Update - Our scare with Charlotte - healthy to dying in 24 hrs - long

[Jennifer Tramell]

Our goldendoodle Charlotte has always been as healthy as a dog could be.  We had her hips tested - great, annual vaccines, flea/tick/heartworm preventative, no sensitive tummy issues, perfect weight, no reason to worry about anything.  

Earlier this month I woke up to undigested vomit.  Normally I don't worry about vomit, but the day before she had no appetite.  I had fixed her some tasty food and she ate it, now her tasty dinner was on the livingroom floor.  Along with the lack of appetite and vomit, she seemed unusually lethargic, so at 9am I called the vet.  Now, I have never needed to call the vet for an appointment - other than yearly check-up/vaccinations, but I knew something was wrong.  My appointment was for 5:15 pm and as the day wore on, I was counting the minutes.  Charlotte was dehydrated, lethargic, and around 1 pm I noticed that her color was off.  I called the vet again and they told me that if she wouldn't drink on her own, to squirt fluids in her mouth.  I forced some doggy pedialyte into her and she started drinking a little on her own.

By the time we arrived at the vet, Charlotte was jaundice.  The vet took one look at her and said "if she were a poodle, I would say she has auto-immune hemolytic anemia".  Well, Charlotte is a 50/50 goldendoodle, but she is definitely more poodle than golden.  The vet ran a couple blood tests and while we were waiting Charlotte literally faded before our eyes.  By 6 pm, she barely lifted her head off of the vet's concrete floor.  The blood test came back with one of the numbers (sorry, I don't remember what one) at 9.5 - a normal dog would be 40.

The consensus was that she needed an emergency blood transfusion or she would be dead in under 6 hrs. The vet said that the problem was finding a donor dog - she didn't have one in the office and she needed one as big as possible.  Our response was that our Webster is 88lbs and my sister's Charlie is 72 lbs.  I numbly grabbed my cellphone and called my sister (who was home with my kids).  I said "Hello.  Bring Webster to the vet."  I was still processing the fact that my sweet Charlotte, not even 3 years old, was dying before my eyes.

Forty minutes later, my sister arrived with Webster and Charlie in her van.  My dad arrived with my brother's two dogs (Rhodesian Ridgebacks) and his goldendoodle - all over 60 lbs.  We had an army of blood donors in the parking lot of the vet :-).  Webster was brought in, prepped, and gave a huge bag of blood.  The vet said it was some of the best blood she'd ever seen.  The transfusion began with Charlotte laying on the concrete floor and our vet sitting next to her.  The vet sent us home and we began the waiting game.

The next couple days were spent crying and wondering if Charlotte would ever come home.  This all started on Monday and on Thursday afternoon we brought Charlotte home.  The vet's office couldn't believe how much better she was, however, her numbers were still only 11.

For the past 2 weeks, Charlotte has been slowly recovering.  Last Friday we all rejoiced because her numbers are up to 18.  Today we have another blood test and we are hoping her numbers are up even higher.  She is on twice/day prednisone, a med for auto-immune, and an iron supplement for anemia.  She has become a celebrity at the vet's office because she literally went from dying to being the office sweetheart.  Because she has responded so well to the treatment, the assumption is that Charlotte has an Auto-Immune disease, probably hemolytic anemia. (My vet's office isn't equipped for specialized diagnostic testing but I wouldn't trade them for anything.  The image of our vet (not a tech) sitting on the floor with Charlotte, and then cleaning up her pen so we could sit and visit, is burned into my memory.)

Since we've been home, Webster hovers over Charlotte.  He follows her around when they go outside and looks like he is standing guard as she goes potty.  When my sister's dog, Charlie, came to visit, Webster wouldn't let Charlie get too close.  Webster waits patiently for Charlotte to eat her food, then finishes it when she leaves (her food gets doctored up so it's yummier than Webster's).  He is our "Hero Dog" and she is our "sweet girl".

Here's the scary thing - we don't know what triggered this disease.  Apparently it can be dormant for years and triggered by a vaccine, heartworm meds, tick bites, a virus, just about anything.  It is common in poodles, and especially females.  We hope that Charlotte's numbers will come up and stabilize and we will wean her off her medications.  However, our vet said that she should NEVER receive vaccinations again and she is regarded as "fragile", but will hopefully live a regular healthy life.

