Newly Diagnosed AHA

[admin]

Jeanie – she’s absolutely beautiful – she has such a sweet, kind face.

I know it’s painful to see them so poorly, but your vets & everyone else are right in saying that Pandi can get through this. Vally & others have been through the same scenario & most have us have wondered if we were doing the right thing because our dogs have looked so dreadful in the early days of treatment. I totally agree with Vally about the transfusions – these small transfusions will keep Pandi comfortable until the drugs start to do their work & their levels usually drop a bit after they’ve had them. Your vets sound really good, Jeanie.

There is no way Worzel would eat at the vets either & when you get them home, things improve. We had awful trouble getting him to eat at all (it was terrible) before his official diagnosis, so he got very thin & weak, but when he started to improve he could eat like an ogre! The prednisone makes them starving hungry. In the meantime, anti-emetic treatment is the best thing.

I am assuming they’ve done a lot of tests on Pandi? Tick diseases are a common cause of AIHA (and many other things). Have they had any results that you know of on the tests? Even though the cause is not always found, it is really important to do every test possible in case it is something that needs treating with antibiotics, for example. Eliminating the cause, wherever possible, will bring improvement.

Breaking down is completely understandable, Jeanie. We’ve all done it, for sure. I tried so hard not too show my emotions in front of Worzel – I went off & cried outside – as I didn’t want him to pick up on any negativity. I desperately tried to be cheerful & happy in front of him – I believe that they “know” somehow. Be strong for your baby – she will know you are willing her to get better – and you are doing a great job.

Let us know how things are going – please know we are all thinking of you – anything at all that you need, just ask.

Sending love & hugs
Sheena, Worzel & Ollie xxxxx

[Vally]

Oh I just saw her picture too. She’s beautiful.

[Jeanie]

To all my new found friends,
It breaks my heart to let you know that Pandi died this morning. My vet called and said she was not progressing and the blood was still hemolyzing and not improving. He helped us through the decision to let her go.
I know it was the right thing to do but hurts very bad right now. She was only 2 1/2 but I do not belive in letting her suffer with such a poor prognosis.
He shared that the ones he has seen lately with this diagnosis has been the worse.
Thank you for your support and prayers and I will continue to pray for your wonderful babies.

Jeanie

[admin]

Oh Jeanie. I am so very sorry to hear this. You must be feeling utterly devastated right now and I am grateful to you for taking the time to let us know. I made the same decision as you with my Molly and whilst all our experiences are different, we all know how unbelievably hard it is. You knew Pandi better than anyone and as loving owners, it is our job to know if and when it is time to stop.
Please know you will always be welcome here. All of our experiences with this hideous illness are important and valid. If you feel like it, have a look at “The Bridge” tab. There are some helpful words there.

All my love and most sincere condolences to you and your family. Dear Pandi is now at peace.

Mary x

[Vally]

Jeanie, I’m so very sorry. Just a baby. My sincere condolences to you and your family. Yes, part of loving them is letting them go when we must.

Love Vally

[admin]

Oh my dear Jeanie,

You have made the bravest decision of all & Mary is right – sometimes you must make the choice to stop if you think there is no hope or even the remotest possibility of suffering. In the circumstances, we would all do the same because we love our pets so much. I can’t even begin to tell you how sorry I am that Pandi lost the fight against this very serious & evil disease. Too many still lose that fight & I am crying now for you & Pandi as I write this. You are so courageous to let us know. Don’t leave us, please – if you feel like writing some more, anytime, please do.

Mary suggested looking at The Bridge page – it has brought comfort to many & was written by our wonderful Brigitte, who also lost her beloved dog to IMHA. When things are less raw, I hope you will find some solace there.

Sending you my love & deepest sympathy, dear Jeanie
Sheena x

[admin]

Dear Jeanie,
I am so very sorry and you have my sincere sympathy on the loss of your Pandi. Of course I don’t know how exactly you feel right now, but I have a pretty good idea. Pandi must leave a huge hole in your family and your heart is broken. Those last moments are edged into your memory and when you think of Pandi the tears come. I am sure you have many absolutely wonderful memories of that cute girl and I know that in time those memories will be stronger than the pain and sorrow this disease brought you. Nobody can take away those memories and there will be a time when you can smile again when you think of Pandi.
I think it is very important to talk to people that understand how sad the loss of Pandi is for you. I hope you have friends and family that you can talk to. If you don’t, we always have an ear here and we truly know how it feels.
Please take care and let us know how you are. When I thought of you and Pandi this poem came to mind:

A butterfly lights beside us, like a sunbeam…
and for a brief moment it’s glory
and beauty belong to our world…
but then it flies on again, and although
we wish it could have stayed,
we are so thankful to have seen it at all.

Sending love, sympathy and best wishes,
Brigitte

[Jen]

Jeanie, I have been following your posts on pandi and have really been hoping she was going to get better. I want to wish you my sincere condolences. I can’t begin to imagine how much grief you feel. They are our babies and really bring such a shining light into our lives! I hope your special memories of pandi will help to ease your pain. I know you were a wonderful mom to her.
With love and support,
Jen & Maggie