Auto immune problem?

[bluebell]

hiya. I am looking for any info / experiences members might have re auto immune illnessess in their dogs. My young GSD bitch has become very unwell and an auto immune problem is suspected.. Thrombocytopenia and SLE have been mentioned but we are waitng on some tests results. I cant sleep or settle as I am so frightened re this all . I have an awful feeling of dread.. Any experience or info would be appreciated ..
thanks
janet.

[Doberman's]

Janet what exactly is wrong with your dog ?

My one Doberman is Hypo thyriod and when we didn't know what was wrong he became very ill and looked horrible.

[bluebell]

hiya , thank you for your response.
She has a variety of symptoms that are now being thought of as perhaps being an auto immune problem. Three small episodes of non eating followed by dark diarohea for 24hours . She went in to have lameness investigated recently and they found lesions in her mouth and ears and they are now thinking it may be all the one illness , they had initially thought panoeostious( excuse the spelling) for her shifting lameness and more recently maybe her cruciate ligament . They also were treating her skin problems that have plagued her as wet excema .. she has gone steadily down hill in the last month or two and so after finding these ulcers in her mouth the vet has now taken biopsies... they have done blood tests which they have redone this weekend as one result came back low in comparison to what it should be . This has been sent externally this time.....I dont know which test they are refering too just that it was low. Its a very worrying time , my girl is most definitely unwell and unnaturally quiet....
thank you for listening
janet.

[superglue]

I saw SLE and that took my eye...Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) .I have information on what is SLE..the human form I dont know how different it would be in dogs..because you mentioned Auto immune disease I thought Id let you know that it is common sometimes for diabetic's to get the other two auto immune diseases that I have as well, I dont mean to alarm you.if you need the information SLE please let me know:D

[bluebell]

thank you super glue that would be much appreciated ...
janet :)

[superglue]

HI Bluebell I did try and copy and paste some of the article on SLE but it is far too long and I would probably need your email to send you the entire article I have on SLE and remembering it is an article on SLE in Human's.

[3 goldens]

Bluebell, where do you live? Has you dog had Proheart6 or Proheart SR12 or Guardian hearworm preventative? if so, that could bring on autoimmune disease. The Proheart6 is no longer on the market here in the states, but a few what I call renagade vets have gotten it from elsewhere and continued using it Proheart6 caused my 4 year old golden rtriever to develop autoimmune hemolytic anemia and after 8 days in ICU, he died.

In Australia they use the 12 month version, ProHeartSR12 and in Europe they call it Guardian. After the FDA "requested" Fort Dodge pull it from the market, Canada became concerned and told them to prove it was as safe as they said. Apparently they did not do so because in march the Canadian governemtn told them to label it as risky and indicated only for dogs that no other heartworm preventative could be used effeftively. This letter sent out can be found on www.dogsadversereactions.com, a site that is not a forum like this, but strictly inforamtion about drug reactions in dogs, from heartworm preventatives to NSAISs, to regular vax.

[Jake2006]

You said that immune mediated thrombocytopenia has been mentioned - that is where the platlets in the blood are too low for the blood to clot. Usually the body is covered in bruises - especially in the ears - my dog's teeth also started to bleed when he ate his food. However - he did have thrombocytopenia and he did survive for 5 years after that and lived to the ripe old age of 17.

Usually Thrombocytopenia manifests itself very quickly - another thing to look at is the penis (sorry) but if you do he may have bruises which resemble blood blisters. I've just realised that you have a bitch so I expect this wouldn't apply.

One dog in every 20,000 gets thrombocytopenia so statistics are on your side.

I don't know whereabouts you are - but if you are in the UK - Cambridge Veterinary School are the experts - or were for me.

I hope the problems resolve quickly for you as I know how you feel - its the unknowing that is worse!

I'd be happy to chat with you on a PM if you would like any further information.

Best of Luck

Carole (Jake's Mom)
xx