I spoke to the vet today and told her how Milo had deteriorated and she said he had a coombs test a year ago that came back negative, but as a good many come back negative even when they are positive for AIHA.
She does not want to dive in and do a marrow biopsey as she said its a big thing for him and she would like to refer him first to Newmarket.
She rang me a little later to say they could squeeze me in tomorrow at 12.30. Unfortunatly there is no way I can make it as I have nobody here to see to Shady and not time to sort anything. Plus i have other things tomorrow I can't change.
So because its Bank Holiday she has rearranged it for Tuesday at 12.30. We both hope he will be ok till then and she said hopefully they will give us some answers or if they say he should have the marrow biopsey she will go ahead and do it.
So please keep your fingers crossed for him and send some Dogsey Vibes his way, that we get to the bottom of it and its nothing too awful.
I must admit I am really worried for him as he is so pale and looking so old and yet he is only 4.
I am dreading the journey as I hate driving far, but for him I am going to attempt it.

Will be keeping fingers crossed on Tuesday Bev and sending lots of healing vibes to you and Milo in the meantime.  Hope the journey isn't too difficult.

Hi Bev

I've PM'd you

Steph

bevb,

I too will keep my fingers crossed.

good luck, hope it all goes well for you.  

I have just recieved the letter from the referral clinic for Milo and its had me sobbing. I have to take enough food for him for 5 days. I don't want to leave him there so far from home. He hates the vets and just shakes constantly there. I just don't want him going through all this trauma my poor little lad
I just don't know how I can drive away and come all the way home knowing he is there terrified. Its breaking my heart the thought of it.
Shady I know would cope but Milo he just won't I know.  You probably all think I'm stupid but he is so sensitive and scared in the vets.

My vet also told me they would claim direct there from my insurance but the letter says differently so I will have to phone them up about this as I don't know how much its going to cost just to visit and talk to them.
Thanks everyone for your kind words.

All appendages crossed for poor you and poor Milo you must be so worried.
X

I'm really sorry about the way things are working out for you and Milo, I have everything crossed for you.
I definitely don't think you are stupid getting upset at the thought of leaving him for 5 days in a place that he is terrified of. I hate leaving my girl at home with Grandma dogsitting, hence why we nearly always holiday in this country. Even though they say enough food for 5 days, hopefully he won't have to stay as long as this. This happened to a friend of mine, and we were able to pick Quron up after only two days, as they had completed all the tests.

Have you ever heard of Zylkene, it is relatively new and our vet's are having great results when using it on worried/stressed dogs. They also recommend DAP products, but are having far better results with Zylkene. It might be worth looking into, as it might just help Milo settle a little better. It is totally natural so shouldn't interfere with medication/tests, but obviously your Vet will be able to advise on this.

Good luck with your insurance company and take care of both yourself and Milo.

Jenny

Try not to worry too much bev, I know easier said than done, but sometimes our dogs pick up anxiety from us and maybe this is why Milo is really nervous at the vets.  He will be fine once he is left there, a little bit like leaving children at school, they sometimes cry but once Mummy or Daddy has left they are fine.  He will be in safe hands.

Try not to worry too much bev, I know easier said than done, but sometimes our dogs pick up anxiety from us and maybe this is why Milo is really nervous at the vets.  He will be fine once he is left there, a little bit like leaving children at school, they sometimes cry but once Mummy or Daddy has left they are fine.  He will be in safe hands.

It may be from me but Shady is fine and my last two dogs loved the vets so much they wouldn't walk past unless I took them in to say Hello.
Also last time Milo was in the vets they said he sat cringed up the corner of his cage trembling the whole time.
I know this time I am very worried so won't be helping matters but normally I am very calm at my own vets.
You are all great on here thankyou for your support i really appreciate it.
I have some good news too.  I asked my friend if she would come with me and navigate and she said her husband is off work on Tue so would be happy to drive my car if I would rather so at least I don't have to drive now and won't be alone.

