Carrier's Diagnosis

[Guest trevdog]

Sending prayers to you both......hoping for some better news.....

[Guest jurishound]

Okay - It seems to me that you need a conclusive DX on Carrier's hind leg, and OVC is unable to provide that. If you can manage it, I think I would head to OSU pronto. Sending more good wishes for you and your boy.

[LadyBailey]

I just spoke to Dr Couto - he is requesting Carrier's xrays from OVC and I am going to call and ask for the same - he said we have to hit them both ways. (I love this man)

 

I think we are going to pull Carrier from OVC and take him down to OSU. I am not working so it's really not a big deal in regards to time. I am going to wait and see what OVC says this afternoon and then make the call. My gut is telling me to get him home tonight - which will probably be the case.

[Guest jurishound]

Sending much hope that his hind leg is cancer free, and that soon he'll be feeling up to a lovely walk around Pinehurst!

[patricia]

I just spoke to Dr Couto - he is requesting Carrier's xrays from OVC and I am going to call and ask for the same - he said we have to hit them both ways. (I love this man)

 

I think we are going to pull Carrier from OVC and take him down to OSU. I am not working so it's really not a big deal in regards to time. I am going to wait and see what OVC says this afternoon and then make the call. My gut is telling me to get him home tonight - which will probably be the case.

PLEASE keep us posted as you can. (I love Dr. Couto too) He has already e-mailed me twice today regarding LaceyLaine being out of remission. My prayers are coming your way and kiss and hug Carrier for me.

[LadyBailey]

Update Oct 24 3:15pm

 

OVC is coordinating sending the xrays and bone scan to Dr Couto. They should arrive tomorrow morning.

OVC is recommending that we do radiation therapy to help with the pain and in the mean time take a biopsy of of the femur to see what it is. If it's not osteo - then according to them the radiation didn't do any harm - and if it is osteo, then that is really our only option. We are picking him up tonight at 6 - I can't wait. Tomorrow we will speak to Dr Couto and see what he recommends. I think if treatment is required - we are going to take him to OSU regardless as I am more confident in them at the moment and also feel that they have a better handle on greys and osteo. The run around that we got from OVC today is enough to drive me off a cliff.

I will let you know how he is when we get home.

[Aerosmom]

[Guest MorganKonaAlex]

Be advised that a bone biopsy is quite painful. Xrays of Alex were inconclusive but I just could not amputate his leg without a definitive diagnosis. Unfortunately, he was in a lot of pain until we could schedule the amputation. We were managing it with Rimadyl + tramadol + neurotin. In hindsight, I would not have done the bone biopsy.

[LadyBailey]

Carrier Update Oct 24 9pm

We picked Carrier up at 6pm today. He didn't have any treatments today, so he was alert and lively when he was brought out. I can't tell you how unbelieveable it was to be able to hug and kiss him again. He was so loving and happy to be going home. Unfortunately, upon coming home, we found out that he was extremely thirsty and couldn't drink enough once in the house. He was also very hungry and on top of that he smelled like pee. I can't believe that he was in this state after picking him up from the vet college -one would think that he could have a drink a water and be taken out for a pee. Carrier has a very strong bladder and on occasion, when he was stubborn because of rain or snow - he has held it for many hours - so I have no idea he was being held in his cage without being taken for a pee. He obviously had to go so badly that he just peed in the cage. I know he had a catheter after the bone scan, so he wouldn't have peed on himself them... Anyway, that is the least of our worries. I was just surprised to see him so thirsty.

 

He ate his dinner and went for a pee and is walking pretty good - of course still limping but not hesitating on the stairs or anything. I can see that his back leg is sore - but he is not limping on it.

 

We washed his back side from the pee with a sponge and made a very comfy bed for him.

Bailey, Andy and Ella were thrilled to see him and couldn't stop wagging their tails around him. They are all sleeping right now and I am sure they are happy to feel like the pack is back together again.

 

We are sending the xrays and bone scan to Dr Couto - which he will review tomorrow and then we will hoepfully know what our options are. Tim and I both agree that we would be more comfortable having any and all procedures done at OSU - so I will drive Carrier down for that.

 

Thanks for the good thoughts. He is resting comfortably right now and the relief that we have with having him home is something that we will cherish - I know we are still dealing with cancer - but seeing him and having him here is a wonderful stress relief - for him and us.

I will let you know what Dr Couto says.

Edited October 25, 2007 by LadyBailey

[patricia]

Please kiss Carrier for me. I will keep checking for updates.

[JerseyGirlInOz]

Oh, no!!!

 

 

Sending prayers & healing thoughts...

Edited October 25, 2007 by JerseyGirlInOz

[Guest jurishound]

So glad to hear he is home and you can all can get a good night's sleep. Sounds like you have a good plan, which is such a relief. Sleep well!

[Guest Tenderhearts]

Glad he is home with you, and I am so sorry for the problems with OVC

 

Continuing prayers from Kansas! :hope :hope :hope

[Guest darlene]

I'm thrilled he's home again. Now if we can just get good news from OSU.

