Hey everyone. I'm new to this site. Stumbled upon it in the last week as I researched AIHA. The short of it is, my 1 1/2 yr old cocker spaniel Daisy died last Saturday after a 4 day bout with what was deemed AIHA..No idea where she got it and if she was treated properly. She has always been in perfect health, given all her shots and interceptor pills, IMs food and an assortment of treats..We spent everything to save her and I have my doubts she was treated correctly--she was given Pred, blood transfusion, oxyglobin, imuran and a bunch of other stuff...She ended up dying during a plasma treatment. We are so broken hearted but now we are searching for answers..The breeder swears its not in the blood line and since Daisy has always appeared high energy, i wonder if maybe she is telling the truth..AIHA is a blood disorder where the RBCs are low. Genetics is one cause but not the only known cause...Daisy may have been bit or stung or perhaps ate the wrong thing outside..She is rarely outside unattended for more than seconds..The point of my post is to find out if theres anyone out there who knows more about this disease or has had there dog experience it..We are just searching for answers...We love our baby so much, and always will, even though she is gone..

I had a brief scare with one of my dogs a while back; it appears to be linked to several possible factors, one of them being vaccinations. In some cases, the white cells target the red cells that have the viral antibodies for parvo and distemper, hence red cell destruction.

Steroids and transfusions are some of the standard course of treatment, but if your dog needed blood or plasma, he was probably gravely ill. The prognosis is poorer for these cases <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />.

As in most autoimmune disorders, the cause is multifactoral and unpredictable. Here is a link:

web page

If you have any doubts about the treatment your dog received, you should bring it up with your vet. They can proably clarity things, and set your mind at ease.

Hope this helps.

Melissa I would like to thank you for posting that website. One of my cats was diagnosed with it 2 days ago. I had really no clue what it was or the different courses for treatment. So far we think we have caught it and started treatment in time. So I have good hopes for my lil baby. But I cannot stress enough the importance of taking a good look and hands on check of your pets at least once a week. All of mine get a good once over about 2-3 times a week and just this one time was enough to make it all with while.

Katie

I had a 4.5 yr old GSD bleed out from Thrombocytopenia, he as attacking his own platlettes. This occurred 6 wks after boosters. He would develop hot spots every 6 mos or so, always suspected combo vaccine shot given at a year. We can turn on the immune system, but are clueless how to turn it off. Steroids only depress it, and mask symptoms. By now, you've likely found articles by Dr. Dodd, and the raging debate about vaccine protocols among the vet industry. You may never know for sure why or how, but your next vet will be discussing it and sharing the responsibility with you as to how often and how far between and how many at once, or you'll be finding another vet. I did. The only consistent thing about all the opinions is the arrogance with which they are delivered! And never forget, it is a big business, the vet industry. One without enough checks and balances, and no malpractice reprecussions, so they can,will and do take you to the bank instead of making the tough call, the ultimate end is only delayed.
Sorry for your loss, and know you are not alone...too many of us have done all we could and still lost.

thanks for the feedback everyone. its been 9 days since she passed and i'm just as sad as I was that day..broken hearted. we just cant get answers. the breeder swears up and down that there is nothing in the blood line. and even though we believe she had an insect bite a few weeks before, nearly everyone is dismissing it as a non factor. her nose swelled up and then it went away in a few hours time. we didnt find a stinger but i imagine it was a wasp. her passing at 1 1/2 yrs is just not right, with her whole life ahead of her. she was our princess. it's hard to have closure when there are no answers.