My 14 year old dog may have autoimmune hemolytic anemia. What should I do? What are his chances?

Question

I have a 14 year old male German Shepherd MIX. last week, he started showing signs of weakness, especially when I took him on walks. He couldn't make it very far. In retrospect, he was having black stools. He was eating and drinking (and he does eat lots of red meat), but started vomiting occasionally.

Two nights ago, he had a bout of EXTREME weakness, and vomiting. I took him to the vet, and they did a CBC. His hematrocrit was ridiculously low. An ultrasound and x-rays were done, and nothing unusual was seen. The vet suspected a bleeding gastric ulcer, and gave me medication to treat that at home.

The next afternoon, my dog had a seizure, urinating on himself. I rushed him to the vet, thinking this was it for him. I am having a hard time letting him go. The vet noted that his hematocrit was even lower. They transfused him, and gave him steroids, for he kept vomiting all night, and this morning seems to be MUCH better. The vet suspects Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia.

The vet is keeping him one more night. What is the treatment, and prognosis, if this is the case (Anemia of this type.). What is best for me to decide? I love this dog, and he has been with me through thick and thin...

Has anyone had any luck with a long-term survival from this? The cost is going to be astronomical, I think. I feel bad about saying this, but I wonder if I should keep this up, since he is 14???

Answer 1

I'm so sorry. I had a dog with it many years ago, as well. I lost her 3 weeks after she was diagnosed with it, but it was a long, long time ago. Many advances have been since then. Your dog could very well live much longer than mine did. As I said, not much was known about the disease then.

I don't know what to tell you. I wish that I did. All I can say is I wish you both the best of luck. I'm so sorry and I hope whatever time she has left is happy. *sniff*

Answer 2

If it is AIHA, the mortality rate is 60%. Some dogs never have a problem with it again, my girl lived for a year. The treatment gets expensive and it is a heartwrenching thing to go through. What was his RBC %?

If your dog was younger, I would say to treat her and hope for the best. But 14 is pretty old for most breeds, especially a GSD. It may be time to say goodby. They can go downhill pretty fast with AIHA. I personally would not treat a 14 yr old, as hard as that would be, if he were 5 I would feel differently.

It usually takes several days for steroids to help, the RBCs have to have several days to mature before they are useful for carrying oxygen. Azathioprine sometimes will help raise the RBC count faster than steroids, my Vet used both when my girl was having a recurrence.

I don't think my private response to your email worked. I forgot that he had a transfusion, that is why he is feeling better, it is no indication meds are helping. It cost me $2500-3000 to fight this disease for a year and only you and your BF can decide. It is hard on the dog and he is old. It sounds like you have a tough decision to make. If his RBC count goes very low again, he may hallucinate, and the steroids can cause some behavior changes, just so you realize he can't help it. Let me know how he does, I feel sorry for you. I hope to never go through that again. After 4 years, I still can't think about my Whitney without tears.

Answer 3

I am sorry, I know how you feel. My britney spaniel, is also 14 years old, and she is loosing her mind. We love this dog so much, but I know we will have to let go in the near future. It is so sad to see the one who has stood by you for so long, and loves you all the time. They are very faithful, never hold a grudge, never talk back etc..She has trouble finding the door, when we let her out, and sometimes just walks around the yard in circles. She is getting very weak, and can hardly make it up the stairs. I'm sorry for you, believe me, we are going through the same thing, making a decision..Thank you for letting me vent. You will have to decide, what is best, for your best friend..only you..God Bless..

Answer 4

Heres a good website for Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia.

Answer 5

This is a really hard one. My beardie got it from his annual shots. We lucked out and found a vet (a new one obviously) who was so very dedicated to saving his life. She told us 1 in 4 will die. He didn't - he pulled through but it took a lot of drugs. He was on prednisone for the (short) rest of his life and that was too hard on him. He had to go to the vet to have blood taken every 2nd day for a few weeks and this changed him totally. This was a dog who used to love going to the vet. Now he started cringing, he'd climb on the chair behind me to try to hide. Worst of all, he was so very sick for so long, I decided I'd never put another dog through what he went through.

You have to decide what your dog's quality of life is and make a really hard decision based only on what's best for him.

Answer 6

do research online & then deside. Only you can make desisions on ur dogs life.