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Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Rye & Kitzel
| First, a thank you to VetNet for this site. We need each other as we try to get our dogs' IMHA under control. I did not have this site 7 years ago when I said goodbye to Rock 'n Rye, our 3 yr. old intact male Vizsla. I only had Joanne - Hi Joanne- I see you are still doing your good work. You are the best! "Rye's" IMHA was most likely triggered by a sulfur based antibiotic that he was put on while at the breeder for field training. He lived for 3 months after the onset and we went down an aggressive drug path - pred, aza and then cytoxan. We are so lucky there is more known about this disease and I hope that somewhere down the line there might be a vaccine (?) to protect our dogs. Yesterday I said goodbye to another dearheart, our 11 month old spayed Pudelpointer, "Kitzel". She has been fighting the disease since an onset 8/31/08. We think she was bitten by a tick here in Michigan as she tested positive for rocky mtn. spotted fever and responded really well to Doxy at first. Then, IMHA kicked in and we started down the path - pred, aza, Atopica. I took her to Ohio Stat Univ. Vet. Hospital in early Oct. for a 2nd opinon and a team of oncology clinicians worked with my vet group here to work out her treatment plan. Despite all those people looking, thinking and assessing, Kit took a turn last week and her hematocrit was 8.8 on Friday. We decided not to go the transfusion route because she was non regenerative after being so highly regenerative a week ago. It was the right decision for us to say goodbye while she could still get outside. She was slipping away, wags had to really be coaxed and I could not bear to see her deteriorate further. My vet team presume that her bone marrow was just done. A very sad end when we had her up to a PCV of 35 or so at one point. Never give up hope, always advocate for you dog and read and learn all you can to be knowledgeable and informed. Writing this out has helped me today. I know the pain you are all feeling x 2 as I have had the most unlucky, unlikely circumstance of walking down this road 2 times too many. Two different breeds, two different breeders, two different countries (Kit was Canadian), and two different triggers. My best to you all and your dogs. Thank you for reading. |
| Cynthia Grosse Pointe |
| Oh Cynthia, I'm so sorry that you have lost both of your dogs to this terrible disease. It is so unfair. My heart hurts for your loss, and I can't imagine having to go through this twice. Bless your heart. We are thinking of you and we will light a candle for both of your furry loves. Sincerely, melissa and tiggs |
| melissa slc |
| Cynthia, I am so sorry you have had to deal with this again. I am sure Rye and Kitzel are together at the bridge waiting until the day you will be reunited once more. Hopefully some day with the dedicated work of Joanne and MAF no other dogs will be lost to this awful disease. Penny |
| Penny Lytle Creek Calif |
| Cynthia, Our hearts and prayers go out to you in loosing another loved one to this horrible disease. I just cannot imagine all that you have gone through in loosing another one. I know how hard it has been for us and Holly after 19 months of fighting and that constant worry always in the back of your mind of a relapse. Well you have lived it and it must be awful! Please take care, Linda |
| Linda Sapphire |
| Cynthia, You certainly have had your share of sorrow. I am so sorry that you had to go through this a second time. I know it must have been a difficult decision to make, but you did it unselfishly thinking only of what was best for Kitzel. It is kind of you to offer words of encouragement to others in the midst of your grief. May God comfort and strengthen you during the days ahead. Karen |
| Karen NC |
| Cynthia -- I am so sorry to hear that you have now lost two dogs to IMHA. This disease is so horrible. Please take care and know that all of us are thinking of you at this time. |
| Brenda VA |
| I am so very sorry. I am not sure I could handle this again. I lost my golden rtriever, Hunter to this most horrible disease Oct. 16 2003. He had just turned 4 yars old Aug. 19. His was brought on by the 6 month heartwom preventtive injection, ProHeart6. Ten months after his death the FDA had them pull it because of the high number of deaths, so many of them due to AIHA I had never heard of this diseae before hunter was diagnosed. At that time my vet said he saw about one case every year to year and a half. Recently he said he is now seeing several cases a year and he truly believes ogs are being over vaccinated today and that is wrecking their immune systems. He ha gone to 3 year vaccinations. He does not romote unneeded vaccines. Thre has ever been a reporte case of Lymes don here in this ara, so he does not push to get that vax for dogs. There has been one case of Lepto, he does not promote lepto vaccnes unless the dog is at risk of drinking contamited water. He has had many dogs have reactions to lepto vaccines, including one of my goldens. All we can do is hope and pray that a better cure or better yet, a preventtiv canbe found for AIHA, and support reserc h for it. Meisha' Hpeis one uch fund that I give to regularly. I hope others do as well. maybe some day people wil not have to go thru what we have, or are doing right now. |
| Sandra Texas |
| Thank you everyone.... it is so comforting to know that I/we are not alone. I will scrutinize every last pill, shot, vaccine, and food that my next dog eats/takes. We will have another dog- how can you deny the joy it brings every time you walk through the door. My husband and son returned from an out of town hockey tournament last night and things were rough for a few hours as they adjusted to the lack of dog sounds. It's the little things that you are listening for.... be well now Kit. |
| Cynthia Grosse Pte |
This thread was discussed between 09/11/2008 and 10/11/2008
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