Likely IMHA in a 10 month old golden retriever, primary or secondary?

RE: Likely IMHA in a 10 month old golden retriever, primary or secondary?

Jenny Harris — Sun, 10 Mar 2019 19:03:46 GMT

Hi Andy

thanks for your help and sharing the consensus statement. No hyperbilirubinanaemia. I will sit tight and treat as an AIMHA for now!

Jenny

RE: Likely IMHA in a 10 month old golden retriever, primary or secondary?

Andrew Kent — Sun, 10 Mar 2019 07:54:47 GMT

I always worry about diagnosing IMHA in very young dogs but have had a convincing case in a 7 month old once.

I think the presence of a strongly regenerative anaemia plus spherocytosis is fairly convincing. Plus you have seen something of a response to steroids. Any hyperbilirubinemia?

it is a case I would we watching closely to make sure no sign of GI bleeding appears but likely reasonable to tx as IMHA for the moment.

Worth a read of the recently published consensus on IMHA diagnosis:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jvim.15441

Andy

RE: Likely IMHA in a 10 month old golden retriever, primary or secondary?

Jenny Harris — Fri, 08 Mar 2019 19:54:18 GMT

Thanks Sara, I suppose micro vascular disease is possible, the lab didn’t report schistocytes but did see lots of spherocytes which is what was swaying me towards an immune mediated anaemia. I do wonder like you though if this dog just wasn’t well put together!

RE: Likely IMHA in a 10 month old golden retriever, primary or secondary?

Sara Ramsey — Fri, 08 Mar 2019 19:23:31 GMT

Gosh, she has had a lot going on for a young dog hasn't she? Makes me think something possibly developmental?

Could there be any chance of microvascular disease? Not really the right breed for hepatic micro-vascular dysplasia (and BAST was ok) but perhaps not an antibody driven haemolytic anaemia given negative Coombes and saline agglutination?

RE: Likely IMHA in a 10 month old golden retriever, primary or secondary?

Jenny Harris — Fri, 08 Mar 2019 19:12:47 GMT

Coombs has come back negative, although the dog was on steroid for a week beforehand (not sure what dose though)