I'm really sorry about the way things are working out for you and Milo, I have everything crossed for you.
I definitely don't think you are stupid getting upset at the thought of leaving him for 5 days in a place that he is terrified of. I hate leaving my girl at home with Grandma dogsitting, hence why we nearly always holiday in this country. Even though they say enough food for 5 days, hopefully he won't have to stay as long as this. This happened to a friend of mine, and we were able to pick Quron up after only two days, as they had completed all the tests.

Have you ever heard of Zylkene, it is relatively new and our vet's are having great results when using it on worried/stressed dogs. They also recommend DAP products, but are having far better results with Zylkene. It might be worth looking into, as it might just help Milo settle a little better. It is totally natural so shouldn't interfere with medication/tests, but obviously your Vet will be able to advise on this.

Good luck with your insurance company and take care of both yourself and Milo.

Thankyou, I really hope he doesn't have to stay at all, but I will let him if he really needs to and my vet can't do what they suggest.
I darn't give him anything to calm him even herbal stuff as he seems to react violently to anything and everything, so it is not worth the risk while he is so ill.  Thanks for telling me about it though.

Great that you have someone to go with you bev, but I really do think you need to be a little less anxious for him.

It seems odd and that the vet said Milo was sat cringing in the corner of the cage trembling the whole time.  I know my vets would not allow this to happen and would try to reassure the animals in their care. 

I'm keeping everything crossed for you bevb and hope things work out for you and Milo. I had to leave my boys at a specialist for a week when they were young and they coped so much better than I did.  Just take a blanket with you that smells of home.  The five days will pass, the vets will do what they need to do and once he's home again he will forget all about it.  Sending healing thoughts.
Mel

Good luck Milo,hope you're soon running around chasing your tail.We don't want your mum worrying any more:)

I'm keeping everything crossed for you and Milo too x

Bev, you have been in my thoughts quite often since I first read your post on Milo.  I wish you both the very best of luck and prayers for Milo's speedy recovery.  

Thankyou all very much.  Your support through this difficult time means so much.

Hi Bev

I've only just caught up with this - sending positive healing thoughts and prayers for Milo and you.  I know you must be frantic just now but please God things will look brighter for you both soon.

Blessings, Teri x

Bev would they let you leave something with your scent on it for Milo's hospital cage? Like a t-shirt or something.

Oh Bev, what a nightmare for you. I know how you must be feeling because I would be the same. Try to focus on the reason why Milo is going there - to hopefully get to the bottom of his problems and make him better ASAP. I know its not such great advice but I can tell you that you're in my thoughts and here's hoping that Milo is feeling better soon. x

I'm so sorry you're going through all this - let's hope the vets can get to the bottom of his problems.  It's good your friend can come along with you so that you won't be going on your own.

Take care and I'll be thinking of you and Milo.

Just to wish you and Milo all the best for his referral appointment today Bev.

Hope your appointment goes well today.

Everything crossed for you kiddo - get well soon Milo

Teri x

Thankyou Everyone.
I'm back but without Milo
I had to leave my little man there so they can do bloods, scan and a few other tests today like sedating him and looking down his throat, oh and checking out his heart further as he found he had a heart murmer today.
Vet has just rung. He hasn't got as far with the tests as he has hoped. But his blood tests shows there is or has been bleeding somewhere which he suspects is in the stomach. He is still aenimic (sp) even though he has pinked up and he says if his gums were as white as I told him last week he must have been around 20 on his PCV (think thats what he called it) reading last week as he is up to about 30 today.
His platelet count was high which again says bleeding somewhere.
Tomorrow they are going to do his heart scan in the morning as he can't be sedated for that, then they will sedate him and do a scan on his abdomen to see if that shows anything up. Then depending on the results of that they will give him a general in the afternoon and do and endoscopey and he hopes they will be able to pinpoint the cause of bleeding at the end of it all, although he said he obviously can't promise.
Although I am worried sick about my lad, I am relieved they are getting some results showing there is a definete problem as I was beginning to think my vet and maybe these today because he looked so well on the outside would think I was some sort of hypochondriac for my dog.
He is going to ring me tomorrow to let me know how things go with the scans and if he needs the endoscopy and as to whether he can come home tomorrow or Thursday.
I will update again tomorrow when I hear more.
Please keep lots of positive vibes comeing and healing thoughts for my little man and pray its nothing serious that can easily be fixed.

