Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Mille - new crisis

I've not had time to go online for a while so I hope everyone is OK and I pray for those of you who've lost dogs. I'm finding it really hard to type this as I'm very upset and crying. Millie became poorly over Christmas - I can't believe it I really can't Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and Boxing Day she was quiet and lethargic (well even more than usual) she vomited a couple of times after food and then had dark coloured runny poo which I knew was ominous. As she's always had a very delicate stomach (last Christmas I gave her some turkey and she had terrible symptoms we went straight to the vet obviously) so we've been really strict keeping her only on her special dried food with a wet prescription diet mixed in to get her interested and managed her stomach problems quite well. She was also suddenly limping which I think was a claw that had become overgrown due to lack of use - I've trimmed them carefully and that one a bit more and that resolved - at first I wasn't sure what was making her miserable the claw or the upset stomach. I rang the emergency vets number on Boxing Day evening as I was getting increasingly worried as the stomach was not resolving and I had to force her to swallow her tablets as she wasn't eating. I took her in Saturday morning and the vet told me I'd come to decision time. I knew it was probably coming soon I just thought it would be some time in January when she had another crisis if her blood levels went down. I also had my 11 year old daughter with me - so spent an hour and a half in the back of the vets trying to decide what to do. Perhaps I've done the wrong thing but I've allowed them to hospitalise her and try everything until Monday morning - if she's no better I think I will have to let her go. I DON'T WANT HER TO GO and I'm crying typing this, but I don't want her to suffer anymore either and I know its only me and the vets that are keeping her alive. I HATE this disease and I don't understand why it has to happen. Millie is only 2 and was the most beautiful perfect little dog you could imagine until this happened. Can anyone tell me how you let them go - do you find the courage somewhere or do you come to a point where nothing more can be done. I'm sorry this post is so depressing especially so near Christmas but this disease doesn't seem to care about those sort of things - birthdays, anniversaries - bring it on...lets just make them suffer a bit more. I apologise again I'm just venting my feelings of hurt anger and bitterness. Clare, Goring on Thames, UK

Clare Fox

Dear Clare, First of all, I'm so sorry that you've had all of this happen during the holidays. Obviously, there's no good time, but holidays make it even worse. With Mille's symptoms, I'm wondering if she could have developed pancreatitist. It is a good thing that she is getting the medical care she needs. You are doing everything humanly possible for her. I'm praying for a miracle healing for Mille and that you'll get good news on Monday. Best, Karen

Karen NC

Hi Clare. I'm so sorry to read about Mille and can't really give any advice but hopefully this may help. About a year and a half ago, when my dog Duck was struck with this horrible condition, I too thought I might have to make the decision to let him go. I can tell you that it would have been the most heart wrenching decision of my entire life. I was leaning towards letting him go - not wanting him to suffer. At the time, my vet gave us some advice that really helped us as we were so overwhelmed with many emotions and could hardly think straight. She said that she could see how much we loved Duck and that we owed it to him and to ourselves to give him the best chance. At that point, we loaded him in the car and drove six hours south across the border to a veterinary teaching hospital in Washington State. Within 24 hours they had transfused him, run all sorts of tests and had him on a complete medication regime. He is still with us today and is living a great life. At the time, we didn't know if we were doing the right thing or not. That's the painful thing about this situation - there is no definitively right or wrong decision. You must do your best to gather information about Mille's condition and based on that and also whether or not she seems to have fight left in her or not, make your decision. Remember that no matter what you decide, the important thing is that you love her and she knows that. I don't know too much about Mille's history, other than she seemed to be responding somewhat to prednisone and atopica. You didn't mention if she was taking anything to protect her gastro intestinal tract from the harshness of the prednisone. Sometimes dogs will end up with ulcers from taking the high doses of prednisone. In this country, sucralfate and famotodine (Pepcid AC) are prescribed for GI protection. When you say Mille had dark feces, I do wonder if she has developed a bleeding ulcer. I'm sure others on this board will offer some helpful advice and suggestions based on their experiences. My heart really goes out to you. Please keep us posted as you can. deb and Duck

Debbie BC Canada

Clare, we're saying a prayer and thinking about Mille. I hope she has a turnaround and gets better soon. melissa and tiggs

melissa slc

I am so sorry about yultler. You ar rigt This is a horrle disease. I had never heard of it until my 4 year old golden retriever, Hunter, was diagnosed on Oct. 9, 2003. Sadly, he died, stll in ICU on Oct. 16, 2003. My heart breaks every time i read of a dog being diagnosed with it because I know exactly what the owners are going through. Letting them go is such a heard decision. I have owned dogs for 52 years year I lost my first dog, Beauty, an English setter I got for my 11th brithay at age 8months to distemper. I have lost many dogs since,. I had to make this decision wih my first IUrish Setter with a spianal infection that would not respond to meds, and with my 2ed Irish setter at age '12 1/2 due to bone cancer. Just last May I had put in a call for my vet to let my golden retriever, KayCee go, also cancer. But she died in my arms before he arrived. It is so hard to make that decision and but somehow you will know it is right. Your heart will break, but at least you will know that your girl is no longer suffering. You are in my thoughts.

Sandra Texas

Clare, I hope the time in hospital helps bring Millie around. It is never easy to try to decide what is the right course. I have often questioned everything I did for my dog. The thing I keep coming back to was that I had to know I made every attempt to save her. It came down to I would rather regret the things I did than to regret the things I didn't do. The only regret I have now is that she is no longer with me. We start this fight knowing the odds are against us but there is always the chance that we will beat it. Try to understand that we can only do the best we can with the knowledge that we have now. I will keep you and your dear Millie in my thoughts and prayers. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Clare, Also so very sad to hear about Mille. Our thoughts and prayers will be with you and hope that the hospital can bring her around. I like Karen wondering if maybe something else. Our Holly early this past year had a go around with similiar experience as she was throwing up for like 3-4 days and had dark poo, her numbers went off the wall all wacky. We suspect she got into something out in the yard and ate it, which made her sick. Within a few weeks she started to get better and by the next month her blood count started to rise again. Vet had told us also, maybe just like a cold/flu or something that set her off. Linda

Linda Sapphire

Clare, I am hoping and praying for you and Millie. xx

Keri Lynn Wales UK

I made the decision to have my dog put down only after several vets including experts at a teaching hospital told me his situation was hopeless. He had no regeneration of rbcs at all less than 0.01. after being on meds for about 4 - 5 weeks. They convinced me his bone marrow would not produce new cells. I will always wonder though whether he may have made a recovery over time with another transfusion and increased meds. It is a very difficult decision to make.

Julie Australia

This thread was discussed between 28/12/2008 and 29/12/2008

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