Recently found out my baby has AIHA. I’m lost in my fears and confusion. – Page 2

Rica

Guest

Hello everyone! I want to thank everyone for how wonderful and welcoming they were. I felt like I was just throwing my post in a well and not expecting such kind, quick, and informative responses. You guys are special people and I hope all your babies are doing well.

I wanted to give you all an update on Vincent, and a question after. Sorry it’s been so long – between school, work, and keeping my boy healthy I’ve been a busy woman!

I took everyone advice and I’ve been cooking Vincent his meals – a sort of a doggy stew (usually ground turkey, stone-cut oatmeal and some combo of eggs, spinach, kale, sweet potato, pumpkin, and green beans)- as well as giving him a few supplements. He’s on the same regime of medication, minus the vitamin k (the vet never quite explained why he needed it, but he got off of it regardless).

We’ve lowered the pred somewhat – he’s now taking one a day and not two – but is still on the full cyclosporine dose. He’s been going to vet at least biweekly to get blood tests done, and has shown nothing but improvement! His last HCT was 36.7 :) It shows too – he’s been regaining weight, strength in his muscles, and is actually the hyperactive 2 year old he should be! V still gets tired toward the end of walks and I try to encourage him to rest, but generally he’s wagging and happy.

I do have a new concern, and I’m not really sure if any of you guys have experienced it. About three weeks ago these blister-looking bumps appeared on his foot pads and legs. They later appeared around his eyes and one big one on his snout. They are blackish and sometimes bleed, like scabs. However they project outwards. Some of them seem to be growing bigger, at a slow rate and they’re freaking me out.

The vet has seen them a few times and wasn’t able to identify them by appearance, but seems to think that because they appeared with the new medications, they’ll go away once we taper down in the future. She doesn’t seem too worried about them and thinks Vincent is doing great. One on his foot, though, seemed to be infected so we put him on antibiotics. The infection seems to have cleared but the bumps are still numerous. For a while, they seemed to be multiplying, but I haven’t seen any new ones for about 2 weeks.

I asked her about doing a biopsy, and her estimated price is around $500 for the whole process. Vincent’s recent vet bills hit me hard, so that’s a lot for me. I do intend to do one if they continue to multiply or don’t go away as we taper down prednisone.

They’re disfiguring my beautiful dog, but I could deal with that if I knew they didn’t hurt him or signal something sinister. If they’re being caused by the prednisone/cyclosporine obviously there’s not much I can do about them. I just keep them clean and treat them with antibiotic ointment if they look irritated/bleedy. He licks them occasionally but does not seem obsessed, and doesn’t show difficulty walking. Has anyone experienced anything like this?

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