Immune Support for Dog with Autoimmune Disease

July 9, 2013

Hi Emily,

For Finn, you are correct that the Lyme Vaccine may have been the cause for this acute onset of Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia.

In many cases, you can see a remission and return of health, so that you can gradually decrease and discontinue the steroids. It is difficult to predict which patients will need the steroids forever and which will not.

Here are some suggestions:

1. Continue the same diet, RAW, Nature’s Variety.

2. Start Petinic liquid for anemia and to build Red blood cells and platelets.
Give Finn 1cc by mouth two times daily.

3. Give Milk Thistle, 120-150 mg in food TWO times daily. This will provide liver support while he is on steroids. It is easier to buy it in a capsule form, open the capsule and sprinkle it into the food.

4. Thuya occidentalis 6C or 12C potency. This is a homeopathic remedy that is indicated for ill-effects from a vaccine. Add one pellet to 2 oz of Spring Water in an eye dropper bottle. Shake the bottle 20 times by hitting it against the palm of your hand, to ‘succuss’ the remedy. Give Finn 1/2 dropperful by mouth TWO times daily.

5. NO more vaccinations. Seek the help of a holistic veterinarian to write an exemption form to avoid future vaccines.

Another resource for vets knowledgeable in homeopathy is AVH.org.

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

Thank you for your recommendations.

Finn is still in the critical care hospital. He’s now on his 6th day. His PCV has been up and down (12-18), his eating erratic and vomiting at times.

Today he is eating, and his PCV is at 16, so I am hoping the meds are kicking in and we see an upward trend. His vitals are good, and he doesn’t look as bad as expected. He walks around, jumps in and out of his bed and wags his tail.

He doesn’t seem distressed being at the hospital, I was very happy to see he seems to have adjusted well, following the doctor and techs around, and not upset when I left. The hospital is over 90 minutes from where I live so we can’t drop in daily.

Do you feel these holistic remedies would be good to administer to him now while he’s still in the hospital and also being given the steroids, etc? Or should we start afterwards?

He has had one transfusion so far, they almost felt he needed another 2 nights ago but now has seemed to gain ground so didn’t do it.

He is also on anti-vomiting and anti diarrhea meds as well as steroids and one other med. A lot for a little guy.

Hi Emily,

Hopefully, Finn has improved enough by now to be released from critical care. You wrote:

**Do you feel these holistic remedies would be good to administer to him now while he’s still in the hospital and also being given the steroids, etc? Or should we start afterwards?**

Yes, the supplements would be very beneficial to give to him now, and the sooner the better. Thuya is the only one that might not work very well, since steroids and conventional meds would interfere with its action.

There would not be any adverse side effect, it just might not work, so it would not hurt to give it. AND, if all of this started due to a vaccine, then the Thuya may help him in spite of the other drugs!

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

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DISCLAIMER: The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

Related Pages:
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– Homemade Dog Food Recipes
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– Dog Symptom Checker – Photo, Question & Answer Library for Thousands of Dog Symptoms

To give you hope, my boy had autoimmune last year, his blood count when down to 14. It has taken at five months to get him stable and totally off the steroid.

Be prepared for his coat to get in a bad condition. Inca is a red dog, his fur become so fine and blonde he almost looked bald.

Take each day at a time, and take it very slowly…fed him little and often, and when the vet says little exercise, he means it. Inca was crated with small supervised walks, normally with me carrying him. His heartbeat was erratic…and several times I thought I would loose him.

Stay strong love and best wishes to you all xx