Dog diagnosed with e-canis and anaplasma. Not getting better.

[Gulfsailor]

Three weeks ago one of my dogs started getting quite severe nose bleeds. A blood test at the vet proved positive for ehrlichiosis and anaplasma.  Most blood values where not too bad, but hct and hgb were too low, whereas white cell values where on the high end of the normal range. Platelets were on the low end of normal. 

She was put on doxycycline and a general vitamin pill. Two weeks later was her follow up. In between she still had a nose bleed at least twice a day. The new blood results were far worse than those two weeks prior. HCT was down to 14.8% and HGB to 4.6%. WBC, grans and platelets were all way too high. Her liver function was also getting bad with a ALKP of only 33. She also had a slight fever. 

The vet decided to continue doxy and also add Baytril to the mix, along with an inflammation suppressor and some supplements to help her with her blood and kidney. Next appointment a week later. 

This past week she was first getting worse with incontinence issues, dripping everywhere and also still nosebleeds. A few days ago things seemed to improve with less bleeding and less uncontrolled peeing. This afternoon is the next vet appointment, but just this morning she again had a quite severe nosebleed. With what result should I be happy, or what result should really worry me? And what to look out/ask for at the vet this afternoon? Thanks!

 

ps. I added the blood test result from 3 weeks ago and last week. 

Edited May 7, 2018 by Gulfsailor

[meatboy]

my heart goes out to you and your beloved,we just lost our boy after a 3yr.fight against more of the same.ours past away feb.28th.after 5months on doxy besides others with the vet saying you cant stop now.i just don't know what to say but the nose bleeds are not a good sign,ours had 2 and a very small one over 3yrs.the amount of medication that [many] vets gave him done him NO GOOD AT ALL,they just made him depressed.the month before he died,the wife took him to 2 of the biggest vetinary hospitals 

KK. and CHULA and she got no sense out of both of them,the last visit 11hrs. they told her take him home and come back in 2 weeks.

for what its worth [I am still grieving,give her all the love you can,and as long as she is not in any pain let her pass over rainbow bridge,she will tell you when he's ready.we were prepared to spend any amount of money,but we were never told he cant survive.once again prepare yourself,i wish we were given that chance.

I am afraid this is a very cruel country to own a dog.

meatboy love me LOVED my dog.

PS. if you want to compare tests they are in this section.

[Gulfsailor]

Hi Meatboy. Thank you for your reply, and sorry to hear about your dog. Hopefully mine will make it through. Last week there were times I thought I would find my dog dead in the morning,  but other days she looks much better again. We'll just have to wait and see. She is a very strong dog, so I trust her to pull through. Just sad to see her now sleep most of the day in stead of chasing rats and snakes around the compound. But she still eats well. Maybe because I'm spoiling her with lots of livers, hearts and fish (need to hide the pills...) My other dog is getting jealous! But that one is rather fat, so is on a diet. 

Edited May 7, 2018 by Gulfsailor

[meatboy]

4 minutes ago, Gulfsailor said:

Hi Meatboy. Thank you for your reply, and sorry to hear about your dog. Hopefully mine will make it through. Last week there were times I thought I would find my dog dead in the morning,  but other days she looks much better again. We'll just have to wait and see. She is a very strong dog, so I trust her to pull through. Just sad to see her now sleep most of the day in stead of chasing rats and snakes around the compound. But she still eats well. Maybe because I'm spoiling her with lots of livers, hearts and fish (need to hide the pills...) My other dog is getting jealous! But that one is rather fat, so is on a diet. 

what me and the wife have been through I wouldn't wish on my worst ememy,so just go back a few pages and read the posts .I just want you to prepare IN CASE.his last 5months he never stopped eating although we had to force feed him in the morning so he could take the doxy.we still feel guilty that we had to do this when our so called vet knew different.

[meatboy]

GF.the vet should give you some capsules to stop the bleeding and she needs blood support.

[Gulfsailor]

8 minutes ago, meatboy said:

GF.the vet should give you some capsules to stop the bleeding and she needs blood support.

She did have the blood support supplement. I will ask for something to stop the bleeding. Now at the vet who thinks she is getting better on first seeing the dog. But will do a blood test to confirm. Update in 15 minutes...

