CIMDA

Rest in peace my beautiful Jasper. 

He became  weaker and weaker over the past few days - too weak to stand. This morning  I asked  a friend who has known him since he was a puppy  to help me take him to the  vet clinic today rather than wait until my regular vet returns  next week. 

It would have been difficult to drive him there  myself  without causing him extra discomfort but I was able to cuddle him while she did the driving.   If a pcv had shown no further deterioration I would have brought him home again, but the results were not good.

During recent days and nights  he has been distressed and in pain at times however when the vet gave me the results  he  was lying on my lap, totally relaxed.    He had  managed to overcome  this horrible disease when he was younger but it was unfair to expect him to struggle to do  that now when old age had already weakened his  body.   So  I let him go to sleep on my lap.

We had 14 good years together so he deserved a peaceful and dignified death.

Thanks. There has been no more  diarrhea for about 18 hours.  So fingers crossed.  He is still extremely weak but has eaten a little bit of cooked  chicken (from my fingers) drunk a little water and when I carried him outside he urinated what seemed to be normal amount.My regular vet is unavailable until Monday. I will print out what you have given me.

Jasper has deteriorated. Diarrhea is a major problem. He is eating but is extremely weak. He has lost 1.3kg in a week -he was already thin. Pcv has decreased from 25 to 18.  The vet discussed euthanasia with me yesterday. A week into treatment last time his pcv was decreasing  but he pulled through despite  the diarrhea and other very distressing symptoms.  He is frailer now due to age/arthritis.  I was awake with him most of last night because  I have to go outside with him when he gets the urge to defecate.   He can't safely manage the steep steps  into the yard and once there he becomes disorientated. I have just sent the vet an email asking if there is any medication which would "plug" the diarrhea.  Do you know of anything??? I told the vet I want to continue treatment with pred for a few more days  because  he got through similar problems  last time but it is very difficult..

Jasper is doing OK. Last time it took several days for the diagnosis to be made  so Jasper was extremely weak when treatment began. He  had become  too weak to even eat. This time the vet started treatment immediately symptoms were apparent. Unlike last time, he has the strength to get himself to the water bowls and to go outside to toilet by himself.  I am even  wondering if the side effect of increased appetite might be happening.  Weight gain would be not be  a problem in Jasper"s case - he has always been a particularly skinny whippet. Agitation and muscle wastage were alarming side effects last time but now I know  to immediately report them to my vet and discuss  reducing the medication if they occur.

I have not been on this site for a long time but I credit it  with helping Jasper recover from IMHA four years ago.

He is 14 now. He collapsed yesterday when I called him for his morning walk and a relapse of IMHA has been diagnosed.   Although I know it is  life threatening (more so at his age than before)  I now know how to take care of him if/when severe side effects to high dosage  pred occur.
I have set up my house to cope with  possible urinary incontinence and excessive drinking and I will not be so worried about the muscle wastage now I know it is a side effect of pred and will pass once the dose is reduced. Last time he did not eat and became weaker and weaker. He looked like a living skeleton until a friend arrived and hand fed him with tiny slivers of cooked chicken breast.
Jasper spent yesterday on a drip a the local vet clinic. It is a day clinic  and like last time I opted to bring him home rather than take him to a hospital further away. I bought a supply of chicken breasts for him before i collected him last night. He is eating it and so far all is going well.

Hi , 
I haven't been on this site all year  because my whippet  who had IMHA is now doing very well.
I was intrigued to read that  Cassie's problems began  with chronic rhinitis.   
I suffered with that condition for most of my life.   To cut a long story short, I was also diagnosed with chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME). I was  so unwell with so many different infections etc over several years that I had to stop work.

Eventually, when the nasal discharge was particularly  bad,  a new GP suggested that I have my nose X-rayed.  The X-rays revealed that I had a congenitally  malformed sinus .  This meant that bacteria within the sinus cavity were trapped - nasal sprays and other medications could not reach them. I was referred to an ENT specialist who operated. Since then my health has become normal.
I  am not sure whether Whippets have sinus cavities - but it would be worth asking your vet if this is a possibility in regard to Cassie.
Just a thought.

You  will find loads of information on this site about IMHA. My whippet has made a full recovery but it can be a bumpy ride and take time.

Be prepared for the side effects of the large doses of steroids which are required at the start of treatment.

These include excessive thirst and urination - so  leave  bowls of water in easy reach  if  the dog is weak and  take the dog outside  regularly to urinate.  A waterproof cover on the bedding may be needed too.

It  may seem at first that  the dog is getting weaker ( due to the  effect of the medication on the muscles)  but once
steroids are reduced ( according to the formula Catherine has provided) the muscles will regain strength.

It is very important to prevent any source of infection while the immune system is shut down so don't let the dog  run around in places where he/she may  be scratched by vegetation etc.

Good luck.

 Hi Kate,
Pleased that  Kellie is doing well.  Jasper is  now medication free and also doing OK.   It is exactly 3 years since he was diagnosed with IMHA  and I he  will be celebrating his 13th birthday on 26th Feb.

There was a bit of a setback around the time I posted on this page last July. Antibiotics  had  destroyed his "good" gut bacteria and he had lost a lot of weight  due to recurrent diarrhea. Someone I met in the dog park  gave me the makings of kefir (a pro-biotic yogurt). I now give  some to him daily and since then he has put on weight and the diarrhea has not returned.  Anyone wanting to know more about kefir  can go to www.yemoos.com
Polly.

I am so sorry.

Sorry to read that Saba is uncomfortable and that  the recent test results have not been as good as expected. Is the specialist vet  that you were unable to see last time back from holidays now?  Or has the  recent  advice come from the  local vet  you consulted when Saba first became ill?

It sounds as if things are improving both in regard to her liver and general energy. I wouldn't change the  drug regime at the moment.
Best wishes.

Good to hear that there are some improvements and that you have been given hope  that physio etc may help.
I hope that  the lifting doesn't cause you to need physio as well.

I can't comment on the medication aspects- would be guided by  the specialist vet who seems to agree with  Jo as I know nothing about leflunomide .

Saba  is very lucky to have owners who are in a position to stay home and take care of her.

So many possibilities.  Caring for her must be very difficult when she has to be half carried outside.  At least it is not as hot today. I hope the visit to the vet tomorrow  gives some more answers.  Is someone able to stay  home with her most of the time or are you back at work?

Thinking of you and Saba. Best wishes- keep cool today.

So sorry to read that  she seems to be getting weaker.

As Saba is a relatively heavy breed I assume  even though you are gradually reducing the steroids it will take some weeks for her to regain the muscle mass which she lost .    Perhaps that is a big part of Saba's problem.  As well as soreness due to  the fall on Friday.  Keep her as comfortable as you can.  Make sure she is hydrated and eating  good quality low fat food to build up her strength and muscles.

You don't say that Saba is panting, shaking or  breathing irregularly  so perhaps everything is not as desperate as you fear.

When the test results are known I hope that Jo can offer you better advice than I can with my limited knowledge.
Best wishes and hopes that things will improve soon.