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Author
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Topic: IMHA related to Heartgard?
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MaryT
Moderator
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posted 08-30-2000 12:13 PM
  
Dr. Dan, have you heard of this? I received an email from someone at RB who recently lost her poodle to immune mediated hemolytic anemia, and she thinks it was caused by Heartgard because that's the only medication he'd had.I know that when people lose pets tragically like this, they frantically search for a cause. Here's the link she sent me to substantiate her claim. I know it's a rare occurrence, but I just wondered what you think. As the vet in this link states, it would be a great disservice to encourage people to discontinue heartworm preventative because of a few isolated incidents.
http://www.vetinfo.com/dimha.html MaryT IP: Logged |
Dr Dan
Administrator
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posted 08-30-2000 06:32 PM
Dear Mary,Many, many things can cause AIHA: whelping, estrus, Secondary to Systemic Lupus Erythematosis, lymphoid and other malignancies, viral, bacterial and mycoplasma infections, tick borne diseases such as Erlichiosis and Babesiosis, certain chronic inflammatory conditions and certain drugs such as methyldopa and pennicillin... So in a middle aged dog, in spring and summer damn near anything can trigger this destruction of Red Blood Cells by the immune system. If you understand the stages of grief and grieving, you will recognise that the First Stage is Disbelief, followed closely by the Second Stage - Blame... This is a normal cycle in humans... It has nothing to do with Heartgard. Heartgard doesn't have enough active ingrediant in it (ivermectin) to kill an ant... LOL Well maybe it would, but I find it unfortunate that the Internet perpetuates such false rumors. Oh well, you get the good and the bad I guess. Don't believe everything you hear. Especially from someone with no medical background in the stages of grief. Heartgard has saved countless lives. Dr Dan IP: Logged |
MaryT
Moderator
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posted 08-30-2000 11:37 PM
Thanks, Dr. Dan. I figured as much. Some time back, a guy posted that his dog had died from what he thought was leptospirosis because he had just been vaccinated, and he was sure the vaccine 'gave' it to him.MaryT IP: Logged |
Dr Dan
Administrator
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posted 08-31-2000 12:22 AM
It very well may have been AIHA. Although vaccination is not listed as a cause of AIHA I sometimes wonder. I have seen it a few weeks post-vaccination in several animals. By several, I don't mean to imply that AIHA is common. I have practiced 17 years and only remember about 4 or 5 cases. I see about 50 to 75 patients a week so multiply it out. One hell of a lot of animals vaccinated and protected for 4 or 5 suspect cases. The etiology is never a sure cut thing, my impetus is in treating it properly so the animal recovers and in that I have enjoyed a high success rate. I just turned a beagle around a couple of months ago. When he came in his hematocrit was 11% (Number of Red Blood Cells per unit of blood - Normal 37% to 55%). After agressive therapy and lots of expense for the owner the dog was up to 23% after 7 days. In 3 weeks he was back to 33% and just a couple of weeks ago I rechecked him at vaccination time. It was in the normal range and vaccinations had no effect.So anyhow, like I say - That second stage of grief is a bear. Owners struggle to "blame" something or someone. It gets nasty, but we understand that what the are going through is normal human behavior. Dr Dan IP: Logged |
Carolyn
Moderator
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posted 08-31-2000 11:49 AM
Actually, my vet told me outright that dogs are getting sick from that new lepto vaccine - because I got mega pissed when Sunny got very sick after her yearly vaccs. I don't know of any instances of dogs dying from it though. And while I know there often isn't a "blame" or "fault" ... my dog went from totally healthy, to a puking, diarrhea, lethargic mess, with the only thing in between being the vaccinations. And the propaganda fed to me was VERY misleading. So while I didn't blame anyone (after all, only I can give the authority for her to receive the shots), I do believe, with some conviction, that vaccines CAN make an animal sick. I've just seen it too many times to ignore the possibility.I guess it just goes back to the ancient debate over whether certain animals can get the ailment you vaccinate for (e.g., Pitcairn). I think it's fairly uncommon, but w/KC I am POSITIVE that's what has happened to some of the fosters I've had (even given the harboring time, which I'm aware of). I've just seen too many non-exposed dogs be in my house for a couple weeks w/out symptoms, then get the bordatella nose squirt, then bam, KC. Overall, I still vaccinate because the diseases are so horrible ... but the potential for sickness does exist; I think people should be aware of that. IP: Logged |
Dr Dan
Administrator
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posted 08-31-2000 10:01 PM
Vaccination reactions do occur (rarely) but the diesases they protect against are endemic. I have used Intranasal Bordatella vaccine for 15 years and to my knowledge have never seen it cause kennel cough in a healthy animal. You fosters have been housed in an environment laden with B. bronchiseptica bacteria in the air and are incubating when you receive them. Of course I am only a veterinarian, who am I to argue with the knowledge of a lawyer? FUS IP: Logged | |
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