Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Lost my Boy the Day before Thanksgiving 2008

We lost our beautiful boy “ Mozart” the day before thanksgiving 2008. He was 8yrs old, mini schnauzer. A rare all white. We are devastated. We do not have children; Mozart was our child. He was diagnosed with AIHA right after Halloween. We did everything we could to save him. Our two Vets, say "Mozart" was a mystery. Symptoms were some weight loss, white gums,white tongue;appetite declined - he went down hill very fast. He had a vaccine back in the Summer and took heart worm therapy. The Vets say, he could have had a reaction to the vaccine. Its amazing...all of your stories. Don't you just feel left in the Dark? No concrete answes. KK & Beck

Karen Augusta

My deep sympathy for you both. It is hard. I too lost my black lab Ollie on that very same day, he was diagnosed on Halloween also, he was 8, and I too wish I had at least some of kind of an answer. I have found that you have to try not to let it take over your mind. I've decided since looking back is futile, my best bet is to donate some money to the foundation that is studying this disease, It's a christmas gift for my Ollie this year. Again, I am truly sorry for your loss and am hoping that the pain we're feeling will ease with time. Mj

mj ny

I'm so sorry you both lost your friends to this awful disease. Wish there was something I could say to make it easier. I think donating money as a Christmas gift is a wonderful idea.

Chris PA

Karen, I'm so very sorry to hear about Mozart. I lost my beautiful baby girl (still my baby, even though she was 11) Raven the weekend before Thanksgiving. So, just on this board, we lost four beauties in one week: Mozart, Ollie, Delilah and Raven. I, too, have no children, so she was everything to me, and I'm so lost and sad. Take heart in knowing that you did everything you could. It's a nasty disease, but I'm positive that there are answers to be found. I love MJ's idea of donating to the foundation in honor of Ollie. I'm making the donation on behalf of friends and family, and putting that in my Christmas card this year. Awareness is so low about this -- and it desperately needs some attention in our vet world. Sending you peace and virtual hugs. Sharon

Sharon CT

Please accept my deepest condolences in the loss of your furbaby Mozart. I share in your headache and pray you will find the strength to get through this difficult time. We are so sorry for your loss. Cheryl & Ginger

Cheryl & Ginger Pineville PA

Karen, I am so sorry. My heart hurts for you. I know you are grieving for Mozart. It really hit fast and hard, and I'm sure you did all that you knew to do for him. This is an epidemic that needs to be addressed by the veterinarians and the drug companies. If it's the vaccines and certain medications/flea/tick applications that are causing this, I believe ignorance and/or greed is the driving force that allows this dreaded disease to strike our beloved pets. Someone should be held accountable. I pray that your heart will heal. Karen NC

Karen NC

Karen, I'm so sorry to hear about Mozart. I just love his name, and I know that you must miss him terribly. AIHA really sucks, plain and simple, and it makes us all feel so powerless at times. I hope that you find comfort here on this board, it's been a really terrible few weeks, and so many of the 'kids' have crossed the bridge. It's just not fair. We are fortunate in that our furbaby Tiggs is still fighting, but every time someone here loses their baby, we cry and cry, and it breaks our heart. We know how hard we all try and the heroic efforts we go to to save them. I hope that in the near future we can figure this damn thing out. Our thoughts are with you and your family. melissa and tiggs

melissa slc

KK & Beck: I can only say "ditto" to all of the above comments. We have a great group of people here. Come here to laugh and cry as you go through this sad time. (Once and again there is something humorous "gums" and "bums" recently had me chuckling). Most of all, please know you are part of our group and that you are not alone in your grief (Kitzel 11/8/08 - November was a horrible month of losses for us collectively.) Dog Heaven, the kid's book, says that our pups are all well now and eating biscuits and running, happy and free, waiting until we join them. I'm going with that... Take care and check in again with us when you are ready.

Cynthia Grosse Pte

I'm so sorry for the loss of your Mozart. My heart just breaks for all of you who have lost your dogs. I know they are so, so much more than "dogs" to all of you.

Lori USA

This thread was discussed between 09/12/2008 and 10/12/2008

Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) forum index

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