MP_the4pack

Pearl's cardiologist in Langhorne, Pa recommended only two dentist for Pearl, my uber high risk girl. One was 2+ hrs away in Pa somewhere, the other was Dr. Fiorito of Brick Town Vets. She's fantastic. She's the only one I would trust Onyx to right now.

I tried as hard has possible not to have to get a dental for Onyx. But, her teeth were really too bad to keep them clean. So, she's having a dental. Onyx is 15! I chose to take her to the dentist instead of her regular GP because this dentist has a high success rate. She did Pearl twice, and Pearl was considered ultra high risk because of hypertension and heart disease. I'm almost sure, Onyx is going to lose all four canines. And maybe what's left of her other teeth. Oh, she's going to be so sore. I really don't want to do this to her, but I think her mouth is bothering her. She's being done on the 14th, one year to the day that Pearl had her splenectomy. Pearl passed 3 weeks later. It's also the same anniversary has Beth's Smiley, who survived only 3 days. So I'm asking for lots of white light, prayers and crossed paws from GT that Onyx makes it thru the dental, the recovery, and feels a whole lot better sooner than later. By the way, for anyone who complains about the price of a dental? This is going to set me back about $3000. That's the price I pay for giving Onyx the best chance of a good result. (and for anyone who reads Off Topic, you know my 4Runner just died too. When it rains it pours)

Jade just underwent her third lumpectomy, an epulis (in the mouth) last month. She's already had a hemangioma and tricoepithelioma removed. Now, I see a small white tuft of 'cotton' in the lower outside corner of her eye. That's probably pannus, isnt' it? I've only had her since March!!! sigh Yeah, we'll be going to the vets. But since I can only fit one dog in the Honda at a time, it'll have to wait a couple weeks.

I'm sorry he's gone. I lost two to spleenic cancer.

OSU's the best. Drive safe and good luck!

Pearl had uncontrolled hypertension for most of her life with me. I did talk to Dr. Couto about it when she went there for cancer treatments. He stated that greyhounds do seem to get idiopathic hypertension (means no known cause). 200 is very high. One of the signs that we had lost control of Pearl's BP one day was when she threw a clot. She had a TIA. I don't remember the dose of Enalapril that she was on, but it was high. She had no problem with it. She ended up on that, Norvasc, lasix and phenoxybenzamine in attempts to keep the BP under control. We fought for years. She went for BP checks at her cardiologists every 6 weeks. I called to let them know I was 10 minutes away so that they could set up. We were wisked in immediately and the BP done. That helped to get a true reading, not a white coat reading. I also got an infant BP cuff and tested her at home. I didn't have the doppler to hear the blood flow, but I watched the needle. When it started to bounce that was her BP. It was crude but accurate enough for me to know when to go in for a real BP checkup. If meds are expensive, most of them can be found at Costco. I was paying $60/month there when drugstores would have cost me $400. Also, there is a tumor called pheochromocytoma (of the adrenals) that causes high BP. Pearl's cardiologist kept having her tested for it. Luckily there is an easier test now than CT scans. They can test for corticosteroids in the urine. High amounts could be caused by stress, but if it's low, there's no pheo. So, a positive can mean several things, but a negative is definitive for no pheo. Good luck. PM me if you need more information. Pearl lived about 5 yrs with out of control hypertension. Took a total of 21 pills a day, 8 different meds. Cancer too her this year.

If the liver is still small after the gas pocket is gone, you may want to ask for a liver function test. The regular blood tests you usually get test for liver enzymes. Liver function is totally different. I hope that the gas is what caused all the problem. Good luck.

Looking for an update............

Waiting sucks, doesn't it. In fact...........sorry to say, a year ago today I was doing exactly what you are doing. Waiting for them to do the ultrasound on my Pearl. Worst day of my life.

I'm sorry. I'm not a member of this particular club, I lost my two babies earlier in the year. So I still know what you're going thru.

Oh you've had enough with losing young ones. Lots of prayers coming from NJ.

