Our vet just called with Bayleigh's blood results. She is fairly sure she has some form of cancer, most likely lymphoma. Her calcium levels are very high which is the reason she drinks so so much. It is the whole reason I got her blood work to begin with.
I was worried about her kidneys, and now we're talking Cancer. She said the best case scenario is it is Primary Hypothyroidism which is like a tumor on the thyroid. She said they're removable and dogs do very well. However, given her breed and her age- she says to remain cautiously optimistic. In any case she feels we caught it by chance and early. Other than excessive thirst, our sweet girl LOVES her food and is active and alert. No other symptoms.
My heart is broken. She is my heart dog. She sat with me after our daughter died(as a puppy) and calmly lied there.. never moved until I was ready. She was moved into several houses(military family) and never complained. I cannot fathom saying goodbye.
Please keep her in your prayers. I cannot believe after everything with Dory we're here now with Bayleigh. I really wish I could have a bone thrown our way...
I saw this thread and tears sprang to my eyes. This is such awful news. You have gone through so much the past month, and now this?? This is so awful. Keeping you in my thoughts.
I'm so sorry to hear the news about beautiful Bayleigh, I hope that you have many more happy and healthy times together, so many here have gone through this and so very often they go on for way longer than we expect. The fact that she is eating well and happy is a huge plus, my boy had a cancerous tumour removed at 12 years old, I was terrified he wouldn't get through the operation let alone the recovery but he did!. Sending you and precious Bayleigh positive thoughts and prayers, I know how worried you are but try to take each day as it comes, hug her for me too!
I am so sorry. Will pray hard for Bayleigh. Are you going to be going to a specialist and get a diagnosis confirmed? So very sad and I hope everything works out.
Yes, I have to call the vet back at 5PM as she has to call and see if she can draw blood for the primary hypothyroidism(sure I am butchering that!) or if a specialist has to do it since the results have to be read quick. If they rule that out(that is best case scenario) then they'd check for an Anal Gland cancer/tumor. She doesn't think it is this. Then we'd see if it is lymphoma(which is her best guess given the blood work). The thing is the rest of her blood work is amazing(great kidneys, liver, thyroid, etc). She asked if we supplemented with calcium & we do not. So she is fairly sure this is a good diagnosis, it is just a matter of finding out what we're dealing with. And determining treatment. I mean, do you put a nearly 11 year old dog through chemo? Or do you make her comfortable? or or or. I just want to do what is best for HER without MY feelings involved. Pretty hard to do. I am feeling super guilty about getting the puppy if she starts feeling sick. Last thing she needs is a hyper puppy bouncing off her head. My heart just hurts. I just want to make her a cheeseburger and cuddle in bed with her. I hate that she is feeling jealous with Dory and hate that I haven't given her 100%. I am just sick.
There have been a few dogs that had lymphoma that have undergone chemo treatment and there's one now currently undergoing chemo on the forum.
My Vet did not feel my girl was a good candidate for Chemo, she also told it was very hard on the dogs to undergo it. She told me it would also not prolong her life that long and the quality of life she would have while undergoing treatment would not be great..........
I opted to treat her with Prednisone and antibiotics a few times, the remainder of the time she was on high dosages of Prednisone and Eassic tea supplement my Vet recommended. She made it 6 months from the time of her diagnosis and until I had to let her go. She was did great, was happy and we made sure we made the most of the time we had with her.
Don't blame yourself or feel guilty, you've had so much on your plate recently.
My cousins Bassett is going through chemo at 10. He has the good kind of lymphoma if you want to call it that. But she drives two hours once a week for treatment. He is doing great. All of jakes bloodwork was normal and he was lying there in shock half dead when he collapsed on us.
Hypoadrenocorticism: Also known as Addison's disease, this disorder of the adrenal glands is often associated with high blood calcium levels in affected dogs. Kidney disease: Any metabolic insult or toxin that acutely damages the kidneys can cause high blood calcium.Aug 31, 2015
I know exactly what your feeling. After Jake collapsed we thought he had a misdiagnosis. Because after he had his chest drained he was a normal dog. Five minutes before his final collapse on the day he was pts he was begging for my Bannana. Ate his breakfast and Did his excited dance when my niece was dropped off. By lunch time he came in and just collapsed. My three yearold niece at the time saw the entire thing. He had hemangiosarcoma. He didn't even have a hint of arthritis at 9.5.
We're just loving on our girl. She's scheduled for the conclusive blood work Thursday morning to determine if it's Primary hyperparathyroidism. If not, we proceed from there.
I'm hoping that the tests surprise you in a good way. It can and does happen. Last year, based on initials exam plus given Chance's age (10) and breed, they thought his lump was a mast cell tumor. Given Chance's heart issue, we got him to a specialist who coordinated care with Chance's cardiologist. The surgeon did all kinds of tests pre-surgery including a biopsy of the lump. He called with surprising and relatively good news. The lump was not mast cell but a less aggressive type of cancer which rarely metastasizes.
None of us had considered or hoped for this. Prior to the biopsy, no one had given us any indication this might happen. Chance did fine with the surgery and recovered well.
Until you know for absolutely sure what it is you are dealing with, try not to get thinking too far ahead. I am praying hard that you get good results for sweet Bayleigh.
My mother's dog was diagnosed by the vet with cancer about 4 years ago, my mother started to give him floressence tea - her dog just turned 16. We are not sure if it is the tea or a misdiagnosis - at the time the vet said to just take him home and let him enjoy his last few months.
Hoping for the best case scenario for Bayleigh - and so sorry you are going through all this.
Thank you for your kind words and experience. We know regardless our time is limited with her. She's almost 11. But, it's hard to hear the 'C' word.
I'm hoping that this is treatable without too much pain for her. My heart is saying to do what's right by her, not for us. So, will strongly inquire with the vet when we know exactly what we're dealing with.
I burst into tears when I came home this evening. She came running up, nudged my arms for her loving, and sank into me. She's the most amazing, loyal, loving, dog we've ever been blessed with.
I just want to do what's best for her & hope she lets us know what that is.
I bought her from a pet store on my birthday. Yes, I know. But, dumb & naive and young. I went in to buy bird seed for my mom and saw her. The second our eyes locked I was hooked. We've been so very blessed that she's been so healthy. I'm just shocked & the not knowing is the hardest part.
Lisa
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