Thanks for the update Bev - prayers continue for Milo that the cause of his problems will be identified and readily cured/managed.

He's clearly in good hands.
Blessings, Teri x

Bev,

I doubt anyone, especially your vet, would question your genuine commitment to your dogs' welfare.

Gosh, you have been unlucky. If there were some environmental factor at play, as some have suggested, then I would think that all your other dogs would have been affected to some degree ( I hope I'm correct in thinking that you currently own other dogs?). if I've got that wrong then it would be worth just having a think about your local environment and anything unusual?

The other possibility is that there is some kind of genetic predisposition. Is Milo the same breed as the other dogs you have owned that had autoimmune conditions?

You are doing everything you can to help Milo. We are all here to support you and we all hope for a positive outcome.

Thanks.
My other two dogs were CKCS and although the same breed were not related.
Milo is a JRT so definetly not related.
Looks like today and tomorrow is going to be very expensive and in excess of £2000.  Thank heavens for insurance.  Although my little man is worth every last penny.
Yes I have another dog Shady who will be 4 next month, she is a Rottie x GSD so again not related.  She seems fine (Touch wood)

Keeping the healing thoughts flooding your way Bev.  Hope you'll be able to bring Milo home soon.

Everything crossed for you.  Wishing for a good outcome.  Good Luck.  :-)

Vet rang a little while ago.
Milos heart scan was ok. It showed the murmer but he doesn't think it will be anything to worry about so thats a relief.
His scan on the abdomen showed nothing everything looked good so he is as I type under a general anesthetic to have an endoscopy to see if that shows where he is bleeding from.
Now although I don't want anything awful to be found , its worrying me that this will reveal nothing also. So then what will I do as he can't live the rest of his life having these bleeds and being so ill.
The vet said I can pick him up tomorrow morning as it may be a bit late by the time he comes properly out of the anesthetic for me to make the journey today.
I can't wait to have him home but I want him well it breaks my heart to see my lad so poorly. If this shows nothing I suppose I will just be left to get on and manage him best i can, but as he was he is existing not enjoying quality of life.
I am in such a turmoil right now.

Try not to let your imagination run away - it's often worse than reality! :)  Wait and see if you need to worry or not. :)

{{{{  HUGS  }}}}   You won't know for a day - and you're bound to worry.  Take one step at a time, and try not to second guess (easy for me to say!)

ENDOSCOPY RESULT

The vet rang this afternoon. Milos endoscopy had shown a lot.
He said the stomach and intestine was very red, inflamed and lumpy and as they tried to get the endoscope past these bits it made it bleed.
He has taken some biopsies and sent them off but we won't have the results of those till around the middle of next week.
He said Milo must have been and still will be in quite a bit of discomfort from all that inflamation and soreness. That made me realise what a brave little boy he has been as he would still play fetch with Shady in the garden and still came on little walks with me and wanted to, he just got tired quickly with the aenemia, so we kept it short.Any way I am picking him up at 11.30 tomorrow morning (can't wait) and they are changing his food to this tinned Eukanuba which he said is a different protein source so it may help also he will have medication to come home with to try and line his stomach and protect it.
Now we just have to hope the biopsey results will give us more information, otherwise we could be stabbing in the dark and not getting very far with helping him.
I can't wait to give my brave little boy a big cuddle and lots of kesses tomorrow.
Bet he will be glad to get out of there after all he has been through.
Thankyou all so much for your support for this you have really helped me.

