds well to treatment. Cats are especially sensitive to flea treatments used for dogs. Flea treatments could affect both animals and so could infection with certain microorganisms. Good luck, elaine

Oct 6, 2008 9:46 AM

Elaine Moore :

To Lexi and Nicoal's owners,

I hope that Lexi is doing better. Please keep us updated.
I'm so sad to hear about your loss of Nicoal. It just doesn't seem fair when our wonderful old senior pets die suddenly. With sincere sympathy, Elaine

Oct 6, 2008 12:02 PM

Guest :

Hi Elaine,

It's been almost a month since I have posted. I just wanted to tell everyone on here, how very sorry I am for all of your losses. My deepest condolences to all of you !! I was one of the earlier posts on here. My Bullmastiff Tasso died with this awful disease, he was only 2 1/2 years young.

I hope that more research will help all of us down the road.

Thank you again Elaine for this very informative site !!

Oct 6, 2008 12:55 PM

Guest :

I also am in terrible shock. I laid to rest my beloved Minnie on Sunday to this horrible disease. My Minnie was only 8 years old and always spunky and happy the most loving dog we have ever had. She took ill On Wed with bleeding I took her right in to the Vet they gave me meds and sent me home. On thursday morning she was covered in blood we took her to the emergency vet and she hung on with lots of blood transfusion thru to Sunday but her kidneys began to fail and there was no hope for recovery. Please let us know what to look for. I never expected anything like this. I feel like I have lost her way too early in her life. Now as I read the reports of vacines as a possible problem I am scared to death to ever get another dog. I could never go thru this again. Please do research on this we must keep our pets safe.

Oct 6, 2008 1:07 PM

Elaine Moore :

To Tasso's Owner,

Thanks for writing with an update. I know it's been a hard month for you and your family. All the best, Elaine

Oct 6, 2008 1:15 PM

Elaine Moore :

To Minnie's Owners,

I'm sorry to hear about the sudden loss of dog. Your story is truly heartbreaking. There are several known risk factors for AIHA, including vaccines. Many vets are recommending Transfer Factor to help the immune system handle vaccines. Many vets will also allow patients to get blood titers after the first vaccine to see if additional vaccines are needed.

Flea products and one Heartguard for heartworm are also known to cause hemolytic anemia. Weed killers and lawn treatments, certain antibiotics, and infectious agents also pose risk. Reactions to some foods can be toxic, including chocolate and grapes, which cause some breeds to go into kidney failure. Some dogs can also become allergic or react to different types of commercial dog food, and some dogs are allergic to beef.

Please don't be afraid to get another dog although I can understand how you're feeling. The joy dogs bring us can't be matched. Sincerely, Elaine

Oct 6, 2008 2:23 PM

Guest :

Dear Elaine,

I am writing to you again about my little Pearl who died in my arms on 10-4. I noticed while reading your posts from other guests that you feel the Rabies vaccine may casue this horrible illness. I know I made notice of your mentioning that before, but for some reason, it clicked in my mind when I read it today that Pearl had all her booster shots, including her Rabies booster about a month before she became ill. Could this have been the cause of her illness? I have another Maltese, Lily who recieved her shots at the same time, and is a lot older, and she is fine.

Thanks to you and Keri Lynn who wrote in with sympathy about my Pearl. I can't even walk to the mail box with out missing her. She loved to go with me to get the mail. I find myself walking out to her grave every morning to say good morning. I hope it gets better soon.

I took your advice and got a little Maltipoo, I named her Daisy. She can't ever replace Pearl, but she is a comfort. Should I delay getting her vaccinations? She has already had her first and is only six weeks old.

Thank you so much for your support in the last few weeks. It meant so much to me.

Sincerely
Brenda

Oct 6, 2008 7:19 PM

Elaine Moore :

Hi Brenda,

Welcome to little Daisy. I think she'll help you and Lily and your family heal.

