Pit Diagnosed with AIHA

[Vally]

Alyssa, who knows, it’s always possible it’s just some sort of heat rash. It’s just that staph seems to crop up on the site a bit. I’m glad it’s heaps better, and maybe you attacked it quickly and it has helped. As you’re doing, keep an eye on it.

Vally & Bingo
xxx

[admin]

Hi Alyssa

That’s really good news – the chlorhexadine is great stuff & we use it all the time in our house for spots, bites etc. It kills just about anything – bacteria & fungi & doesn’t sting when you use it. Maybe it is a heat rash or even streptococcus, another bacteria that causes pimples! Whatever it is, I’m glad it’s better – these things tend to appear in skin folds or areas that aren’t open to the air much, so remain damp. As Vally says, keep an eye on it – and that eye!!!

Love Sheena & the boys xxxxx

[Alyssa]

Okay, more worrisome news today! :( The rash seems to be cleared up, however, she is suddenly having extremely urgent urination. 2 hours ago we went out, and she peed 5 times. We just went out again, and she peed 3 times. She was actually seriously crying at the door to go out, which she has not done since she got sick, This prompted me to call the vet. Even when she was on the really high pred dose she didn’t do that. She also woke me up at 6 needing to go pee, she peed twice then. Usually she is fine to wait until 8.

I’m going to drop a urine sample off in the morning, the dr suspects bladder infection. If nothing is found with that we’ll need to go back in and do a chem test, but she just had one not long ago and the dr said she would be really surprised if it was something like kidneys or diabetes – she would of saw it starting with the bloodwork less than a week ago.

[Brigitte]

Alyssa,
I suspect Sassy has a urinary tract infection. This is quite common with these dogs. Suppressed immune system equals infections. We fought this with my dog constantly. It usually clears up with antibiotics very quick and there is not a whole lot you can do to prevent it. Since for people it is helpful to take cranberries (juice) I looked into it and it can not hurt to give some cranberry powder. Cranberries make it harder for infections to take hold in the UT. Always ask your vet before you add something though, even if it seems harmless.
As for thinking kidneys or diabetes, don’t even go there! I think your vet is right, they would have seen something in the last chem panel.
Best wishes and keep us posted about the results tomorrow.
Brigitte

[Vally]

Ditto what Brigitte said.

Vally
xxx

[Alyssa]

Okay, change of plans. We’re going first thing in the morning with sassy instead of just bringing in a urine sample. There is blood in the urine now :( Also UTI symptom?
The first pee is fine and normal, and then her additional squats are tinged pink. This is very sudden. Is that common for a UTI as well ? To already have blood?
I’m absolutely starting to freak out now. And something always, always seems to happen right before the weekend.

[admin]

Hi Alyssa

Please don’t worry – blood is often seen with a urinary tract infection too. A visit to the vets first thing to check Sassy out & some antibiotics will soon have her back on the right track. You are doing all the right things.

Weekends are always the time when these things happen – sod’s law. Ditto to all that Brigitte said – these drugs make them highly prone to these infections. It’s horrible for them & for you, I know – poor Sassy.

Keep us posted on what’s happening – we all tend to think the worst because this disease makes us all very freaked out. Your vet will put your mind at rest, I’m sure.

Love & hugs, Sheena xxxxx

[Alyssa]

Thank you everyone for the support. It is much needed! You all are right – our minds just freak out after such an incident like the onslaught of AIHA. Especially seeing the blood in her urine, sent me into a frenzy!!

We’re leaving for the vet in about 2 hours. Grr. I wanted to go first thing but the dr was in surgery from 8-11. Then they take lunch from 12-1, and I thought less than an hour might get me rushed without enough time for questions etc. So, leaving at 1.

Some good news? Sassy isn’t doing to pee-pee-pee thing today. Around 2AM was the last time she did it. We went out again at 4, 6, 8, and 10, and she is peeing just once, normally as well, not an extra long 45-second pee like she was doing. I also haven’t saw blood again, that stopped once the peeing-5-times stopped. Although her pee does look a tinge cloudy. I still think she has a UTI of course, but hopefully it’s not really bad yet.

She has been in really good spirits the past 2 days. I think that lower dose of pred is kicking in (or, out?) shes much more alert and she is back to laying on the couch. For the longest time, she wanted to lay in the kitchen alone, and for some reason preferred hard surfaces to her beds, the couch, and my bed, which used to be the place of pure heaven for her. Glad to see that coming back! Still not playing much, but did chop on a stick I threw outside yesterday. At least she looked at it this time. :)