Imha

[Brad Brandt]

Max has imha and the 20 mg of prednisone is not helping he doesn’t eat and is losing weight fast !! His platelets are around 41 thousand and was told normally they would be at 150 thousand! Are there any other drugs that may help poor Max!!!

[Vally]

Hi Brad and welcome. I’m sorry you’ve had to come looking because I know how worried you are right now.

Can you tell me how much Max weighs? The dosage depends on weight. At that dosage he’d have to weigh around the 20lb mark with you dosing about 10mg twice a day.

Yes there are other drugs, the best being cyclosporine. There is also azathioprine. They are often used in combination with prednisone. Prednsione tends to work quickly, at the right dose, but has a lot of side effects, and that could be what you’re seeing.
Prednisone:
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/AIHA_Terms/prednisone
Cyclosporine:
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/AIHA_Terms/cyclosporine
Azathioprine:
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/AIHA_Terms/azathioprine

Prednisone must be given with food. It can cause ulcers and therefore, stomach protection should also be given. It’s possible the prednisone is causing stomach issues. The best stomach protection is Sucralfate, but it must be given away from drugs and food as it blocks their absorption.
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/AIHA_Terms/sucralfate
but you could also give Pepcid:
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/AIHA_Terms/famotidine

Ask anything Brad, happy to help get Max feeling better.

My best,
Vally

[Brad brandt]

Max weighs about 80 lbs since taking prednisone he has lost about 25 lbs and the vet did not give me anything for the stomach! He is taking 20 mg twice a day!! He hasn’t eaten in a week and now can’t even get up to go pee !!! He’s fading away and I don’t know what to do for him!! The second platelets test only brought them up to 46 thousand!!! He is drinking but only a little at a time ! Every time he is forced to eat something he throws up right away!! Vet told me to give him Prilosec but it doesn’t help

[Vally]

Do you know what his PCV is? the percentage of red blood? What colour are his gums?

How long has he been on the prednisone? I’m worried the dose wasn’t enough to start with. The dosage is 1mg per pound divided into two doses, so he should have been on 40mg twice a day.

What are you trying to feed him with?

I’m wondering if he may have pancreatitis. Prednisone usually gives them a huge appetite, but prednisone can also trigger pancreatitis.
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/AIHA_Terms/pancreatitis

There is a simple instant blood test to check this. If he does have pancreatitis, he would be in a lot of pain and would not be able to stomach food and would be vomiting – some of the symptoms that you’re seeing.

Brad, I think Max needs hospital care right now and most likely he needs to be on a drip. Is there an emergency hospital you could go to? He really needs to be under a specialist’s care, someone who knows this disease. It’s not very well known and I’m worried that the treatment isn’t really doing anything other than making him weaker.

Please take him to a hospital.

Vally

[Vally]

Brad, just wondering how Max is going.