Little Shitz needs your help!
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Wednesday I took Little Shitz to the vet thinking my baby had a little bug and that we’d be sent home with antibiotics. He was lethargic, not eating, and had absolutely no enthusiasm. As the vet examined him, they found both his tongue and gums were pale, a heart murmur, and was found to possibly have anemia. They took him to the back for some blood work, letting me know there was a possibility he may need a blood transfusion. As they brought him back to me, they advised I needed to take him to the Emergency Room where he was hospitalized and proceeded with a blood transfusion. It was then determined he does in fact have IMHA (Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia).
As of right now, he still isn’t eating and is still pretty lethargic. Red blood cell count has gone up slightly, but he isn’t well enough to come home. They are still monitoring everything to ensure he continues to respond to the blood transfusion and that most importantly, his red blood cell count reproduces and fights back to get his immune back in good standing.
Unfortunately with all of this, the last thing we want to stress over is the medical bill. I will without a doubt do anything I can to get him treated as long as he is willing to fight! This dog is my life. He has saved me many times in need of calmness when I thought my life wasn’t worth living. As much as I hate to ask for help, it’s come to a point that I can’t help but stress the amount of money that is being put into this. Please guys anything helps, even a $1. If all you can do is send a prayer to him, that’s really all I care for the most.
Below I’ve put a little bit of information behind IMHA so you can better understand the situation. These of course are not my exact words, I did some research in which would better explain for you guys.
We appreciate and are so thankful to all of those who have continuously been reaching out. The prayers are helping! Please don’t stop! ♥️
“IMHA is a disease in which the body attacks its own red blood cells and destroys them. This disease can be secondary to another disease (e.g.-a reaction to a drug, or a Rickettsial disease) or it can just be a pimarily immune-mediated disease. Sometimes it will occur in conjunction with an immune-mediated thrombocytopenia causeing destruction of platelets (the cells in the blood that cause your blood to clot) as well.
The clinical signs of this disease are the signs of anemia: acute lethargy, depression, inappetance and fever. Pale gums, cyanosis (blueness to the gums) or icterus (yellowness to the gums and whites of the eyes). In some cases a heart murmur is detected. The liver and spleen can get very as well.
If the red blood cell level gets too low, the dog could need a blood transfusion.
This disease is diagnosed with a CBC/Chem panel blood test and particular changes to the shape and appearance of the red blood cells is seen on a smear of the blood under a microscope. A test called a Coomb's test, if positive, supports the diagnosis.
Once the disease has been identified it is also important to test for Ehrlichia or Rickettsia (tick-borne diseases ) with blood, to see if this is the underlying cause of the problem, as these will need to be treated as well.
The treatment involves high doses of glucocorticoids that are eventually tapered down. Some animals are also put on cyclophospamide or azothioprine. If the tick titers are positive, doxycycline (an antibiotic) is administered to treat for these diseases.
The red blood cell level is monitored frequently (at least daily) in the first few days of treatment, and then weekly thereafter until it stabilizes.”
As of right now, he still isn’t eating and is still pretty lethargic. Red blood cell count has gone up slightly, but he isn’t well enough to come home. They are still monitoring everything to ensure he continues to respond to the blood transfusion and that most importantly, his red blood cell count reproduces and fights back to get his immune back in good standing.
Unfortunately with all of this, the last thing we want to stress over is the medical bill. I will without a doubt do anything I can to get him treated as long as he is willing to fight! This dog is my life. He has saved me many times in need of calmness when I thought my life wasn’t worth living. As much as I hate to ask for help, it’s come to a point that I can’t help but stress the amount of money that is being put into this. Please guys anything helps, even a $1. If all you can do is send a prayer to him, that’s really all I care for the most.
Below I’ve put a little bit of information behind IMHA so you can better understand the situation. These of course are not my exact words, I did some research in which would better explain for you guys.
We appreciate and are so thankful to all of those who have continuously been reaching out. The prayers are helping! Please don’t stop! ♥️
“IMHA is a disease in which the body attacks its own red blood cells and destroys them. This disease can be secondary to another disease (e.g.-a reaction to a drug, or a Rickettsial disease) or it can just be a pimarily immune-mediated disease. Sometimes it will occur in conjunction with an immune-mediated thrombocytopenia causeing destruction of platelets (the cells in the blood that cause your blood to clot) as well.
The clinical signs of this disease are the signs of anemia: acute lethargy, depression, inappetance and fever. Pale gums, cyanosis (blueness to the gums) or icterus (yellowness to the gums and whites of the eyes). In some cases a heart murmur is detected. The liver and spleen can get very as well.
If the red blood cell level gets too low, the dog could need a blood transfusion.
This disease is diagnosed with a CBC/Chem panel blood test and particular changes to the shape and appearance of the red blood cells is seen on a smear of the blood under a microscope. A test called a Coomb's test, if positive, supports the diagnosis.
Once the disease has been identified it is also important to test for Ehrlichia or Rickettsia (tick-borne diseases ) with blood, to see if this is the underlying cause of the problem, as these will need to be treated as well.
The treatment involves high doses of glucocorticoids that are eventually tapered down. Some animals are also put on cyclophospamide or azothioprine. If the tick titers are positive, doxycycline (an antibiotic) is administered to treat for these diseases.
The red blood cell level is monitored frequently (at least daily) in the first few days of treatment, and then weekly thereafter until it stabilizes.”
Organizer
Sasha Bensimon
Organizer
Virginia Beach, VA
