Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Question on Time Factor

I am trying to get to the bottom of my dog's death to IMHA. The vet told me that her intestines were completely destroyed by the bleeding, I guess. Once the gums turned pale, she went fast. But my question is: Could she have had mild anemia and IMHA for several months before the devastating end? The reasonI ask is that family members who came to visit said they noticed changes in her such as lack of energy and timidness. I attributed these things to he hip trouble. She also came down with a yeast infection that we didn't get treated until four days before her death. It seems that looking back she might have had the anemia for months. Is this possible? And if it is posible, then should I be looking for the trigger back then? In what time area should I be looking for the trigger? Not only was frontline given right before her death--heartguard was used monthly also vaccinations. I am preparing my records for Dr. Dodds. Why is it I see now all these signs from months ago--could she havae been triggered back then or do you look for the trigger right before the massive bleeding? Thank you and I am sorry I ask so many questions. Everyone on here has plenty of troubles of your own, I know.

Becky becky@wabash.net

Becky, As the saying goes - hindsight is 20/20. I find myself in the same situation you are in - trying to figure it all out. But, unfortunately I am torturing myself to the worst degree. Nothing, I can do now will bring my beloved Molson back. I had to put him down on Tuesday, March 25 due to liver disease - a complication of his IMHA. Some of the symptoms he was displaying in mid-February were actually signs of liver disease - I thought they were side effects of the Prednisone. So, I torture myself now wondering if I had been more persistent and pushy with my vet had things turned out differently. I don't know. Prior to his illness he had a vaccination, frontline, and was given a cepholexin (which caused him to vommit vilently)in Nov. prior to his severe outbreak in December. How did all or non of these contribute to his illness? Could I have changed his diet so as to lessen the effects of the liver disease? Many of his symptoms and the such were so mixed. Becky - be gentle with yourself - as I have to with myself. It is so devastating to those our pet companions. I never imagined the pain that would result in losing Molson. Unfortunately, I didn't find this site early enough, only the day before having to put Molson down - but I did get lots of help and information from Meisha's Hope website. Thanks Joanne - for your efforts. You are in my thoughts and prayers, Becky. AM

AM FL

Thank you and I am so sorry for your beloved Molson.THis past year I worried about the future with Libbie--I kept thinking her father is alive at 17 and surely she will live to be at least 12 and I won't lose her for some time. Dear, God, I never dreamed in my worse nightmares that she would be taken in just a few days from my thoughts about the future.

Becky Illinois

HI, I am sorry for your loss. I am pretty new to this, we were diagnosed Feb. 18th, but from what I understand there doesn't neccesarily have to be a "trigger". Maddison got sick really quickly and as far as we know there was no contributing factor. When our vet explained it to me, he said there could be hundreds of causes (eating something bad i.e. onions, ib profen, etc. or a reaction to vaccine, and the list goes on and on) However he did say that generally if it is a reaction to a vaccine they normally begin to react within a couple of days. I think you could drive yourself crazy trying to figure out exactly what caused this but i think you can find comfort in knowing that she was loved and you did everything you could to help her. This is just a horrible disease. Were thinking of you. Kathy & Maddison

Kathy N.C.

Hi Becky, I do believe they can have aiha for a long time without it being bad enough that you realize something is wrong. We have a now almost 7 year old shih-tzu/maltipoo who was diagnosed with aiha 3 years ago. She always was kind of an "old soul" in terms of her energy level. We chalked it up to her breed and general personality and our vet wasn't concerned either, she had always been that way but otherwise was healthy (that we all knew of). Since her recovery from aiha she has more energy than ever chasing her toys etc. People who knew her pre- and post- aiha can't believe the difference. As for looking for a trigger, probably impossible to nail it down. Try not to beat yourself up about it, but enjoy the wonderful memories you have of your time with your pup. Christina

