VetNet®
VetNet® AIHA discussion forum
VetNet® Forum
Lifelong Learning Network
www.vetnetlln.ac.uk
Veterinary Recruitment
Premier Partner Program
Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Just lost my Poppet
| I don't have much to contribute to this board except for my own experience with AIHA. I'd never heard of this disease before it took the life of my 18 year old chihuahua, Poppet. Poppet had other minor health issues such as problems with his back and chronic seasonal allergies which would aggrevate his trachea and cause nausea. I mistook his lethargy and lack of appetite on these two things and so crated him until I could take him to the vet on Monday. By Saturday morning, I realized something wasn't right by the look of his eyes and his unkept appearance. Within an hour at the vet's office he was gone. I held him in my arms as his little heart gave out, and wish to God I had known sooner. He was so strong, even for his age. I just know he would have fought against this disease if given the chance. I struggled for a long time because it seemed so unreal. Two and a half days. That's all the warning I had. The day before the first symptom, he was wagging his tail, spinning for treats, and walked with me around the block. This is a horrible, horrible disease! I can't believe I'd never heard of it before. You hear about parvo, rabies, heartworms...there are no pamphlets in the vet's office, nothing to let you know there's a near silent killer out there. It was only after Poppet passed from it that I found sites like this one and Mischa's Hope. I don't know how rare a disease this is, but I hope more attention gets allotted to not only a cure but perhaps preventative measures. |
| Sandy Prater Georgia |
| Sandy, I am very sorry to hear of your loss. My heart is with you. Just know that Poppet will be waiting at the rainbow bridge for you wagging his tail and that some day you will be together again. I'm sure he must have had a very good mom to have lived as long as he had. I know what you mean about little to no information out there in veterinary offices regarding this disease. I also had no idea what it was when my dog was diagnosed with it. It hits so fast and without much warning. When you feel up to it check out the "Loss and Grief" section on Joannes site... http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/loss.htm Again, my heart is with you during this tough time. Johnny & Tessy |
| Jonathan |
| Sandy I am so very sorry to read about the loss of your beloved Poppet. Please know that my hearts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time. This disease does often come quickly and unfortunately sometimes it does not even allow us to begin to try to treat it. Poppet was truly blessed to have you for 18 wonderful years and in time your tears will be replaced by your happy memories of Poppet. With our sympathy, Cheryl & Ginger |
| Cheryl & Ginger Pineville PA |
| Sandy- I just wanted to offer my condolences for your loss :( may Poppet find peace at his next stop... |
| Josh California |
| Sandy, I'm so sorry to hear about Poppet's passing, it's never easy, no matter how old they are. It sounds like Poppet was tenacious and was a real fighter, even in the end when this terrible disease struck so quickly. I hope he is happy and free at the Rainbow Bridge. melissa and tiggs |
| melissa slc |
| Sandy, Sorry to hear about your beloved dog, Poppet. Chihuahuas have a special place in my heart. My Chi has AIHA. SUE |
| Susie Delaware |
| I am so very sorry for you loss. I think very, very, very few of us had heard of this disease before our dog was diagnosed. I had never heard of it when my just turned 4 year old golden retriever, Hunter was diagnosed. He died Oct. 16, 2003, one week after diagnosis. I am hearing more and more cases of it. One one of my golden retriever forums, a lady lost her golden to it (her sister is a vet) and days later a schnauzzer puppy, 16 weeks old client of her sister, was lost to it. In both cases the dogs were taken to a specialtiy hospital but they were lost anyway. It is a heart breaking disease noy to mention bank account breaking disease. Thank God research is being done at MAF (Meisha's Hope Fund) and maybe one day they will have a better cure, or even better, a prevention for it.l |
| Sandra Texas |
| Sandy, I am so sorry for your loss. It doesn't matter what age they are when this awful disease hits it still hurts to lose a beloved dog to it. I hope in the coming days your 18 years of good memories with Poppet will help you through these last tragic days. It is unfortunate that we all find out about this only when we hear that terrible diagnosis. Hopefully with the research that MAF is doing with donations to Meisha's Hope we will be able to get the word out and someday there will be better avenues of treatment. Penny |
| Penny Lytle Creek Calif |
This thread was discussed between 11/04/2009 and 12/04/2009
Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) forum index
This thread is from the Vetnet archive. The live Vetnet forum is active now.
