The path to her diagnosis was not straight. It took a visit to a specialist to determine what was behind Daphne's symptoms.
After she was started on the correct treatment, Daphne was showing signs of improvement but then the complications started.
Daphne's belly became distended. She was brought to the vet immediately.
An ultrasound and a sample of the fluid showed that Daphne started having blood clots and was retaining fluid in the abdomen.
A thromboembolic disease is a complication which is the leading cause of death of dogs with IMHA.
There was a really big one on Daphne's spleen and there was a risk that the spleen would have to be removed. However, surgery was not possible at that time. When clots develop in large blood vessels, it causes increased pressure which causes fluid to leak into cavity spaces. This is one of the complications of red blood cell destruction. Even worse, the medication used to treat IMHA, prednisone, can be a contributing factor to clot formation.
If Daphne developed a clot in her vital organs, such as the lungs or brain, she would not make it.
Daphne was put on different medications and a baby aspirin was added to decrease the formation of additional clots. She was also scoped in attempt to further rule out why she was not eating and what was causing her low blood protein levels.
The endoscopy revealed some ulcerations which were biopsied and sent for testing.
That night Daphne ate better but by morning she didn't want to have anything to do with her regular food again.
Daphne was rather stable, though definitely not herself; she'd mostly just lay around with very little energy, and was refusing her food and her medications.
Then, suddenly, Daphne took a turn for the worse.
Things got very bad very quickly. RIP Daphne. (more details when I have them)
Related articles:
Liver Tumor? IMHA? Daphne's Story (Part I)
Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde: Razzle's Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA)
Battling IMHA With Integrative Veterinary Medicine (part 1)
Battling IMHA With Integrative Veterinary Medicine (part 2)
IMHA Is Not To Be Taken Lightly: Know The Symptoms
I Am An IMHA Survivor! Dylan's Story
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