mangos_mom

Just tried to get him up and he couldn't steady himself, so I laid him back down and stepped out to the back porch for a minute, which is just a half dozen steps from where Ruger is laying in the living room. Left the door open and had no sooner sat down when I heard a thunk from inside. By the time I got to the door, Ru was on his feet and steady as can be. (The thunk was him hitting the entertainment center as he got up.) He wouldn't move and I thought maybe he needed to potty, so I carried him outside and set him down. Nope - boy had his own ideas and promptly headed, albeit slowly and cautiously, back into the house, where he picked a new spot to lay down, circled himself a half dozen times while he figured out how to lower himself, and settled back down. It always amazes me to see how much determination my dogs have, even with a surgery like this one. All of your good thoughts are working, as he had eaten a little bit and drunk water twice now on his own. The Power of Greytalk - it's a wonder!

No, not Pal, too. Jan, I was so worried this was what was going on. Dang, I really wish TX and CT were closer together than this now...more

Oh, Jan, no! I'm so sorry that MiMi had to leave so soon. Godspeed, MiMi, and to you, Jan.

Okay, I seem to always have trouble finding the edit button, so I'll just post here. Ruger is HOME! He's doing very well, although he is still very sleepy on the painkillers. The incision looks great - not nearly as bad as I expected. I'm just very glad to have him back and under my care. Now to get him healed.

After much soul searching, and information searching on synovial cell sarcoma, and testing to be sure he could handle the amputation, I made the decision to buy some more time and play the odds again. I lost on that bet with Mango 3 years ago, but this is a different cancer, with different odds, and I am a different person for having experienced osteo with Mango. Although I didn't want to do amputation, and wouldn't have if this was osteo probably, I could not watch that tumor growing and Ruger progressively using his bad leg less. The tumor had doubled in size in just a week. Bleh - cancer. I hate it! Update Post Surgery Just got the call from my vet that Ruger is out of surgery and stable. The tumor that we couldn't even feel 4 weeks ago was baseball-sized, but it was well contained according to my vet is making sure to send it out for full biopsy so we can get a definitive confirmation of the type of cancer we are dealing with. If all goes well, my vet hopes to discharge Ru tomorrow. Thank you all for your good thoughts and prayers. My heart still hurts at having to make this kind of decision, but I can breathe a little easier knowing we are past the surgery. 10/8 Update Realized I hadn't posted an update in awhile. He's doing great. The amputation incision is healing well, the bruising is abating, and he is up and about and ready to go. I didn't quite know what to expect because Mango had such terrible complications. Ruger seems to be the complete opposite. I'm still waiting for the pathology report on the tumor, and OSU has responded to my request for a consult, so I will be routing that result, and hopefully, the slides, to them for review as well. Now I'm off to search GT for info on cancer diets and supplements. I didn't do much of that with Mango, but I'm resolved to try to get my act together with Ru and support his system as much as I can to battle any cancer that is left in his system. Thank you all again for all your support and prayers. It really is appreciated. 10/15 Update Well, I'm still not sure what type of cancer I'm dealing with here. I requested a surgical biopsy when the leg was amputated. The local lab came back with a dx of Osteosarcoma, but included a comment about parosteal tissue. My vet requested clarification, but the lab is not really giving him a better answer. I've never heard (not that I think I have heard it all) of an osteo tumor outside of the bone. This tumor was soft tissue, not in the bone, but attached to the bone. My vet's office did forward my request to the lab to have the slides sent to OSU, and Dr Kellogg there has confirmed she has them, so maybe they will be a little more willing to be specific about the dx. On the up side, Ruger had his stitches out today, the incision is healing terrifically well, and he is moving around with more and more ease. Hardest part is watching him try to figure out how to lower himself to a laying position, and he whines yet doing that. But otherwise, he is doing great. I even had him out to an event on Saturday (it was a low-key, casual kind of event where he could park himself on a blanket and soak up the attention that he so loves) and he was fine. I figured I would keep this thread updated since I'm encountering some cancer types that are not so commonly seen, in the event someone else ends up hearing them with regard to their own pup. I need to get some new pictures of him. Here's a pic of Ruger yesterday, showing off his new collar from Holly at The Unruly Hound. Ruger has always been a protector, of his pack, his momma, and even of my friends. We've nicknamed him The Sheriff, and I knew Holly had this collar, so I contacted her the other night and we met yesterday to bestow official Sheriff status on my boy.

