Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Holly

I came across this site as I researched into this condition having recently lost Holly my English Springer Spaniel to it. I was amazed at at the speed and ferocity of which it struck and she was taken within hours of a diagnosis being made. I first noticed symptoms on Friday but no more than off food, put it down to a little cold as was sneezing but by 7am Sunday morning she had collapsed by my front door and though I took her to the emergency vet she died at about half eleven that night just as I was on the way with my other dog to give her an emergency blood transfusion. Needless to say I was completely shocked devestated as there seemed to be no real warning. Holly was only 7 and had been part of my life since she was 8 weeks old. I have no idea what caused this to happen, though she had had her annual booster a bout a month previous which at the time were delayed a week as she had a temperature but seemed fine otherwise. I feel full of guilt that though I noticed she was a little "not herself" I applied as most people would the 24 hour rule, how I wish though that I had thought of checking her gums as I am sure I would have noticed they were pale, as it was by Sunday morning they along with her eyes were yellow and I knew then that things weren't good. I now know that Holly was a prime candidate for this condition, her breed, her age and having been spayed but I also now that I gave her a good happy life and that she was very loved right up til the end. I will ensure that all my dog owner friends are aware of this awful awful disease so that none of them go through what I did. Thanks for all the information this site holds and good luck to all those currently dealing with controlling it. Keri Lynn

Keri Lynn Pembrokeshire

Hi Keri Lynn. I am so, so sorry for your loss. This disease is HORRIBLE. It does come on very, very fast. Please don't put guilt on yourself. You did all you could. I too, like you and probably a lot others, put it off a couple of days thinking she was just tired and was not hungry. You are correct in saying that there is no "real warning". I think vets across the nation should put alerts out about this disease. I had never heard of this until it struck and just about took my girl away. When it's time for vaccines, I wished all vets would explain what might could happen. I know vaccines is not the only cause, but it might could reduce deaths and/or near deaths. I have spread the word about it because I too don't want anyone else to go through this. I would rather be hurting than my little girl. My heart hurts for you. Please know that you will be in my prayers. This is a perfect site to come to for support. My little girl is hanging on, but we are just about 4 weeks into it. Please know you did everything you could. Hang in there. Love, Liz and Mia

Liz Nashville TN

Keri Lynn, I am so sorry for your loss of Holly. I think all of us have felt as you did that we should have noticed sooner. The speed of this disease is one of the worst things about it. I hope in the coming days as you look back on the 7 years of love you gave and received from your Holly you will find comfort in those memories. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Keri Lynn -- I am sorry to hear that you lost your dear Holly to IMHA. Please know that you did all that you could at the time to help Holly. As Penny has said, the memories of your wonderful life together will help comfort you. Please take care.

Brenda VA

Keri Lynn, I am so very sorry about Holly. I know that you loved her and did the best you could for her, but it sounds like it just happened too fast and with little warning. Prior to my dog's diagnosis, I never knew to check the gums. Don't beat yourself up. I think that all vets should tell their clients to keep a look out for such things, as this disease is obviously becoming so widespread. I pray that God will comfort you and give you peace of mind. Karen

Karen NC

Just wanted to say thank you to everyone for their kind words, it has been particularly hard as my husband is away in the Falkland Islands and I have had to deal with it on my own as well as a 3 year old who adored Holly as much as Holly adored her. I feel honoured to have known Holly, she was a lovely dog who brought a smile to all who met her. Keri x

Keri Lynn Pembrokeshire

I WOULD ALMOST BE WILLING TO BET IT WAS BROUGHT ON BY HER VAX. I UNDERSTAND IT CAN TAKE AS MUCH AS 4 WEEKS, SOMETIMES EVEN LONGER BETWEEN THE TRIGGER AND ONSET. AND YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED HOW MANY PEOPLE DIDN'T NOTICE A THING WRONG UNTIL THEIR DOG COLLAPSED. I LOST MY 4 YEAR OLD GOLDEN RETRIEVER TO IT ON OCT. 16, 2003. IN HIND SIGHT WE REALIZED HE HAD NOT BEEN QUITE RIGHT FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS. IT WAS LITTLE THINGS THAT ALONE MEANT NOTHING, BUT TOGETHER MADE A PUZZLE PICTURE. HIS WAS BROUGHT ON BR PTOHEART6, AIN INJECTABLE HEARTWORM PREVENTATIVE. IT ALSO CAUSED LIVER DAMAGE. HE SPENT A WEEK IN ICU BEFORE HIS DEATH. TEN MONTHS AFTER HIS DEATH, THE FSA HAD THE MAKER BPULL IT FROM THE MARKET HERE IN THE STATES BECAUSE OF THE EXTREMELY HIGH NUMBER OF SEVERE REACTIONS AN DEATHS---WITH AIHA AND LIVER DAMAGE BEING 2 OF THE WORST. I AM SO SORRY YOU LOST YOUR GIRL TO THIS HORRIBLE DISEASE.

