Emergency - clots!

[Troy]

Anyone dealt with blood clots coming from one nostril. The clots are about the 1/2 long, thick, mucous bloody...

Kamen's energy is fine, he's playing, he's eating and drinking. It's just these clots are scaring me. He's going to be 11 on September 8th!

We're going to the vet first thing in the morning. He's sleeping comfortably right now... totally seems fine except for this clotty discharge from his left nostril.

Help anyone????????????????

[GraceAAA]

If these clots were of sudden onset, I personally would not wait until the morning for Kamen to be seen by a veterinarian. Do you have an emergency veterinary center that you could call to at least speak with tonight? Best wishes

[Troy]

OK Grace thanks...I'm on my way.

[BostonRott]

I hate to say this, but nose bleeds in elderly dogs are often linked to cancer. Will pray that's not the case for your boy, and I definitely agree, get to an emergency vet!

[Troy]

Well it was a tough night. I got back from the emergency clinic around 2 a.m. They ran blood tests and Kamen's platelet level is really low.

They put him on steroids thinking this might be immune mediated thromocytopeniz. (sp?)

In immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (IMT), the reduction happens because there is increased destruction of platelets by the body's own immune system, at a rate faster than they are produced in the bone marrow. IMT may be secondary to some other process (such as an infection, tumour, or drug reaction).

I'm really scared everyone. Really scared.

Thanks to BostonRott and GraceAAA for your replies last night.

[moondog]

Troy, macho rottie's dog has this, you may want to PM her. Any chance of a tick borne cause (erlichiosis)? Here's a couple links I hope will help:

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/in...m/bc/10606.htm
http://www.gsdhelpline.com/thrombo.htm

[Troy]

Thank you Moondog.

I really appreciate the information. Thank you!

[BostonRott]

If looking for ehrlichiosis, pay to have the expensive full tick panel run (costs about $100). It will cover both Ehrlichea equi and E. canis varieties, as well as give you an actual titre. In the Boston area, these panels are sent to Cornell in NY and take a few days to come back.

[Troy]

I'm having trouble typing but wanted to update this.

It seems that now not only are Kamen's blood platelets being killed, but so are his red blood cells.

We're going to try Imuran next.

I feel like there isn't much time. My heart is broken.

[moondog]

Troy, what has the treatment consisted of up to this point? How is he feeling? Here's another link that has some treatment info, too:

http://www.vetinfo.com/dthrombo.html

I know this must be very, very difficult for you.

[Troy]

We started on the prednisone Friday evening via injection, then 4 pills of pred twice a day since Saturday.

He has 20% of his red blood cells left. His bone marrow is producing cells, but they are being destroyed almost as fast.

Imuran starts tonight.

He seems slower and is panting (but that most likely is from the steroids). So far he's been eating and drinking.

Thanks for everything Moondog. I really really appreciate your help.

[moondog]

I just wish I could fix it....

I'm sure the pred has a lot to do with the panting, and at that high of dosing, it can cause weakness, too, which I'm sure is adding to any weakness from the loss of red blood cells. It sounds like he's still doing okay, considering...he's eating and drinking and that's good.

Please let us know how he does with the Imuran, I'm hoping for the best.

[Troy]

Thank you.

I do too.

We will keep fighting.

[Vista]

For those offering insight or experience with this condition, please post here, in Vet's Corner.

For those offering well wishes, please post in this thread:
Emergency - Clots! Well Wishes

[StephanieandToby]

Originally Posted by BostonRott

I hate to say this, but nose bleeds in elderly dogs are often linked to cancer. Will pray that's not the case for your boy, and I definitely agree, get to an emergency vet!

My brother's Rottweiler was diagnosed with sinus cancer last year at the age of 11. It started with his nose oozing and not responding to antibiotics or prednisone. It was finally diagnosed with a biopsy. He is still with us, but does snort out big clots of blood and mucous.
There is a hound cross that I walk that also suffered from frequent nosebleeds and clots. Same thing...a biopsy diagnosed sinus cancer...actually only last week...
Both dogs are frisky and eating and have no other symptoms other than sneezing out the clumps. They say the dogs usually last about a year after they get the cancer, but are fine right up until the very end.
I hope the news is good and they find something treatable. Best of luck, I am thinking of you today!