celeste Posted December 10, 2011 Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 Hey you lot remember me ?, haven't been here in a while, but now I need a bit of Fugee brain power for my lovely 2nd hand boy Ben. I've only had Ben for 2 years but it feels like he's always been here. Unfortunately Ben's become quite ill, after various tests the vets have found that his bone marrow isn't producing enough red bloods cells and he's anaemic, he has very rapid breathing and no appetite at all. Due to not having been able to find anyone who would insure him at a reasonable cost ( there was only one and they wanted £50 a month ) I really can't afford the thousands it would cost to send him to the vet school, and even if he was insured I'm not sure I could put him through endless tests, he doesn't cope well away from home, and there's no guarantee of a cure or treatment at the end of it.. I have been wondering if the vet could give him a transfusion, it would at least give him some relief, even if just for a brief time. He's had a couple of blood tests done and his blood count was only a few points off the lowest level, but even so he seems to be feeling the effects. Any experience or suggestions would be very welcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yantan Posted December 10, 2011 Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 Hiya - nice to see you I am sorry Ben isn't well I can't offer any help either but I will send positive thoughts for him and hope you can find something to help him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne Grose Posted December 10, 2011 Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 Hi you, long time no talk. I wonder if the supplement that the vet has given me to help Barty might help your boy. Like you, here in SW France there is no pet insurance so we can't do endless tests to get to the bottom of things. Barty has something wrong with his kidneys and he is getting more and more anaemic. I have just started him on a supplement (that is a liquid we put on his food) called Fercobsang which is iron/Vit B12 and something else I haven't to hand at the mo. It is too early to tell whether it will help Barty in the long run as he has only been on it for 3 days but it doesn't cost the earth €10.30 for 100ml and he gets 1ml a day for 5 days every fortnight or so. Might be worth talking to your vet about giving him a palliative supplement without ever getting to the bottom of the cause of the problem. Hope that might help a tiny bit. Love and hugs from all of us Anne, Barty & Chloe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackmagic Posted December 10, 2011 Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 Sorry to hear of Ben's problems. Have you had diagnosis? It does sound like Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houndzrus Posted December 10, 2011 Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 Hello again Sorry to hear about Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celeste Posted December 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 We've had no diagnosis, it's not the auto immune thing though as he would be an awful lot more anaemic than he is and there would be destroyed blood cells in his tests ( so the vet says ), he just isn't making enough new cells. Anne he's already getting a B12 injection which is helping a tiny bit but not much, I'll have a look at the supplement though, anythings worth a try. My friends hubby is a doctor who specialises in drug abuse, he suggested that a transfusion might work, he's had HIV patients who reacted badly to the meds used for HIV, a few infusions were enough to stimulate the bone marrow into working again, feel like I'm clutching at straws but you never know. Thanks for the kind thoughts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celeste Posted December 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 Anne, was the Fercobsang prescribed by your vet ?, I found mention of it but nowhere that seems to sell it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
griff Posted December 10, 2011 Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 i am so sorry to hear Ben is Unwell :mecry: have you had a nosy on hyperdrug? they do some supplements containing iron and the b vitamins, look in the canine chemist under general supplements, there is one called ferAvit d tonic, not sure if that would be any help to you. if we were closer you could have gladly had some of laneys blood (not too sure how pleased laney would be ) keeping everything crossed for the big lad :GroupHug: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pendlewitch Posted December 10, 2011 Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 Poor Ben, it's awful when they are ill. Nothing to add but I really hope you find something to help him! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gooster Posted December 10, 2011 Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 Sorry he is poorly, there is something called Red Cell that you can give to horses that is supposed to boost them if they are a bit anaemic. Let me have a google and see if I can find anything similar for smallies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne Grose Posted December 10, 2011 Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 Yes Celeste the Fercobsang was prescribed by my vet down here in France. Fer is iron in French so I am assuming it is a French thing. I was suggesting as I thought there would probably be an English equivalent. Give me a bit and I will find the exact ingredients and then you might be able to find an English equivalent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merledogs Posted December 11, 2011 Report Share Posted December 11, 2011 (edited) Hi Jane. Have replied to your PM re the blood transfusions My vet advised me to feed Max liver, which is fairly cheap and might stimulate Ben's appetite too. You can feed it cooked or raw Bursting with iron and quicker than waiting for supplements to work. Edited December 11, 2011 by merledogs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merledogs Posted December 11, 2011 Report Share Posted December 11, 2011 Forgot to say, you need to be really careful that Ben doesn't catch anything or even get an upset stomach, because his body won't be able to fight off any infection. My vet had Max on Zantac to prevent stomach infections and a broad spectrum antibiotic to prevent any other infections Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celeste Posted December 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2011 Forgot to say, you need to be really careful that Ben doesn't catch anything or even get an upset stomach, because his body won't be able to fight off any infection. My vet had Max on Zantac to prevent stomach infections and a broad spectrum antibiotic to prevent any other infections Thanks Alex, that's all useful info, Ben's blood levels aren't anywhere near as low as Max's were, they are only about 3-5 lower than the lowest level but the big balloon is feeling the effects, very puffy and lethargic, no appetite at all, he's on a supplement already but as he's usually fed raw anyway I'll get him some liver to liquidise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gooster Posted December 11, 2011 Report Share Posted December 11, 2011 Am struggling to find the red cell for dogs on a UK site, but have found this info http://farnamhorse.eu/products/categories/feed-supplements/canine-red-cell/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts