Just Diagnosed and starting treatment

Sheena

Guest

Hi Kristal

We got your urgent advice request & I’ve sent you an overview of AIHA & Dr Dodds excellent information on this disease – let me know you got them OK please.

There is some very important information about abnormal clotting in those attachments. You mention clumping – Shelby needs anti-clotting medication in that case. Here is some detailed information you must discuss with your vet without delay as clots are by far the biggest risk of this disease:

https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/AIHA_Terms/abnormal-clotting/

It sounds like an infection could be the trigger of this as her white cell count is high, so I’m very happy about antiobiotics being given, but which one please? Certain antibiotics should be avoided with this disease. They are penicillins, cephalosporines & sulfa drug antibiotics. In some instances there maybe no choice but to use these drugs if there is absolutely no alternative, but this would be rare. If your vets suspects a tick-borne disease, a full tick panel should be performed. The usual dtug if choice for tick-borne diseases is high dose long term (maybe 6 weeks) doxycycline. A Snap4dx test is advisable for tick diseases.

Has Shelby had any vaccinations lately? Or eaten something naughty like onions/garlic in quantity? Or is there anything else unusual or strange you can think of?

Hypothyroidism is a huge factor in this disease, being a possible trigger, or just hampering recovery – glad treatment has been started as T3/T4 levels are very important for the production of adequate new red blood cells.

Happy to hear Shelby is producing new cells from her marrow – my poor boy was producing absolutely NONE – a big fat zero – so it’s excellent that Shelby is – that’s positive news indeed.

I can’t se any mention of stomach protection at all – this is very important because the drugs can really burn the GI Tract. Sucralfate is an absolute necessity, plus pepcid ir similar. Please mention this to you vets as you don’t want any ulceration or a GI bleed .

There is mention of a second longer acting immuno-suppressant either. Prednisone on it’s own is not enough – the vast majority of dogs need another drug such as cyclosporine or azathioprine to get back into normal PCV levels. I would personally not want to continue with prednisone alone as we don’t usually see a response with pred alone & you cannot afford to waste valuable time – my only exception to this would be a puppy or very young dog where the other drugs could cause growth issues.

Kristal, please could you upload all blood results, tests, blood smears or other pertinent information onto the URGENT ADVICE area. We can tell you immediately about clotting issues, infection plus many other things from these tests if we have the right information. You have paid for these tests & are entitled to copies. Just ask for them each time & send them on to us.

Last but by no means least, Shelby will be incredibly tired, lethargic & not wanting to do much as she cannot get enough oxygen around her body. She is not in pain because of this – just exhausted from anaemia.

I know this is long, but the more info we have from you, the better. Hoping Shelby will soon be feeling better. Ask anything!

Best wishes from us all in France

Sheena, Worzel & Ollie xxxx

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