Intestinal Mass - Possibly Intestinal Lymphoma

[Guest CyndiW]

We have had our struggles and ups/downs since the whole corn cob, incision infection, sepsis, dic, pancreatitis incident last August but Alex has really hit a low now. He quit eating about a week ago and then last night his fever spiked to 105.5. He was admitted and placed on IV fluids/antibiotics. Today the internist did an ultrasound and found a mass in his intestine. She has sent the cells to a pathologist but she already looked under the microscope and feels it could be intestinal lymphoma. She said surgery is not usually helpful for this type of cancer and can actually make dogs a lot worse off. She said there would be some treatment options to make him more comfortable including pred to shrink the tumor and increase his appetite for now but only about half respond to treatment (still prognosis is 6-8 months tops) and the other half only last for days/weeks. If anyone has had any experience with intestinal masses or intestinal lymphoma and would like to share your story, please post. I couldn't find much doing a search but maybe I wasn't typing in the right words. My heart is absolutely breaking right now. He was our first grey and we have had him 9 years.

[Jackandgrey]

I have nothing helpful to offer. I'm so sorry. for you and for Alex.

[patricia]

Please join the lymphoma heartdogs Yahoo group. There are many people and babes there dealing with what you are dealing with. Sending my prayers and white light.

[Devotion]

Prayers for your sweet Alex.

[grey14me]

:hope

[Guest trevdog]

Sending lots of prayers....

[Guest greybookends]

:hope :hope :hope

[Guest ss556]

Sending prayers.

[Guest goddessgina]

I'm sorry to hear about this. It sounds like your pup is quite a fighter though, I'm sure he will make it through this a well.

[kelseysmom]

I'm sorry that I can't give you any advice but Kelsey is our first (and only) grey whom we've had for 9 years now so I'm feeling your fear and just sending hugs.

[GreyTzu]

Dylan had a cancerous mass removed from his small intestine in April of 2006. He recovered well and went on to gain weight while he was having chemo. We lost him to some other form of cancer in May of 2007.

 

 

[Guest CyndiW]

Well I am off to spend the day with my boy. I hope to bring him home sometime this weekend and wait for the pathology report. I just spoke with our favorite tech who "adopted" him last August. She was present yesterday during the ultrasound and aspirate. She said it is probably regular lymphoma and that for some reason it grew the tumor in his intestine. She felt he was responding already to the steroids because he stood up and wagged his tail at her this morning and has already eaten 2 cans of food. I know one of the side effects of pred in increased appetite so that is definitely to his benefit right now.

[riverbosun]

Just went through this with Rev. Prognosis with Chemo was 6-9 months, treatment with just steroids 3 months. We elected not to treat and he lasted about 3 weeks. I can truly understand what you're going through. For what it's worth I did get a phone consultation from Ohio State which was helpful in making my decision.

[Guest CyndiW]

I brought Alex home yesterday. He is eating soaked kibble and cottage cheese. He still doesn't want anything to do with canned food or other meat products although he ate canned food for the vet tech. They thought the pred was already working because he was more alert and eating for them but he seems about the same as he was before the fever spiked on Thursday to me. I think the fluids and antibiotics brought the fever down and that is why he is back more to himself. Does pred cause panting? He seems to pant heavily about 1-2 hours after taking it and then he is fine. I thought the fever was back last night but when I took it, it was actually kind of low - 99.7. Hope the panting isn't pain.

[galgrey]

[DaisyDoodle]

Yes, pred does cause panting. And having to pee--a lot.

[Guest KRKWMU]

I'm so sorry you and Alex are going through this. Our grey, Bonnie, was just diagnosed with lymphoma this past Wednesday (not intestines though, lymph nodes are enlarged). It's been a scary and overwhelming week. She's our first dog to have a serious medical issue. We start chemotherapy tomorrow and she's been on pred (50 mg) since Friday evening.

 

Our vet told us that the pred. can/will cause panting along with increased appetite, increased water intake, and increased urine output. Bonnie seems to be tolerating it quite well.

 

I've learned a lot this past week. I took recommendations from others and joined the Circle of Greys and Lymphomaheartdogs groups on Yahoo. They have helped with all of the questions we've had (along with people on GT). Good Luck. Please keep us updated on how Alex is doing and what you find out. If you ever need to talk or have questions, please feel free to PM me.

[Guest snowberry]

Typing in "gastrointestinal lymphoma" may throw up more information.

 

See here: http://caninecancer.com/Lymphoma.html

and http://www.marvistavet.com/html/canine_lymphoma.html

 

I think the pred can affect the dog's perception of temperature, and that's why he's panting, I don't think it's pain. It is alarming though, if it goes on for a while

 

 

[Guest Snowy8]

[lovinggreysslp]

Yes, the pred can cause panting. Sorry you and Alex are going through this.

[queenwinniesmom]

I'm so sorry you've gotten this sad diagnosis. Sending prayers to you and Alex.

[Greytlady94]

I am so sorry Alex has had to go through all of this. Sending prayers and gentle ear scritches for Alex.

[Guest luvRgreys]

My first grey, Buddy, was diagnosed with lymphosarcoma of the gut when he was 11 years old. We got to love him for 7 years. By the time the mass( it was in the mesentary area where all the lymph nodes come together in the stomach area) was found it was very large and the vet advised us not to do anything,but to love him and give him anything he would eat. The decision was made 2 weeks later to release him from his pain. I miss him to this day. Buddy was not a kisser and I wanted to remember a kiss from him, so I smeared beef stew on my cheek and he licked( well to me kissed!) it all gone. I am so sorry you and Alex are going through this. You are in my prayers. My heart is breaking with you.

[Greys4Us]

So sorry to hear that you are going through this. We recently lost a wonderful hound to lymphoma. The one special lesson we learned was that every single day with him was important and full of love. It made for a bittersweet but special last few weeks with him that we will always treasure. Each hour of every day - make it special.

[Batmom]

The more troublesome side effects of pred (peeing, panting) usually diminish in 7-10 days. At least that was our experience.

 

Batman had a mass in his chest. Not intestinal, and a different cancer from lymphoma. He was with us @ 5 months after diagnosis. One night it was clear that he was not comfortable anymore, and in the morning I let him go.

 

I focused on keeping him comfortable and happy, just those two things. Our vets helped. We used mostly prednisone and pepcid, and occasionally reglan, carafate, and sucralfate. I fed him whatever he'd eat -- tried to be reasonably nutritious about it, but if what interested him on a given day was spaghettios and ice cream and graham crackers, then that's what he had. He kept his weight up very well.

 

Nothing about it is fair, you know? Well, of course you know. I'm so sorry.

 

Sending gentle hugs and prayers for your boy.