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Following instinct saved a pup’s life
By Debbie Evert 
Eddie was one sick puppy. On March 4th, the five-year-old shih-tzu was his spunky self,
full of energy and fun. The following day his condition turned 180 degrees and he was holding onto life.
“He was lethargic, and his body was hot,” Tracy Knupp, Eddie’s mom, said.
Tracy and her husband Mike Knupp found blood on one of Eddie’s toys on the floor.
Believing Eddie might have cut his gum on the rawhide he gets 10 minutes a week,
they didn’t think much beyond that. Then they realized Eddie hadn’t had his supervised chew treat.
As Tracy and Mike examined their pup more closely, they noticed one of Eddie’s eyes was bloodshot.
She called the vet and Mike took him in immediately.
X-rays revealed blood in Eddie’s lungs. His blood platelet count was dangerously low at 6,000.
“Until the platelet count drops to 75,000, you’re at no risk at all,” Ricia Walker, DVM says.
“Below 75,000, you can’t clot if injured. If it drops below 25,000, you can spontaneously hemorrhage into a body cavity.”
Eddie was hemorrhaging throughout his body. He was diagnosed with Immune mediated thrombocytopenia (IMTP).
Immune-mediated diseases result when the body's immune system fails to recognize its own cells and tissues and
begins to attack them as if they were foreign invaders. In immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, the immune system
attacks and destroys platelets.
In addition to IMTP that attacks the platelets, there are other auto-immune diseases that attack the red blood cells.
is a serious, often fatal blood disorder. Abnormal antibodies stick to the red blood cells and cause the body to believe
they are a ‘foreign invader.’ The dog’s immune system attacks the red blood cells and destroys them, leading to anemia.”
A body needs platelets for the blood to clot. A “low normal” platelet count for a dog is 175,000 – 200,000.
Dr. Walker sees IMHA or IMTP every couple of months in her two years at Pet’s First Animal Hospital.
Often, the situation is idiopathic; she doesn’t know how Eddie contracted IMTP. He had no overt symptoms.
“This is not an uncommon disease,” she said. “But, it is truly life threatening.”
Eddie’s condition stabilized throughout the weekend, but he was still critical. The platelet count dropped to 5,000,
however with the use of steroids and an immunosuppressive drug the count raised to 35,000 by Monday.
When tested Thursday, six days after his first symptoms, Eddie’s count raised to a normal 223,000.
“We were totally devastated,” said Ute Knupp, Eddie’s grandmother. She became an integral part of Eddie’s
road to recovery as one of his caregivers.
Eddie was on a 24-hour watch at home for the first three days following his release from the hospital.
After he stabilized, Grandmother Knupp watched as Eddie went outside to potty and play so he didn’t
exert too much energy when mom and dad were at work.
This normally spunky pup was still lethargic because of his daily regimen of prednisone and
other medications to help stabilize his blood platelet count.
In addition to daily meds, Eddie visited Dr. Walker once a week for blood tests.
“We still always worry, appointment to appointment,” Tracy said.
“This is not a condition for the faint of heart,” Tracy said. “Dr. Walker truly has a vested interest in us.”
Eddie had a relapse May 25 as his platelet count dropped again. With care from Dr. Walker and her staff
as well as his family, this spunky pup is back on his way to good health.
Stress affects any disease process. Dr. Walker told the Knupps a dog interprets good and bad stress the same.
So, they monitor his activity level as well as the amount of time he’s left alone.
“Walks are shorter, and we have to be careful he doesn’t cut himself when his platelet count is low,” this doting dog mom said.
When the Knupps got Eddie, they made a decision to take care of him. Eddie’s normal routine for the past 5 years
is to go to work with dad during the day or go to Grandma’s house. He’s had regular visits to see Dr. Walker
before IMTP became the focus of this adorable Shih-Tzu’s life. After a minor back injury, Tracy and Mike
took him to the chiropractor and to get accupuncture.
“Yes, we baby him,” Tracy admitted. “Not everyone considers their pets to be their kids and I’m not saying they should.
But, there are so many things that can happen. A responsible pet parent needs to take that into consideration when getting a pet.”
Those involved in caring for Eddie agree on two things. First, Eddie’s life was saved because of their quick response to his changing condition.
“One of the most important things is to listen to your gut,” Walker recommends.
“If you think there’s something wrong, take your pet to your vet. Sure, it might cost you a vet bill, but it could save his life.”
The Knupps “absolutely saved Eddie’s life by getting him in so soon,” Walker confirmed.
Mike, Eddie’s dad, said he was glad he didn’t let his “sense of duty (to go to work first and wait on taking his pup to the vet) get in the way.”
Secondly, caregiver/Grandmother Knupp agrees. “What really saved him was that we were so in tune with him.”
Most of the patients I’ve seen for this are off meds and will be ok,” Walker concluded.
The goal is for Eddie “to live a completely normal life and keep this in remission.”
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Summer PETacularUSA publishes July 6, 2010. Now a more concise Magazine/Newsletter format, available online or sign up to receive as a quarterly MagaNews!
By: Dr Russell Welfare,DVM; North Powers Animal Hospital
Colorado Canine Orthopedics is one of our sponsors and regular contributors. 
Friends are the family we choose for ourselves -Edna Buchanan
