Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Pale gums

Hi, I have a 1 year old Border Collie Mix that has very pale gums. About a week ago his appetite decreased and he acts like he doesn't feel good. I have been reading the other thread on here mainly concerning AIHA. Jack has a vet appointment tomorrow, so I'm hoping for the best! Any information would be helpful!

Lisa Austin

Hi Lisa, If you click on the link "List threads" you'll find a thread started by Alison on December 1 called "Pale Gums...???" You might be able to find some good info there. Best, Connie

Connie St. Paul

Thanks Connie, I'm new to this way of communicating, still trying to find my way around!

lisa Austin TX

Lisa In answer to your question on the other thread this is not limited to dogs. Cats, Ferrets, horses and I am sure a number of other animals develop it too. It is not contagious in case you are wondering. Make sure your Vet is well versed on treating AIHA if Jack is actually diagnosed. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Lisa, Its best to get it checked out. We are all hoping it won't be BUT If it is AIHA there is alot of advice and support for you here. Good luck, Jackie and Jasper

Jackie pembrokeshire; west wales; uk

Hi Lisa, I've been thinking about you and Jack. Are you back from the vet yet? What's the word? Keep us posted. Connie and La la la Lola

Connie St. Paul

Hi Lisa, please have your dog checked out right away. If Jack has AIHA, it can be a killer. My dog, Bailey (American Cocker Spaniel), was diagnosed last month and has stabilized, it seems. We go back next weekend for blood work. This forum has helped me tons!

Al Florida

Hi Connie, Jack passed away this morning. We took him to the vet yesterday and after running tests, it looked like he did in fact have AIHA. His liver function was 643 and the RBC was at 16.4 and his platlides were at 82. He was also running a fever of 104. The vet game him a shot of Dexamelthzone, Baytiol, B12 and Diperon. With instructions to take 3 preds at 20 mg twice a day and also put him on tetracycline. Last night he ate a few bites of chicken and went to bed. This morning he was up at 5:00 and walked downstairs to go out to the bathroom. He drank a lot of water, then went back upstairs and went to sleep. When I came home about 8:45, he was breathing very fast and heavy, not panting just breathing fast and seemed very weak. He did wag his tail and raise his head when I came in the room so that was promising. I called the vet to see if this was normal and should I bring him in because I didn't think it was. The receptionist told me to wait until the doctor came in a call back. So I waited the 15 minutes and called back. The vet said to bring him back in to recheck his blood count and wanted to check his stomach to make sure there wasn't any internal bleeding. I managed to get him down the stairs and with my neighbors help into the car. He started gasping for breath once in the car and passed away on the way to the vet. They are going to do an nercospy to see what happened. I'm sorry to go into details, but I'm in complete shock and just rambling on. We should have details in the next few hours. One thiing I wanted to pass on was that my vet says the cases of AIHA are on the increase. Several years ago he might have 4 or 5 cases a year, now he is having about that many cases a month. I don't know if waiting those 15 minutes to talk to the vet made any difference. Jack was only 1 1/2 years old and he was such a loving, happy, funny boy. I can't believe he is gone.

Lisa austin

Lisa, I am so very sorry to hear of the death of your most beloved Jack. Please accept my deepest sympathies on your loss. When you feel up to it, I hope you will visit the Loss & 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. It is good you are having a nercropsy done. It hopefully will provide you and your vet with some answers. Once again, my most sincere sympathies to you on your loss. Be assured you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Joanne MN

Lisa, I am so sorry for your loss. I doubt whether the 15 minutes made any difference so please don't beat yourself up over it. This disease comes on so quickly and sometimes takes our beloved pets too quickly regardless of how fast treatment is started. You were a good doggy Mom and I am sure Jack will be waiting for you at the bridge when it is time. If you need someone to talk to please feel free to email me. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Dear Lisa, I am so so sorry to hear about your Jack. (I'm sitting at my desk crying right now.) I'm sure the 15 minutes wouldn't make a difference. To quote my vet, "I hate this disease." Please know that even though we are strangers, you are in my thoughts. Take care, Connie

Connie St. Paul

Lisa, I am so sorry to hear your news. Its not worth beating yourself up over those 15 minutes...you have to tell yourself it wouldn't have made any difference. Take heart you did everything you could. Jackie

Jackie pembrokeshire; west wales; uk

I am so sorry for your loss Jackie. I too was left reeling when I lost my baby to this disease. As others have posted, please don't beat yourself up. This disease is is sudden and vicious in its attack. My thoughts are with you. Kat

