Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Chip has gone to Rainbow Bridge

Hi All, I know what everyone here is going through or has gone through... My Chip was diagnosed in January '07 everything went well until the Prednisone caused diabetes rather quickly. We dropped the Pred stayed with Imuran for a while and then weaned. He was till diabetic but FINE FINE FINE... on Friday he seemed sick ... then Saturday morning I knew it was back. Blood was at 20 (no biggie really that is the number with which he first presented)... I knew what it was, I knew how bad he looked was normal and that he could totally rebound like last time. Had a regular vet appt. this morning but yesterday he was bad, I called my vet and asked if I shouldn't just take him to emergency and she concurred. This morning his blood was at 10 he was pretty much in shock. I discussed it over and over with this unknown person who honestly was probably the best fit with me which was a godsend. She told me that even if money was no object it probably wasn't good since thEe AIHA meds contradict the diabetes meds. We made our decision and he is now with all of the others. My head is killing me and hopefully this is all making sense but I knew I needed to return to where I found hope in the beginning to come full circle and that is this forum. Our case I believe was from his vaccines as he had received them two weeks prior to the onset, my vet was puzzled with the relapse, I now wonder if it was the frontline that we administered I think in November as he had fleas for the first time ever. I know at this point it doesn't matter but I figured I'd put it all out there as I remember living here when we were first diagnosed. At least we had one year plus of our baby, Chip, our miniature pinscher who was almost 6. Sherri

Sherri Pennsylvania

Sherri, My heart goes out to you at this time of loss. Your head and heart will hurt for a while - then you will begin to see the rainbow of blessings that Chip has left for you. I had to put my Molson down on 3/25/08 as a result of liver disease, a complication from his IMHA. He had been diagnosed in Dec. 07. Know of my thoughts and prayers at this very difficult time. Ann Marie

Ann Marie FL

This is just so heartbreaking. I am so sorry and so sad that another dog has lost their time/life to this devastating disease. Please take care of yourself and know that we all feel your pain. Gail

Gail SD

Thank you both for your sympathy and Ann Marie I'm so very sorry for your very recent loss. I also suspected liver disease, as Chip's stools before he became obviously sick were very orange and greasy and his urine was very dark --- we may not have even gone far enough to evaluate the possibility -- that was my initial diagnosis as far as the Internet could tell me. I also wanted to add a post script regarding my comment about Frontline --- since his application, Chip suffered many "weird" things -- I was very afraid to apply it but my vet eased my mind into the application --- he had several bouts with hives and several odd illnesses (vomiting, etc.) Again, I only post this information in case there is any commonality. It is a moot point now but may be helpful to others and in the long run. Sherri

Sherri Pennsylvania

Sherri, I'm so sorry to hear about Chip. What a horrible disease. We lost our 19-month old Yellow Lab to IMHA right after Christmas, so I know how you're feeling right now - the downward spiral is so quick; it all seems to be such a whirlwind. I'm glad you got the extra year with Chip after his initial diagnosis - we had 36 hours to wrap our heads around it. Cherish the time you had with him, and know he's healthy again where he is now. Elizabeth

Elizabeth Baltimore

Sherri -- I'm sorry to hear you lost your dear Chip to IMHA. This disease is just so unrelenting. Please take care and know that you did all you could for your dear boy.

Brenda VA

Sherri, I am so sorry for your loss. I am glad you got the extra year with Chip but I know it never seems long enough. Isn't it awful how Vets keep insisting these products are safe. It doesn't matter if the odds are 1 in ten million if that 1 dog is yours. Your sweet boy is running in a world of no fleas or illness now and will be waiting for you when the time comes. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Sherri, I'm so sorry to hear your news. I hope in time you can take comfort in the fact that you bought Chip an extra year and did everything you could to help him. I'm sure he knew how much he was loved. We're coming up to a year with Duck and I feel that each day is a blessing, that we have to make the most of it for him. Please take care of yourself. My heart goes out to you. deb and Duck

Debbie BC Canada

So sorry to hear about Chip. We are thinking of you at this hard time.

leslie ca

Sherri, so very sorry to hear your news, my thoughts are with you. Tricia

Tricia UK

Thank you, Sherri for posting about your experience with Frontline. I would like to e-mail you further about your experience. I am 100% sure my Choe developed AIHA after a second (in 6 week) frontlne applicaton. Also told by the vet it was safe. Have done a lot of research on the product. Fipronil, the main ingredient is a toxic insecticide. Unlike the marketing the companiy extols that Frontline does not penetrate below the skin....they are incorrect.They refuse to release clinuical study trials to prove the safety of the product. I has written to their head vet twice to no avail. She ignored my request and told me it had to be another malady that caused Choe's AIHA. There is a group of pet owners whose pets also suffered adverse reactions from this product. There are many letters written on a website maintained by a pet owner who almost lost his pet to another flea control product. Here is the address: http://www.elversonpuzzle.com/biospotlettersv11.html The high volume of leters received by this webmaster about these dangerous flea control products is certainly not anecdotal. Reading them will make you very angry that these products are not better regulate by the EPA. We are seeking to have the company change it's packaging and reveal that adverse reactions are common. I urge everyone not to use this product. Thinking of you in your time of saddness. Jan

