Auto Immune haemolytic anaemia in dogs

[bigelaine]

My 18 month English Springer Spaniel has just been diagnosed with Auto Immune haemolytic anaemia. He wasn't himself on monday and got worse throughout the day. I took him to the vet on monday evening where he was blood tested and given medication. On tuesday the vets asked to keep him in for monitering by wednesday his PSV (?) had dropped to 0 and he required a blood transfusion (from his big brother). Over the last 2 days his PSV has climbed back up to 12 (I think it should be about 45).
Does anyone have any experience of this illness? What is the long term prognosis? What causes it?

Thanks

[Noweia]

The PCV (packed cell volume) of a dog should be in the range of 37-55%. It's a measurement of the percentage of the blood volume that is taken up by red blood cells. 0% is incompatible with life (no red cells to carry oxygen) although I have seen cats with a PCV of 4%. Generally dogs that low would be comatose.

AIHA is a condition where the body's immune system starts attacking the red blood cells and breaking them down. The treatment is a whack of steroids to inhibit the immune response. We had a dog in the vet clinic for two weeks with the condition - he is currently on 50 steroid tablets daily and his PCV is slowly climbing back to normal.

If a dog's PCV is very low, they need a tranfusion just to keep them alive.

Usually an attack of AIHA resolves itself. The steroids are used until the PCV returns to normal and stays there without treatment. Long term prognosis is good althought there may be recurrences. English springer spaniels and cocker spaniels tend to be predisposed to it, i.e. they are more likely to get it than other breeds.

[bigelaine]

Thanks noweia, you have helped to make it clearer for me.

[lankeela]

A very clear explanation, thanks for that I will bookmark it in case I ever get asked about it. What a great site this is.