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"in her element.. the good terv asks that you consider adopting a pet with special needs. as a service dog, i know that disability does not mean NON ability."
Likes: after her people, snow!!
Pet-Peeves: feral cats (but more likely the humans that create them)-she was a VERY smart dog afterall
Favorite Toy: mica was like a puppy with any new toy, even at age 9.. but a tennis ball was always with her
Favorite Food: cheese, then likely watermelon
Arrival Story: Mica was a highly intelligent, fiercely loyal companion and service dog with a keen sense of humor. She had a winning smile and a willingness to give. She was a real inspiration and a joy to know and love.
MANY have written asking HOW TO DONATE to Mica's IMHA Research FUND.
Please make check or money order payable to:
MICA'S IMHA RESEARCH FUND
ADDRESS:
USAGENCIES CREDIT UNION
ATTN: JAN D.
95 SW TAYLOR STREET
PORTLAND, OR 97205-3305
Bio: Our perfectly healthy and lovely 9 year old Belgian Tervuren was lost within 6 days of onset of 2 blood immune diseases, IMHA & IMTP: Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia & Immune-Mediated Thrombocytopenia. When present together, it is often called "Evans Syndrome."
IMHA occurs when the immune system attacks its own red blood cells (RBCs) prematurely & at a MUCH faster rate than new ones can be produced. It is life threatening & requires prompt, aggressive treatment. A lack of oxygen carrying RBCs may damage vital organs, while a high risk of death from blood clots occurs due to damaged RBCs. CAUSATION: It may be caused by an exposure to toxins, from cancer, an infection or even vaccines. Bee/wasp stings & tick-borne diseases (TBD) have also been implicated, as has the ingestion of ONIONS, GARLIC or PENNIES, or owner administration of Vitamin K and acetaminophen. It may be deemed IDIOPATHIC [id E-oh path ick] (no known cause) like Mica's, which is MOST often the case. IMTP adversely affects the blood platelets, which helps blood to clot normally accompanies IMHA in 50-70% of ALL IMHA cases. It can lead to excessive bleeding. PLEASE NOTE that bleeding can be interior and/or exterior in nature. For Mica it was the complications of IMHA that presented the greatest challenge.
Symptoms of IMHA can appear suddenly or be more gradual. Mica's onset was sudden, in less than 24 hours. Her energy level was down a bit one day, but she otherwise seemed well. After midnight she vomited once. By morning her breathing was labored and she was very weak. Later that day in ICU she became severely jaundiced. SIGNS TO WATCH FOR: Your pet may exhibit subtle weakness or lethargy. They may have an increase in heart & respiration rates (excessive panting) & have PALE GUMS or ears. They may vomit or stop eating altogether. With IMTP they may have unexplained bruising or bleeding.
EVERY SINGLE CASE is different with this illness, which is why treating it successfully is SO difficult. Supportive care comes 1st to try & stabilize a pet's condition. Next, immune suppression drugs try to stop the ongoing destruction of blood cells. Finding then treating the underlying cause IS critical. MICA'S ANEMIA BECAME SO SEVERE THAT SHE NEEDED CRITICAL LIFE-SUPPORT THAT INCLUDED THE HELP OF OTHER DOGS.
Did you know that dogs give blood, just like humans? If they didn't, there wouldn't be enough blood to provide the tens of thousands of transfusions dogs need every year. As with humans, blood must be readily available or a patient may die. THAT'S WHY CANINE BLOOD DONATION IS SO IMPORTANT.
Mica's condition improved significantly after multiple transfusions, & she fought valiantly-like the good Terv she was for nearly a week when complications of the IMHA finally took her from us.
PLEASE consider talking with your vet about involving your dog in a blood donation program. Blood transfusions like Mica received GREATLY increase a dogs chance of recovering from IMHA, IMTP & other illnesses or injuries.
IMHA & IMTP are devastating diseases. IMHA is the MOST common blood immune disorder in BOTH dogs & cats, and its mortality rate is staggering. At times it can be managed, but today there is no cure.
RESEARCH IS DESPERATELY NEEDED. Please consider Mica's IMHA Research Fund.. even a dollar at a time adds up! THANK you
This message is **HQ APPROVED**.
Forums Motto: WILD AT HEART
The Last Forum I Posted In: ASPCA POISON CONTROL 17 MOST DEADLY PLANTS
MICA'S WINGS/Art with a Heart:
To leave her a legacy, a non-profit foundation took flight...Mica's IMHA Research Fund aims to raise awareness of immune-mediated disease and funds for prevention and a cure.
ecollage art benefits IMHA research. Please consider helping us help other dogs and cats in MICA'S name.
MICA'S TEAM: mates with purple stars have IMHA, or another IM disease. Those with green support Mica's quest with a donation. RED stars denote multiple donations..A few prefer to have another pack member join the team. Finally, the blue stars-which were added only recently! These donations are extremely generous.
