Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - I Killed Libbie

I know in my heart what did it. She had been down with arthritis or so i thought . I gave her her frontline treatment on Thursday--she died on Monday. Started showing signs of bleeding on Friday. Can you imgine trying to live with this knowledge.

Becky becky@wabash.net

Becky, I don't think there is one person on here that doesn't in someway feel that they were somehow responsible for allowing their dog to get this, it is a normal reaction in a way. We are entrusted with these Angels on earth and when something like this happens you feel that you have failed them. If you want to blame someone look to the drug and pet product people and even some Vets who turn a blind eye to things the know may harm an animal but figure the profit is worth it. I even for a while felt I killed my dog by all the AIHA drugs I had to give her. Even though I knew it was her only chance. You are not a Doctor or a scientist and most of us had never even heard of this awful disease even though it has been around for over 50 years. You have to try to look forward and work toward educating people about the dangers of the things we are told are needed by our animals as well as ourselves. If you need to talk feel free to email me. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Becky, You were trying to the best for her. Try not to hold yourself at fault for he passing. It may not have been the frontline but the AIHA drugs themselves. Your heart was in the right place, it was her time. Its so hard I know. My prayers are with you. Linda

linda asheville

Dear Becky, I am so so very sorry - I know your pain as I'm going through the same thing. You cannot do this to yourself though - you did what you thought was best for Libbie. I don't know what else to say other than I am so sad for you,for us, for the animals that are getting this disease. Gail

Gail SD

Becky, please don't beat yourself up. You did nothing wrong. I think all of us who have lost our dogs to this horrible diease blame ourselves at some point, and maybe even for a while. I know that after we lost Bronwyn, I beat myself up for weeks with all the "what ifs" and "if onlys". If only I had noticed earlier that she was sick. What if I had taken her in 12 hours earlier than I did? Could she possibly have survived if I did something differently? I still occasionally go there - and it's been 3 months since she died. Don't do that to yourself. It doesn't help - believe me. What happened to Libbie is NOT YOUR FAULT. If you need to talk to someone, feel free to send me an email. Hang in there - as awful as you feel right now, it will get better. Elizabeth

Elizabeth Baltimore

Becky, you cannot blame yourself. Many many people do not know the effect frontine will have on their pet. The vets 'push' it. We think we are doing the right thing for our pet. The vet's themselves have no idea of the dangers of the pesticide...or they do not want to deal with the truth. It is a total disgrace that the EPA allows this product on the market. Would like to chat w/you further. I went throught the same guilt. My pet lived but it has been a major struggle. Jan PLEASE>>>>everyone who reads this DO NOT USE FRONTLINE or any commercial flea control product. IT IS POISON TO YOUR PET'S SYSTEM. Tale a lesson from those of us who have gone through sheer hell.

jan philly

Jan, Could you tell me what happened to your pet? Did she start bleeding after using Frontline? Thank you.

Becky becky@wabash.net

Dear Becky -- I am going to add my voice to those of others who have posted. You cannot blame yourself for Libbie's death. It is natural after losing your dog to this disease -- like others who have posted, I too lost my dear beagle to this disease after a week of fighting. And I wondered why and what could I have done. And, sometimes, I still do, even though it will be three years in May. But I am sure that you, like the rest of us, always tried to do your best for your dear girl. And you relied on your vets to use their expertise and experience to help you ensure that Libbie got the best medical treatment possible. You have to believe that. And you have to believe that you and Libbie gave each other wonderful lives filled with love, and over time, the memories of that wonderful life together will help ease the pain of her loss. Moreover, Libbie brought such love and joy to your life, that it is not fair to her to think of her with pain. That's a hard one, and I still struggle with it, but we are so lucky that we are allowed to care for our dear pets for whatever time the Lord gives us together. You can send me an e-mail -- at blh221@aol.com -- if you would like. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers. The pain from losing a dog to this disease is intense, but the people on this forum are a great help.

Brenda VA

Becky, Like everyone has said, you cannot blame yourself! All of us until this has happened to our pets never knew the dangers of these drugs (Frontline) and what they can do. Heck I never knew that Prednisone years ago was so dangerous even. We had dachshunds in Florida, and one of them always had skin and allergy problems and she was given prednisone for 1/2 of her life and eventually died of kidney failure. If I would have known then what I know now, I would have taken the right steps to protect her. You were only doing what you knew you were suppose to do, like Jan said they tell you these things are okay. Our Holly has been fighting for 1 year this month, and during the summer our vet found one flea on her and his assistant wanted us to give her frontline, even called the company and told them she had IMHA and they said oh it is okay, not absorbed into her blood. I told them no way no how because at this point I knew better. But it is a learning process that we have all undergone and until you are there you don't know and it is not your fault!!! Your Libby was just one of the unfortunate ones who could not do the fight. Please take care and do not blame yourself!!! Linda

Linda Sapphire

Becky you cannot do this to yourself...we all have that guilt initially becuase we blame ourselves for our dog's illness. Daisy had an injured rear leg and I gave her Rimadyl for pain and she came down with AIHA shortly thereafter. She was always cared for with Frontline, Heartguard etc. all the things concerned dog owners have been led to believe are protecting our animals. If you look at the survey of all the dogs on this forum who are fighting or have died from AIHA there is no common link as yet. Some have had ear infections and been treated with antibiotics, others suspect vaccines, flea meds, etc. We just don't know yet.

Ron B San Mateo

This thread was discussed between 27/03/2008 and 28/03/2008

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