Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Sweet Girl Raya

I've started this new thread for Dileep who lost the sweet beagle Raya on 2/1/8 after a 4 day fight with this terrible disease. Dileep, I lost my dear, beloved Shih Tzu, Allie, on 1/1/08 after an equally swift battle. Many others on this forum have also experienced the same thing. I am SO sorry for your loss. I know what it's like to question everything that was done by you and your vet as I've been doing the same thing. Try to remember that everyone did the best they could with the knowledge that they had at that time. There is just no good explanation or logical reason for what has happpened to our dogs. There is a great site where "virtual candles" can be lighted for those we love. There is a group there just for dogs and people affected by this terrible disease. I have just lighted a candle for you and Raya which can be seen here: http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=aiha Peace, Miranda

Miranda NM

So sorry for your loses, Miranda and Dileep. My beagle, Nibs, went to rainbow bridge two weeks ago today. She was diagnosed in November. Hugs, Shirley

Shirley GA

Dileep, I am so saddened by your loss of your sweet Raya. All of us who have had to deal with this awful disease find it easy to beat ourselves up for not being able to protect our beloved pets from it. It is natural to think you should have been able to do something. Unfortunately this comes on so swiftly that sometimes no matter how valiantly you fight you just can't win. In the coming days I hope you can remember the happier times with Raya and realize that you did everything you possibly could. The pain never really leaves but the days do get easier. Raya is at the bridge fully restored waiting until you meet again, making new friends with our dogs who like her have been taken from us too quickly. Sharing in the sorrow of all who have lost the battle. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Miranda -- thanks for starting the new thread for Dileep's sweet Raya. Maybe someone like Joanne can paste Dileep's original posting on this thread so others can read the entire thread. Shirley and Dileep -- I am sorry to hear about your loss of your dear sweet beagles, Nibs and Raya, to IMHA. This is a merciless disease, and as Penny notes, it strikes so swiftly that many dog owners are still in shock at the horror of a disease they've never heard about when their dog passes, oftentimes despite heroic efforts by their regular vets and specialty vets. I too lost my dear beagle, Wiley, to IMHA, and our loss happened in May 2005. Our girl was 10 1/2 years old, and she was a happy girl, and, just like your Raya, somewhat disobedient at times. But more in a mischievious way than a malicious way. She brought so much fun and joy and love to our lives, and we were devastated. We still are, although the pain is easier to bear because we focus on how grateful we were that the Lord sent us to her. We are also grateful that he allowed us time with her in those final days to say our goodbyes and to be there when she passed. It is a great comfort to know that we were with her at the end when she snoozily took her last breath in our arms. Dileep, your questions about Raya's IMHA are identical to those so many of us have asked -- both those whose dogs have lost their fights and those whose dogs are in remission. We look at the timing of the annual exam, vaccinations, heartworm medication etc to see what the correlation is. But we'll never know for sure. Our specialty vet in Springfield, VA didn't prescribe Heprin either, although they did have Wiley on aspirin. She had several Oxyglobin transfusions, although Dr. Jean Dodds, a veterinary specialist on IMHA and other issues, says to avoid Oxyglobin (I learned this recently.) I wonder why our regular vet insisted on Wiley having all of these annual vaccinations, when two separate Canine Task Forces on Vaccines have indicated that many vaccines have much longer durations of immunity. I wonder why my own vet kept vaccinating Wiley with Lyme every year -- because we took her to Pennsylvania which has tick problems -- when the vet told me, after Wiley's death, that she would never give her dogs Lyme. Why didn't she ever raise this issue with me? You can drive yourself even deeper in sadness with all the questions, so try to get over this phase, because you'll never get the closure you need. Dileep, you and your family obviously loved Raya very much, and you will have some tough grief, because losing a dog so suddenly to this disease is such a shock. Please try to be comforted knowing that you did all that you could do for Raya. You got her medical care when she was sick, and you gave her a chance to fight the IMHA. Many people would look at the prognosis and the costs and just let the vets put their dogs down. You gave Raya a chance to fight, but it wasn't meant to be. Please be comforted also knowing that she is in a better place now, where she is happy and healthy again. And please know that you and your family gave Raya a wonderful life in which she was loved and protected, and in return she gave you the unconditional love that dogs give to their families. As a person who has loved beagles for over 40 years, I can say that they are a fun, lovable breed, and they take over their families hearts, if they are given the chance. Shirley and Dileep, please take care and let us know how you are doing. This forum has been a comfort to me as I have grieved, because the people here understand the pain of having your dog stricken by IMHA and then losing your dog despite the hardest fight of your life.

