The Zim Family Cocker Spaniel Forum

Thanks Dawn,

I dont like those numbers, that's for sure. But thank you. I just want facts and reality, because HIS life and comfort are what is important here. This dog saved my life.... this is no average dog. Not that any loved dog ever is. But I truly owe him one and never can forget that debt.

His RBC 4.05 LOW
His HCT 31.7 LOW

His HGB 13.2 NORMAL

His MCV 78.2 HIGH
His MCH 32.5 HIGH

My vet said the numbers were "off'' but not critically off. Everything else was normal. His spleen was slightly enlarged.

20 MG pred twice daily with food
200 MG oxycycline daily with food.

He is a VERY healthy 46 lb field type spaniel (Looks exactly like a liver field spaniel, people always mistake him for one) Very strong 11 yr old, never stops, tail banging constantly, ball chasing, neutered male.

He was underweight at 40 lbs about 4 months ago, which probably should have been an alarm, but my dogs are so active on the farm that they often go under their target weights, so I just fattened him up with extras these past few months and was happy with his final weight.

I farm alone, with 3 guardian dogs in the fields and 2 spaniels as house pets and a blind cur dog as indoor outdoor buddy. So I am constantly "on" with ALL of the animals and looking for any illness or gimpiness etc... and I do understand that this is such a fast acting disease that signals arent necessarily evident. I know I cant blame myself. But I think back now and see some of the signs earlier. But even taking him in to the local vet they didnt know there was anything wrong with him.... the short breathing and the weight loss and behavior changes that I saw werent taken into real consideration.... more like an overly worried owner imagining things.

Connie....I am currently fighting IMHA with my pup, Annie. She was also started on prednisone and and antibiotic. By the end of the first week my vet also added cyclosporine which is what transplant patients take to prevent organ rejection. She is currently on those along with azathioprine which is a chemo drug. She has also had two transfusions - one of gamma globulin and the second of blood. She is also on a liquid aspirin which is important with IMHA since you need to avoid blood clots. Thankfully she is doing well now and starting to cut down on the pred. This is a horrible disease and if caught early and fought aggressively you can beat it. Please make sure you have a vet that is familiar with the disease. If your vet is unfamiliar with it research who is best close to you and contact them by phone and ask if your vet can consult with them. This is a roller coaster and I have had good days and horrible days since the end of April when I started this with Annie. I was so crazed by what was happening I could hardly get myself to research anything but you need to force yourself to do that so you can be as informed as possible. Listen to Dawn and what she has posted here- she and a few others here have saved what is left of my sanity. As you need us, we are here. Several of the pups here have won this battle.

Connie....Dawn asked some good questions for follow- up information. Annie went from low RBC numbers to crashing in a period of 5 days. That was while on prednisone and cyclosporine. Please don't think anything is " normal". I was on the phone with my vets as often as 8 times a day. Also the recovery can be very slow....after almost 4 months Annie picked up a toy for the first time yesterday. She still doesn't run at all and won't jump up onto the bed or furniture. Also....as noted on Dawn's info, it can cause heart murmurs and such. It is important not to stress out the dog. By that I mean be careful of hot, humid weather, letting the pup exert himself, etc. to minimize the strain on his body systems.

Oh Connie! Hugs to you and Bosco! I went through this twice with my heart dog, Mia. The first time she was in the 50% survival group, relapsed 18 months later and sadly, passed away from complications. There is absolutely nothing you could have done to prevent this. IMHA strikes randomly.

Dawn has given you some excellent info. I tell people that fighting this disease is like riding a roller coaster blindfolded. You have no idea whether or not you're going up or down, have no idea which way you are going to turn and every twist leaves you breathless. Know that it can take months to reach remission and that recovery is one step forward, two steps back. The first time Mia got sick, she did not reach full remission until 17 months had passed. I am lucky enough to live near a specialty hospital and they were very aggressive in her treatment. She has 2 transfusions, a 4 day hospital stay, several months of blood tests every other week and it was nearly a year before she was in a normal range and remained there. Once a dog has had IMHA, their immune systems are considered "sensitized" for IMHA. You want to avoid stimulating it.When Bosco reaches remission (thinking positively!!) you want to avoid Clavamox, keep other oral antibiotics to a minimum, avoid unecessary vaccinations and anything else that could stimulate his immune systerm.

There are organizations that financially help those whose dogs have life threatening medical issues. I have included a link to info provided by a local organization called FACE.
http://www.face4pets.org/Files/RESOURCE ... 20NEED.pdf

Hopefully, you can access help from one of these providers.
Good luck and please keep us posted on Bosco's progress!

I have to say thank you to everybody. I actually am a little calmer now that I have some sort of support system. It's the not knowing that was doing the most harm.



I have a compromised immune system myself, genetic, and Bosco (my ECS) saved my life when it kicked in and I was bed bound an suddenly alone with an illness at 42. I understand prednisone's effect, having to go that route myself and for my Springer who had cancer.

Imagine having a Cocker spaniel puppy in bed with you for months. NOT the best way to raise a confident puppy, much less his being a velcro dog to begin with.

Once I started getting better, I entered him into RallyO & agility to help me with cognitive issues and to build his confidence up and lower his separation anxiety issues and he was GREAT.... always in high 90s. He has drive like a border collie. Really "sharp"'.

You know how great he was? He could do the stations without my telling him what to do- not by reading the signs, but by craning his head around my leg and reading my eye & body movements. He is that connected to me. Crazy...

He is a one in a million dog. And I knew it the day I took him home as a puppy.

So my crying the entire day away at the thought of losing this great friend of mine is understandable I hope. And Im a pretty tough cookie. But this is a hard one for me to accept. So thank you for being here.




I cant find a WBC on his sheet so I'll call the vet tomorrow about it.
Bosco is and always has been in excellent physical shape- like an athlete. He looks like a liver field spaniel. All low and lean muscle & high energy and drive. My ACS is a classic Lady and the Tramp buff girl. (One Blue eye to wink at the boys with) They are like night and day. But best buds. My Springer died last year from cancer.

I have a thing for spaniels.

Ive got to get some sleep. Bosco will be on the bed with me so I'll know if he needs to go out etc... Im beta to death after today. Thank you!!!!

A count of 31 is not bad. Annie went down to 12 which is when we had to go with transfusing. Also while this is going on, please remember NOT to treat your pup with flea and tick repellent, use sprays and such that can be inhaled, etc.