Pit Diagnosed with AIHA – Page 3 – Second Chance AIHA Dogs

Alyssa

Guest

Good evening everyone! Hope you all are well. We’re doing good today. Acting like we haven’t eaten for a month as always!

My goodness, the kindness, support and knowledge offered here is amazing. I so wish I had found you a few weeks ago when I was at my lowest. I can’t believe how hard I cried and prayed during that first week. I didn’t know if she was going to make it through the night so many times. It was so rough, and I felt alone. Several times I had to wake someone else up at night because I didn’t want to be around Sassy crying like I was, & I needed some support myself before I just suck into a serious depression. The way this disease hits is so horrible, sudden, devastating – I think thats why it was so hard on me – she went from absolutely fine to basically dead in the span of 1 day and there was no time to process anything.

I hear you guys on the Bioprep. I too was skeptical. I almost didn’t give it to her. During my research I looked at their FB page where someone did voice the concern of immune boosting, and they replied that it did not boost the immune system. It is hard to believe people with no hard research & taking words of faith. But by that afternoon, looking at her, she was looking exactly like she had before each vet visit that delivered horrible news – she wouldn’t look at us, wouldn’t drink or eat, we had to physically move her. I decided I couldn’t not take the chance that it would help at that point, because there wasn’t anything else I could do for her. The immediate response has kept me giving it to her. At this point I’d be scared to stop! I feel she is improving faster than a lot of stories I’ve read (knock on wood). I do wonder if it’s helping. I will continue to look for any signs of backsliding and if I see them the bioprep might be the first thing I change. For now, I’m going to stick with it.

She was pretty perky today and also stinky from licking peanut butter and eggs. Decided to give her a warm bath. She took it really well. I think she feels better now. Also gave her a nail clipping – we have wood floors and I’m having to keep her nails real short because she is pretty weak and I don’t want her nails causing her to slip. Her back legs are losing so much muscle so fast. I have started walking her up a short hill every time we go out. I feel it in my thighs so I hope it’s working on her too.

Sassys story before we got her is truly horrible. I will tell it now, but it’s a long read so feel free to skip it!!

Our neighbors that lived behind us had her – one morning, my dad was leaving for work. Sassy was standing by his truck with a puppy in her mouth, skin and bones. She was no longer able to feed the pups because she wasn’t being fed and she knew it. My dad brought some food out for her and the pup. The next morning… Sassy had brought ALL of her pups up here, again, pleading with her eyes at my dad for help.

We had another dog at this time, Sadie, who was about 15 years old and in the late stages of heart failure. So, we didn’t immediately think to just take Sassy, worried the stress it would cause Sadie. We brought a bunch of food down to the neighbors, told them what Sassy was doing an really chewed them out/threatened them to feed the dogs. She claimed she didn’t know the pups needed dog food already, and did start feeding them. I know she had bred Sassy before and I know what she was doing – even though we were pissed off and threatening her she tried to sell us a puppy claiming Sassy was AKC registered and pure. That’s all they cared about. They tried to lock sassy up, but everyday she got out and came to be with us instead. We’d feed her, play, pet, love. At night she wanted to sleep on our porch. Really wanted nothing to do with her “home”. She basically slowly worked her way into our life/hearts, and after a while it was like she was ours. Eventually, those neighbors – the husband went to jail and I don’t know where the wife went but she was gone. For a few weeks, everything was good.

Then one day, Sassy disappeared. I still do not know what happened to her. I think that someone saw her and snatched her up, being that she is a pit. We did not see her for a month and it was devastating. We drove around looking for her, looking for a dog hit by a car on the road sides. There was just no trace of her at all.
Then, one night, she was back. She was very skinny again. She was also pregnant again. I think that, where ever she was, she got away and found her way back to us – I truly do. That night we put a collar on her and brought her inside, officially welcoming her to the family this time.

