Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Darcy's Vet's Negative Response

I thought things were looking up for Darcy when I found the new holistic vet who makes house calls. She agrees with Dr. Dodds' protocol and gave Darcy her first anabolic steriod shot yesterday. She also told me that Darcy needs a transfusion. I spoke with Carolina Veterinary Specialists, who are not fans of Dr. Dodds, but they will order the universal donor blood from Hemopet and do the transfusion if that's what I want. In the meantime, I contacted our regular vet who was the one who discovered Darcy's non-regenerative anemia and referred us to Carolina Veterinary Specialists. Whenever I have asked about all the booster shots Darcy has had over the years, the Frontline, etc., that could have contributed to her problem they have always said NO DEFINITELY NOT. Now, I have asked that vet about what he thinks about the Hemopet blood and if he would be willing to do a transfusion in his office. Below is his email response to me: "My honest opinion is that this is probably less dangerous than a whole blood transfusion but I think you need to sit down and realize we are not helping Darcy with the present treatment regimen and it is time to consider why you are still trying to keep her around when she has a fatal illness. I am sorry for being so blunt but I have to be the pet's advocate in this instance and feel that without a bone marrow aspirate to prove she has cancer and the fact that blood cancers are not easily treated and you are just prolonging the inevitable decision, all of these treatment options are just moot and not in her best interest, which is to make her life worthwhile. You have been chasing possibilities for too long at her expense, and I truly think it is time to stop. After her last episode with the transfusion reaction, I feel that Carolina Veterinary Specialists is the best place to try again, but that would not be my suggestion at this time. I realize it is the holidays, but it is time to make a definitive decision about her future, one that is not easy to contemplate but needs to be made for her well being." I am so very hurt by this vets response. He hasn't been examinging Darcy through this whole order and doesn't realize that her clinical signs are good. My dog is greeting me when I come home, jumping up, wagging her tail, and eating heartily. She may not be her old energetic self, but she still has life and fight in her. The vet is trying to make me feel like I am making Darcy suffer and even suggests that she might have cancer. Dr. Dodds told me Definitely Not when a bone marrow aspiration was suggested. When the time comes when I feel that Darcy is ready to go, I will call the holistic vet out to my home. I will not take her to such an uncaring vet. That is the last place I want her to be. I still don't know what I'll do about the Hemopet transfusion. The meds/supplements/anabolic steroid shots are working well at present. I am waiting for Dr. Dodds' feedback on these latest developements. I welcome your opinons because, dear friends, we are in this fight together. Karen Karen

Karen NC

karen- pardon my language but my response back to your vet would be "FUUUUUUU-CK YOU" he sounds like a judgemental prick without any compassion or empathy, who clearly takes a 'his way or the highway' approach. dont let him get you down on this. you are with darcy 24/7, he sees her once every 3 weeks for 20 minutes. leave these vets behind. dont even go into Carolina Veterinary Specialists again either if they are just 'doing the transfusion' to go thru the motions. find a vet that wants to do the transfusion and is excited about helping your dog. sway was at one of the most pitiful points of any dog on this entire board, and she is still alive and happy a year and a half later. that vet is just a stain on humanity. do not let him make u believe that you are making darcy suffer...people can be so incredibly judgemental, and the ones that are are usually the ones from afar that just like to throw there opinion around but know nothing about the situation they try to speak on. you know in your heart that he is wrong, so dont struggle with this. darcy sounds alert and active and ready to go. do you realize that my sway couldnt even walk or stand for 2 whole weeks??? she also had a heat stroke around that same time and couldnt even eat without a feeding tube!!! imagine what he would say to me??? but think of this also, IMAGINE WHAT I SAY TO HIM NOW. im sorry u had to experience that.

josh california

Thank you, Josh. I absolutely loved your response. The only thing this vet has seen Darcy for lately was to have her anal glands expressed and her nails trimmed and that was about four weeks ago. The only reason he saw her that time was because the regular, more compassionate vet is on maternity leave until January. I have made a decision never to step foot in that office again. I have a cat, too, and believe me, I will never trust her to them. I need to ask the holistic vet if there is someone else who would be willing to do the Hemopet transfusion. I intend to send her the smart ass vet's response. I've already sent it to Dr. Dodds. I want nothing but the best for Darcy and I would never allow her to suffer if it comes to that. How dare this vet whose motto should be "do no harm" suggest I have a dog put down even when she is eating, going to the bathroom, wagging her tail, barking, etc. I know she is weak and ill, but she is still fighting. She breathes heavy at times and her heart sometimes races. I think I will know when the time comes and it will break my heart if I have to let her go. It just makes me so mad that he said that I have been doing all this at Darcy's expense. No, it has been at my expense money wise because of those greedy professionals. It has taken a toll on me emotionally because I've been having to fight so hard to get the right answers and right treatment for Darcy. I know we're all in the same boat --- fighting hard for our dear pets who can't fight for themselves and are sometimes at the mercy of vets who just want to experiment with them and when that doesn't work, just do away with them. I'll fight to the end for my little girl if that's what it takes. Karen

