Ugh.
Kacey has been ill since we returned from Hawaii/IA last month. Her energy is low, appetite is poor, and she's having more bad days than good. Initially, we suspected this was from overexertion and dehydration from all the hard play at the kennel while we were on vacation and her labs supported this theory with a few outlying differential diagnosis to consider.
With some screening lab testing, it appears that she may have an autoimmune hemolytic anemia (her immune system killing her red blood cells). Confirmatory labs are pending, drawn today.
Repeat blood counts show her anemia has worsened over the past 7 days despite an increase in reticulocytes. This means that her body is manufacturing red blood cells as fast as it can but the mature cells are dying off early yielding a net loss of cells. We initiated treatment a few days ago to suppress her immune system and see if her symptoms improve. Unfortunately, it seems as though the treatment is working which further increases suspicion for an autoimmune mediated illness. This is one instance where I hope that the vet and I are both exhibiting judgement errors.
Still missing Bailey (February 2012),
Peter