Our mom spent the better part of 2009 with a pair of extruded lumbar disks..
All in all, a PAWticularly painful experience, to say the very least. The idea of any furry loved one feeling this kind of pain is beyond comprehension. We felt that we could offer some support this cute mate’s way, when we learned of his plight in the Health Forum yesterday.
Nearly broke our mom's heart.
A handsome little mate, just two years of age, meekly holding out a paw, quietly but kindly asking FUR a wee bit of help to cover some unexpected expenses for spinal surgery-also *HQ Approved!** PAWhaps we could help?? Donate some ecollage® art towards his recovery to be auctioned off, FUR charity? We also have asked some of our big-hearted & talented mates to join us. Some of the usual suspects were there in a flash. Many thanks outright to Daisy Mae & Sassy!
If you can give something back to his mama FUR taking such good care of him, then PAWlease lend a paw.. they strike us as the sort who would PAW it FURward later on too.. Some dogs just strike a chord with you. WHEN we can help one another, the load we bear is not quite as heavy? We have met all kinds of dogs in this playground, some good, some not so much, but we know that the special ones out number the others, and we so often feel Blessed knowing many of you out there.
But because it wouldn’t be a good day without coming to the need of those in need, we have to go one step further and ask..if you can offer Mica’s IMHA Research Fund anything while you're in the spirit of giving, we’d be much obliged. WAY TOO many are still losing this battle. I know mica would appreciate any kind effort made on behalf of others, like mirra & I would too. Each and every day comes the same task in our world, and honestly it is not a road easily traveled. Until a cure is found, we'll need to be up early taking the long road to where we need to be.
Meanwhile, Bless you little buddy, now just GO & get well! You have our PAWrayers & POP, and then some. CUZ Well, the Dogster Dog must have also heard some widespread Pawrayers, and just made you our Dog of the Day!.. May you enjoy your special day in the limelight-make many new mates & find the blessings that you & your kind family need, today & beyond.. with LOVE-
We recently discussed the most recent dog that came to call with IMHA. It is with sadness we write and request prayers for another good Angel ANNA, 11 years a faithful pet & member of the family. She was a GSD, her disease deemed idiopathic after extensive testing, none was enough to save yet another good dog from IMHA.
I'm sorry mica, on the date you got your wings- the 18th, less than a week from diagnosis. We can't do enough I guess, to find the cure too many still need.
PAWlease, Rest in Peace, Angels.
The family wrote:
We sent our 11yr old GSD girl ANNA to the bridge today. She just could not fight this horrible disease.
Please still keep a comforting thought for a family in need. It still is the time to ask others to join us in finding a cure for IMHA. Preventing it altogether would be grand too.
Love, mica's family
It’s flea & tick season. Some places, it ALWAYS IS. There are many dangers to our furry LOVED ones in the form of tick-borne diseases (TBD) but there are also dangers in the toxic chemical repellents used in industry today. We’ve added a link here to the second part of NRDC’s Poison on Pets II
There is also a link where you can check to see HOW YOUR product rates. Check YOUR PAWticular product here
Making informed decisions about the use of toxic chemicals should be a priority in the lives of anyone, PAWticularly those with children present. Our mom is severely disabled because of an exposure to a mixture of solvents on the job many years ago.
The mixtures are those similar to pesticide formulations in hundreds of OTC products.
We often wish she didn’t know all she does, because then she’d (hopefully) be well.
We take her as is though, but because she HAS to know alternatives to common household poisons, for her own health, it helps her also take MUCH better care of us.
Thanks FUR listening mates.
If you want to learn more, do a search first on Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
Maybe we’ll talk again later. We practice a diligent version in our lives, and PAWlease, don't be fooled. There are many who propose chronically reaching for something they can buy off a shelf in a store. Just think of this first.. words that end in 'cide' mean death to whatever "PEST" you're seeking to eradicate.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The English suffix -cide denotes an act related to killing. From Latin caedere "to cut, kill, hack (at), strike". In its wider meaning, it may also signify the destruction or dismantling of an object or concept. When attached to a word indicating an animal or plant considered to be pestilent, the combined word is frequently used to indicate a substance used to eliminate the pest in question. E.g. Pesticide, insecticide and herbicide.
Next, consider this.
Even natural products can be dangerous if used UNwisely. Taking time to think what your needs are and making a plan to effect whatever change you need takes time and thought. The very last means to employ FUR us EVER gets to anything that ends in 'cide'..
but even though we have learned alot of how to DO things differently, which safeguard mom's health, we still spend MOST of our free time working on finding that CURE for what took mica..
you might surprise yourself when you learn how simple it is to find the other ways & means.. Meanwhile, be well & stay as healthy as you can as long as you can. Taking good health FUR granted should never be what anyone does.
Once you lose it, you can almost never get it back.
Love, m, m & angel m,
who never use chemical input but have also been Blessed to be doing something right,
and pray it remains so.
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