The experts caution to not give multiple vaccines together. You can ask your vet about giving the minimum of vaccines. Usually, 3 separate vaccines are given (for parvo, etc) and studies show these provide lifelong immunity with annual boosters not needed. Some of the vaccines are directed against leptospirosis and other agents that might not be prevalent in your area. Let your vet know you want the minimum needed for protection in your area.

In most states the rabies vaccine is given after puppies reach 6 months. The sources at Shirley's Cafe recommend using Transfer Factor to help the immune system handle vaccines better. It's also better to give the rabies vaccine separately and not with any of the other vaccines. The rabies vaccine is a one size fits all so you might want to ask about a smaller dose based on body weight for a smaller dog. After the first rabies vaccines, you can request checking immunity with a blood test that measures antibodies to rabies. If antibodies are present, your dog has immunity and doesn't need another vaccine at that time.

If you post pictures of your dogs on Flickr or any of the online sites, let us know. Best, Elaine

Oct 7, 2008 3:24 AM

Guest :

Hi I just wanted to say to Brenda, that I also acquired a new puppy, I have called her Sapphire after the birthstone for September, which is my birthday month and the month I lost Holly. I didn't know if I was doing the right thing or if it was too soon but my other dog Ellie had just seemed so depressed as she had lost her companion of 6 years also. She has accepted Saffy with absolutely no problems and has really come alive again. I know that Holly can never be replaced, she was a unique doggy friend and I will miss her every day.
We have just been to the vets for our second lot of injections and I had a lengthy discussion with the vet about Holly and my concerns. He suggested that these are the most important ones that she has and that I look at the options available when her boosters are due.

Anyway Brenda I also wanted to say that if you wanted to e-mail me at all for chat about our lost doggies and our pups then please do so, my e-mail address is sugar.plumfairy@yahoo.co.uk. Look forward to hearing from you.

Keri Lynn

Elaine, thank you for this imformative site, it has helped me understand more about what happened and hopefully will help me preventing it from happening again.

KL

Oct 7, 2008 7:29 AM

Elaine Moore :

KL,
A big welcome to little Sapphire. Puppies do have their way of helping us heal. If you post pictures anywhere let us know. Best, Elaine

Oct 7, 2008 1:30 PM

Guest :

my shih tzu Marley who is 2 yrs old just got diagnose with hemolytic anemia today. Two weeks ago i changed his diet to the brand Max. I strongly feel it had to do with changing his food which triggered an allergic reaction that caused him this. His RBC dropped tremendously to 0.5. The normal is 5.0 - 9.0. His liver was also affected showing en elevated liver enzymes and bilirubin. He is fighting for his life right now and in the process of receiving a blood transfusion. Hope and pray that the outcome will be successful. Their sign and symptoms are : vomiting,weakness, paleness in mucous membrane, pale tongue, lethargic,drinking excessive water,and refusing to eat. If your dogs have any of these changes dont wait a minute take them to hospital right away before they lose too much blood.

Oct 7, 2008 1:30 PM

Guest :

Oct 7, 2008 8:36 PM

Guest :

I stumbled upon this site tonight and it has helped me immensely. I lost my 9 yr old Cocker Tucker on 10/4 to this horrible disease. He had had an episode about 7 yrs ago when he was dagnosed. He was attacked at a kennel. My vet told me that AIHA was rare and we may or may not have any more trouble. He responded well to Prednisone therapy and recovered quickly. On Tuesday night, 9/30, he was his normal self. On Wednesday morning, his gums were gray and he wouldn't eat or get up off the floor. I immediately took him to the vet. His PCV was 9. We did a blood transfusion and IV medicines. I brought him home on Friday evening. He was so weak, all I could do was sit and cry. He died in his sleep on Saturday afternoon. I believe that he had a heart attack. The strain of the lowered blood volume was just too much for his heart to bear. It is the hardest thing I have had to face. He was truly my best friend and my child. Reading the posts here, I see that I am truly blessed to have had him recover 7 yrs ago. I was able to enjoy him for such a long time afterwards. But, like everyone here, the second time came on so quickly and before I knew it, he was gone. My heart goes out to everyone who has posted on this site. I truly know what you are going through.

