Guest OurGreytLife Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 Hi All, My 8 year old Lab-mix, Walter, has an unidentified lung infection that did not respond to a wide spectrum of antibiotics. No coughing at all, just mild diffuse bronchial thickening seen on x-ray. He has had this condition since June. It's not better but it's not worse. Walter also has an inoperable spindle cell tumor on his brest bone which has grown in size. It's been recommended Walter undergoes a Tracheal/broncheal wash to help diagnose his lung infection. Has anyone ever had this procedure done on your dog? Did you have any complications? Any info you can provide will be helpful. If my dog's only problem was his lungs, I'd have it done. But with the cancer also my vet & myself are cautious of putting Water through a procedure that could further compromise his health. His bloodwork has some abnormaltites and he didn't respond to any medications previously. Thanks in advance for your responses. Denise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rycezmom Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 We do them on people every day in the ICU. Please ask your vet what the procedure consists of for the hound. Ours are done on intubated patients with sterile saline into the lungs and suctioned back out from deep in the lung. Have never seen a complication from the procedure itself. Its a good way to find out whats growing in there. Please ask your vet to explain it to you as well as any issue he/she feels may be a risk. I would presume that they would want to sedate your hound first. Good luck in the search for answers. L. Quote The more I see of man, the more I like dogs. ~Mme. de Staël Missing my Bridge Angels Ryce, Bo, Jim, Miss Millie, Miss Rose, Gustopher P Jones (Pimpmaster G), Miss Isabella and Miss Star Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 3greysinPA Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 Sending many prayers for Walter that he gets better very very soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest OurGreytLife Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 I actually work at a veterinary hospital and my vet along with canine internal medicine specialists & myself delayed doing the BAL because Walter was in pretty bad shape. The antibiotics made him sick and he was losing weight, other complications from the cancer arose, his immune system was out of whack and at that time a BAL & anesthesia or even steroids was very risky. We did everything possible for Walter yet he continued to decline. It seemed Walter wasn't going to live to see another week. Then at the end of July, I made the risky decision to stop all medication since it wasn't helping my poor dog. Walter improved since and I saw his happy, playful self return. His appetite returned and he gained some weight back. Now his tumor is larger, his water intake has increased, he's a little lethargic and his bloodwork showed improvements in some areas and declined in others. His lung x-ray shows very little improvement but at least it didn't get worse since not being on any medication. Now I'm back to conteplating whether to put him through a BAL & anesthesia. If all those meds he was on didn't help, what drug could there possibly be left that would resolve his lung problem and his body will respond to? We don't know. My poor Walter. He is such a fighter and so devoted to me and the hounds he lives with. I want him to have as many good days as possible with us. Tomorrow my vet & I will discuss his latest bloodwork, further testing & treatment options. Thanks to all for listening. Denise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 No advice, just hugs for you and your Walter. Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burpdog Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 Sending prayers for Walter. Quote Diane & The Senior Gang Burpdog Biscuits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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