Will Falconer, DVM Moderator
Hi Jeanne,
I'm so sorry you're dealing with this in your Dachsies. The second one has one of the most feared outcomes in veterinary medicine: autoimmune thrombocytopenia and autoimmune hemolytic anemia.
The correlation with heartworm pesticides and/or vaccinations is the handwriting on the wall. I've written about the first one here on my Drug Free Heartworm page, and the second here, on my Vaccinations: Safety page.
Conventional medicine loses about 50% of these autoimmune cases, even after heroic and expensive measures are taken. If you want to get to cure, I'd strongly suggest hiring a veterinary homeopath to guide you.
The drugs are aimed at shutting down the immune system, which, as you might imagine, is fool's play. Homeopathy aims to stimulate a "fight" in the patient, to throw off his disease.
Look for the AVH list on my Resources page, and don't be afraid to work by telephone if there's not a good vet homeopath near you.
I sincerely wish you the best with this very big challenge before you.