Help! IMHA

[Angie Panczak]

I was at the vet today, what is really sad is she said that Loki was just lying there is the incubator and wasn't responsive, the minute they brought his dad up Loki lifted his head, stood up and got excited. Pan and Loki shared such a bond, it's been 3 days and Pan is still calling outside.

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

So very sad for you, RIP sweet Loki :-(

 

[admin]

Hi, Loki did pass away on Friday. We matched his dad as a blood donor, my vet found a machine to do the transfusion. Right when they were going to start the IV Loki struggled and used up the last of his reserves and passed away. Vet said it was caused by a blood parasite that he most likely got from a bite via flea, mosquito or spider? That is what caused the IMHA. Mycoplasma hemofelis. It is such a freaky thing to happen.

Angie, I have a question and I may be off base, but will ask it anyway...since we are seeing breeders test for PK deficiency, it is possible that Loki had this? I only ask because once of the symptoms of PK-Deficiency is hemolytic anemia.

 

[Angie Panczak]

No it wasn't that, it was positive for IMHA, the body is senses a foreign body, mycoplasma and it starts to attach its own red blood cells. Vet said IMHA is very obvious. The out sign is jaundice and he was very yellow when I took him in. It came on hard and fast. The blood cells will be coated with an antibody which makes the body destroy them.

 

[admin]

No it wasn't that, it was positive for IMHA, the body is senses a foreign body, mycoplasma and it starts to attach its own red blood cells. Vet said IMHA is very obvious. The out sign is jaundice and he was very yellow when I took him in. It came on hard and fast. The blood cells will be coated with an antibody which makes the body destroy them.

OK - thanks...I was just wondering...

 

[Angie Panczak]

It is a good question, it made me think. I should testy guys for that though.

 

[admin]

It is a good question, it made me think. I should testy guys for that though.

I'm not sure it is worth the testing. Caroline Gere just posting that one of my kittens, who is her future stud, is N/N - totally negative for PK Deficiency. My understanding is that only one savannah has ever tested positive and there is some kind of conflict going on between the Euro breeders and that is why they are all testing

 

[Angie Panczak]

Thanks for the info, it's sad but these companies are here to make money on us breeders, I find that in the dog world they will add a breed to a list of a hereditary problem and bam! Every breeder is talking about it and testing every dog. It's nice a lot if these tests are available but sometimes we can get carried away.

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

Interesting...so the "four" cats in Europe is now only "one"? Sigh...it may be worth it for baseline info for some of us to just test and know it is not a threat for our breed since it has been reported for some breeds used in the development of ours (Bengal, Maine Coon...)

 

[admin]

I should restate...only one savannah tested via UC Davis has tested positive...I guess you are right as far as a baseline, but I am going to be resistant And then I will probably do it...

Between HCM testing, which some of us do and many do not, color testing and now this testing...geesh...and people wonder about the prices of kittens?