bizarre rapidly forming tumors on dog

meganmcdougal · 10-18-2007, 12:52 PM

Hello -

I have been at the vet a few times this week, and am about to make a decision this afternoon on very costly surgery. I am wondering if anyone can help, has any advice or any experience with my situation below...

Last Friday, my dog, Liza, was her normal, playful self. On Saturday, she started to act strange, and wasn’t as energetic as she normally is. On Sunday, she didn’t want to come out of bed to go outside, and that’s when I felt a lump on her neck. Sunday night she didn’t eat anything, so I took her in first thing Monday morning. The vet did a needle aspiration and 99.9% ruled out cancer, gave her some drugs and sent us home. The last few days there has been no change in the lump, and she was still very very lethargic. Yesterday she wanted to sit on my lap the whole day while I was working at my computer, and when I left for the gym, I just moved her to the side on my chair. When I got home, she hadn’t moved at all. I tried to give her her pills, and she wouldn’t eat the beef tenderloin (which is the only thing she’s been eating the last few days. also note that she usually doesnt eat beef, since she has food allergies). Then I felt around and noticed some weird nodule things on her belly. So I brought her to the ER last night, and he did another aspiration there. found nothing conclusive. Oh, and I found another lump on her hip while I was on my way to the vet. She’s back there today, and they’ve done some blood work. Still nothing looks abnormal. But he did an ultrasound and noticed another growth deep inside between her organs. He’s going to do another ultra-sound guided needle aspiration in that area and see what he finds this afternoon. He’s recommending surgery for tomorrow to remove the growths and then do a biopsy.

i am afraid that what we are encoutering is cancer, but it is still inconclusive. she is only 5 and a half, and is a shitzu-mix. i called another vet that she used to go to in a different location, and she also thought this was a very abnormal case. has anyone experienced this? any advice?

thank you.

Anela · 10-18-2007, 04:08 PM

I may be wrong, but it seems like a simple blood test would determine cancer. I would not approve any surgery unless all other complications were ruled out.

Quality of life and recovery are also issues, will your dog be able to do “dog things” if surgery is done?

I have dealt with many dog issues over the past 16 years. Thankfully, none of them has been of the cancer type.

I always consult with another vet before making any major (or some minor) decisions. Your case does sound somewhat off.

Cancer is a disease that can take many forms. You need to ask yourself what you want to put the dog through if this is present. Obviously you want to do the best for the dog, and you alone have the authority to proceed in a way that gives you comfort.

Good luck! Keep us posted.

Anela

Orange County Ca · 10-18-2007, 06:01 PM

I don't have an answer but wanted to give you a little support. It's a touch decision to have expensive surgery so as Anela said do your best to be sure the fellow will have a life worth living when its over.
If you're getting 50/50 advise or no answers at all a 3rd opinion may be in order.

echo8287 · 10-18-2007, 06:34 PM

One of my dogs had a tumor grow on her leg one time. It did not pop up in a week or so. I noticed it one day and then about a month later I noticed it was getting bigger. It went from a marble size to golf ball size in that time. So off to the vet. It was removed and never came back. That almost sounds like some kind of glandular type problem to pop up so quick, sorry no help, hope she is alright, Did you read this post on the dog food?>http://www.dogforums.com/5-dog-food-...a-rules-2.html (Purina Rules!)
Wonder if it could be some reaction to your food brand?

David

meganmcdougal · 10-18-2007, 07:13 PM

i took my dog home tonight, and still no real conclusive evidence pointing to anything. my sister mentioned something she heard today called "blasto" I did some research on this, and some of the findings correlate. but when i asked the vet, he said that they ruled it out from the start. i dont know if it's that easy to rule out though, according to what i've read. it occurs in the missisissippi river areas, which we're on. liza was digging in some soil the day before all of this started, and that's what kicks off the "blasto". but she doesnt have any lung symptoms like are usually noted.

i am going to post another question on blasto, and see if anyone has heard of this or had similiar symptoms.

thanks for your support.

yodarunner · 10-22-2007, 02:06 AM

I think this is what you mean - Blastomycosis..
The clinical signs of blastomycosis may vary with the target organs affected and may include one or all of the following: anorexia, depression, weight loss, fever (103 degrees or higher) that doesn't respond to antibiotics, coughing, shortness of breath, exercise intolerance, enlarged lymph nodes, eye disease, or skin lesions that drain bloody or purulent material.

http://www.canismajor.com/dog/blstomyc.html

If your vet said they ruled it out - that means they specifically tested for it?
Serum chemistries are usually within normal limits. Fungal titers confirm the diagnosis and help differentiate blastomycosis from histoplasmosis, a related fungal condition with similar signs and geographic distribution.

Whatever it is - I really hope it gets figured out in time. Best of luck to you

rspeaker · 10-22-2007, 09:10 PM

about 6 weeks ago my 12 year old cocker developed an abcess on the back of his neck. It started out as a small lump about the size of a marble. all of a sudden, out of nowhere, it blew up in a matter of days to about 1.5 inches in diameter. Took him to the vet who thought it looked like a spider bite. Gave him some steroids to reduce the swelling and some antibiotics. A few days later the abcess opened & drained. Returned to the vet and they cleaned & examined it, with a 2nd vet agreeing it looked like a spider bite. In a few days it healed & scabbed over and everything seemed fine. Last sunday he stopped eating and grew lethargic. On Wednesday my wife had to carry him into the vet who admitted him for dehydration; 12 hours later he was in seizures, and within 18 hours of admittance, was dead. The vet has no idea what caused it, and I have no way of knowing if the 2 incidents were related, but if I were you I would not let it drop. Best of luck to you.