Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Dufy died Tuesday night

My Dufy lost the battle. He was so good on Monday doing alot of things he had not done and I thought he was getting better, but maybe that was just his last hurrah. Tuesday he started out looking good but as the day went on he was restless. I thought maybe he was just constipated because late in the day he did not want to eat his food. He was outside with me and he threw up grass and the food that he had eaten earlier. He laid down and I rubbed is tummy. He went to lay under a tree in our orchard and watch me picking in the garden and he was panting a little like usual and his tongue was pink. Then a few minutes later he had moved to another tree and he was laying on his side and panting really heavy. I went to him and he could hardly lift his head and his tongue was blue. I ran to the house and called doctor but they were gone so I had to take him to animal emergency which was 40 mins way. I got him in the car and drove like crazy stopped at my Vet as it was on the way and a couple of assistance where there but Dr. gone. They said they could give him oxygen and an IV and have he take him to animal emergency but the couldn't do anything else without a Dr. so said they thought I would be better off just continuing on. I was telling him to hang on that I was going to get him there but he kept looking at me so scared and breathing so heavy and them about 10 mins. way brom animal emergency he seemed to stop breathing but I kept going hoping that he was still alive. They met me at the car and rushed him in but he did not make it. I feel so bad because I feel like earlier in the day I should have taken him in but thought he just had a little tummy problem as he was doing everything else normal. Why was his tongue turning blue was it his lungs or was his body just shutting down? I'm so sorry I didn't just pull the car over and hold him but I wanted him to hang on and get him to help. He was suppose to go in the next day for blood work again and I was sure things were going to show more improvement. A few nights before he had quite waking up about 4am and needing to go out to pee and had a hard time getting he up and going in the morning about 6am but seemed better once he got up. So now when I think about it Maybe his body was starting to shut down then. But he had started doing good things that he not done in along time. I can't getting the image out of my mind of him in the car looking at me so frightened and struggling to breathe. I just hope I did the right things. God I miss him so much. I really feel like I can't go on with out him. He was 11 and1/2 and that is the life expectancy of a standard poodle but I had hoped to have a few more years with him. Thank You everyone for all your help especially Patrice. Connie

Connie Washington

Oh Connie, what a frightening time for you. I am so sorry this happened this way. I can't say for sure, the vets will probably tell you the exact cause, but it may have been a blood clot that made its way to the lungs that brought this about. Please believe me when I tell you that I believe you could have moved a mountain to save him. And you did try. Sometimes the things we most want just slip through our fingers, out of reach. Please don't feel guilt about how this happened. I hope for you that, after the shock and immediate grief has passed, you will again see only images of him happy and healthy in your head. It does eventually become that way. Please accept my deepest condolences. patrice

Patrice NYS

Dear Connie, I am so sorry you lost Dufy this way. I am convinced he knew that you tried everything for him, you were fighting to get him out of harms way. I know that the image of Dufy struggling is not a nice one. I also know that you have lots of wonderful memories of better times. It will take time, but all the fun and love you had together will be stronger that those last awful minutes. The good memories will take over, because the love is stronger! With sincere condolences and best wishes, Brigitte

Brigitte BC

Dear Connie Please accept my heartfelt condolences in the loss of Dufy. I can tell by your posts how very much you loved Dufy and gave him a wonderful life for the last 11 1/2 years and that's really what you should remember, don't think of Dufy with sadness try to remember all those good times. I am thinking that the look Dufy gave you in the car was not a frightened look at all, but one that said it will be okay and I am at peace now. Feel comfort in knowing that you did everything you could possible do for him and sometimes their earth suits just can't be fixed no matter how hard we try. Dufy has left a paw print on your heart will be with you in spirit until you meet again. Sending my thoughts and prayers Cheryl & Ginger

Cheryl & Ginger Pineville PA

Connie, I am so very saddened to hear of the death of your most beloved Dufy. Please accept my deepest sympathies on your loss. When you feel up to it, I urge you to 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 very difficult days. Once again, my deepest sympathies to you on your loss.