jan philly

Dear Sherri We lost our dog Georgie after a 6 months battle with AIHI. Like you Chip she had her vaccinations 2 weeks before the first symptoms. I am so sorry for your loss and understand some of what you are going through. I have two puppies now who had already been vaccinated. I am dreading the summer when they need boosters. I will try to find someone who will do single vaccines spread out over weeks or months. We never used Frontline on Georgie but have with other animals in the past. I will definitley not use it after similar comments on this site. I wrote to the vaccination company and whilst they would not accept liability, they made a gesture of good will and paid some of our costs (which ran into thousands). I know it won't help Georgie but if we must try to make the companies aware of what their drugs do to animals. I know what you mean about your killing you. I couldn't think straight for weeks. You have to find a way through this which suits you. The forum is a great support and I still return almost daily 8 months on. Steph

Steph Wales

Dear Sherri, I am so sorry to hear about Chip. He has gone to a better place, disease-free and filled with health and joy. My deepest sympathies. Our thoughts are with you. Christine and Kent Steph in Wales UK : Please contact me at christinemitchell at fulbrightweb dot org - i would like to talk to you about your letter to the vaccine company.. thank you

Christine Fl

Thank you all for your support, I appreciate your kind words. The more I think about the frontline application the madder at myself I get -- my gut said no and I should have listened. I know I will never know if that is what it was that sparked the relapse but my gut says yes and this time I am listening. With the initial onset, someone suggested I contact the vaccine manufacturer and I never did - at that time my mind was so not focused on that because it was too late but now I'm just MAD and as everyone suggests, nothing will change unless something is done. I hope that my vet still has my file - not sure how quickly they destroy such things but I will see what I can learn. Thank you again this forum gives me some peace. Sherri

Sherri Pennsylvania

Hello: I just wandered on this site....we just lost our Jack Russell terrier Roxanne last week to AIHA. It has been the hardest thing to deal with....it happens so fast without any warning. She was fine on Sunday and by Wednesday she had passed. We are just trying to wrap our brains around what has happended and trying to make sense of it all. It's hard not to think about what you didn't do or what you may have done to cause the disease, but our vet has told us that there is no real way to determine what causes it and usually you find out when the symptoms are too far in progression. My heart goes out to all of you that have had to deal with this awful disease for your pets. We miss Roxy so very much. To anyone who reads this...thank you for listening.

Chandra Ohio

Chandra, I am so very sorry to hear of the death of your most beloved Jack Russell Terrier, Roxanne to AIHA last week. Please accept my deepest sympathies on your loss. When you feel up to it, I hope you will visit the Loss & Grief page at the Meisha's Hope AIHA/IMHA Web site: http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/loss.htm This page was written with input from those who have lost their dogs to AIHA/IMHA and contains many resources that will be very helpful to you during these most difficult days. Once again, my deepest sympathies to you on your loss. Be assured you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Joanne MN

Joanne, Thank you for your kind words. I will be sure to view the website. I have found that reading about AIHA and talking to other people who have gone through the same thing makes dealing with it much easier. Thanks again for your help and concern. Take care, Chandra

Chandra Ohio

Chandra, I am so sorry to about the death of Roxanne. My Molson died of IMHA complications last week as well. Know of my thoughts and prayers.... Ann Marie

Ann Marie FL

Ann Marie, Thank you. I am very sorry about your loss as well. I know how difficult these past few days have been for you and I'm sure Molson is missed very much. Please know you are in my thoughts as well. It's so hard to lose these "angels" in our lives, but I know we are blessed to have them with us....even for a short time. Chandra

Chandra Ohio

i am sorry to hear about your loss, rest in peace chip and all dogs lost to this :(

josh california

Chandra, I am sorry for your loss. Yes this does come on so fast as we have all learned. Try not to beat yourself up too much on what you did or did not do. I know that is easier said than done! It will be 2 years in June that I lost my lab, Salome and it is still hard to deal with it. I have found by coming to this board helps a bunch. We can't change what happened before but we all can try to make a difference for the future by educating people on the risks of vaccines and pet products and making donations to Meisha's Hope. It helps to talk to people who have walked in your shoes either by giving encouraging words for the ones still fighting or cheers for the ones who have gained the upper hand and always the acknowledgment of saddness for us that have lost helps too. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

This thread was discussed between 31/03/2008 and 05/04/2008

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