Karen NC

Karen, How kind of him to email you such encouraging words. I will not type the words I would have used but they are close to Josh's. We all know this is an uphill battle but you know your dog better than anyone she has seen. Too bad your Vet considers this a fatal illness and won't bother to learn that some dogs do beat it and live for many years after that. It seems common that Vets seem to look for a cancer connection, is that because there is an actual link or is it because they recognize the word cancer and are more comfortable there? Same with the definitive No about the vaccines and flea products. I cannot believe how easy it is for them to turn a blind eye to so many things. Everything you are saying about Darcy's behavior says there is still a lot of fight left in your little girl. I hope you can find a Vet who is more compassionate and open minded. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

I am very disapointed in a vet that considers AIHA a "fatal" illness. In my opinion that is an excuse for that vets own ignorance about the illness. No way are you allowing Darcy to suffer! You are giving her that fighting chance that she needs. You should have a vet that is as positive about Darcy's full recovery as you are. When my Ren had a relapse of AIHA my vet said "put her down". In my heart I knew that Ren had a chance for recovery, so I sought out a second opinion. Thank God I did! Ren is doing very well. My new vet sees her weekly and is very conscious of Ren's medications and progress. Karen, you keep fighting for Darcy. You are in my prayers. SUE

Susie Delaware

Karen, I think Darcy is very lucky to have you fighting for her. I just don't understand some of these vets. My regular vet, that I've known for 10 years now,saw Alex back in October and said its time to put him down. At the time I thought maybe I was so far into this emotionally that I wasn't seeing reality. I almost listened to him instead of my heart and to Alex. I didn't feel it was time though. When he told me Alex was suffering with feeling nauseous and listless with no quality of life, I'll never forget how that made me feel. I felt like I was just thinking of myself and not his well being. Well my vet was wrong. Alex blood count last week was 43. He eats like crazy - granted he is not his old self- but he enjoys life!! Your vet is wrong too Karen. If Darcy is wagging her tail and eating - you keep fighting for her and forget these idiots. Darcy will tell you when it's time. Some of these vets are so arrogant that when they deal with an educated pet owner that doesn't follow their protocol blindly they don't like it... Good luck to you and Darcy and we are praying for you.

Chris PA

Karen I feel so bad for you having to deal with Darcy's AIHA and as if that is not hard enough on you having to deal with a very ignorant vet too. I truly hope you never go back to him. I would be happy to send him Ginger's (who be celebrating her 9th bday tomorrow) story and photo for his scrap book and maybe a few others would be willing to do the same. I really think he needs to be educated to the fact that dogs can and do survive. I don't think Ginger's vet had to much experience treating dogs with AHIA but she was always so positive and willing to listen to me and research anything I threw at her. I would not waste any more time or energy on this vet and what he said. I think what you are doing is the right thing especially since Darcy is eating and wagging her tail and jumping up. You will definitely know when she has no more fight left in her and I hope and pray that day never comes. Hang in there and please keep us updated as Darcy has become so very special to all of us. Maybe you could print all the success stories from the Meishia's Hope website and mail them to him, but then again he is probably not worth wasting the paper on. Send prayers your way. Cheryl & Ginger

Cheryl & Ginger Pinevielle PA

AMEN

josh california

OMG! I didn't read everyones reply in full so sorry if I'm repeating here. But, when Willow was diagnosed, I was told by a specialist and her own vet that IF Prednisone and other drugs didn't work THEN they might want to look into a bone marrow aspirate. It was because IF there is cancer, Prednisone and these other drugs won't work. So, if she's doing well on her current treatment, I'm not sure why he's so hot on her having bone marrow checked. At this point, it doesn't seem necessary. I'm hoping she's still doing OK.

