Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Lost My Girl Thanksgiving Morning

Someone from another group just sent me a link to this group. It is amazing and sad how many are being affected by the horrible disease. My Delilah was only 4 years old. A beautiful newf. She was healthy and normal up until last week when I noticed her gum bleeding slightly - I figured she cut herself or broke a tooth. She ate normally. An abrasion on her right check showed up that was bleeding and I cleaned it and it cleared. This past Monday I took her to the vet who confirmed she broke a molar. When they took her back to do a heartworm blood test there was blood on the floor. They found she was bleeding in multiple places and she had a large bruise on her belly. He had me take her to a speciality practice in NC about 80 miles away - there was nothing closer. They started her on prednisone - her platelet count was around 35. The following day the count was 24. They gave her two other drugs which I can't pronounce - both more powerful immune suppressants. On Wed they decided on a blood transfusion. She was still eating, drinking and okay. Something happened and I don't know what. All I know is I got a call around 11:30 pm saying that they thought she was bleeding in the brain and at 12:15 she was dead. She had tested negative for any tick born disease. I don't know what to think. I'm more than devastated - I have no closure. I don't know if there is something they didn't do that they should have or what. I feel everyone's pain that has lost an animal to this. Why , if this is so prevalent is there no decent research? Sharon Kinsey

Sharon Kinsey Virginia

Sharon, I am so sorry to hear about Delilah. I love Newfies and take my Giant Schnauzers to a training center that breeds Newies. So I am particularly grieved to hear about this. While most of us here deal with destruction of red blood cells, and in some cases white blood cells, destruction of platelets is a sudden and severe problem that most don't experience. And it can happen very quickly. What you did was extremely responsible and timely. You took immediate action. There is nothing more you could have done. The fact that your vet thought to test for a tick disease shows that you were seeing an excellent vet. There is research going on currently. If you check back at Joanne's website you will see a link to Meisha's Hope. http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/newhope.htm There are clinical trials going on that don't make front page news. I wish I could be there to give you a hug and help you get through this day. Please know that there are many folks here on this forum that are giving you hugs over the internet. with love, patrice

Patrice NYS

Sharon, so devastated and sorry to hear of the loss of Delilah. There are no acceptable explanations or reasons for this terrible disease. We all feel your pain, anger and frustration. My Brandy started with the platelet issue and quickly progressed to the AIHA, the combination being called Evan's Syndrome. WE lost her in 2 1/2 wks after intense treatment. PLEASE know you did all you could for Delilah. You were a good mom and she knows it. Although it is no consolation, you were spared the awful roller coaster of treatment, only to lose the battle in the end anyway. Prayers for strength and comfort at this terrible time. Delilah has joined many of our sweet friends on the Rainbow Bridge where we will be with them again someday. sharon and angel Brandy.

sharon pa

Sharon, I am sorry to hear of your loss of your dear Delilah. I am sorry you didn't find this board sooner. It sounds like Delilah could have possibly developed a blood clot which happens with this disease and treatment. Losing an animal to this disease is just as you described it devastating and confusing. You just have to try to remember that you did everything you knew to do for Delilah. She is now at the Rainbow Bridge meeting up with a lot of dogs from this site. She will play there until you are reunited. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Sharon, I'm in tears reading about your loss. My dog Willow has been dealing with the exact same thing since July. My e-mail is hopefully showing if you want to e-mail me.

Lori New England

Blessings and many thanks to all of you. I do wish I had found this group sooner. You are all angels. It is some comfort to know that I did all I could. I'm still angry which I suppose is a normal part of the process. My vet failed to warn me of the possibilities. All she kept offering was hope - significant hope. Although I know you can never prepare yourself enough, I was not even remotely prepared mentally for her death. There is a lesson here for future issues. Push hard for realistic odds. I will continue to monitor this thread to offer others the "hugs" that mean so much at a time like this. I've had her cremated and am trying to work up the strength to go pick her up from the crematorium. Sammy (her littermate) is confused as he has lost his soul mate. Only Delilah could understand his uniqueness. Sammy tried to play with our rescue newf Solomon and Solomon didn't know what to do. It was funny. He just froze thinking that Sammy wanted to eat him or something. Thanks again to all. You can see pictures of Sammy and Delilah on my website. Sharon

sharon Kinsey virginia

Sharon, Please accept my deepest sympathies on the loss of your most beloved Deliah. When you feel up to it, I hope you will 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 during these most difficult days. In regard to research, the Meisha's Hope AIHA/IMHA Fund #338 at Morris Animal Foundation http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/newhope.htm http://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/special-campaigns/meishas-hope/ is and has been sponsoring research on AIHA/IMHA for a number of years now. You could do nothing better to honor your dear Deliah's memory then make a donation to this fund to help ongoing reseach into the disease. I am truly convinced that together we WILL find answers to the many questions that surround AIHA/IMHA. Once again my deepest sympathies to you on your loss. Be assured you are in my thoughts and prayers during these most difficult days.

Joanne MN

Sharon, I'm so sorry to hear about Delilah's passing, and especially around the holidays. This disease can be so cruel and swift, it's hard to know what happened. My thoughts are with you and your family. I'm sure that in the short time you had, you did everything that you could. Sometimes despite heroic efforts on the part of the vets and the family, IMHA just takes hold so quickly that there isn't much that can be done. I have read though that dogs with IMHA aren't suffering, that they are just really, really tired. So I'm hoping that your beautiful girl just drifted into a deep sleep as she crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. Someone hear was lovely enough to post a link to this candle page dedicated to the dogs who have had IMHA that have crossed the bridge: http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=aiha melissa and tiggs

melissa slc

I'm terribly sorry for your loss, Sharon.

Reid Hanson Wisconsin

I'm so sorry you had to go through all that. You are in our thoughts.

Chris PA

Sharon, Our thoughts and prayers are with you in the loss of Delilah. With this disease you must never blame yourself, it shows no mercy! As I have found out, our vet as well as many others I believe are not up to speed on this disease which is unfortunate. Take care, Linda

Linda Sapphire

Just wanted to say I feel your pain too and I'm sorry you lost Delilah. We lost our dog Mozart the day before Thanksgiving to AIHA. He was 8yrs old; a darling small white schnauzer. While we all grieve over our lost companions, its nice having the support of others who are going thru the same thing. May God take those little hearts of ours to a beautiful place, where they run freely in the sunshine and play all day under a majestic cobalt blue sky........

Karen Augusta

This thread was discussed between 30/11/2008 and 09/12/2008

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