Joanne MN

Dear Connie, I am so sorry for the loss of wonderful Dufy. I too believe it was most likely a clot that caused this problem. My deepest sympathies. He knew you loved him and would do anything for him. Don't hold yourself responsible for his passing or feel any guilt for doing or not doing something. He wouldn't want you to be unhappy! The grief is so hard and it takes time, a awful lot of time, to get over this loss. My William passed from this awful disease recently too. He was 10.5 and I still can't believe he's not at home when I get home from work, or sleeping in his favorite spot in the bathroom. All those good times with Dufy will block out those last memories and you'll be left with only thoughts of the wonderful dog he was. Liz Angel William lost to AIHA-2011, his brother Angel Buckwheat , lost ot AIHA, April 2010 and their sister Holly (Evans syndrome- diagnosed 2009 with 4 replapses, but still going strong!) All cocker spaniel siblings from a 2001 litter. Mustn't forget Tip and Daisy! (2 rescues of unknown origin (okay so they are brown and white, best guess as to breed would be mutt) Daisy lost one leg to due abuse of her previous owners, Tip is a big friendly boy who makes me happy just to look at him!)

Liz Ohio

Connie, My deepest sympathies on the loss of Dufy. What a fighter! You did all you could for him. Hopefully as time goes on you will remember only the fantastic moments you had with him and smile. Regards, Sharon

Sharon PA

Connie, I'm so sorry for your loss. Your story breaks my heart. Dufy will always know that you loved him and you were with him. Special thoughts and prayers sent your way, Ronda and Buster

Ronda Illinois

My Lily Airedale.....lost her battle with Evans Syndrome on July 22, 2011

Joyce T Ferreira MA

Joyce, I am so sorry to hear of the death of your dear Lily to Evans Syndrome.

Joanne MN

Connie, I am so sorry for your loss. I know the terrible feeling of trying to rush a dog to a vet while crying and praying having done the same with my girl begging her not to die. I hope you can look back on the memories of the Monday when Dufy seemed to be more like his old self. This disease has so many ups and downs and things that happen so quickly it is sometimes so difficult to decide what is a crises and what is just part of the treatment side effects. Please don't beat yourself up with the what if's. You did everything you could for your Dufy and he will wait for you at the bridge until you meet again. Sharing in your sorrow Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Thank You everyone it is so good to hear from ones who understand what I am going through. Today has been so bad and I don't know how I am going to get through this but I know I will. It is just so lonely here without him. We have another dog but he is my husbands and and he is not tuned into me like my Dufy was, Dufy was my shadow. I picked him out from 15 puppies when he had just opened his eyes. He has been in my heart ever since. My soul mate if that is possible with a dog. Thank You All, Connie

Connie Washington

Oh, Connie....I am so so sorry to hear of your loss. It is such an empty feeling when our furbabies leave us. I hope that your memories of Dufy as a healthy pup will help you smile a bit through the tears. This is such an awful illness...Please know you did everything you could for Dufy, and he knew just how much you loved and cared for him. Sally

Sally Louisiana

So sorry to hear you have lost your beloved dog Dufy, and i,m sure he knew you were doing your best for him, this dreadful decease is devastating, i too had the experience of losing my Mollly to this decease and i knew nothing about it, i too feel guilty for not getting her to vets sooner, in time you will remember the happy times you shared with Dufy, its hard to take in at first, the shock of it and how quickly it can take our beloved pets, stay strong and please accept my deepest symphony for your very sad lose. Karen & Molly RIP

Karen UK Manchester

So Many losses on this Thread. I am so sorry for all of them. It's hard to lose a loved one to this horrible disease, almost as bad as watching what they go through battling it. I Pray that they can come up with a cure someday. We do need to remember that we have done our best and they knew it.

Kathy Crestline

(((Connie))) It's always so hard to lose a furkid we love so much. My sympathies and condolences for your loss. Run free Dufy! Johnny & Tessy

Johnny

This thread was discussed between 01/09/2011 and 06/09/2011

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