[meatboy]

make sure they don't try and rip you off saying she needs another SNAP TEST.as the e-anis and anna plasma will still show up even after over 12months.

[Gulfsailor]

42 minutes ago, meatboy said:

make sure they don't try and rip you off saying she needs another SNAP TEST.as the e-anis and anna plasma will still show up even after over 12months.

The vet only did a simple blood test today. Most values are better than last week, but red blood cell still very low. The vet gives her another week with the same meds to improve her rbc, otherwise we might have to consider transfusion, to prevent issues to organs from prolonged shortage of oxygen.

 

[meatboy]

baytril is for a water infection,but she will still pee a small amount.when she has a pee,morning and when maybe a walk check the pee for white foamy or white specks. what did the vet say yesterday and what medication did you have.

as you already stated your girl is on doxy,make sure she takes them with food and water.and did you have the capsules [white] to stop the bleeding.last night I thought about her most of the night as it brought back memories of exactly the same symptoms as our boy.

[Gulfsailor]

46 minutes ago, meatboy said:

baytril is for a water infection,but she will still pee a small amount.when she has a pee,morning and when maybe a walk check the pee for white foamy or white specks. what did the vet say yesterday and what medication did you have.

as you already stated your girl is on doxy,make sure she takes them with food and water.and did you have the capsules [white] to stop the bleeding.last night I thought about her most of the night as it brought back memories of exactly the same symptoms as our boy.

Our dogs walk themselves so it's hard to look for foamy bits in the pee. But the leakage indoors is clear. The vet thinks it's just side effects of the medicine and not alarming. The funny thing is that in having the dogs 7.5 years I have never once seen them poop! Since they were around 6 weeks old (they're sisters) and decided to move in with us, they just walk out of our compound and find a quiet and deserted spot to poop in some empty land nearby. Best dogs ever!

 

Most blood values are getting better, except for the red blood count, which is still very low. For now she is still on;

Doxy

Baytril

Blood support

Liver support

Immune suppression 

 

She is not on any pills to stop the bleeding. The nose bleeds stop fairly quickly when I put on ice pack on her snout. I think the vet worries about clots. I'm careful to not get her excited so that the bleeding is manageable. 

 

Next week back to the vet to check again. 

 

Thanks for for the feedback so far. 

[meatboy]

16 minutes ago, Gulfsailor said:

Our dogs walk themselves so it's hard to look for foamy bits in the pee. But the leakage indoors is clear. The vet thinks it's just side effects of the medicine and not alarming. The funny thing is that in having the dogs 7.5 years I have never once seen them poop! Since they were around 6 weeks old (they're sisters) and decided to move in with us, they just walk out of our compound and find a quiet and deserted spot to poop in some empty land nearby. Best dogs ever!

 

Most blood values are getting better, except for the red blood count, which is still very low. For now she is still on;

Doxy

Baytril

Blood support

Liver support

Immune suppression 

 

She is not on any pills to stop the bleeding. The nose bleeds stop fairly quickly when I put on ice pack on her snout. I think the vet worries about clots. I'm careful to not get her excited so that the bleeding is manageable. 

 

Next week back to the vet to check again. 

 

Thanks for for the feedback so far. 

we are all gunning for you and your girl.

[wildewillie89]

Vet should be able to figure out a way to send blood to Bangkok for testing by PCR. Co-infections exist in Thailand, however, your standard vet clinics can only test for so much. I would be sending blood off if my dogs ever tested positive to anything.  

[VocalNeal]

Honey has anti bacterial properties. What about 5cc of honey every now and again

[Gulfsailor]

Quick update;

Last Monday we had another vet visit. Blood values have slightly improved. Doggie hasn't had a nose bleed for the past 5 days, so that's very promising! I reduced the immune suppression meds by 50%, because it made her really sleepy and sad with pee dripping everywhere. The vet agreed with that. Next appointment in two weeks to check again. 

Last night she was acting more like the healthy dog I know, with her chasing other dogs away again. Her gums are also no longer white, but are pink and getting a bit darker by the day. 

I think the worst has passed. :) another two weeks of many pills and lots of yummy duck livers and hearts, so she will get her strength back. 

Edited May 16, 2018 by Gulfsailor