I lost my first girl Brindle to Hemangiosarcoma of the spleen. I lost my very beloved Pearl this year to fibrosarcoma of the spleen. If it's a tumor that's burst, then it's already spread, time is very short. I'm so so sorry. But if it hadn't burst yet and you remove the spleen, prognosis is excellent. Unfortunately, dogs are usually asymptomatic until the tumor has burst. Which is what makes the disease so incidious. I hope it's not the big C. Prayers coming your way.

he may not pass anything. We have had GTers say they've found parts of toys that had been eaten MONTHS (almost years) earlier only to come up later when they threw up.

I'm sorry you're going thru this. I don't know how many xrays I've paid for over the years always thinking the worst. But somehow, when my Diamond got OS, I knew. The pain seems so much deeper. She accidentally hit her foot when jumping into the SUV and she held up her leg for the longest time. That's when I knew. If you do get more xrays, have Dr. Couto look at them. (he's the greyhound oncologist at Ohio St. U.) I don't know a single person on this board that doesn't have something great to say about him. I drove from NJ to Ohio twice to have my girls see him. Diamond had her front leg amputated at age 12. She had 6 wonderful pain free months. My Pearl had a spleenectomy done there. Unfortunately, that cancer was incredibly fast growing. I lost her 2 weeks later.

Thanks again for the note. That is some amazing work, all of you are doing there for your greys. I am guessing our pups have been too good to us in terms of their illness/sickness so far in their lives. All minor stuff. What you all go through, or already went through - is truly eye-opening. And all of your pups are just plain lucky to even have had known you. And if tested like how you have been tested, I am sure hoping to rise to the occasion. A hug to Lumpy for me. :-) Is Diamond doing well? Diamond had a wonderful pain free 6 months. But OS did return to another leg. She passed 2 months (April) after her sister (littermate) Pearl. I miss them both dearly. But I do not regret my choice for either sister. (I just wish I started chemo sooner with Pearl)

If no one steps up to the plate, when my Pearl died, she was on a ton of heart meds. I donated them to OSU, and they gave me a document indicating the cost of each med so that I can use on my tax returns. So they get donations and you get a tax break.

I just wanted to add that I drove from NJ to OSU for my Diamond to have her leg amputated and then to have Pearl's spleen removed. (unfortunately, Pearl's outcome wasn't good. She was gone within 2 weeks). Anyway, Jane was my Ohio hostess, and considering the stress I was under (amputating a 12 yr old's leg), Jane was a Godsend. I won't hesitate a nanosecond to go out to OSU again (it's a 9-10 hr drive for me). I hope the lump is nothing, but I'm glad it's getting removed. My Jade (I just adopted her in March has already had 3 lumps removed. The first on her chest was a hemagioma. The second on her neck was a tricoepithelioma, and the third which we just did last week from her mouth, I haven't gotten back yet. I'm starting to call her lumpy. But everytime she gets a lump, it will get removed. good luck!

That's a big effin list.......too big. But thanks for having my sisters Pearl and Diamond on there. I miss them so so much.

I'm sorry you joined the club. I amputated Diamond's leg when she was just 2 weeks shy of 12. She did very well, was feeling way better just 2 weeks post op. And had 6b wonderful, happy, pain free months. (we also did chemo). Her lungs remained clear to the end, but the OS hit another leg. Even though I only got 6 months, the fact that she felt so good I would definitely do it again, if the dog was a good candidate. Good luck. The decision you make will not be the wrong one, because you're doing it out of love.

My Diamond was 12 when I did the amp on her front leg. If for nothing else, to relieve the pain. She did great for 6 months until the OS came back in another leg. Her lungs were always clear. While I wish I had more time, the 6 months she had post op was Terrific! It only took her about 2 weeks to recover from the surgery, and she was very happy and pain free. I'd do it again. By the way, I did drive from NJ to OSU to have it done.

It's a roll of the dice. 3 of my 4 bridgekids died of cancer. The 4th died of liver disease at age 5. But, I do have a 15 yr old still with me.

Jen, I'm so sorry. I lost two around the holidays. (in fact, the day after I lost my Brindle many years ago, her Christmas present arrived in the mail). I also lost two this year, one my hearthound. The decision is so so difficult, but you know, it has to be made. Nothing will make it easier. God Speed Neyla.

If the bruises are from playing too rough, platelets would have been used up in the clotting, so they very well could be low just from the bruising. (of course, it could be the other way around, he bruised because of low platelets)

sigh Happy Birthday Topaz.

Has it been 2 yrs already?