Lori USA

Gosh Karen, I'm as stunned about your previous vet as I am about the OKC ER vets! I think I posted here about how I told these er vets about this forum and his reply was that if there is an aiha forum then the dogs are not alive. Really? As I picked up Brandi today and transferred her to OSU Critical Care I left an envelope with Meisha's Hope's Front page website and the front page of the latest success story. I wrote nothing to them but I'm sure they'll know who it's from. Yeah, we get that this disease can be fatal. But not always. And it's because of OUR fight for them and working as a partnership with a vet you trust and is open to that type of relationship. I discussed this with OSU today and they totally agreed with me. They know my expectations up front. I know they're the vet school educated person but I am not just someone that just goes with whatever. I'm analytical and a need to know type of person that can and will offer up my opinion at any time. Why can't ALL vets just understand this? Anyway, I've got Darcy and all the pups here in my prayers many times a day. I'm going to post a new thread about our move to OSU. Thank you Karen and God bless you and Darcy!

Teresa OK

Nothing to say here that hasn't been said above, but geesh, Karen, you are one of the most selfless dog parents on the planet. The decision will be between you and Darcy, and I'm with Josh. F*** that guy! There, lets break the f-bomb out, because it's completely warranted in this case! I feel better already ;) Between Amy's experience this week, mine last week with 'stand-in vet', and now yours, it just kind of solidifies my frustrations and rant last week. Some of these guys just want to give up rather than work towards a solution when the dog is still fighting. Thank god for the rest of the good ones out there like Dr. Dodds and your holistic vet, and my regular vet, and all the others who believe in our dogs ability to live with AIHA, and also who believe in the sacred bond and communication between dog and caregiver. HUGE hugs to you and Darcy, melissa and tiggs

melissa slc

WOW Karen, I am with everyone here! DUCK that guy!! I would definitely be responding to him but in person so I could face him. He is a coward for saying those harsh and horrible things to you in an email!!! I am sorry you are going through this and it makes me wonder why someone supposedly dedicating their life to animals can be so callous about their life. IMHO, their life is just as valuable and precious as a human life...even more so in the case of some people! I say we all ring him up and chew him out. :) Hugs to you and Darcy. Amy

amy txgoldenhorse@yaho.com

Karen -- This vet is so out of line making such statements when he has not seen Darcy. It just seems so unfair that, as you're fighting this life-threatening disease, you've also got to fight a vet, who should be committed to helping you with your pet. Darcy sounds like she's got a lot of fight left within her, and you do too. So, you hang in there. Have you checked the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine list of internal specialists to see if there is one that practices near you? Here's the link. I searched under North Carolina and small animal internal medicine and several specialists came up. http://www.acvim.org/Specialist/Search.aspx I remember that one of the vets at the criticare center where Wiley was at was really negative, and when I desperately cried to my regular vet, she offered to serve as an advocate for me. The other vets who worked different shifts also were more positive. At one point, I was just overwhelmed and I told my vet I didn't know what to do anymore, and she advised me to "fight for Wiley, because she's worth it." We did, and although I will always question whether we should have done one thing or another, I can live with those doubts, because we gave Wiley the chance to fight. She faced an uphill battle anyway -- hypothyroidism, Addison's Disease, and it sounds like she had autoimmune thyroiditis -- but we let her and the vets try to beat IMHA. Sadly, she couldn't, and, as my vet also advised, Wiley gave us the sign that she was ready to say goodbye. You and Darcy have done a great job already, and she's letting you know she's still game. Toss this vet and try another -- one's who's committed to life.

Brenda VA

Fighting this condition now for over two years with my dachshund boy has taught me a great deal. I have learned not to take (multiple) vet's instructions/opinions at face value and research, research, research myself. (During holidays and emergency times you cannot always find a vet of choice and there a difficulty is revealed, many times ). I will never again adhere to the typical adage from alopathic vets that the vaccination protocol and flea control products are begign/helpful treatments. I think the sell tactics in many vet clinics endorse products in which there is poor regulatory oversite. (I think most vets personally know very litle about FDA and EPA regulatory practices and garner their knowledge from misinformed pharmaceutical reps.). There is great danger in wrong information and cavalier diagnosis, as Karen's alopathic vet revealed. We can curse and scream but apparently this is what he believes and no doubt many (intelligent) patients have listened/ will listen to him as if he were all-knowing. If we all did not have the verve, dedication, and board such as this to bounce off our experiences, we might have listened to clinicians who provided us with erroneous information and facts....some of us did. How would we as laypersons know? That is exactly how my boy was a recepient of AIHA....from Frontline, administered by the vet. That vet is one who wants to help and someone I still see for pcv tests and general pet care but (he) still believes Frontline is safe (amidst the multiple research papers I shared with him on the toxic pesticide ingredents the product contains) and continues to administer even after my boy's and thousands of other pets almost fatal reactions. Keep fighting, Karen. Sometimes you have to be a one-man show. You are a good dog-mom Jan

