Polycythemia Vera in young dogs

[beatricej]

Hi,
my 17 months old choc. lab. has been diagnosed with polycythemia vera a month ago(we are still waiting for some EPO test results to confirm this diagnosis) .
So far she had 3 phlebotomies (one today) and she started taking hydossyurea one week ago (1 capsule every second day). Everything started with a lameness on her foreleg, followed by lethargy, diffculties in breathing and walking properly, tiredeness.. After her second phlebothomy she started to improve a bit, she was more energetic and she looked happier.. but at the same time her difficulties in breathing became worst and worst. Today I got very scared because it seemed like she couldnt breath at all. I went to the vet which did another phlebotomy and increased hydrossyurea to one a day for a week. I am very worried since I believe the vet underestimated this lung problem she obviously has.
He told me it could take even 2 months before her conditions might improve and there is not much to do to make her feel better.
I was hoping to find some second opinions or previous experiences in here..
thank you

[Dr Lee]

Originally Posted by beatricej

I am very worried since I believe the vet underestimated this lung problem she obviously has.

I would ask your vet about this again. Often we have a limited time to make a decision in the exam room. It might be helpful to ask again.

[Clark171]

We have a beagle (Bear) who is facing similar challenges - we have NOT been able to find a source for Epo testing in dogs. It a appears that laboratories in the United States that do human testing cannot accept cannine blood for testing.
I know that Australia is almost a world away from us in the states, but it would be helpful to have ANY source for Epo (Erythropoietin) testing.

Any suggestions of laboratories that do cannine Epo (Erythropoietin) testing? Our University Vet College (UIUC Vet Med) has been looking as well with no success!!

Godd luck with your pup - one of the challenges of these disorders seems to be they are so rarely diagnosed in dogs.

[growler~GateKeeper]

Clark171 according to this http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/j...77385/abstract published 5 mar 2008 there is an ELISA test for Canine EPO

[Clark171]

Thanks - I've emailed the cooresponding author. While they have preformed the basic research for Merck Company, I've not been able to find a source or laboratory performing the described test.

Any information about laboratories currently conducting Epo tests on cannine blood would be appreciated.

Thanks, again.

[growler~GateKeeper]

Unfortunately the only thing I could come up with is this study http://www.vet.uga.edu/VPP/clerk/strait/index.php done before the earlier posted link, so in this one it mentions no test but it does have a "diagnosis chart".

I will let you know if I come up w/anything else & I hope the author freom the previous study posted responses to you soon

[Clark171]

Thanks!!!! - Charlie

[Clark171]

I got an email from the corresponding author of the article which essentially said they are not offering the test discussed in the article!!!

[growler~GateKeeper]

How disappointing :sad: perhaps they've had trouble with the accuracy or something

How is Bear doing?

[Clark171]

Thanks for asksing about Bear. So far so good. He had a packed cell volume test Wednesday (Oct 15) and the level of blood cells have dropped a bit. We're got a retest scheduled for Oct 20 and if he's still relatively stable we'll be able to move him to biweekly testing. He's his usual cheerful, attentive beagle self.

[growler~GateKeeper]

I'm glad Bear's doing good & for the PCV being higher on the retest