Brenda VA

As Brenda requested here is Dileep's orgininal post Joanne "Dileep, DC We are heartbroken over the loss of our beloved beagle Raya on Feb. 1st, 2008, to IMHA. She was barely 9.5 years old. She fought valiantly for four days and four nights, and finally succumbed to secondary complications. She suffered three seizures within the final 24 hours due to clots. I never heard of IMHA until Raya was diagnosed Jan. 28th. She was her usual beautiful self, sprightly jumping and running the previous day. But on 28th, she vomited repeatedly, would not take any food, no matter how tasty she found it just hours before, and was lethargic. Her gums were pale. We first took her to her regular vet who recommended she go to the local animal ER immediately. Her PCV was first observed at 10 and after 2 transfusions elevated to 20. Tuesday and Wednesday she was on prednisone. She showed improvement and we were so happy to see her walking around and sniffing at the door, as if to say, "Let's Go!" The ER vet wanted to see her PCV stabilize. However, Thursday, with PCV dropping to 15, another third transfusion was given. But, our baby's immune system was destroying the foreign red blood cells. Her bone marrow was producing red blood cells naturally, but the hemolysis was severe. Late last Thursday night, the first seizure was reported, lasting 30 seconds, indicating clot formations. Then, early Friday morning, two more seizures. Raya was heavily sedated by the time we got there Friday afternoon. The vet recommended euthanasia at this point to ease her suffering. It was one of the most heartbreaking moments of my life, because I had the power to continue the fight or ease our baby's suffering. We were told the presence of clots offers very poor quality of life for Raya, and easing her suffering was the most important concern. I could not believe - and still can't as I write this - how we went from a beautiful happy (if mildly disobedient!) beagle to deciding to ease her pain. I tell myself that we trusted the vets who cared for her (the vet kissed Raya at the end), and the incredibly expensive bill of $3,000 must mean they tried their best. Yet, the more I read, the more I wonder as to the underlying causes, and if more could have been done. Why wasn't Heparin considered as a precaution to clot formation given that she had three transfusions? She had her annual exam Dec. 26th, with vaccinations, and took her heartworm (Iverhart) on Jan. 17th. Did these routine medical interactions trigger her immune system to attack itself? She brought love and joy to my mother, brothers and myself, and I am grateful to God and nature that we shared life on earth these too short years. I hope we soon gain greater understanding into predisposed conditions to IMHA so that each dog, each a loved one, improves their chances against this sudden, terrible disease.

Joanne

Miranda, Dileep and Shirley, I am so very sorry to hear of the loss of your most beloved canine companions to AIHA/IMHA. 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 a lot of good info that will be very helpful to you as you journey through the grief process. Once again, please accept my deepest sympathies on your loss and know you all are in my thoughts and prayers during these most difficult days.

Joanne MN

Dear Friends – I find solace in your thoughts because you experienced this type of loss. I share your pain. This loss is profoundly deep as if a witness to our family’s life events – graduations, engagements – can no longer bear witness. I still see Raya each morning, leaping at our front door, saying, “Let’s go for our morning walk! I have stuff to do!” I want to share with you a story of Raya’s miracle. In August 2005, Mom and Raya were in a rollover accident at over 65mph. The state trooper later said to me, “I don’t know if you’re religious, but it’s a miracle your mother survived.” Raya had no seatbelt, yet she scampered out of that destroyed vehicle without a scratch. When my brother and I got Mom and Raya home that night, we felt the presence of God. We have learned the meaning of Rainbow Bridge, and my mother imagines Raya there, happily playing with new friends, far away from vets and painful needles. Raya was our family mascot who consistently polled high numbers. Her beauty and personality became for us a family symbol. She became at the zenith of her life a metaphor for living well – eating a lot and sleeping a lot. Raya, like your loved ones, lived well.

Dileep DC

Dileep -- Your family had a deep connection to your sweet beagle. I am sure that that accident in 2005, and the miracle that save your mother and Raya, caused even deeper bonds between your family and Raya. Ouor dogs are so special to our lives, and as a person who loves the beagle breed so much, I know how this sweet little girl captured the hearts of everyone in your family. The memories of the wonderful life you shared together will be a great comfort to you. You'll always miss her, and a part of you will always be a bit sad, but in time you'll think of Raya with a smile. Our beagles are such merry little hounds, and they bring such joy to our lives -- as everyone's beloved dogs do -- that it is not fair to think of them only in sadness. Raya was your angel on earth, and now she is your angel above.

Brenda VA

Dileep, It sounds as though your family had a deep and profound love for Raya, and she for you. The miracle of your mother's accident is a wonderful story and I'm sure one that makes you miss the little angel even more. Know that you will have good days and bad in this process and that there will be moments of peace in the midst of it. Blessings to you and your family, Miranda

Miranda NM

This thread was discussed between 05/02/2008 and 07/02/2008

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