Oct 8, 2008 4:44 AM

Guest :

I just also lost my 10 year old standard female dauchund to this disease. I been involved in veterinary medicine most of my life and was still unable to save her. I would like to pass along some things that may be of help to you. First if you are unsure of your vets coarse of treatment check with another. When a protocal has been set up ask about the use of blood thinners as this disease causes blood clots which is one of the leading causes of death. Ask about a product called Oxyglobin to by time and supply oxygen to the organs. A few things you can do on your own is checking the gums and tongue for a good pink color do this on a regular basis . If a pail color is seen bring the animal in for a C.B.C. Remember they age a lot faster then we do so blood work should be done often. I hope this can be of some help to all of you. Also search on the internet for things pertaining to anemia which can be a big help. Thank you Elaine for this great site and wealth of information and may God bless all of you and your pets!

Oct 8, 2008 9:14 AM

Elaine Moore :

Hi,
I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your standard dachsund. I appreciate your taking the time to pass on treatment suggestions that can help others. I hadn't realized clotting could also occur in AIHA. Sincerely, Elaine

Oct 8, 2008 9:34 AM

Elaine Moore :

Hi,
I'm so sorry to hear about your losing your little cocker spaniel Tucker. It's encouraging to know he survived for 7 years after his initial diagnosis. This will help others. Sincerely, Elaine

Oct 8, 2008 6:32 PM

Guest :

Dear elaine, my 3.5yr beagle was diagnosed with AIHA 10 days ago. He had been sick for 5weeks already although the initial diagnosis was kidney disease since his inital symptoms pointed more to that. He collapsed on 10/1 after a mth of kidney support therapy but lukily, we managed to save with with a steroid jab. He had been on 10mg prednisone for 6days and was increased to 20mg yesterday. He seems to be getting weaker and more lethargic now, as compared to few days ago. His gums are also very pale now. We don't seem to have blood transfusions for dogs here in singapore. is there any other way out? he is so picky with his food that he will rather starve than to eat what he dislikes. I have tried many types of commercial dog food and he refuses to take them. How can i improve his appetite? He had moderately high white blood cell count and his rbc count was at the lower limit of normal (his was 5.1) last week. Do you think he can survive this?

Oct 8, 2008 10:02 PM

Elaine Moore :

Hi,
It's unfortunate that canine blood transfusions aren't available in Singapore. Prednisone can help reduce red blood cell destruction, but diet is important to help replace lost nutrients. Ask your doctor if adding lean meat would be ok? Some people use raw organic meat for their dogs, and frozen chicken necks. Might you have an herbalist in your area who could prescribe something to help build the blood up? Best, Elaine

Oct 9, 2008 8:28 PM

Guest :

Hi Elaine,thanks for your prompt reply. Problem is my dog is super picky on his food. He refused to take commercial dog food since he came down with the disease and any food with liver, he would refuse. This actually makes treatment very difficult. We have tried given him boiled mince beef and he would take some, probably a small bowl each day. He often would let himself starve than to eat something he doesn't like! Last night i got home to see him so weak that he could hardly walk and i sent him to the vet for his prednisone jab. It seems that the prednisone tablet isnt very effective (he was on liquid pred earlier). His heartbeat and body temp was normal. I let him stay hospitalised for a day to so that a drip would make him stronger. Vit B was added to the drip. Sometimes im really at wits end with my dog..

Oct 10, 2008 8:42 AM

Elaine Moore :

Hi,
I sympathize with you. Running back and forth to the vet and trying to arrange special meals for your pet can be trying. Can your dog eat chicken? Some people boil chicken and add it to rice. I hope the prednisone kicks in and your pet starts feeling better. Best to you, elaine

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