IMHA is a condition in which the immune system destroys the dog’s own red blood cells. The result is severe anemia that can be fatal.
As a result, potential symptoms include:
- loss of appetite
- weakness
- panting
- listlessness
- dark urine
- pale gums
- lethargy
What causes IMHA?
Sometimes, IMHA can be triggered by immune response to a real problem that gets out of hand, such as:
- infections
- toxins
- cancer
Often, however, the trigger cannot be determined. Though that doesn’t mean there wasn’t one.
Thank you, Susan Rakay, for Sharing Nikki’s story. Susan has lost her dog to IMHA, and she wanted to raise awareness of this condition because, with IMHA, time is of the essence.
Nikki’s story
It will be a year this coming Saturday that I lost Nikkilodiean to something I knew nothing about. She was my first dog ever but other dog owners I spoke to knew nothing about this disease either.
I took very good care of my little girl, vet visits when needed, grooming every month and brushing her teeth every day.
But one day when I brushed her teeth her gums looked white and she was breathing as if she had a cold.
I thought it was a cold so I took her to the vet.
The diagnosis
Nikki was diagnosed with a severe case of IMHA.
I immediately took her to the vet hospital in Phoenix and they did a blood transfusion, put her on IV, did a test to check for internal bleeding and another blood test. They could find no bleeding anywhere but she keeps getting weaker and weaker.
Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) is a disease in which the body attacks its own red blood cells.
Nikki stopped eating and got to the point where she didn’t recognize me and she just wanted to sleep.
The vet kept telling me to give it time but after three days I was seeing no improvement and didn’t want her to be in pain. Nothing they did made any difference and I saw her slipping away before my eyes. They said they didn’t think she was in pain but I knew she was dying. I wanted to take her home (200 miles away) to the place she loved.
During the day, I brought her to my vet during the day and she spent the nights with me.
To make it work, I slept all day and stayed up with her at night. On the third day of doing this while I was sleeping my vet called and said to get there as soon as possible. I dressed very quickly and rushed to the vet that was only two miles away but by the time I arrived my beloved little girl had already passed.
My vet and the animal hospital said I did everything I could for her. (I’m still paying the vet hospital bill of over $4,000).
But I know that if someone, anyone had told me about this disease/illness I would have kept an eye out of it and gotten her to the vet/hospital sooner and she may have lived.
I want to put the word out there about this.
Please be aware and if you see these symptoms in your dog, get them to the vet IMMEDIATELY no matter what the time is (even if it is the middle of the night pay the extra money and get your dog there quickly) as it may save their life!
What symptoms should you watch for?
Your dog will be obviously weak. He or she will have no energy and have lost interest in food. Urine will be dark orange or maybe even brown. The gums, as well as the whites of the eyes, will be pale or even yellow-tinged. There may be a fever. You (hopefully) brought your pet to the veterinarian’s office as soon as it was clear that there was something wrong.
Related articles:
Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: What Can Your Dog’s Gums And Tongue Tell You?
IMHA in Dogs: Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde—Razzle’s Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia
Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia: Annie’s Lost Battle with IMHA
Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA) Survivor: Pete’s Story
IMHA Complications: Daphne Didn’t Make It
Further reading:
Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA) in Dogs