Jan PA

Karen, Keep up the good fight, your doing awesome!! I became educated a couple days too late for my Ollie, your light years ahead of where I was. I wish my specialist, who kinda felt like your vet did but DIDN'T tell me had sent me that. It would have lit a fire under my butt a little more and would have made me press foreward harder with research and find some one else. I trusted when I shouldnt have. You and only you will know when its time. All my Ollies symptoms prior to the blood clot he threw to his lungs paled in comparison to that day, and without going into detail, I knew and didn't need anyones advice on what to do then. His blood oxygen was only 30% and had damaged his organs, that was suffering. I say if you have a tiny tail wag, a sniff at food (Ollie went through phases of eating and non-eating) and even sane eye contact, your good to go!! Keep it up. The bone marrow aspirate was done on Ollie, but was probably not needed. We could already tell he was non-regenerative (PRCA), smears and his Coombs was negative (often is with non-regenerative) told us so. I wished I hadn't done it, because it put him under some uneccesary stress. Git rid of that vet, think of that email as good as it's letting you know exactly how he feels, and you can get as far away from that as possible ASAP Keep your head UP, your doing awesome!! Mj

mj ny

MJ, Thank you, and I'm so sorry about Ollie. I'm sure you did the best for him that you could. Karen

Karen NC

Once again, I am on the minority. I obviously don't want you to be hurting Karen as I believe that sometimes this group is all we have to vent and get support. But, I think we all have had to take time to evaluate how to treat our pets and for how long in the face of such an awful disease. I am truly very sorry that those words seemed so hurtful. However, I think that personal reflection and keeping in mind quality of life for our pets is never a bad thing.

Courtney SLO

Courtney, Believe me, I am keeping in mind Darcy's quality of life. My baby is still eating, wagging her tail, and acting like she wants to go on. I have prayed long and hard about this. Both the holistic vet and Dr. Dodds have encouraged the anabolic steroids and the Hemopet transfusion and I am trusting in God to pull Darcy through this. I pray that I am making the right decision. The vet that was so negative has had very little to no interaction with Darcy through this whole ordeal. He came into the picture because I asked if the transfusion could be done in his office. I didn't need to hear his negativity nor his accusations that I was letting Darcy suffer. Going through this and trying to make the right decisions is difficult enough without hearing someone say that I'm not taking my dog's quality of life into consideration. This is all about Darcy and what is best for her, not about me. I have lost my only siblings, who were both very young, so I've had my share of seeing someone I love suffer.

Karen NC

Hi Karen, Bless you for all you have done for Darcy. Believe me when I say that as long as your baby is wagging her tail, eating, and acting like she wants to live, you should try to save her. When your dog is suffering and ready to go to the bridge you will know it without a doubt. I am so sorry that you had to endure that negative jerk. I will not even refer to him as a vet. He doesn't deserve it.

Leslie Oceanside

Oh my, what an asshole!! You should spend a few dollars and have that letter printed in the local newspaper. Maybe he'll lose some business, and maybe other people will come forward with similar stories about him.

Glenn NJ

Karen, You and Darcy have been continually in my prayers...Karen you know that my new vet was the same way...Jewel could not even stand....but I saw her eyes and her spunky self was behind those beautiful eyes asking for help...and believe me doubt came in...but I knew my dog like you know yours...she will come out of this if you believe in her and what YOU know is best for her....it has been trying for you but she's still hanging in there waiting for that right moment....that right moment for the miracle of God's wonderous healing to take over and it will if you keep believing. You and Darcy will be in my thoughts all day...and I will take moments out of my day to kneel and pray for that power of healing light to flow through that wonderous and last transfusion that she will need to make her whole again. Keep Believing! WE ARE ALL PRAYING FOR HER TODAY! "For where two or three are come together in my name, there am I among them." Matthew 18:20 We are coming together in His name for her Karen and she will be Blessed! Email anytime! Pam, Jewel and Lucky

Pam Milwaukee

"Going through this and trying to make the right decisions is difficult enough without hearing someone say that I'm not taking my dog's quality of life into consideration". I never meant to imply or say that I didn't think you were not taking her quality of life into consideration. I was simply expressing that it's not bad to remember. I know how easy it is to get lost in everything. Please remember, I too have been through this, so I am only coming from a place of my own experience. I am very sorry it came accross that way.

Courtney SLO

This thread was discussed between 20/12/2008 and 23/12/2008

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