Shih Tzu Diagnosed With AIHA

[admin]

Hi Susie

I understand you worrying about what triggered this illness. Sometimes we are able to find the cause, and sometimes not. Many cases of IMHA are classified as “idiopathic”, meaning the cause is not known. Whether there is a cause that we are yet to discover remains to be seen. Some animals appear to have a genetic predisposition to immune problems. I think this was the case with my Molly, and I wonder if it could be with Emily too, since she has allergies. Please don’t torture yourself with it though. Whatever has kicked this off, it is not your fault.

I think all of us would admit that going through this has made us paranoid, so please don’t feel you are alone in waking up to check her breathing, as Vally said. I’m sorry to hear about the ibuprofen incident. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve had to call the vet because one of my cats has eaten something they shouldn’t.

Vally is amazing with her medication charts. Do you know any more about the Reglan? I am not familiar with its use in animals. It seems that the Baytril possibly interacts with some “antacids” (reducing absorption of the Baytril) so it might be worth checking this. Sucralfate certainly seems to reduce absorption, but I know Vally is well aware of that and how it needs to be spaced. I’m just not sure if Reglan has the same interaction. From what I can tell, both Reglan and Baytril seem to have some interactions with Cyclosporine, so please do check with your vet that these are safe if you change.

Vitamin K always worries me with this disease and whilst I understand why some vets initiate it, it seems to me that it is likely to increase the risk of abnormal clotting, which is already a great risk in most IMHA dogs. Am I right in thinking Emily is not on any anti-clotting medication? Hopefully the blood results will give some indication as to whether this is needed. I’m sorry to bombard you with all this when I know you must be frazzled. Please don’t feel you need to reply in a hurry. It’s much more important to be spending time with your lovely girl.

All best wishes and I hope Emily is doing well today.

Mary and Mable x

[Susie]

So both the Sucralfate and Pepcid? If so, can they be together? Can I put it in a pill pocket or wrap? I don’t imagine I’ll get it in her otherwise.
Do you girls think it’s safe to give her a bath? My husband is insistent that I give her one but I am afraid of her getting a chill. Am I being silly?

[Susie]

Thank you Mary for the reassurance. I am paranoid. That is the perfect word. All I can remember the Dr saying was that everything looked good but that her red blood cells were a little fuzzy and her antibodies were killing them off faster than she could make them. Then she told me she had this horrible disease called AIHA, which I’d never heard of before the 16th of March. Dr did mention that Shih Tzus are one of the breeds that have a predisposition for this.

I don’t see anything to help with clotting. And as far as Reglan, I am pretty clueless. I guess I always just follow Dr’s orders. I sure am getting an education!

Thanks bunches!
♡ Susie & trouble with a capital E

[Anna]

Hi Susie, I just read your story and I am sorry you are going through this. Your question about giving her a bath reminded me of something that happened with my dog Jackie. Jackie had been diagnosed in November and was very sick for several weeks. On Christmas Eve we had to put her in her kennel and when we came home she had vomited all over herself so I had to give her a bath. I tried to keep the water as warm as possible but Jackie was shaking uncontrollably and afterwards she lay on the ground lifeless shaking. I had to keep a blanket on her all night as she didn’t move a muscle. The next morning she was feeling much better but I thought for sure I had killed her. At that point she was skin and bones because she also had gotten pancreatitis so she lost a significant amount of weight. I don’t mean to scare you but your little pup is going through a traumatic time and even if she loves baths and isn’t skinny like mine, I would be very careful to do that quite yet. If she is active and you can tell that she is feeling good, then it is probably fine. I think I might have been more traumatized by the situation than Jackie! Good luck to you!
Anna and Jackie

[Vally]

Susie, yes we all learn as we go.

The bath – that’s funny. Bingo gets away now without a bath in forever. It’s got to be a super hot day and he’s got to look exceptionally great for me to consider it. He looks so sad in the bath, that I think I’m killing him, and then when he gets out, he runs round, that I think he’s going to break something.

We had an extraordinarily hot day on Thursday almost 3 weeks ago. I can tell you exactly when it was because that was going to be THE DAY. We had a trip to the specialist in the morning, his bloods were good. I got home and he hurt his knee. Well 3 weeks later, no bath yet.

When I’m at the vets, I still have something go in one ear and straight out the other – I’m always in such a state. I have white collar phobia.

Vally & the dirty one
xxx

[Susie]

Okay. So I’m not being paranoid on that one! Thank you ladies.
Its nice to meet you Anna!
Vally, you are a riot. I chuckle whenever I read your messages. Laughter is medicine for the soul. Just what I needed ; )

[Vally]

Oh Susie I’m very afraid you are being paranoid – welcome to “The Paranoid Pet Owners Club”.

Vally
xxx

[Vally]

Oh wow Anna, I cannot image the terror you went through.

Vally & Bingo
xxx