ENDOSCOPY RESULT

The vet rang this afternoon. Milos endoscopy had shown a lot.
He said the stomach and intestine was very red, inflamed and lumpy and as they tried to get the endoscope past these bits it made it bleed.
He has taken some biopsies and sent them off but we won't have the results of those till around the middle of next week.
He said Milo must have been and still will be in quite a bit of discomfort from all that inflamation and soreness. That made me realise what a brave little boy he has been as he would still play fetch with Shady in the garden and still came on little walks with me and wanted to, he just got tired quickly with the aenemia, so we kept it short.Any way I am picking him up at 11.30 tomorrow morning (can't wait) and they are changing his food to this tinned Eukanuba which he said is a different protein source so it may help also he will have medication to come home with to try and line his stomach and protect it.
Now we just have to hope the biopsey results will give us more information, otherwise we could be stabbing in the dark and not getting very far with helping him.
I can't wait to give my brave little boy a big cuddle and lots of kisses tomorrow.
Bet he will be glad to get out of there after all he has been through.
Thankyou all so much for your support for this you have really helped me.
Sorry don't know why this post come up twice.

It sounds weird but I'm glad they've found something that they should be able to treat to make him feel better. Poor lad - you'll both be thrilled when he's home again.

bevb,

I am so glad that the investigations are giving you some information to build on.

If you haven't done so, please call or email Dr Jean Dodds, give her a brief history for Milo with the results to date and just ask for her take on things and what she would advise. She is a world expert in this territory and she will respond.

Also you may find the forum/site below helpful. It is dedicated to these kind of autoimmune conditions and posters are all owners of dogs with autoimmune illness/problems in treatment- thus they are very knowledgeable and many mention Dr Dodds. I think it sometimes helps to swap information with those who have a day to day, in depth, knowledge of a condition. Though the posters are mainly Americans and Canadians they will, I'm sure have advice and words of comfort for you.  It's the : VetNet BBS Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA) Threads at www.vetnet.co.uk

Darn, I've tried to post the link but haven't got it quite right. If you google vetnet AIHI, I'm sure it'll come up, you can then search the threads. There's loads of info and lots of people to talk to.

Hi Bev :)

Glad to hear you will be able to collect Milo tomorrow and hope the cause of his health problems will soon be identified and treated.  Poor little chap, bet he will enjoy all those kisses and cuddles though!

I'm glad to see that things have progressed - albeit not as we would have liked.  Do be sure to let us know what the next step is for Milo.  I can just imagine how lovely it will be for you to cuddle him (brings a lump to my throat!)

What sort of antibiotics is he on?

Thankyou again for all your support.
Milo is now home, it was a very emotional reunion, I was just so pleased to see him and have him cuddle me last night and back on the bottom of my bed where he belongs.
The vet will ring me the middle of next week with the biopsy results and I think they said he will then arrange for me to go back up there with Milo for a check up.
I feel absolutly exhausted now with all the worry, but I am going to try and relax over the weekend and not think to much about it until Monday when i will be bound to worry like mad again while awaiting the results. LOL.
Just have to watch him in this hot weather now as he is a sun worshipper but a huge amount of his fur has been shaved off for the scans etc.  Don't want him getting sunburn to top it all off.
He has been in very good hands there and the staff loved him.  His vet who I am under there is a European specialist in internal medicene, so I can't ask for more really.
I will update you on a new thread when I get his biopsy results.

Hi Bev

Hope Milo is doing OK - presumably you will have the biopsy results soon?  Keeping fingers crossed and healing thoughts heading your way.

I am hoping to get the biopsy results today.  The vet said as soon as he gets them back he will ring me.  So just waiting on the lab to get them to him.
Milo has been very up and down since being back.
The food the vet put him on did not suit him at all and he had terrible black runs and awful wind. He also went really white and pale.
So Saturday lunch time he was switched back onto Nature diet but the fish variety (Salmon and Prawn)  By Sunday he was more lively, normal poo and better colour.
Monday he was quiet and pale again but Poo normal.  Good day yesterday, and today he has done a poo covered in really thick mucous and is a little pale.
If I havn't got the results back by tomorrow I will ring them and update you all again.

I'm sorry to hear that Milo has been so up and down, must be dreadfully stressful for you Bev :(.  Hope you get the results soon and that something will be found that can put Milo back on the road to recovery.

bevb,

I am also waiting to hear from you about Milo's results and sorry to learn he has been so up and down.

> If I havn't got the results back by tomorrow I will ring them and update you all again.

We are all sat here with fingers crossed for you.   {{{{  HUGS  }}}}