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Post by Aussienot on Jan 21, 2006 0:29:03 GMT -5
Finn had a small bump cut out of his chest yesterday. It started out looking like a bug bite a few days before Christmas, so I put some antiseptic cream on it. It looked smaller and less red the next day, so I treated it again and kind of forgot about it over the holidays.
When I got the dogs out of the boarding kennel, the bump was double the size and infected looking. So into the vet with Mr Finn. The vet removed a piece of skin about the diameter of penny and about that deep.
We are still not sure what it was - infected cyst, grass seed, tumor or skin cancer, or benign growth and it's very expensive to have it biopsied. Anyway, Finn seems to be taking an awfully long time to recover from the anesthesia.
He was operated on at noon yesterday. I picked him up, dopey and sleepy at 5 pm. When he first got home, he wanted to stay with me, but he also wanted to sleep, so about 6 pm I gave him a light dinner and shut him in the den so that he could sleep it off.
I roused him at 10 pm. It was extremely hard to wake him up, and when I did finally rouse him, he had a hard time standing up and staying upright. Wobbly dog. However he did go out and poo. He came back in looking much steadier and alert but only wanted to go back to sleep.
He slept from 10 pm until 11 am. I finally pulled him out of bed and drove him bleary eyed and wobbly outside, where he peed and went back to sleep on the lawn. He has slept most of today with only brief periods of wakefulness, and is asleep now still, 38 hours after the surgery.
When he walks, he is having definite trouble with his back legs, particularly the right one. He has the punch drunk stagger of a doped up dog. The vet said to give him another day to recover and if he's not better by Monday to bring him in. He's eating some and drinking a little and eliminating ok, but once he goes down he really doesn't want to get back up. It's really hot today (over 90), so that may be a factor. Is this normal? Is he just depressed?
On the plus side, he's never been so well behaved, and he's leaving his stitches alone.
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Post by Laura on Jan 21, 2006 0:51:25 GMT -5
Normal? Not really. Age is a big factor with anesthetic recovery, the youngsters recover great, but with every year added on, it gets tougher and tougher for the body to rid itself of the drugs. And some dogs do act depressed for a day or two after being put under, but if he's eating ok and keeping it down, I'd say he's just reacting a little badly to the anesthetic. Do you know what kind of anesthetic they gave him? Isoflurane or a barbituate? Isoflurane (gas) is a quicker, cleaner "under", and easier to come out of. Give Finnster a scritch behind the ears for me and tell him I'm sorry he's feeling so punked . And keep us updated too, I'll also be keeping my fingers crossed that it's nothing serious.
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Post by Richard on Jan 21, 2006 8:15:17 GMT -5
Yeah, that doesn't sound too normal. It makes sense how different anesthesas could effect a dog as do the types of stitches (Nikki had a reaction to hers) would too.
When we got Nikki from the breeder, she was still intact so two months later, we scheduled a operation for spaying. She went in that morning and was out by 6pm in the evening. Same thing, kinda wobbly on the legs but by 9pm she was doing better.
Linda I hope Finn is showing signs of improvement today.
Ahh, the silver lining within each cloud...I'm sure he'll be back to his old self soon Linda.
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Post by Aussienot on Jan 21, 2006 22:12:40 GMT -5
I am happy to report Finn is much better today. He's still sleeping more than usual, but is being substatially more active and showing more normal interest in what's going on around him. He spent about 30 minutes chasing lizards and we went for a short walk. And he barked at a horse being ridden down the street. He's still maybe at 50% of his electric sparky self, but definately coming out of it.
I don't know what they gave him, whether it was barbituates or gas but will find out when the stitches come out next week.I find the 'subdued' Finn a refreshing change, but can't wait for him to return to his chaotic energetic form. Never thought I'd feel that way.
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Post by Richard on Jan 21, 2006 23:15:38 GMT -5
That's good to hear...he's probably wondering what the heck happened too....
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Post by Laura on Jan 22, 2006 0:07:09 GMT -5
I'm glad to hear he's doing better too , he probably felt like he hit a brick wall doing 90. Ah, yes, the old "be careful what you wish for" scenario ;D.
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Post by ripley on Jan 22, 2006 2:06:22 GMT -5
Is there a chance that he was given a 'knockout' drug like acepromazine? Ripley was wobbly and zonked for a day or so after he was given ace, and sleepy for about a week. . . Never again, if he ever has to be put under again we're avoiding that like the plague. It might be something worth asking the vet, some don't use it much at all anymore but others still do regularly, even though the occasional dog has a bad reaction to it.
Glad he's feeling better, though!
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Post by Aussienot on Feb 17, 2006 18:51:06 GMT -5
Less than a month after having the first bump removed, Finn has developed a second skin tumor on his throat under the chin. It came up so quickly I thought it was a tick, but when I couldn't remove it or kill it I popped him into the vet to get the bad news. Vet say watch and see, but it most likely will have to come off and this time I will pay for a biopsy. I feed raw. I keep my dogs fit and at good weight with plenty of exercise. I avoid chemicals, I don't use external flea products, I minimize heartworm, I vaccinate more than I would like but do the minimum needed for boarding and training. I'm gutted. Would a naturopath help? My vet says that some breeds like boxers are just prone to these skin tumors. And for the last time he was given acepromazine before and barbiturate to knock him out, so that explains a lot. The vet said he'd try to do the next surgery with just a local. I'm not really sure if I am looking for advice or comfort, but I reckon I could use both.
