It is a known fact that if you work in the veterinary industry, your pets are far more likely to be stricken by rare, strange, or different illnesses. My dog, Grendel the Boston Terrier, almost died in 2022 from a still undiagnosed auto-immune disease attacking multiple body systems. I suspect she has lupus. By some miracle, and with excellent help from a specialist, we got her through the worst of it. Since then, she has had repeated flare ups of anemia caused by her own over-active immune system. This condition is known as Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA), and is something we see on a fairly regular basis.
IMHA happens most often in adult, female dogs. It can result in a profound anemia – pale mucous membranes, weakness and lethargy, exercise intolerance, and weight loss. Some dogs are so severely affected they need multiple blood transfusions. The cause is (in most cases) unknown, although the mechanism is clear – the immune system starts to destroy the body’s own red blood cells. Most of the time the dog’s system works hard to replace those red blood cells. This regenerative response is appropriate and good, but may not be enough to compensate for the losses as the red blood cells are destroyed faster than they are created. This disease can be fatal.
Treatment for IMHA aims to suppress the immune system. Various medications are used for this, most commonly the steroid prednisone. With successful treatment, the regenerative response will gradually replace the red blood cells and the dog can return to normal. Unfortunately, recurrence is not uncommon. Some dogs need repeated courses of medications, and some need to be on them chronically. Bloodwork is rechecked frequently to monitor response to medications. IMHA is challenging to manage, and requires commitment and follow-through from pet owners.
Whenever my dog has a flare-up of her IMHA, she develops pica. Something in her body and/or brain drives her to obsessively lick grout and concrete. Another patient I have seen with IMHA starts eating dirt. Not every dog with IMHA has these abnormal behaviors, but it illustrates the value in paying attention to changes in your dog, even if they seem unrelated or insignificant. The sooner a disease like IMHA is caught, the quicker we can get it treated and hopefully avoid the need for drastic interventions.
Author Dr Ema Thigpin
“Be Curious, Not Judgmental” Dr Jacqueline Church