This pregnancy was rough on her. At around 4AM one night she went into labor. The first pup came out fine, but then the second one got stuck. She tried so hard to get it out but couldn’t. We had to rush her to the vet. The vet could not loosen or rotate the pup and Sassy was losing strength. She had to have an emergency c-section right there. She was spayed at the same time. That stuck pup did not make it, but everyone else was fine. We took the pup home in a small box and buried her. We raised the pups – it was my first time raising puppies – also dealing with my elderly dog being sick – it was a stressful time for everyone. But we loved those pups and took the best care of them. We made little packages when we gave them away, letting the people know what they were eating and tried to educate them on the dangers of feeding food like Pedigree & Ol’ Roy. We put booklets of information about that along with a bagful of their current food and toys.

Shortly before we gave away the puppies, Sadie had passed away. She just had a whole lot of trouble breathing suddenly and collapsed. We rushed to the vet but she was turning blue. The revived her with oxygen and we thought she was going to make it, they had us walk her outside for a bit, but she had another episode a few minutes later. At that point the vet said her heart was just giving up, and we had to let her go. It was the saddest day of my life. I had that dog since I was about 8 years old, and she was there for my when I was diagnosed with my life-long illness – type 1 diabetes. I had a rough childhood & she was always my best friend. I really didn’t remember a time before she was in my life. So when we got home, we leaned heavily on Sassy for love and help, and she truly kept us afloat with all her love and silliness. It was hard to fall into a depression with her at our side.

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Keymaster

Hi Alyssa

What a wonderful yet sad story – I knew you were the kindest people – Sassy is in safe & loving hands. What horrible people your neighbours were – good for you for standing up to them & making sure Sassy was rescued from this awful life.

Many of us were on Meisha’s Hope originally, but the forum was shut down. That is why Patrice set this site up, so we could continue to help each other & new owners coping with this terrible disease. I’m sorry you lost dear Sadie – it doesn’t matter how old they are – we wish they could live a happy & healthy life as long as we do & their loss is always heartbreaking. I guarantee she is looking down with pride & happiness at Sassy & you right now.

What a shame you didn’t find us sooner – we could have explained that with right treatment the chances of surviving are much, much better than you may have read elsewhere. Many veterinary studies are extremely positive on the outcome if the treatment protocol is right & those are the ones you need to concentrate on. I’m so sorry you felt very down & sad during the early days & went through this dreadful time without support. I admit I am not a FB fan – there is too much miss-information & heresay on there. Of course, we all like to express our opinions here – but we also like to point everyone toward bona fide research & proven treatments so you have the best information we can give – basically providing you with the facts, rather than the rumours.

I know you may be against chemical options, but I am a great believer in Frontline Combo for flea & tick treatment. For now it is probably the best option for protection against the deadly diseases that can kill our dogs very quickly. It’s not 100% perfect, I admit, but there is nothing better or safer that I have personally seen at the moment. You could also use permethrin, but it is toxic to cats & fish, also some other animals (it’s fine for dogs but you must follow the instructions implicitly). Worzel was a victim of a tick-borne disease called ehrlichiosis even though he was always Frontlined, so I am even more vigilant than I was before about treatment with Frontline, plus checking my two regularly for ticks. I also use permethrin on their blankets. I am dubious about the tablet forms of protection such as Bravecto & NexGard (Nexgard is not suitable – dangerous -for certain breeds of dogs with MDR1 gene mutation, e.g. border collies, german shepherds etc) because of the possible systemic side effects. I can’t help you on heartworm as we don’t have that here (YET!) but I know others will be able to advise you on this. I do remember a heartworm treatment called ProHeart 6 was suspected of being responsible for AIHA/IMHA though. Heartworm is also a horrendous disease & I understand completely that you need to look at how to prevent this too.

You know Sassy has a place in my heart already & you are not on your own now – we all want to help as much as we can – sending big hugs & much love
Sheena, Worzel & Ollie xxxxx

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