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Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Vets, bad, good & Excellent
| We have had a lot of discussion here recently about bad vets. Granted there a bad vets in the world and I have been to a few of them myself but I have left those vets ASAP. The thing to remember is that there are also a lot of GOOD and even EXCELLENT vets in the world. In 2006 I decided to honor some of those vets by starting the Meisha’s Hope Award for Excellence by a veterinarian in the treatment of canine AIHA/IMHA: http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/mhaward.htm I worked together with Morris Animal Foundation to design a special plaque to honor these yearly Award winners. You might want to read about the 2006 and 2007 winners: http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/2006mhawinner.htm http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/2007mhawinner.htm They are very inspiring vets. I have had the joy of visiting with both of these excellent vets. Each nominated non-winner is listed as an Honorable Mention vet on the Award page. Believe me when I say I received some wonderful letters of nomination from some very caring owner/caregivers. I would loved to have put all the actual nominations online but time and space limitations have made that impossible. The 2008 Meisha’s Hope Award winner will be announced in January and the nominations for 2008 are inspiring as well. So while some of you may have come up against some bad vets do not judge all vets by these vets. There are indeed some very wonderful, caring vets out there who do have knowledge of AIHA/IMHA and the ability and desire to treat it. |
| Joanne MN |
| Joann, you are so right! And although I dealt with a couple of vets I didn't care for I can't truly say they are bad vets. Just bad bedside manner and pessimistic. And not hopeful AT ALL for an AIHA ITP patient. They feel I'm just spinning my wheels and delaying the inevitable. In Brandi's situation, maybe I am. But I have to give her every chance to recover. And I have to have a vet that understands that without belittling me. I think it is just awesome what one person (YOU) started Meisha's Hope because of the love of one dog, Meisha. Meisha made it and she lives forever now in so many hearts as it was because of her that you have done what you did. Teresa |
| Teresa OK |
| I did honor both my regular Vet and my ER vet with donations to Meisha's Hope because they truly did everything possible to try to save my Salome. Thanks to Meisha's Hope web site I was able to understand what was going on and the ER Vet even noted on her chart that I was well informed about all aspects of this awful disease. I have quit seeing my regular Vet only because he is so closed minded to the effects of certain drugs/pet products and vaccines possibly playing a role in AIHA. I think in our efforts to get the word out we have to find a way to reach the professionals that treat our beloved pets. I know that the expense in fighting this can be both financially and emotionally devastating but it would be nice if everyone on this board made even a token donation in Joanne's name for all her hard work and help. Just think how much harder it would be without her dedicated efforts. Penny |
| Penny Lytle Creek Calif |
| Let's talk about the good vets. We live in a rural area (for Connecticut) and used a local mobile vet. She directed us (over the phone) with the symptoms we described to the emergency center about 45 minutes away. Our debt to her is immeasurable. Her clinical acumen was perfect -too much for her that day - get the help you need. The Emergency Hospital was full service and cutting edge, the place where she (Trooper)needed to be. Fast forward 2 weeks, and a diagnosis with a long term intense follow up. Our vet gets the aspirin compounded and delivered. We soon realize that the many blood samples that are needed are best done not with the mobile vet (but with a vet with that capability). We called another new local vet and asked would they be willing to partner with our vet and the specialists to draw and send her blood. YES, of course. Wow, more vets putting Trooper first. As the story goes, and the complications that followed we have needed and used the local vet over the mobile vet. They have discussed, called their colleagues, called their buddies at Cornell and UPenn---and always called us back!!! Trooper is here today because of them. They have admitted their concern and need for consultation when a question was raised. Since this horror is so difficult to get your hands around, and noone can be sure why some get it and others don't, why some respond quickly and others slowly, and others not at all - they can only do the best they can. I am thankful that we were able to find vets with a caring soul - I pray that more find those than not. Chris |
| Chris Connecticut |
The first local vet bertie went to was horrible, they tole me there was nothing more they could do for him so I moved him to a specialist hospital. Bertie's specialist was great. She has now gone back to London unfortunately. Over the period of time Bertie was sick I became good friends with her and we remain in touch today(we just received a Xmas card from her!). She is a great friend to me and I can never repay her for her friendship and care she showed Bertie and I during the time he was sick. I guess in any industry there are good and bad people, its just a matter of finding the good ones. Lisa XX |
| Lisa West Aust |
This thread was discussed between 21/12/2008 and 22/12/2008
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