Thanks. I'm trying to stay optimistic. Ruger is scheduled to go back to the practice where the neuro is to have lungs and lymph nodes checked on Monday. Then I'll really know what my options are. Keeping my fingers and toes crossed...

I just got all the copies of Ru's records uploaded. I'll be going out shortly to write that email to OSU.

I posted a week or so ago about Ruger having compressed discs in his back. Or so my vet thought, based on his interpretation of the xrays. A round of prednisone and Robaixn did not make a differernce, so he referred me to a neurologist. She found a tumor on Ru's left knee. Xrays showed bone involvement, but she took a fine needle aspiration. Results are back today. The radiologist and pathologist are "suspicious that this is something other than osteo because it involves the joint". Path thinks it is synovial cell or chondro sarcoma. Path is seeing "a lot of criteria of malignancy" meaning that the tumor is growing fast. I've gone and done some quick searching so I have an idea of what I'm dealing with. The specialist explained that amputation and chemo are still the protocol for this. Ru is going in to have chest xray and lymph node check on Monday. My choices will be made based on whether there are metasteses or not. Oh, and the specialist is already in the process of sending me the reports and digital xrays so I will reach out to OSU for a consult as well. I just thought I'd reach out here to see if anyone has gone through this here. I went down the osteo road with Mango, so I'm no stranger to limb amputation. But this is a new cancer for me to add to my experience book. Gotta love that life continually throws you curve balls, don't you?

Thanks, everyone, for the advice. I have a better idea of what I'm looking at now, and also how to approach my vet about adding accupuncture to the treatment of this. With just one dose of the additional pred in him, I watch Ru get up last night and walk on all 4 feet across the room. He was stiff, granted, but he was putting weight on the left foot, which he hadn't done in 2 days. Pam, thanks for the warning about the doc in Celina. A friend goes to Karen Ave down in Carrollton and that's where I'm planning to take him for accupuncture.

So, a couple weeks ago, Ruger started limping on his left hind leg. Trip to my vet and x-rays revealed 3 compressed discs mid-back (L3,4,5 if I'm remembering right). Started him on high dose of prenisolone (40 mg/2x day) and muscle relaxer (Robaxin 500mg) 3x/day. He showed improvement on the high dose, so we started weaning over the course of the 2nd week, to this point, where he is on only 20mg/day of the pred. He is right back to where he was at the onset on the low dose. I just spoke to my vet today and we are going back up to 20mg 2x/daily on the pred, keeping up the Robaxin. He said it can take 3-4 weeks to get the inflammation under control. The next step after that, if the pred doesn't work, is a neurologist and a scan, then possibly surgery. All that said, I have had accutonic treatments done before with Ru for what I supposed was arthritis, and he responded very well. I have several friends who have used accupuncture and chiropractic adjustment and are encouraging me to go that route, which I really do want to pursue. But I don't want to step on my vet's toes, and he proposed trying to get the inflammation under control first before going to the holistic approach. I'm just trying to understand what to expect long term for Ru with something like this, and so I'm turning to GT's collective experience. And also, how long would you respect your conventional vet's request to wait on an holistic approach before overriding him? Thanks, all!

Glad to hear that the Bag Balm brought Akaila some relief. I resort to it even for myself when I get the winter flakies. Your girl is beautiful!

