Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - In memory of my little girl Betsy

I am so grateful to have found this website. I have been reading many of the entries from the last few weeks and they have brought great comfort to me. I had never heard of this disease until 3 days ago. Our little Betsy was a cocker/cavalier mix. We adopted her eight months ago from a friend of mine at work. She was a spunky, adorable little sweetheart until this last Saturday morning. We woke up, and she was hesitant to get off the bed. She usually can't wait to get up and go for her walk and eat breakfast. I thought maybe she had to go to the bathroom right away, so I took her outside on the patio. She pooped just fine, but then she peed and I knew something was terribly wrong. Her urine was really dark, almost black. She ate her dog food, but she just didn't seem right so we took her into the vet later that morning. That's when we got this terrible diagnosis of AIHA. We had to take her into the emergency room. Her PCV level was 23 on Saturday afternoon, but then it went down to 6 on Saturday night. They gave her a blood transfusion and her level went up to 24 on Sunday and held steady throughout the day. On Monday morning, it had decreased to 20; and then down to 14 in the afternoon. When I saw her on Monday afternoon, I knew my little girl was ready to go. She was lying in the cage; she couldn't move and her eyes couldn't even turn to look at me. She did wag her tail for me several times, so I know she could sense that I was there. After I left, they started a second transfusion but her little heart stopped. My husband and I are so grateful to have had this little sweetheart in our lives, even if it was only for eight months. Betsy was 9 years when she passed away. In some ways, I am glad that she didn't have to struggle for too long. I hope she is in a better place now. My heart goes out to all of you who are struggling with this disease. Please give a little kiss to your dog for me and be thankful for the time you have together.

Jeannine California

Jeannine, I am so very sorry to hear of the death of your most beloved Betsy. 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 and your husband on your loss. Please know you both are in my thoughts and prayers.

Joanne MN

Jeannine, I'm so sorry to read your sad news about Betsy. It sounds like you did everything you possibly could for her and I hope you can take some comfort in that. I hope in time, once your sadness fades, you can remember all the great times you had with your beautiful little dog. Please take care and give yourself time to grieve. Thanks also for the great advice - I will go right now and give my three dogs a hug and kiss. deb and Duck

Debbie BC Canada

Jennine, I am so sorry for your loss. This disease comes on so fast and can take our beloved furkids so quickly. It sounds like Betsy had some very loving parents and I am sure she is kicking it up with some of our dogs at the bridge waiting for the time she will see you again. My thoughts are with you. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Jeannie, We are so saddened to hear of the loss of Betsy. It was so good that you were there with her at the end and she knows that you did all you could for her. It is just so sad to hear when they are not even given the fighting chance, because this disease hits to hard and fast. Just breaks my heart! Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. Linda

Linda Sapphire

Jeannie, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Please know that you are in my heart and prayers and that Betsy is in a better place. This is a horrible disease but you did everything you could as it comes on so suddenly. And yes I will give my two little ones an extra kiss and hug tonight. Evelyn, Daisy and Rudy

Evelyn So Jersey

Jeannine, Please accept my heartfelt sympathy on the loss of your adorable companion, Betsy. I lost my dog to this disease three weeks ago and I can totally sympathize with what you are going through. One minute they are an active happy dog and the next thing, totally crashed. It's such a shock, isn't it? My thoughts are with you. Gail

Gail SD

Jeanine- I'm sorry to hear about Betsy.. This disease is a tough one, to say the least. I'm glad that Betsy didn't suffer long. There is no easy way to say goodbye..

Jason Myrtle Beach SC

Dear Jeannine -- I am so sorry to learn that you lost your beloved Betsy to this damned disease. I am glad you found this forum, because it is comforting to be here among people who have dealt with IMHA, some whose dogs have survived the disease, and others, whose dogs have not. I hope you are comforted by your wonderful memories with your sweet Betsy and the understanding that you did all that you could for her. The pain will be terrible for some time, because IMHA strikes so suddenly, but it will ease with time. However, it never completely leaves us. My husband and I lost our dear beagle, Wiley, to this disease nearly three years ago after a week-long fight, and sometimes I still feel such overwhelming sadness. But we have to try to think that the best way to remember our dogs is for the joy they brought to us than the sorrow of their passing.

Brenda VA

Dear Jeannine, I am SO sorry for you loss. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. I lost Allie, 4 year old Shih-Tzu to this disease on January 1, 2008. He only lived for a day after his diagnosis. There is a site called Gratefulness.org where one of our forum friends (Betty from Dallas)started a place to light virtual candles for dogs and their families fighting this dreadful disease. I lighted a candle for Betsy which can be seen here: <http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=AIHA> If you click on the candle with her name you'll see a special message. Peace and Blessings, Miranda

Miranda NM

Jeannine, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. On the same day, I had to put my Molson down as a result of liver disease - a complication of his IMHA/AIHA. IMHA/AIHA is such a difficult disease. As so many people have said and know so well -- it progresses so quickly. If your vet isn't clued into the disease, it is even more difficult. It was so very difficult to come to terms with the fact that Molson just couldn't continue to live. The emptiness and pain is so gut-wrenching - I had never imagined. Time will heal. Remembering you at this time of loss. AM

AM FL

This thread was discussed between 25/03/2008 and 27/03/2008

Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) forum index

This thread is from the Vetnet archive. The live Vetnet forum is active now.