SANDRA TEXAS

Thank you Sandra, I suppose I will never know but I do wonder now especially as she couldn't have it at first and was given some metacam to bring her temp down. She did used to get a bit lame after exercise which I now know could have been the start of this all but she also suffered a little arthiritis/hip dyspasia so we didn't think too much of it, just gave her joint supplements and didn't over do it. There does not seem to be enough awareness of this disease here in the UK and I feel that maybe vets should be giving more information when visiting for vacs etc..... I was wondering whether a leaflet that could be picked up from vets etc... would be of help, like a doggy first aid check list? As I am sure that if I had checked Holly's gums straight away I would have noticed just how pale they had become. I intend to be extra vigilent from now on and would rather visit the vets for a false alarm than ever ever go through that again! I also now know that there are so many products that can be harmful to our animals when ironically all we are doing is trying to protect them from disease and harmful parasites. I have good and bad days, it just seems odd that she is no longer here to greet me and to warm my feet now that winter is drawing in. Though it can never replace Holly I have taken in another pup as my poor Ellie (Border Collie/Saluki X) was grieving dreadfully, they had been together constantly for the last 6 years. She, Saffy has brought some joy back to the house. X

Keri Lynn Wales

Keri Lynn, I know that you must be missing Holly so much. Everyone on this forum can understand and sympathize with you, but that can't take away your hurt and grief. Holly will always have that special place in your heart and no other dog can replace her, but it is good that you have made room in your heart for Saffy. Please keep us posted on Ellie and Saffy and let us know how they are getting along. Karen

Karen NC

Keri ive just read your posts and just wanted to say im so sorry to hear about Holly,i lost Toby to AIHA in march of this year and ive still no idea how he came to contract this horrible disease and its so true that there is a total lack of awareness of this disease in the uk and i often wonder would Toby had survived if he had lived in the U.S as there seems to be a lot more understanding of the disease over there,i think about Toby so much and ill always miss him because he was so special to me so i just wanted to extend my sympathy to you and i hope your coping ok,take care. mark.

mark lincoln darlington

Keri Lynn, I am so sorry about Holly. My Shephard,Husky mix Brandy came down with this terrible disease 4 weeks after vaccinations. We too decided to wait a day before taking her to the vet. She was at deaths door so quickly - but we were lucky and she is currently holding her own. Afterwards I read as much as I could about it. It seems that studies have been done at leading universities that suggest that, among other things, vaccinations can cause this disease. They suggest that vaccinations should be staggered and not administered all at once. Our vet does not stagger but most all of the other vets I have questioned do stagger. Of course this is not the only cause, but one of the many possibilities. I think there should be a grass roots movement to get the word out to pet owners about the harmful affects of so many of the things that vets push on us. I plan to have a talk with our vet to try to get them to offer more information to owners about vaccinations. I don't want anyone else to go through what we have had to deal with. I wish you peace Keri, and comfort in the thought that Holly could feel your love and is now watching over you and your family. I know that I no longer take my Brandy's love for granted. Deb Michigan

Deb Michigan

Hi Keri Lynn, It must have been such a shock for you to lose your dog so quickly. After losing my Sunny after two months of trying to fight this disease, I sometimes wish he would have gone quickly rather than suffering as he did. Please try not to feel guilty. Many of us on this forum have done everything humanly possible and spent thousands of dollars and still our dogs could not be saved. I am so sorry for you and your family. I am praying for you. Leslie

Leslie Oceanside

Mark, thank you for your kind post, did Toby show any symptoms early on as I'm now convinced looking back that Holly did but I just put it down to other things. I don't know that wherever we were that Holly would have survived and in some ways I'm glad I didn't have her lingering in pain, i could not have borne that, though I wonder if it had been a weekday there might have been a vet available with more experience of this condition who may have suggested a blood transfusion straight away rather than 12 hours after her being admitted, but I will never know. We really need to get the message out there of what to look out for. I miss Holly every day and would give anything to have just one more day with her to tell her how much I love her as I did not get to her in time and she died just as I was on my way to the vets. Keri xx

Keri Lynn Wales UK

Leslie, I am sorry that you lost your Sunny to this disease, my husband said to be thankful that she did not suffer for months only to die from it anyway but at least then I would not blame myself so much for not noticing quicker, not that I would want her to have suffered though. A piece of me really did die with her. I just wish I'd been more informed. Thank you for your prayers, I will keep you all in my thoughts. Keri xx

Keri Lynn Wales UK

Keri Lynn We lost our 7 year old Lab Magnolia (Maggie) 4 weeks ago yesterday to AIHA. It is very hard to recover from such a loss. I wish you well

Karon SC

Keri,Toby only showed any syptoms a day before he took quite ill,on the tuesday he was very lethargic and his breathing wasnmt normal but i didnt know of any of the symptoms of AIHA so i didnt notice any jaundice etc,on the following day he passed a lot of blood so i rushed him to the vets,prior to the tuesday he had been fit healthy and his normal happy self so the onset of this awful disease does seem to have been really quick with Toby.Im so sorry to hear that you didnt get to Holly before she died and like yourself i would give anything to have another day with Toby and to be able to tell him just how much i loved him,as ive said before ill be haunted forever by what happened and will never stop wondering how he came to contract or develop Aiha,take care Keri. mark

mark lincoln darlington

Karon, sorry for your loss, yes it is hard to get over, they give us such unconditional love and to be taken so quickly and too early just seems so unfair. Thank you for your good wishes, wishing you well too. Keri

Keri Lynn Wales UK

This thread was discussed between 21/10/2008 and 28/10/2008

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