Kate Northwest

Lisa So many of us have lost our dogs after long and short struggles. Take from your experience that Jack did not suffer a long drawn out struggle, he still recognised you when you came in and you did all you could for him. It is no consolation at the moment, but at least you knew Jack. nobody on this board would swap the precious time they have with their dogs for not knowing them at all. Take care, Steph

Steph Wales

Lisa I am so sorry to hear about Jack. Please don't blame yourself, I really don't think that 15 minutes would have made any difference. Bless him for raising his head to you when you walked into the room. You did all you could do Lisa x My thoughts are with you. Tricia x

Tricia UK

Lisa, I'm so sorry to hear about Jack. It sounds to me like you did everything you possibly could to help him so please, don't beat yourself up about the 15 minutes spent talking to the vet. I'm sure Jack knew he was loved and that even though his life was cut short, he had a happy, good quality life. In the end, that's what counts. Big hugs to you - please take care of yourself now. deb and Duck

Debbie BC Canada

Lisa, I'm also very sorry to hear about Jack, my deepest sorrow to you. I hope that science will find cure for this dreaded illness and some direct causes. I believe I found mine...fertilizer around my fruit trees. My cocker who's fighting this disease, consumed it, I believe, by eating something on the ground, which probably had a granular or 2 of fertilizer on it. This may have triggered the disease. Now, if only medical science had a known cure for this... and please know that you did all you could do. Don't ask me how I know, but I feel that we'll all see our loved ones again. It's just the waiting that's hard, I think.

Al Florida

I want to thank everyone for the support and encouragement. I can't tell you how much this helps. This has been such a crappy day and reading your words does make a difference. The vet did an autopsy and found what he expected to find with the AIHA. He also found a blood clot in one of the blood vessels on the back side of the liver. He thinks the clot was formed because Jack hadn't been up and around the last few days ( although he was in the backyard playing with our son and our three other dogs on Tuesday). This information made me so angry because I asked him about blood clotting yesterday when we went to see him and never got an answer. Now I'm wondering if by moving him this morning dislodged the clot and caused him to pass away so suddenly. I hope this information about the blood clot helps so, ask your vet about the possibility. We have some friends in the media and are passing along everything we have learned in this short time about AIHA. Hopefully they will do story on it to spread the word to everyone and the word keeps spreading. If you know of any helpful links that aren't on this forum, please email me so I can gather as much information as I can. My email address is reystown@att.net I will keep you all in my thoughts and wish everyone the best. Please give all your babies an extra hug today! Lisa

lisa austin tx

I am so sorry... Damn this disease!

nicky gvaz

Lisa, I am so very sorry for your loss. Allison

Allison TX

Lisa, A lot of people on this board knew about and tried to prevent blood clots in their dogs and were not always sucessful so don't second guess your treatment of Jack. We all go down that road of How could I have prevented this, Why didn't I notice my dog was so sick, and for those of us that have fought and lost Why couldn't I save my dog? Try to let that go and hang on to the lovely memories you had with Jack in his all too short visit. If you can get media coverage on this awful disease please try to get them to mention the Meisha's Hope fund with Morris Animal Foundation the more people that donate to the studies the sooner we can hope to find away to let all dogs recover from this and hopefully someday find a way to prevent it. Take Care Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Lisa: I am soo sorry for your loss....

Jason Myrtle Beach

Lisa, Our prayers and thoughts are with you at this difficult time in the loss of Jack. It is always very easy for us to beat ourselves up over decisions we make for our babies, but please know you did everything in your power to help save Jack and he knows that. I believe that when they are just to tired to fight this they let go to go to Rainbows Bridge so they can be happy and painfree again. Please take care. Linda

Linda Sapphire

Lisa -- I'm so sorry to hear that you lost your beloved Jack to IMHA. You did all that you could do. I hope you find comfort in your memories and in the knowledge that you did your best to provide a safe, loving home for Jack. It is so hard to lose dogs to this disease. Please take care.

Brenda VA

Lisa - I haven't checked into the site since Jack was diagnosed and passed. Please accept my profound sympathy for the loss of beloved Jack. This is a terrible, terrible disease. Those of us who have loved ones afflicted by it do every thing we can but, in the end, are pretty much powerless to affect the outcome, whether it's positive (we rejoice) or negative (we grieve). Jack left you, with a wag of his tail, thanking you for doing all that you could to heal him and letting you know that he will always be with, and love, you. I hope that you can rejoice in knowing that, for his short time on this earth, you gave Jack a great, loving home and that, to the end, he appreciated and loved you for that. Take care. Sandy & Shadow

Sandy Utah

This thread was discussed between 06/12/2007 and 11/12/2007

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