Midnight

Mamaradlo's Midnight Beauty, C.G.C., NAJ, known as "Midnight " by her friends & family, is a 22 pound, 4 year old spayed female Cocker Spaniel, bred and loved by Michelle Rifkin-Mamaradlo of Staten Island, New York. Midnight was diagnosed with ITP (immune- mediated thrombocytopenia) on February 18, 2000, just a few days after her second birthday.

Midnight had been interacting with her canine siblings when suddenly she yelped and was found whimpering on the floor. Michelle noticed a strange purplish bruise on Midnight's stomach and thought that she had hurt herself on the concrete. About thirty minutes later, blood appeared in the white of Midnight's eye. Midnight was rushed to the emergency clinic where she was treated "as if" she had been in a dog fight. She was given a penicillin injection and sent home with a weeks supply of Amoxicillin tablets. When Midnight's eye did not improve, she was taken to a veterinary teaching hospital to be seen by an ophthalmologist. The ophthalmologist also missed diagnosing the ITP. It wasn't until a few days later when Midnight's regular vet did extensive testing which included complete blood work and a Coombs test to rule out AIHA, as well as x-rays that the ITP was diagnosed. Midnight was initially put on 20 mgs prednisone and sent home. She continued to grow weaker and finally stopped eating and became frighteningly pale.

On February 23rd, 3 days after beginning the prednisone, Midnight was rushed to the vet's office where she was given a blood transfusion to "buy time" until the prednisone could start to work. Midnight was sent home after the transfusion with instructions to be kept calm. Michelle noticed within one hour something was seriously wrong, Midnight was fading and she felt she was going to lose her if action wasn't taken immediately. Michelle called the vet who reopened the office to see Midnight. He confirmed Michelle's feelings and Midnight was rushed to a nearby critical care facility.

Upon arrival at the critical care facility, Michelle was given little or no hope for Midnight's survival since she had a platelet count of ZERO. The normal platelet count in a dog is in a range from 200- 500 thousand. The advice of the vets was to euthanize Midnight before she bled to death. Michelle remembers how Midnight miraculously gathered the strength to reach up and kiss her and beg her to help her to live. Michelle told the vets to do what they could to save her beloved Midnight.

The vets again warned Michelle that even if Midnight did survive she would never resume a normal life and at best would be just a "pet". For a most people, this warning would have no meaning but Midnight has had a job since she was born. She began working as a therapy dog at the age of three months. Midnight was a "star" in the community, gaining notoriety and recognition from newspapers to community centers. Midnight specialized in the elderly but she initiated and opened each of Michelle's therapy dog programs. Midnight worked with autistic nursery school children, and went to weekly visits at local schools in high crime areas to meet children with violent personality disorders. The focus of this program was to teach children how to be kind to others. The children called Midnight "Black Velvet", the elderly called her "Blackie". Midnight was also training for competition obedience at the onset of her illness. Michelle commented on the warnings she received from the vets, "they felt I might consider her a burden, no way! Midnight had already worked more than most dogs do in a lifetime, she had already shed so much happiness and joy on others, it was time for her to sit back and be taken care of!" As far as Michelle was concerned, a "pet" would be fine, she worshipped Midnight.

After a sonogram was done at the critical care facility to rule out cancer and to establish ITP as the primary condition, Midnight was given both IV prednisone and Imuran several times daily. For two days and nights there was no improvement. Michelle visited with Midnight every day and brought her canine mother, Angel, and canine father, Auggie, on intermittent days to inspire Midnight to survive. On Monday, February 28th, Midnight had a platelet count of 10,000. By Tuesday, the platelet count had risen to 30,000 and on Wednesday afternoon, March 1, 2000, Midnight rushed out of the critical care facility on all four paws with a platelet count of 70,000!!

After the release from the critical care facility, it was a long but steady road to recovery for Midnight. She suffered many side effects from the prednisone including extreme weight gain (from 20 lbs up to 32 lbs), urinary track infections, muscle wasting and fatigue. After 8 months, Midnight was completely weaned off the prednisone. She remains on a maintenance dose of 12.5 mgs of Imuran every other day to guard against an ITP relapse.

According to Michelle, "Midnight has made a full recovery from the ITP and she's just blooming and bursting with energy. She now has a more active life then before the onset of the ITP." In addition to winning many awards, Midnight is back at work. She is a therapy dog, visiting senior citizens and giving them lots of joy. She's also one of the canines involved in Michelle's Party Pups business entertaining at children's parties. Midnight competes in AKC agility, and is the proud owner of many FIRST place ribbons and honors, including her latest from the Miami Obedience Agility Trial. Those who know her call her "the miracle dog." Michelle has nicknamed her the "Zoomer" and zoom she does! Jet setting around the globe, nothing stands in Midnight's way!

Midnight Update, July 2003

Michelle wrote recently with the following Midnight update.

"Midnight is currently in excellent health. Her last blood test in April 2003, revealed a platelet count of 386,000. Midnight remains on 12.5 mgs Imuran every third day. She has lost all the weight she gained while on prednisone and now weighs 17 pounds, one pound less then she weighted prior to being diagnosed with ITP.

"There is now MX and MXJ after Midnight's name. She has recently earned her Masters Agility and Masters Jumpers with Weaves titles! She is currently working towards her MACH Championship. In March, 2003 Midnight became the fastest in her breed (Cocker Spaniel) to complete the 60 Weave Pole Challenge in Clean Run Camp in Lexington VA. Midnight completed the 60 weave poles in a mere 18.45 seconds. Earlier this year, Midnight met the qualifications to compete in the AKC Nationals in December 2003 in Long Beach California. This competition is for the top agility dogs in the nation."

Midnight Update, June 2004

Editors Note: On June 12, 2004 I had the great privilege to meet Midnight and her owner/caregiver, Michelle, at an agility competition. It was such a joy to watch Midnight run the agility course and later receive "kisses" from her and visit with Michelle. To see this beautiful little gal in person, you would never know she has ever been sick a day in her life. To view photos of Midnight and Michelle at the agility competition Click Here

Midnight Update, May 2007

Michelle wrote recently with the following Midnight update.

"Midnight celebrated her 9th birthday this past February. It is now been over seven years since the onset of her ITP. What a miracle gal she is! Due to Midnight’s excellent health, she has been drug free for the past two years. Midnight has blood work done three times a year. Her platelet count at her last blood check was 280,000 with a PCV of 51.

"In March 2007, Midnight competed with over 1,000 top agility dogs, in the AKC Nationals in Sunbury Ohio. She just completed her MACH 2 Championship in AKC and was the # 5 MACH Cocker Spaniel in the country from 2003-2005. In July 2007, she will be honored in Oklahoma City at The National Spaniel Club for her huge accomplishments! Since she began agility, Midnight has accumulated over 300 Qualifying legs in the Excellent Class, and close to 4,000 MACH Speed Points. Midnight also helps me in my job as a bilingual preschool social worker. We work with children who have learning delays. She also entertains as a "Party Pup" with the rest of her canine family."

To view more photos of Midnight’s exciting and inspirational life Click Here

e-mail Michelle at AuggieBuff@aol.com

Links to Sites on Immune-Mediated Thrombocytopenia

ITP in Animals

Immune-Mediated Thrombocytopenia