And in this corner...... Ginger!

In the beginning.

Ginger arrived from a shelter in SC courtesy of foster mom Tiffin. Ginger loves to accompany her people when they are running errands and she loves, loves, loves long car rides. She was a champ on the 13 hour ride to her foster home.

  

She plays well with her extended family Rat Terrier, Great Dane and Golden Doodle.  Ginger is a healthy, high energy, and loving girl. She loves to play with the resident BT, Doberman, and cat in her foster home. She can play for hours in the back yard with her dog friends and does very well on leash.

Resting after playing with Pork Chop

She would also love to have a fun loving, playful dog like herself and a fenced back yard. However, active people and access to a dog park would be fine with her.

A month later….

All- we have a very sick dog in the ER today-Please keep Ginger in your
thoughts.

Day 1-- Ginger received her annual vaccines when we rescued her unknown to anyone; her body was fighting very hard to metabolize the vaccines. We had no indication that she was ill until she became lethargic. Although Ginger had been under a vet's care since that morning she was not doing well. She was admitted to the ER and had to undergo a blood transfusion and a regiment of medications. The goal is to restore her red blood cell count and get her healthy enough produce and maintain an acceptable level of red blood cells on her own.

They found that Ginger has Hemolytic Anemia. In very rare instances- it is hard for the dog's body to metabolize the vaccines and Hemolytic Anemia results. This is a dangerous condition that left untreated will result in death, but there is no conclusive link between the vaccines and hemolytic anemia.

 Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia

 
This is the most common cause of hemolysis in adult dogs. Red blood cell destruction is caused by auto-antibodies that attack antigens present on the surface of the cells, or by antigens from medications or organisms attached to the red blood cell walls.
 
According to WebMD for dogs, anemia is defined as a deficiency of red blood cells in the circulatory system. Adult dogs are anemic when the concentration of red cells in the whole blood is less than 37% by volume. The normal range is 39-60%. Red cells are produced by the bone marrow and have an average life span of 110 to 120 days; the old red cells are trapped by the spleen and removed from circulation. So, that’s what the spleen does!  The iron they contain is recycled to make new red blood cells, who knew red blood cells were so “green”.

The purpose of red blood cells is to carry oxygen. Thus, the symptoms of anemia are caused by insufficient oxygen in the organs and muscles. Signs include lack of appetite, lethargy and weakness. The mucous membranes of the gums and tongue become pale pink to white. In dogs with severe anemia, the pulse and respiratory rate are rapid and the dog may collapse from exertion.

Day 3-- Ginger had one transfusion and is feeling better.  She is eating well and it show already.  Her foster family met with her primary vet that evening to find out the next step.

I love you

Ginger required a 2nd transfusion since her RBC levels had dropped. Although this is disappointing and not what we hoped for, the doc said it is very common that 2 transfusions are needed. We just hoped that #2 did the trick and she could maintain her levels after this.

Her family visited her around 9 pm while she was in the middle of transfusion #2. Her energy and appetite was still good. Ginger was one of the few dogs in ICU that did NOT have a "will bite" sticker on her nametag.

Her RBC went from 24 that morning to 17 that evening- 30 is the goal. The vet was still hopeful that she would stabilize the following day and that he would call in the morning with an update.  

Oh yea, we snuck treats in with permission, she only took the treats from Turbo. Typical-he is the doggie magnet.

I got an IV and TREATS!

                Day 4— That afternoon Ginger's RBC count was holding at 26% for 12 hours straight!  This great news!  They also said she was eating with "gusto".  The vet said “They will draw blood again around 6pm and if it maintains, she may be released tonight.”

Ginger was holding her own, with a red blood count of 31 that evening, and she got to go home.

Walking out after being carried in

Late night snacks

The last bandage being removed.

The vet on duty tonight had a great name, Dr. Merlo, who told us there is no follow up necessary unless she loses color or gets lethargic again. She is still on a heavy dose of steroids, an immune suppressant and finishes her antibiotics. She may be on medication for the rest of her life.

        Day 5-- Ginger was doing great; her energy, appetite and outgoing personality were restored as before.

I'm home

Day 6-- Ginger went back to the vet this morning to get her blood checked. It is holding steady between 29-30 which is normal. She was doing fine, her stomach was a little upset yesterday, so we tried some canned food and that seemed to work better

Happy in the human bed

Notes:

 Our vet is optimistic that she is young and healthy and IF her RBC drops into the teens again, to try one more transfusion and have the internist take over her case to see if the internist can find the root cause of the auto-immune disorder.  Some tests the internist may do is an ultrasound or a bone marrow test.

         Would Ginger be at risk coming home with all the immune suppressors?   NO, she is not at risk, her platelets are normal and her blood is clotting normally.

For more information on Ginger check out CCBTR.ORG