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Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Abby's Fight
| I have learned so much in the last week of a disease that I had never heard of before. My dear Abby (a.k.a. Doodlebugs), a 5-year-old Rottie mix, didn't seem quite right on Jan. 9 so I made a vet appointment for the following night. Her symptoms were loss of appetite and lethargy, plus she vomited some bile. She had been fine the day before. I went home at lunch the next day and didn't like the way she looked so I took her in right away. The vet suspected pancreatitis and kept her. Tests later also revealed AIHA in addition to the pancreas problem. Her count on Feb. 11 had dipped to 10. Five days later (spent at the vet) and a slight improvement to 18 but still vomiting plus now an irregular heartbeat so I took her to a full-service hospital on Jan. 15. On leaving the original vet, I was told that her situation was hopeless and that she would probably never recover. This weekend, I am hoping to bring her home. She received a transfusion on Jan. 16 (something my original vet said would not help) and she is now up to 30. Her internal medicine specialist has been wonderful and although the whole process has been terribly expensive (thank you, MasterCard, for increasing my credit limit), it is impossible to put a price on her life. I am hopeful that she can continue to fight this so she can enjoy many more years together with our other four dogs and cat. This is a wonderful forum full of hope as well as sad stories. |
| Janet Montreal |
| Hi Janet, sorry to hear about Abby but happy to hear she picked up. Thank goodness she had the transfusion Janet! You know I try to think back to how Trixie was at the very beginning of all this (September 2007), she was never sick/vomiting and her eating habits were not really any different. The morning I noticed something wasn't right was when she came upstairs to me, I heard her stop on the top stair, she sounded like she couldn't get her breath and her head was down, I called her into my room and as she was walking, she looked wobbly, I knew then something wasn't right. During that day I kept an eye on her, she seemed ok, the following day I decided to take her to the Vet, he wasn't sure what it was. Whilst I was there I mentioned her paw, near the base of her nail, it was a little swollen and a bit reddish in colour, he said it looked like it had got torn somehow. He gave her some antibiotics and said they might help with how she was feeling and they would also probably help the infection at the nail base. He asked me to return in a week. I did, and it was then they decided to do a blood test and checked her gums. I was told she seemed a little pale. Four days later I was told she had, what appeared to be AIHA and here I am today! It is a great forum, isn't it. I have learnt so much here. It has brought smiles and tears. We are all in this together and it is so good to share, whether it be good or not so good news. Tricia |
| Tricia UK |
| It's funny that you mentioned a sore. A week or two before Christmas, a bump suddenly appeared on Abby's head, almost like a wart. Over the Christmas holidays, it was gone but left a small bleeding lesion. She also had another small sore on the side of her mouth but they're like kids, they get little things like this all the time and they go away. But I wonder if this is linked to the disease in some way. One of the odd things that Abby did was to crawl under an end table in the living room, a place she never went. P.S. Of course, when I mentioned her count dipping to 10, I meant Jan. 11. |
| Janet Canada |
| Janet - this IS a very expensive disease, but it can be beat. so glad your pooch is better & even gladder you found someone familiar with the disease. i had to switch vets also. just wanted you to know that my Lucy was diagnosed Oct 10, 2006 and is going strong now. Wishing you and Abby the best! |
| Susan Oklahoma |
| Janet, I am so very sorry to hear your most beloved Abby has recently been diganosed with AIHA. If you have not read my Web site on AIHA/IMHA as yet, you might want to do so when you can. The URL is http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/ Be sure to follow the links on the first page to many other AIHA/IMHA sites that will be very helpful to you and do read the Success Stories pages. They will show you what has worked for other dogs in terms of treatment options as well as give you a lot of HOPE. While AIHA/IMHA is a very difficult disease, the Success Stories will show you dogs CAN and DO survive it and go on to live happy healthy lives. I truly do know how hard this is so be assured both you and your dear Abby are in my thoughts and prayers during these most difficult days. |
| Joanne MN |
| Janet, My TC is Shepard with some Rottie, they are strong dogs~ Finding the right vet who knows the disease is so important. TC is recovering, doing much better and he is 10 years old. Keep the faith, and I so agree you cannot put a price on their health & wellbeing. Best to you and Abby. |
| Wendy Tampa FL |
| Hi Janet. I'm sorry you've had to join us at this site but you have come to the right place for information and support of people who can definitely relate to what you are going through. I'm glad to hear that Abby has picked up and is doing better. This is an expensive illness to treat but I agree with you, how can you put a price on a life? Take care and please keep us up-dated on Abby's progress. deb and Duck |
| Debbie BC Canada |
| Hi Janet, I know the feeling of hearing the words hopeless or grim. I'm not one to give up and so happy to hear you didn't, either! The cost of this disease and whatever else follows is high, but I don't keep track. I just do what has to be done. You have found a great site where everyone listens and offers their valuable knowledge. Bless everyone of you! I'm sorry I don't write often. Sometimes I am too overwhelmed. Nancy |
| Nancy CO |
This thread was discussed between 18/01/2008 and 19/01/2008
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