Christina Campbell River

Becky, Our Holly, Dachshund, was diagnosed last March 26, 2007 and has been fighting hard for 1 year now. We adopted her in Dec 2006 and from the very first day we adopted her at 2 we thought she should have more energy then she does. We had one situation arise in Jan which called for blood work and at that time I was very unfamiliar with what all the counts should be, but upon looking back at those blood tests she had already started with IMHA. In Holly's case it was a very slow decrease in her PCV it took 3 months before she actually starting having seizures and we then checked her gums because she was licking everything in site, and found her gums to be white. When she was admitted to the hospital her PCV was 8 and a transfusion was done. Up until that point she would vomit everyday, yet she never ever lost her appetitie for food, and we asked the internist how she was able to even walk with that count. She told us in Holly's case it happened very slow the decrease of her red blood cells, so her body adjusted to her situation over a 3-4 month period. Hope this helps. Linda

Linda Sapphire

Becky, you are grieving and are in a state of shock by your unexpected, totally devasating loss. We can understand. Like you, we love our pets more than anything in the world. If you have not before dealt with this condition you would not know to ask the vet to take an CBC profile. The situation of Libbie showing less energy could have come from arthritis or any number of conditions. You simply cannot destroy yourself and blame yourself. We all learn from gathering knwledge from one another. You are obviously a dog person and although Libbie can never be replaced my guess is you will adopt another pet companion (as there are so many patiently waiting for good homes). I would just give advise to you and everyone to try to go homeopathc in most of your treatments. Give the very least of alopathic treatments and vaccinations. Most have toxic substances that effect the dog's immune system. This is not an opinion, it is fact from numerous scientific studies and the reality of adverse reactions. As I created a shroud of guilt too when my pet was diagnosed after a frontline treatment, I researched and learned a lot. I know now what I will NEVER give to my dogs and what I will question and question (veterinary clinicians) until I get an answer that makes sense. Then I research and comnpare experiences and ask more questions via my contemporaries. I weigh the pros and cons and don't blindly jump into a treatment merely because a vet recommended it or a good marketing company showed the product on TV or in print and lied through their teeth. If I don't get the answer I am comfortable with, I make my own decisions. That's all any of us can do. We just have to learn that we cannot always be believers and continue to pump money into big pharma. Libbie loved you and you her and she I am sure had a wonderful life. When you are able to remember her with fond memories and not searing pain, you will better appreciate your life together. Meanwhile you must try to explore ways to resume your life. Please feel free to e-mail me since we have already corresponded. thinking of you....Jan

Jan philly

Jan, I can't find the email you sent and I need to ask something. I see on here where people have dogs with PCV's much lower than my dog had. Libbie's was 24.5. I can hardly write this but her blood work although it wasn't good was not horrible: hemo-8, WBC 19, RBC 3.56 Her platelets were 9!! What on earth does this mean? I mean I know what platelets are but why didn't she havae any? Is this some other disease? Her autopsy said she died of bleeding from liver, autoimmune, DIC. Thank you so much again.

Becky Illinois

Becky, I am so sorry you have lost Libbie. This was not what you wanted to happen and you tried so hard to make sure she had the best care you could give her. She loved you very much. Platelets are the blood agents that stop bleeding, whether it be external or internal. Low or no platelets is a condition called Thrombocytopenia. It can be caused by many many things. Destruction in the bone marrow of the precursor cells is one such way and can be associated with autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Tick diseases can cause this condition. B12 and folic acid deficiencies perhaps from malabsorption in the small intestine can contribute. There really is a long list of conditions that can cause this to happen. The autopsy is the key to what happened to Libbie. DIC is disseminated intravascular coagulation and is a sudden severe condition where the body tries to stop bleeding but the vessels become filled with fibrin tendrils in it's effort to halt bleeding. It's inappropriate coagulation. When Chance was in surgery to remove his tumor and spleen, I worried the whole time about DIC. It can happen very suddenly and there is not much that can be done to stop it once it begins. At one point we thought it might be happening and I called my husband at work to come immediately. It did not happen, but it was good that we were both there. Please, if you have time, go to this web site and read this short poem. http://rainbowsbridge.com/Poem.htm It is a wonderful place to visit in your mind when you want to visit with Libbie. My deepest sympathy, Patrice

Patrice NYS

This thread was discussed between 28/03/2008 and 29/03/2008

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