I wanted to let everyone know of this potential danger.  As our vet said "she could pass for a poodle", so people with more poodle doodles should know of this poodle predisposition.  Apparently vaccines are a common trigger, and ticks seem to be really bad this year.  If you see signs of loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, jaundice - make sure your vet tests for auto-immune disease.  It can come on quickly and might be an issue of life an death.

Update ----  Yesterday afternoon (5/24) we had another vet visit to test Charlotte's blood.  When we first took her in, it was 9.5, spent over 2 weeks at under 12, last Friday she was up to 18 (we did a happy dance), and yesterday it was 28!!!!  I think normal is around 40 so we are more that halfway there - woohoo!  We are slightly decreasing her meds, encouraging more activity (of course, not pushing her), and get to go 2 weeks before the next check-up.

 

I don't know if anyone on DK remembers, but almost 3 years ago we actually lost Charlotte.  She was 9 weeks old and ran off with Webster - who came back.  We found the next day because a friend had received an email from a HOA president who had received an email from an outlying homeowner with a picture of a found puppy.  It was truly a miracle and now we feel as though God has twice saved our Charlotte. 

Thank you for all the kind words.  I'm not as active on DK as I used to be, but I still consider DK part of our doodle family :-)

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Oh my dear goodness, I am so very sorry you have been going through all of this but I am so thankful it seems she is doing better!  Thank God for Webster!  Please keep us posted on how her levels are today.  We are all thinking of you and Charlotte!

[Christine & Shelby]

What a scary ordeal for you all.  Soi happy to hear that Charlotte is back home with those she loves, both 2 legged and 4 legged... keeping you all (especially sweet Charlotte) in my thoughts and prayers.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm sorry to hear this, Jennifer. I hope that Charlotte does well with her treatment.

Immune-mediated Hemolytic Anemia is thought to be an inherited disease. It does occur most often in certain breeds, including Miniature Poodles, but it can occur in any breed. Since the mode of inheritance is not known, both parents do not necessarily have to be affected for the offspring to have a genetic predisposition. It also most commonly affects middle-aged females. 

More info from the Canine Inherited Disease website: http://ic.upei.ca/cidd/disorder/immune-mediated-hemolytic-anemia-imha

Wishing you and Charlotte many, many more happy years together. 

[Leslie and Halas]

I lost my husky to AIHA, so I know it can be deadly.  He was already 10 years old, and blood transfusions didn't help him.  Charlotte's young age and strength have helped her.  I'm so relieved that's she's survived through the worst part.  I hope she continues to improve and gets back to her normal self.

And way to go Webster, for having "the best blood she'd ever seen!"  That's a unique thing to be able to brag about, so keep it up, and keep watching over your sister!

[Rita and Fazzy]

Oh my gosh.....so scary....sending lots of good thoughts and energy to Charlotte and her hero Webster!!!  Prayers to you and your family!!

[Adrienne]

Sending hugs and prayers to you and Charlotte.  Way to go Webster!!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

More good info on IMHA: http://www.marvistavet.com/html/imha.html

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

OMG Jennifer!! I'm so glad to hear that Charlotte is improving but what an ordeal! It choked me up thinking about all those people and dogs arriving at the vets to help Charlotte. Thanks for all the information. I hope that Charlotte continues to improve and lives a long happy life. WTG Webster!!!

[nira rajavasireddy]

I'm so sorry that you had to go through this but thank goodness she's doing better. You and Charlotte are in my prayers.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

I am so glad to hear that Charlotte is responding to the treatment and medication.  Webster is a Hero in my eyes!!!  Actually, your family too.  For them to show up with a number of donor dogs is amazing.  You are a very lucky family.  Hang in there, Charlotte is young and she will be back to normal.  Gracie Doodle had an auto-immune disease (not the same one) and after a year on Prednisone and many tears, she is back to normal and is a very happy Doodle who just celebrated her 6th birthday.  It is hardest on those of us who love our Doodles so much and I can feel your sadness and concern.  She WILL get better and go into remission just like Gracie did!!!

[Jennifer Tramell]

I remember hearing about Gracie Doodle having problems, but didn't remember what the problem was.  I'm so happy to hear that she is doing well, I have great hopes that Charlotte will follow in her footsteps!

[Diane, Baker & Oskar]

What an ordeal...you must have been frantic !  Thank you for the good news that Charlotte is better & also for educating us on this condition so we can recognize it if it happens to our doodles.  Please keep us updated on Charlotte's progress & best wishes for a complete recovery for her.