[Dailydrool] Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia

[Vi Potter]

This may not be Basset Related, But it is something that I feel everyone 
needs to be aware of. Precious was not a Basset Hound but she was loved by 
the Basset here and Paddie as well. This is our story and I hope and pray 
eachone of you will look this up and learn the signs and symptoms for it 
could effect and dog of any breed. It is Horrible stuff and it is wicked to 
have to go throught it.
Vi Paddie (ATB) and The Country Bumpkins


I am writing this to let everyone know about a new thing that is out there. 
I am not for sure how many dogs have gotten this but it is horrible and the 
dogs get so sick some pull through and others do not.
Sat March 24th Precious got sick. I thought she had gotten into something 
that did not agree with her as she was throwing up and just laid around. We 
do not have an ER clinic her so I prayed we could get through the weekend 
and get her to the vet Monday. First thing Monday I had her at the vets 40 
miles away. He took a look at her and asked if she had gotten into something 
and I told him that was my first though. He then all of sudden said 
something does not look right. So he took her temp and it was up and he also 
said she had blood in her stool. He was going to keep her and give her meds 
and watch her. By Tues she was worse and stopped eatting and drinking. He 
had an IV in so she was getting fluids. By Wens I went to see her she looked 
so bad and she could hardly hold her head up and just laid there. I got her 
to eat a little bit and that was about all. I was told that she has an 
autoimmune thing going on and could not make enough red cell to support her. 
I left fearing the worse for my little girl. Thrus there was no change. Fri 
I went to spend an hour with her and he had the IV out. She was a little 
more perky and she ate a little and she and I went to sit out side for a 
while. He wanted to keep her the weekend. I called Sat and she now had blood 
in her urin and the IV site had got infected. He had to lance her right 
shoulder so it would drain. Sunday I did not get to talk to them. Mon first 
thing I called and he wanted to still keep her. I got to pick her up Tues 
afternoon.  She was still weak but looked allot better. He showed me how to 
tend to her right shoulder and gave me some meds to give her. He told me to 
keep her eating and if there was a problem to bring her back in. She did ok 
Wens but Thrus I had to take her back in as everytime I picked her up she 
would scream. She stayed in a play pen in my room at night and the xpen 
durning the day. He thought maybe her shoulder was hurting her and then said 
it could be her liver. He up one of her meds and gave me pain pills to give 
as she needed. He also gave me some Nutra Cal for when she would not eat to 
help boost her appitite. I made her every thing and offered her many things 
through the day. I ask about taking her to Ama for Easter and he thought as 
long as she took her meds and was eatting she would be OK. The trip down she 
did OK and when we got there she drank some water  ( I offered her water on 
the way down) and laid down. By Sat Morning she crashed. I called her vet 
her and told him I though we were going to have to let her go and he asked 
Why? I told him what she was doing and he said he platlets were down and she 
needed oxygen and a transfussion.. I found a vet that would take her right 
away. When we got there he seemed to know what to do and I told him what her 
vet here said. He sent me to get her a differnt kind of med and was working 
on the transfussion when I left. He wanted me after he got her stablized to 
take her to an ER clinic there as she would need 24 hour care. I asked him 
what she had and he told me
Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia. I had no ideal what she was fighting and I had 
no ideal how bad this stuff was or we would have never made the trip. I got 
back and he had the blood transfussion going and he let me go in with her. 
She was sure having a hard time and he put her on an IV and back under the 
Oxygen. For some funny reason he decided to keep her. I left with my heart 
knowing what was fixing to happen but I held on to hope cause he said 
nothing about the possiblity of this happening. At 4:00 that afternoon he 
called to tell me she passed away and he did not know why. He said usually 
you can give them a transfusion and they will snap out of it, she never did.
I asked if I could come get her and he said Monday, the office was closed. 
He knew we were from out of town and he knew we were leaving Sunday. I had 
to leave Easter Day and leave her there. I am Thankful to God I have such 
good parents as they went to get her Monday and they buried her with my 
beloved Chachi in their place. I have to try to find comfort in the fact 
that she was at home and that she was with people who cared about her.
This has really traumatized my Mother she has taken it pretty hard as she 
was there when Precious crashed.
I am going through the what if's, If I had only, and what ever else goes 
with it.
Please look this up on line and read about and learn the signs and symtoms. 
I wish I had known it's name to learn more about it. I would have know then 
what were up against.

My insightful husband had paid a wonderful tribute to Precious. As he told 
me Easter Morning, You may not want to hear this now but I want to tell you 
any way. It is said that Chi take asthma from people. Precious love you very 
much and knew how sick you were. I truly think that she took that Auto 
immune from you so that you would not be sick and hurt any more.  What a 
Wonderful gift of Love my Little Girl Gave Me.
So To my Precious yoou are truly missed and we Love you so very much. I hope 
you are running and having fun with your Buddy Paddie as he loved you to.

Precious Jan 1 2007 March 7 2012
Vi