Ruger came to me as a medical foster originally because he'd had what was believed to be an allergic reaction to the concrete floors in the kennel. The allergy and worst of the problems with his feet had already been treated but his pads were still overgrown and cracked. Having read here on GT about Bag Balm, I went out and got some right away and would rub it into his pads every night while he snuggled with me and watched TV. In a couple of weeks, his pads were soft and not nearly so overgrown. You can usually find Bag Balm in Farm and Market stores. I've seen it also in the organic/natural supermarkets here like Whole Foods. Key to alleviating the pain is getting those pads softened so the cracking and overgrowth can heal. If you are uncertain, do check back with your vet about what to use. When the morning folks come on tomorrow, you will probably get some other ideas and advice as well. Good luck and welcome to Greytalk!

Nedra had one come up on her tongue, back when she was first rescued from the scum that had her. It went away on it's own as her health improved. I've been told that canine papilloma isn't uncommon to see in puppies or senior dogs, as their immune systems are not as strong. But mild cases will take care of themselves. As FiveRoooooers said, if it gets worse or doesn't go away, you need to look into further medical assistance for it. My guess is that it won't get worse, though.

I remember Mango chasing a piece of dry spaghetti around the kitchen floor, with me watching amazed because I didn't think she would really eat it!

You've gotten good advice and stories from some who have had hounds who suffered this type of episode. I have nothing new, but I, too, have experienced this. It took Takoda a couple of days to recover use at all, and then a good 4 or more weeks before he could walk more than out to the backyard to take care of business and back. A friend made an assistance harness for him and it was much easier to use than the towel sling, but towel slings are just as good in a pinch. Don't give up hope yet. Eating and drinking and happy are all good signs. Now that you have found Greytalk, you have the power of all of us pulling for you and Clever!

First, I want to say the same as many others have said: you have shown amazing perseverance with your boy. Many adopters would have given up long ago and returned him but here you are looking for advice to still help him. One question that I haven't seen asked but occurred to me as I was reading this thread. All of these instances of human bites appear, to me, to be situation where the person bit was possibly reaching over him in some way. If true, is it possible that the main trigger is that? Otherwise, you have gotten far better advice from others here that I could ever give. Wishing you success in your search for help.

Ah, Zoey, what a beautiful lady you are. I saw your picture on FB but didn't know your story until now. You indeed have a family of your own now and they will love you just as you are, have no fear. Welcome home, Zoey, welcome home! Good job, Beth!

All 3 of mine have managed to fall into a pool, Nedra twice, as they seem to think the pool is nothing but a big water bowl. Each time, I've been right there. The first time, Nedra went in first. As I was turning to go get her, Ruger went in on the opposite side of the pool ( and I'm not convinced that he wasn't going in after Nedra, as connected as these 3 are). They crossed paths underwater and came up paddling instead of panicked. I only had to call them to me and they swam to me at the steps and got themselves out. It was impressive, and a sight I won't soon forget. Delta swam, but panicked when she couldn't get herself out and no amount of calling her worked, so we lifted her out. She won't go near the pool now. I do wish I have pictures of Ru and Nedra swimming, though.

Each of my 3 are bomb-proof in certain ways. All 3 though are amazingly calm with fireworks. My community has a July 4th display every year that is set just 2 blocks from my house - I can actually watch them from my backyard. While none of the dogs will stay outside, they lay just inside the patio door, watching me as if to say, "What'cha doing out there, Momma?" Last summer, we were out at an event and had asked when the fireworks were going to happen, so that we could get the dogs out of there. Then they started them a 1/2 hour early, catching us just as we were leaving. Ruger and Nedra were completely unfazed. Delta was brave and stood still, even though she shook the whole time. Ruger is my truly bomb-proof in every way dog. One year at the North TX Irish Festival, I was walking the vendor booths with all 3. Someone stopped me to ask about greyhounds and as I was talking, I heard people start laughing behind me. I turned around to find Ruger flat out on the concrete floor in the middle of the crowed aisle. I had stopped walking, so he decided he was going to relax. He charmed a lot of folks in that moment. At all our events, he is usually flat on his side and that just attracts the smaller children, who invariably get down on the ground with him, petting and leaning on him. When they stop, he'll lift his head off the floor and give them a grin that begs for more. I can put a hat on him, wrap him in Mardi Gras beads - do just about anything to him and he just takes it all. He's truly an easy dog. Delta and Nedra - so long as I'm on the other end of the leash, I can ask them to do just about anything as well. They aren't quite as relaxed as Ruger is, but they are calm, cool and collected when they do events with me.

