"Safe" Antibiotics for IMHA Dog w/possible bladder infection?

[Vally]

Hi Carol, we never get over it do we. The fear of it recurring will always stay with us. What’s your dog’s name?

Clavamox is a penicillin and so it’s not really a good antibiotic for our dogs unless its absolutely necessary:
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/AIHA_Terms/drugsantibiotics-can-trigger-aiha/

Linda, one of the moderators here has a dog, Sadie, that has had several UTIs. I’m just hunting through the forum now and I’ll see if I can find it here, and I’ve also emailed her to get her attention.

I’ll be back….

Vally & Bingo (diag Nov 2011, in remission)

[Linda]

Hi Carol and Trish. Yes, as Vally said, unfortunately Sadie is the UTI pup here. We have battled four since her last relapse July 2015.

Since she has not been off prednisone in four years and has been through onset and three relapses, both the pred and Atopuca have gotten to her bit is all immune suppressants induced, but we are now having UTI’s, kidney issues (not real bad) and high liver values.

She is doing okay now, just getting over a UTI. But I would recommend a urine culture and sensitivity test by needle aspiration first and go from there. This will tell you exactly what you’re dealing with and the drugs suggested. BUT, with that, stay clear if the ones Sherna and Vally have mentioned.

The ones we have used are: Baytril, Minocycline and Doxycycline. She was on both Baytril and Minocycline with this last relapse, given at the hospital. We think it was a UTI (diagnosed through UC&S) that promoted the relapse, and her PCV went down to 11%, so they hit the UTI infection hard.

When we came home, after two weeks, we started her in Doxycycline for six weeks. Sadie is now on a daily maintence dose of doxycycline, once a day, every day. She does real well with the doxycycline.

I hope this helps. I am so sorry both of you have pups going through this. The immune suppressants save their lives, but long term has to be constantly checked.

Love and hugs, Linda and Sadie

[Sarah]

I have to agree with the person who suggested a urine culture & sensitivity. Especially for an immunosupressed dog – he may not be carrying a typical bug. Doxycycline and Baytil are usually safe bets for IMHA, but contacting your internist is a good idea as well.
I hope his stones aren’t back and he’s feeling better soon.
Take care!

[Rob]

SO I see this: Antibiotics to be avoided are the following groups

Sulfa drugs, cephalosporins & penicillins

but my dog has a bladder infection(ecoli). They tested the rods and it looks like only two meds will work.. both Sulfa antibiotics. She has Evans Syndrome and has reduced half her meds. Currently on Atopica, mychophenalate, pred & luflonomide. (also prilosec/melatonin & milk thistle) Pred down to 5mg from the peak at 40mg. Atopica down from 100mg to 25 mg. Mychophenalate 375 mg and leflunimode 30mg. PCV:41 PLT: 625k. If we let the infection continue it will get worse.

[Vally]

Rob, you’re very welcome here and you’re right, sometimes there is no way to avoid it and we must use those drugs to stop an infection.

I’m sure you’re watching your girl like a hawk, like the rest of us now paranoid pet owners.

Hope your girl continues to improve. Do you use a cranberry supplement? Once she’s over the infection, if not, I’d look into that.

Regards, Vally & Bingo (diag Nov 2011, in remission)

[jodi]

Hi and Good evening, I have a shit-zoo that is my life named coco. She is going threw the exact thing you described your baby went threw. Did you ever find out what medication was safe for pets with imha? I am desperate to find out because my baby has a bad bladder infection and she has imha and the doctors aren’t sure exactly what meds are safe? Since I do not have a lot of money I am trying to research myself instead of waiting 48 hours on the urine result. Thanks

[Vally]

Hi Jodi, Doxycycline is a safe drug for our dogs, but the testing is important to make sure the infection is sensitive to the drug. Linda’s dog Sadie has been through many infections and you’ll see above that Sadie has been on Baytril, Minocycline and Doxycycline.

Coco, hope you’re feeling better real soon.

Good luck, Vally

[Cynthia Strenk]

My 11 year 4 month old Shih Tzu has IMHA and I am sure many vets tho k I’m a nut too. Turns out just like on other professions there are good and not so good ( knowledgeable) vets. Ali’s IMHA specialist in RI is a godsend. She saved Ali in 2011 and 2015. Those of us who would do anything for our babies know to check medications out online. My specialist moved to FL. She had been seeing Ali as a “ regular” patient and really was just for emergencies. I wish I could see her again just once more. Dr. Throw I owe you everything! Now she had told me to watch for Cushing’s Disease . At 11 my friend and I decided not to go through that . Testing often has false positives and treatment involves weekly vet visits. I believe the vet that gave her too many vaccines as a baby weighing 5 pounds was the cause of IMHA. Another time a vet misdiagnosed orange pee and gave antibiotics. So I do my homework. My question is that she now has had a few seizures spread apart by a month. This last one was a doozy. Grand Mal. I wish that on no one. Horrified . So now vet has suggested Garbapentin . That is ok for seizures . And Amoxicillin though no fever for possible UTI. I think the increased thirst and hunger are related to the start of Cushing’s . On this web site I read in dark print NO AMOXICILLIN. Please let me know if you know an antibiotic she can take. Thank you so much