CIMDA

I am just looking for answers as I feel very disappointed with our vets but am not sure if we are being a bit harsh.  Briefly:
May 2016 - brought Milly in as noticed she was eating "dirt".  Immediately vet did blood test and results were alarming - PCV 15% and they couldn't understand how she seemed so "well".  another test done, sent to lab - this happened a few times as the results differed widely. Sometimes the results would be 23%, sometimes 305, sometimes 15% etc.   I now understand from my own research (although no vet has told me this!) that chronic IMHA readings can fluctuate in the early stages.  How come my vets don't know this??  Milly seemed quite well so no medication was given.  We were just about to go to referral hospital when they did find hookworm and this was treated, and her PCV rose to 33%.  IMHA was then discounted....  However by October she started eating dirt again and I took her as she was due her booster.  I mentioned straight away that she was eating dirt and wanted wormer.  Vet took bloods as obviously realised something was amiss.  However, she still vaccinated her.....  This is the point of my post - 4 days later she crashed very badly and was given blood transfusion etc.  Is this a coincidence?  or did the booster push her from chronic to acute IMHA?  Now I understand that all vaccines have a label warning - "Only vaccinate healthy dogs".  Should I do something about this vet?  We were not told about any potential side effects etc. and it seems very wrong to me, in hindsight, that Milly was vaccinated when it was very clear there was an issue.  Should we discuss this with the seniors at the practice?  I don't want to cause bad feeling but in my view, this was bad practice.  Anyone have any views on this?  thank you!!

Hi all, just wanted to update you after we had a splenectomy performed on our 11 year old beardie.  She had IMHA and then IMT and didn't respond to IVIG etc.  However, the splenectomy has worked very well so if you have a "refractory" case, from our experience, I can say it has worked very well - platelets above normal and now able to reduce meds.  There is not much data available on splenectomy for dogs, but I was assured that anecdotal reports are favourable and we can now happily agree!!

Good luck to all of you fighting this horrible diseases xx

Hi, my bearded collie is 11.  Diagnosed with IMHA last November although had signs since the previous May.  Incorrect diagnosis of hookworm.  However, she was at PCV low 20s for months, and seemed well.  She now has IMT also.  Had IVIG transfusion 3 weeks ago, platelets went to high normal.  Had call from vet this morning regarding yesterday's blood tests - PCV is 49% but platelets are low.  Waiting to see if the lab results confirm this.  I don't know what next steps are if the platelets counts are low again.  She is back on Mycophenalate 250mg twice daily, and Atopica 100mg once daily as well as 20mg Omeprazole.  She had a bleeding ulcer from Pred in December so was weaned off quickly, hence not on that for IMT.  If her platelets are low, is there anymore we can do for her?  The local vets are ok but we have been referred to Dick Vets in Edinburgh and they have been fantastic but your advice would be much appreciated.  thank you.