I flash switched my guys from the salmon to the turkey because they weren't really liking the salmon. Other than them being extra stinky gassy for a few days, they were fine. They are much happier with the turkey, so that's what we are sticking to now.

From what I can see - and I went searching for more info Monday night when a friend sent this to me - all the warnings we are receiving from various groups and friends are being generated by one single post about one single incident at a kennel back in Dec that involved donated food. There is nothing else out there at all that is current about this food. I'm sorry - while I try to be cautious about my dogs, I just can't help questioning whether this is a situation of large-scale food contamination, or an isolated instance of a case of food that wasn't handled properly, either before it was donated to the kennel or after the kennel had it.

Sorry I left you all hanging this weekend. GU had their booth out at a big festival this weekend and Janis (Di's mom) and I manage the booth at events. By the time we got home each night I was too tired to even try to log on. I was staying with Janis as she lives closer to where the event was, so I got to see first hand what Di is doing. Each day brought improvement, but you would have to know Di really well to see some of it. She gets really nervous when she is out of her "safe" area, which is understandable. She is responsive, though, totally to her mom and she responded to me as well. She is still walking in circles to get from point A to point B, but she walked a straight line every once in awhile. She will also walk almost straight if another dog is beside her, or if you keep her on a shortened leash. Between Friday and yesterday, she seemed to get a little bit of her own voice back. She's a very talkative, expressive dog, Last week, she was just whining, but this weekend, I began to hear little bits of her "conversational" voice mixed with the whining. And she would dance a little each time Janis and I came back home. The neurologist couldn't discern just from the symptoms what had happened, although she is of the mind that it was either a stroke or a tumor in the brain. If Di's BP is low enough today, she will go for an MRI to determine that. Neither Janis nor I have ever dealt with a stroke dog before so we don't have any experience to draw on. From stories I recall reading here, I know that dog's can recover most, if not all, of their abilities after a stroke unless it was massive. But Janis is concerned about how much, and how much quality of life Di will have. I've suggested that she wait and see what the neuro discovers until trying to decide that, but if it is a stroke, how long do I suggest she wait to see what extent of ability will return? She's concerned that if what we saw this weekend is the extent of recovery, walking in circles for the rest of Di's natural life is no quality, given that Di was an active and energetic dog. I'm going to search for stroke stories here as time allows today. I have some catching up to do on my own life, having stepped out of it to be GU's disciple this weekend, but I will catch moment here and there where I'm taking a break. Thank you all for your continued advice.

Di is getting better every day. And she is going to a neurologist tomorrow morning. But Janis also found info on inner ear infections that describes the exact same symptoms as Di has. The vet has her on antibiotics already, so hopefully, if that is what it is, she's on the way to getting better. She had a bad infection 3 or so years ago and had a spell like this but she recovered within a day. That's what's worrying Janis so much, and her vet is sort of remaining non-commital about it, which is frustrating.

I will pass this on. She has asked her vet directly if this episode is related to the possible kidney issues and he has said no, but that doesn't mean that's the final word.

Update from Di's mom this morning. She continues to improve in little bits. The more I hear the more I'm thinking stroke. Di's mom is still pursuing getting an appt with a neurologist, though, because she wants to know what caused it. Di seems a bit more alert this AM and I think her crying is actually her "talking" We walked ALL the way around 2 or 3 buildings and she walked mostly straight with a little help from me. She found treats when I threw them on the floor for her and she looks at me more when I am talking to her. Perhaps rest is helping but keep all the wonderful healing coming to me baby girl. I think she is getting frustrated because she knows what she wants to do but just cannot figure out how to get there.