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Post by Nicole on Feb 17, 2006 20:45:28 GMT -5
Oh Aussie, please try not to freak out although I know that is easier said than done. There are many many benign reasons that dogs develop bumps and lumps...sebaceous cysts, warts etc. Finn is young and chances are that this is a benign condition.
And if it isn't, then you will deal with it. And we will deal with it with you. Medicine has come such a long way it is amazing. My friends dog had tumors in his liver and was given 3 months to live. They opted for surgery and now 1 and half years later the dog is cancer free.
So stay calm and we will take it one day at a time with you. You know that we are here for you through out.
Prayers and strength are coming your way.
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Post by willow on Feb 18, 2006 9:37:02 GMT -5
I am sorry to hear Finn has another tumor, Aussie, but as Nicki said, try not to panic, take one day at a time and don't think it is because of some thing you are doing or not doing, because as far as I am concerned, you are doing every thing "right" with him. I do the same things you do with my dogs and myself, prefering the "prevention route" with diet, exercise, no chemicals etc.., and I have a friend who does every thing what I consider "wrong". She is younger than I am and has cancer, heart disease, diabetes and lung problems, yet if I get so much as a sniffle she is so quick to say to me: "You shouldn't be getting anything with all the stuff you take". It doesn't work that way. This system is not perfect and we, nor our animals are perfect . Eventually some thing is going to "get" all of us, no matter how hard we try to prevent it and I know that, but I am trying to improve my and my dogs quality of life before that happens. I think that is all we can do and instead of second guessing yourself, think of all you have done for Finn that is so, so right! In the first place, if it wasn't for you, he probably wouldn't even be here now. You are doing great, girl, as a dog owner, and as Nicki also said...we are all here for you and Finn at this difficult time.
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Post by Brooke on Feb 18, 2006 13:33:44 GMT -5
Very well said ladies! Sometimes things just happen no matter what you do. There are people who have never smoked in their lives getting lung cancer and I have a grandmother in her early 70's who has smoked since she was 13. Granted she has emphasema but she doesn't have lung cancer. It's not always fair the way the world works. I have a good feeling that things will be ok. I think sometimes scares just happen to make us realize what we have and to take advantage of them. This just might be an annyoing little hurdle but we are here for you.
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Post by amyjo on Feb 18, 2006 16:03:14 GMT -5
I couldn't have said any of it better mysef. For what it is worth, I do not think it is cancer....I do know from experience that even if it is, it isn't a death sentence...even without treatment or with conservative treatment. I do not believe that given Finn's very healthy lifestyle that any standard prognosis would apply. I mean look at Elvis, in 2003 we removed a malignant melanoma....he is still kicking with no treatment other than that (and nearing 14 to boot). I do attribute it to his diet for the most part. The existing literature on canine malignant melanoma is quite grim. Sometimes genetics stacks the deck against us but lifestyle is the best way to fight back. You are already doing the best you can for him for now and leave worries about future treatment to the future....now just take a deep breath and say to yourself it will be okay! And just know on the other side of the world we are sending lots of good vibes and Aussie wiggles to you and Finn.
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Post by Richard on Feb 18, 2006 18:35:31 GMT -5
Just recently, I had posted elsewhere about Nikki's dry skin and a few pustules we found while doing our usual grooming. One was up near her right shoulder, the other down on her back above the base of her tail. My first thougth, "whoa, that isn't right", and then I moved right up to the top of the worry chart - which after a good shake of my head (and a few words from my wife and some very helpful folks here ) - I realized wasn't going to do any good for anyone until I did what I needed to do. I took her to the vet too the next day and he removed 2 samples from each for biopsy's as well. Was it necessary, maybe not but like everyone else on this board, I love my dogs and keeping them healthy is what is important. A few days later, the vet called and said both samples where benign but he said to keep an eye on them anyway for changes of color ect. We do that now. I'm just telling you this because you're a conscientious, caring dog handler and more importantly, despite all the love, caring, handling you give your dogs, there are things that are beyond your control. Like everyone else has said, relax and take this one day at a time. Do the tests, get Finn fixed and get back to the routine - that's important for not only Finn but you too.
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Post by amyjo on Feb 23, 2006 10:16:20 GMT -5
Linda - when is the surgery? How are you doing now?
Amy
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Post by Aussienot on Feb 25, 2006 0:07:53 GMT -5
Finn goes in on Monday, Feb 27, to have the new lump removed. It is continuing to grow incredibly rapidly and now looks like a red aspirin springing from his neck.
He's scratching at it quite a bit when I am not around to stop him, but that may be partly or totally because the vet nurse shaved his coat around the suspected 'tick' just to get a closer look, and the shaved skin itches.
Today I think I'm coping. I will take it one step at a time and try not project worry onto the unknown. Thanks everyone, I'll let you know how he goes after he comes out Monday night.
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