[Wendie]

I'm so sorry that the news was this :grouphug

[cowpantslady]

glad he is home and so glad you are taking him to osu.

we are 11-12 hours away but are thinking of taking the boys out there just think the trip would be too much for them morty being almost 13 and saul 11

are vet is talking to dr cuoto and seeing our options

 

[iluvgreys]

Very glad to hear that Carrier is home and all are happy with his return. The drive to OSU would certainly be worth it, and your intuition is directing you towards this decision. Holding Carrier in my prayers and sending lots of hugs and strength to you during this challenging time.

[Guest LolasMom]

I'm so happy he's home and resting with his family. Sounds like he'll be getting the best care any pup could hope for.

Many prayers for all of you and especially your sweet boy...

[robinw]

you all continue to be in my thoughts and you know how to get a hold of me

[LadyBailey]

Carrier Update Oct 25 11am

He passed out after dinner last night - went for a final pee at 11am and straight back to bed - he was so tired. All four slept until 7 this morning - which was great for everyone. Carrier ate his breakie fine and had a normal pee and poop and then wanted o go back inside. It was cool this moring and the dew was really heavy. We turned on the fire and all four slept in front of it together. Carrier actually has this really cute trick, where he curls his lips up and it actually looks like he has a smile on. So I know he was content. They didn't get up when I went to see Tim off for work at 8:30 and I just got them up for a pee now. He walked well outside - albeit a bit wobbly, but he still does the stairs with much determination. Almost forgot... he did get up to do a bed change mid morning and started whining - so I asked the normal questions and wait for a wagging tail response - "Do you need to go for a pee?" No. "Do you want some rubs?" No. "Do you want to roo?" Oh yeah! and did they ROOOOO.... and then off he went back to bed. Little stinker!

 

I am waiting to hear from Dr Couto today - I know he is in meetings for almost every hour today - but he said he will call as soon as he gets the info. We (I and Carrier) are ready to make the trip down to see him - so now we just have to wait to hear what he thinks is going on with that back leg and what Carrier's options are.

 

We have Carrier seeing the chiro tonight at 8:15, as he is a little sore from being in the cage at OVC for three days - so that should make him a little more comfortable. Overall though, I think he is okay right now and is settling normally and even able to get up and down on both sides without problem. Which is a relief to see him being "normal" to a degree and comfortable. he is on Tramadol - so that must be helping.

 

Off to hug the sweet boy... will let you know once I hear from Dr Couto.

 

thanks for the thoughts...

eva

 

[maximum]

Eva, you must all be so glad to be back together again! I'm sure just that alone will be him feel a million times better! What a boy, still leading the roooooooos!! I hope you hear back from Dr. Couto soon! Hugs to alll...

[Sirocco_Nikki]

I bet that rooooo fest was the sweetest sound imaginable. Hoping for a good pupdate from Dr. Couto.

[LadyBailey]

Carrier Update Oct 24 7:15pm

 

Carrier was really good today - me and the dogs spent the day in front of the fire, while I worked on Scooby stuff... it was a relaxing day - free of having to make stressful decisions and just being able to love the dogs. In fact, Carrier was his bad little self today - which was absolutely amazing to see. I walked to the back door and noticed that he had taken a roll of plastic dog bags out of the basket and dropped it on the kitchen floor. He lives up to his name, "Carrier" as he really does carry stuff all over the house. His racing name is Bold Carrier, so I guess he figured since racing wasn't his game - carrying would be.

 

Then at lunch, I had to step away from the table and Carrier thought that my pasta would be a tasty treat - so in his stealthy manner - he attempted to steal my food - but was caught in the act. When he realized that he wasn't going to get any, he diverted his attention to something under the dinner table. He was trying to climb under the chairs - on hard wood floor - and eat a fly that was on it's back (dying). I slid it on a paper and went to toss it in the toilet and he was right beside wanting to eat it.

And then, when Tim came home he did the most unbelievable play bow - his chest almost touched the floor - and was jumping around to say hello to tim. And then... as I was preparing dinner for them - he was whining for it telling me to hurry up and then did his patented jump and run to the food bowl. Honestly, if we didn't know he had cancer, you really couldn't tell. He is acting like a champion - walk with speed and having no trouble doing anything. The tumor is larger on his humerus - we can see it bigger than last week - but it doesn't seem to stop him from doing anything but running.

 

Dr Couto looked at this xrays and bone scan and confirms that there is something there in the right femur, but it's very unlikely that it is cancer. He is recommending that we do a CT scan followed by a Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA)and if needed a biopsy. OVC doesn't have a CT Scan and they are actually recommending an MRI - which is $1200, but can't be done until next week. They don't want to do a FNA but want to go straight to a biopsy - so we are really hesitant - plus nothing can be done tomorrow since the OVC vet wasn't able to coordinate the appointments. So I have left Dr Couto a message to speak with him about what he recommends. I am actually going to ask when we can bring Carrier in asap - because we are going to do his treatment there. So it looks like this weekend will be waiting to see when we can get to OSU.

I will let you know how he does over the next few days.

 

 

[Neighsayer]

A good day is good news! Many more!

[patricia]

A good day is good news! Many more!

Amen!