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Vally – I really did laugh out loud about the frog (RAT!) Hilarious! I have a pond in the garden, and both the M’s always showed a lot of interest in it. Many, many times over the years, I have gone to bed, only to be alarmed by a strange noise shortly after turning the lights out. It’s a high pitched scream, followed by the rapid movements of 8 paws. Every time, I would come downstairs to find a frog in stand off with Molly and Mable. Have you heard a frog scream? It’s really rather peculiar, although I am quite used to it now. Molly used to bring them in and hide them under the sofa. The poor things would sit there until it went quiet and then come hopping out, only to be confronted by the cats. Again. I finally became quite used to sweeping them up with a dustpan and brush, and plopping them back in the pond. Not quite as much fun as prodding them with umbrella’s into bags though ;)
Thanks for the laugh, I loved your frog story. And Patrice, your frog is very handsome!
Mary x
- This reply was modified 12 years, 6 months ago by admin.
Haha poor Bingo!
What’s the reason for not buying from China? The strangest meaty treat I remember in Oz was chicken salt. Never come across it before or after. And I never did quite get my head around it! And now I have to come to terms with Bully Sticks. In all honesty, it’s probably far better for them than processed treats. But I have the psychological barriers!
Give Sadie and Bingo belly rubs from me :)
Mary & Mable (who wants a Bully Stick) x
Hi Marcella
My heart goes out to you – it is so difficult to see our beloved pets in distress like this. It is sad your vet does not inspire confidence, especially after the dental charges – that is an awful lot of money for you to find when things are tight. Shocking. I understand how hard it is to find anyone you can trust to treat her properly. Can we help you with that? I am quite happy to look around your area for someone as Emberlee wouldn’t be able to go far. At least they could make her more comfortable.
Her breathing might be helped with some diuretics which are quite inexpensive – Millie was on Furosemide & this made things easier for a while, although it was fluid around her heart (as well as her spleen) that was causing the problem as well. Maybe ask the vet whether diuretics might help Emberlee – for the swelling & her breathing. Is she on any medications at all?
I’ve just read through Emberlee’s bloods & high WBC, high neutrophils & monocytes means a reaction to inflammation/infection, although there can be other reasons too, for example a bone marrow problem, a reaction to certain drugs or even just a very stressful visit to the vet. My guess it’s because of the mass in her spleen though. She is most definitely anaemic, although not dangerously so at the moment. This will also cause her to breathe more heavily because she’s trying to get more oxygen around her body with fewer cells & less haemoglobin to carry it.
Having been through a similar situation myself, you MUST NOT beat yourself up about this. This disease is not easy to diagnose in the early stages. I can only suggest that you contact your vet (even if they aren’t that great) & ask about the possibility of using a diuretic to keep her comfortable for now. I’m sure she would feel much better with that swelling reduced, even though she will need pee more often. I also read about Peroxicam – see below.
I found a Golden Retriever site where many of their members have been through this too – have a look at http://www.goldenretrieverforum.com/cancer-information-golden-retrievers/51312-hemangiosarcoma-treated-cyclophosphamide.html
also http://www.wedgewoodpetrx.com/learning-center/professional-monographs/piroxicam-for-veterinary-use.html
I don’t know how else to help you & I don’t know about the expense involved with these drugs over there in the USA. If there is anything else I can do for you, you only have to ask. I hope you will get some comfort from reading the Golden Retriever site postings.
All my best thoughts to you & dear Emberlee
Love
Sheena, Worzel & Ollie
Hiya Ruth
I am thrilled to hear you can go & see your darling Nula baby – I bet you’ve been really lonely without her. As Vally says, their PCV can drop at the beginning of treatment & the transfusions will keep her stable, so don’t worry.
Don’t forget – ask about the other immuno-suppressant & remind them about not transfusing to a PVC over 25 – you’d be surprised how many times I’ve seen this happen. (Sorry – I just have to be an old naggy baggy!) Lots of dogs have had to stay in hospital, then come on leaps & bounds when they got home – they just don’t want to eat at the vets – I suppose it’s like us in hospital (yuk).
PLEASE give her a big cuddle from me & the boys & let us know how she’s doing when you can.
Best wishes as always, Sheena
xxxx
Hi Marcella
So glad you’ve joined us here. I can’t pretend to be an expert on haemangiosarcoma, but my dear little Millie (a very sweet little lurcher) had this, but she was getting old (14). She had no symptoms until secondaries affected her heart (pericardial effusion) & her breathing became laboured. This was the ONLY symptom she had. She really was fit & well up until then & I promise you was not in any pain whatsoever. Sadly, the vets found the problem with the spleen much too late to be able to do anything about it & with the secondaries, it was not good news. They reckoned she must have had this cancer for a long time & I felt guilty about that, even though there was nothing to make me think she was ill. I think you could be in the more fortunate position of picking it up early. Although it can be very serious, it can also be treated if in the early stages.
If it were me, I would try & find a specialist Vet hospital or university teaching hospital who could do more scans – surgery & chemotherapy can be useful for treatment. I found this for you – I’m afraid it doesn’t make good reading for the advanced stages.
http://www.vetinfo.com/dencyclopedia/dehemsarcoma.html#b
HOWEVER Please, please look at this one because you can take courage that Emberlee could have surgery & chemotherapy.
http://www.wearethecure.org/the-road-from-despair-to-hope.
These articles also mention that the symptoms of AIHA need to be treated too as they become anaemic – we can all help you on that, of course. I am unsure about steroid treatment because of the immuno-suppressant effects – this probably is not appropriate for Emberlee. She may need blood transfusions etc, though. Personally, I would try & keep positive that the tumour seen in the spleen can be successfully removed by surgery – & remember it may not be malignant – time is of the essence & specialist help is always better.
Marcella, please know I am thinking about you & we are all here to help as much as we can. Patrice is more of an expert on this that I am & I bet she has some great advice
Hugs to you & Emberlee from me & my boys. Keep you chin up & be positive that you have caught this early.
Sheena
![bingo-14-5_1200x775](https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/wp-content/gallery/aiha-dogs_2/bingo-14-5_1200x775.jpg "Vally\'s Bingo \\"Smile\\"")
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