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Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Dog with immune anemia improved by steroid taper and horse placenta

By Sachiko Kotoku et al.·Published in Open Veterinary Journal·2023·Kotoku Animal Hospital, LY·View original on DOAJ

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Original publication title: Successful steroid tapering and partial treatment of suspected immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia in a dog with equine placenta extract supplementation: A case report

Species:
horse

Plain-English summary

An 11-year-old dog was suffering from severe fatigue due to suspected immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA), which is a condition where the immune system attacks the dog's red blood cells. Despite treatment with prednisone, the dog's condition didn't improve, and its blood values continued to drop. After starting equine placental extract supplements, the dog's energy levels improved, and although its blood values initially fell, they eventually began to rise and stayed near normal for about two years. The dog was also able to reduce its prednisone dosage significantly during this time.

People also search for: dog fatigue treatment · immune-mediated hemolytic anemia in dogs · equine placenta extract for dogs

Abstract

Background: We report on the clinical management and outcome of an 11-year-old dog diagnosed with suspected refractory immune-mediated anaemia (IMHA) and treated with equine placental extract supplementation. Case Description: The patient had received standard treatment with subcutaneous infusion of prednisone (2 mg/kg) and oral administration (1.3 mg/kg semel in die [sid]), with limited success as haematocrit (HCT) values continued to fall rapidly, and the patient continued to have severe symptoms of fatigue. The patient was then put on equine placental extract supplements, after which the patient's physical exhaustion was improved, and although the HCT level initially continued to fall, it eventually began to rise and remained near normal for approximately 2 years. Significant reduction in prednisone use was achieved with placental supplementation. Conclusion: Equine placental supplementation may be useful as a new complementary therapy for suspected refractory IMHA. [Open Vet J 2023; 13(5.000): 668-676]

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Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.5455/OVJ.2023.v13.i5.21