50% of Dogs With This Disease Die - Be Prepared
I have to tell you about a
life-threatening disease that I absolutely
hate. It comes on very quickly - and to
young healthy dogs. Many dogs get it
and more than 50% of dogs that get it
die. It is awful. No one knows exactly
why it happens. I wish there was a cure
but there is not.
The disease is called immune mediated
hemolytic anemia and it is caused by
some abnormality in the dog's immune
system. The body's immune system
normally helps keep us healthy by killing
bad bacteria, but for some reason with
this disease it suddenly identifies
healthy red blood cells in the body as
foreign "bad" cells - and it starts
destroying them.
This disease is really awful. Over the
course of sometimes hours, a dog can
become weak and lethargic. Sometimes
the dog will vomit. The gums become
pale as the dog becomes anemic from
losing the red blood cells in its body.
Treatment of this disease is difficult and
expensive. You can give the dog blood
transfusions but the body will often
destroy the transfused cells too.
Sometimes transfusions are necessary
but they are not a cure.
The other treatment is drug therapy to
suppress the immune system. Drugs will
work for some dogs but not all. It is very
frustrating.
I recently saw a buff-colored cocker
spaniel named Buffy that came in with
this disease. (It can occur in any breed
but is more common in cocker spaniels.)
I'm happy to say that she made it but
Buffy was in the hospital for 6 ½ days -
and her bill was almost $3,000. That is a
LOT of money.
If your dog acts weak or lethargic check
the color of his gums and call your vet.
Until next time,
Dr. Jon