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Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Lost my beautiful Bebe to IMHA/AIHA
| This week has been an absolute whirlwind for my family, and there is a giant void in our lives and a hole in our hearts. I need to connect with others who have experienced this, just so I can make it through this unbelievable tragedy. Last weekend, my 5.5 year old Curly Coated Retriever, Bebe, was her usual self -- happy, playing, jumping, sneaking a hot dog off the table at a Labor Day cookout, jumping effortlessly in the back of the jeep, chomping on a rawhide bone -- all the usual stuff she does all the time. Nothing gave us any indication of what was to come. On Monday, she vomited and looked a little tired, but I didn't think too much of it since we had a busy weekend and sometimes, dogs just throw up -- they ate something weird, ate too much of something, so nothing too unusual there. On Tuesday, we went back to work and when we got home Tues night, she was standing a little bow-legged, which seemed odd, but she was walking, eating, etc. She had had a problem with her back over Christmas, and that's the exact stance she had when she pulled something. We took her in to the vet on Wed thinking it was a back issue and we were stunned by what we learned. A preliminary test revealed her red blood counts at 13 when they should have been around 40, her gums and the insides of her ears were pale and the vet thought IMHA, but lab tests, which would be back by Thurs a.m. would confirm. In the meantime, he gave us high-dose prednisolone and said he wanted her to take it for the next day and bring her back in on Fri. She hadn't eaten anything on Wed or Thurs, but did drink water. She couldn't stand. By Thursday night, she had passed away, and we are crushed. It was only a matter of days. I have never heard if IMHA before now, and wonder if it's something that I did or didn't do to cause this. She's never had any major health issues -- a UTI once and the back thing once or twice, and she sprained her tail (from wagging it so hard and smacking it into the door!), but other than that, a very healthy girl. I'm searching for answers and have found things to be very vague. Our vet said it could be a number of things that caused it - he ruled out any underlying issues like cancer or poisoning -- said it could be environmental, genetic, allergic or other. NOthing seemed out of the ordinary in our dog's behavior prior to Monday, so I'm trying to figure out if there's something I missed or should have been watching for. I talked to our breeder and she said none of the other dogs in Bebe's litter had any health issues like this, so I'm ruling out genetics, but I'm completely puzzled. She hadn't had any vaccinations in almost a year -- actually had a vet appt for them later in Sept., but did take her monthly heartworm a few days ago. It's been painfully quiet in our house -- nobody to greet us with that unique brand of unconditiona love,and we're just stunned. My husband is just beside himself, too, they were buddies - he'd take her to the dog park regularly to run around and they'd go swimming. (Curlies are water dogs.) And my daughter - who is exactly one year younger than Bebe since they have the same birthday -- is hurting, but because she's young, doesn't fully understand. I've grown up with dogs, and Bebe, by far, has had the sweetest personality of the,m all. I'd call her my 80-lb lap dog -- such a lovey. If anyone out there has any resources they can share, I'd be very appreciative. It's too late to save my precious girl, and I miss her more than words can say, but I just need some answers. Thanks so much, Michelle |
| Michelle Midwest |
| Michelle, I am so very sorry to hear of the death of your most beloved Bebe to AIHA. Please accept my deepest sympathies on your loss. When you feel up to it please visit the Loss and 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 as you travel along the loss & grief pathway. Please know that you did nothing wrong. Many times AIHA/IMHA will be idopathic, that is no known cause. I know that is hard to accept but many times it is the reality of this disease it certainly was for my gal, Meisha. The one problem with loving dogs is their lives are much too short. I stood in your shoes a year ago when I lost my most beloved Maddie to a stroke only 7 hours after that stroke. I too wondered if I should have noticed something sooner but none of us can go back and change anything and now that I am a year past that loss I know that nothing could have changed anything. Know that you did all you could for your most beloved Bebe, because you did. Please take care of yourself during these most difficult days and know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. |
| Joanne MN |
| Michelle, I am so sorry you lost your lovely Curly Coat Bebe so young and in such a short time. I have had dogs for at least 35 years and when my Standard poodle Kahlu got sick in 2009 it was the first time I heard of this horrible disease. Kahlu had the chance to recover but almost exactly a year later he relapsed and died at 3 1/2 years. Bebe's story is not unusual, although it seems every AIHA story is a bit different. It is still making me crazy that I don't know exactly what caused Kahlu's AIHA. Obviously there was something in him that made it possible. But what was the trigger? His breeder also insured me that none of her dogs ever had an immune disease. I think the yearly immunizations for everything my vet recommended, where the first mistake and they threw off his immune system. He was on flea preventatives for 2 months. An other poison his body had to deal with. A few days before he came down with AIHA he got into a towel with some cleaner on it. Who knows...??? I will never know exactly and I have actually stopped to blame myself. I did what I thought would be best with the knowledge I had at the time. You will probably never find out exactly what made Bebe so sick and why she could not stay with you any longer. If you want some good information about the disease please go to Joanne Dickson's webpage: http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/index.html I have a 7 months old pup now, he has only had two immunizations so far. We do titer testing and he has had plenty of immunity for us to hold off with booster shots. I will only treat my dogs for fleas if they actually need it. We are lucky enough not to have heart worm in the area. Parasites from ticks can also cause AIHA and these little critters freak me out now. I check my dogs a lot and have a "tick picker" handy. Of course I don't know exactly how you feel, but I have a pretty good idea. I hope all the great memories you have of Bebe will eventually heal your broken hearts. Best wishes, Brigitte & the poodle boys |
| Brigitte BC Canada |
| Michelle, I am so sorry for your loss. Most of us that find this page and Joanne's site had never heard of this awful disease until diagnosis. It is so hard to have what seems to be a healthy happy dog one day and lose them so quickly. I believe my dog's was brought on by a bee sting but most times you may never know. I hope in the days that come you can remember all the wonderful times you had with Bebe and that these awful days are overidden by the memories of the love you shared. Bebe will always be in your families heart and is at the Bridge playing with a lot of mighty fine dogs until you meet again. Sharing in your sorrow Penny |
| Penny lytle creek ca |
| I lost my 2.5 year old Rottweiler Bonnie in August after less then 4 weeks of illness no vaccines either. She did have a tick borne blood parasite and was stung by a hornet but she too was a healthy happy dog and then suddenly wasn't. Boy does it suck I am so very very sorry for your loss |
| Rottlady NH USA |
| Thank you all for these resources and for your heartfelt comments. I am very appreciative, and my heart goes out to all of you who have have lost wonderful pets to this disease. I truly believe that our pets make us better people. It's just so hard to wrap my head around this. And it's so hard - wherever you look in the house, you expect her to be there. I know it just takes time, but it's been so long since I've lost a pet, I forgot how raw it feels. Thanks again, Michelle |
| Michelle Midwest |
| Michelle, I'm so sorry to hear you lost your beloved BEBE to this terrible disease. This disease is terrible in so many ways and can completely blindside us before we even realize what's going on. Remember the good times and the heart will eventually heal. Please accept my deepest sympathies and condolences. Johnny & Tessy |
| Johnny |
This thread was discussed between 11/09/2010 and 13/09/2010
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