Guest bigorangedog Posted July 14, 2010 Share Posted July 14, 2010 Some of you remember our tripawd Apollo, who had his amp in mid-February. He had his last chemo treatment 8 days ago. That day at the vet he seemed to be a little less mobile than usual and in fact fell on their slippery floor. The vet palpated his legs and spine, but could not find any painful places. Decided to watch and see. The next day, Wednesday, I saw a big ol' bruise on the inside of his thigh. Had to be back at the vet on Friday anyway, so brought him along. He had also been having liquid poop, but that is not uncommon for him on a Friday after a Tuesday chemo. Usually goes away after that. The vet said it looked like he had strained a muscle on the inside of his thigh. Question is: was he moving funny and fell on Tuesday because he had already injured himself, or did he injure himself at the vet because there was already something underlying wrong? Well, Apollo does not xray well (he FREAKS OUT) so we decided to give it another few days and see how it went. Through the weekend, his liquid poop did not get better, despite being given Immodium and Metronidazole. He was still moving funny, although none of us can put our finger on exactly HOW he is moving funny. Not as simple as limping on one side or the other. Yesterday, I was messing around with him, and found a spot at his iliac crest (between his hipbones) that, when pressed, causes him to get weak in the rear legs. Conclusion: Either spinal metastasis or lumbosacral stenosis. Need to xray. I can't tell whether it is bone pain, nerve pain, or muscle pain. This morning, he threw up his morning meds. He hadn't previously been vomiting. Called my vet at home at 7:45 AM (I love my vet). She said she has been seeing a streak of TBD with her clients, and that it may be responsible for his diarrhea and vomiting. Suggested we come in for bloodwork today and do the rads at the same time. She is looking for low platelet counts. (Note that we have NOT been Frontlining him, because he has been on chemo, and were told not to mix them, so a tick is a possibility especially since we live out in the woods.) What I'm wondering is whether the two things (diarrhea and the lower back pain) could be related somehow. And whether there are specific things I ought to ask the vet to do today. Apollo is going to be sedated for his xrays, so we could do whatever we needed to do. Unfortunately, it's the "other" vet at the practice that we'll be seeing, as my good vet is at home with a foot injury (otherwise she would come in for us on her day off). We can call her though. Thoughts? Thanks!! Jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wonder Posted July 14, 2010 Share Posted July 14, 2010 Good thoughts for Apollo today and for you Quote Kari and the pups.Run free sweet Hana 9/21/08-9/12/10. Missing Sparks with every breath.Passion 10/16/02-5/25/17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted July 14, 2010 Share Posted July 14, 2010 Checking for updates and keeping up the prayers for your sweet gallant boy. 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...
4greyhounds Posted July 14, 2010 Share Posted July 14, 2010 Sending lots of prayers and Good Thoughts....Please keep us posted. :hope Quote Darlene Mom to: Aladdin, Sophie ,Pongo, Jasmine, Relic Forever in our Hearts Champ at the Rainbow Bridge. Let a greyhound race into your heart Adopt Bay Area Greyhound Adoptions INC. Naples/ Fort Myers Chapter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bigorangedog Posted July 14, 2010 Share Posted July 14, 2010 Well, there is no evidence of bone lysis on the xrays (although I'll have my regular vet look at them tomorrow), which of course is great news. There is also nothing abnormal in his bloodwork and the in-house tick panel came back negative. His WBC, RBC and platelets are all the same as they have been throughout his treatment (which has been normal). He is tender in the muscles on his lower back and lower belly (both dorsal and ventral). No tenderness in his legs. So! The upshot is that we don't really know. Vet's best guess is that he has strained muscles in his back, and that the GI upset is still from chemo and should resolve soon. They gave him a cocktail of morphine and ace to take the rads, so he's still pretty dopey and I'm hoping he will get a lot of rest tonight. I'll chat with my regular vet some more tomorrow, but at least it does not seem to be related to metastases. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan41 Posted July 14, 2010 Share Posted July 14, 2010 That's wonderful news! I'd take a mystery dx over just about everything else any day! Will pray for speedy resolution of the liquid poops and the funny movement. Hopefully he will be back to normal soon! Quote Linda, Mom to Fuzz, Barkley, and the felines Miss Kitty, Simon and Joseph.Waiting at The Bridge: Alex, Josh, Harley, Nikki, Beemer, Anna, Frank, Rachel, my heart & soul, Suze and the best boy ever, Dalton.<p> ....for all those hounds that are sick, hurt, lost or waiting for their forever homes. SENIORS ROCK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted July 14, 2010 Share Posted July 14, 2010 Keeping fingers crossed! With any luck, the morphine will slow his innards down a little, too. 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...
GreyPoopon Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 FWIW, when Piper's gut was in an uproar, she seemed to have back pain and weakness, and she moved badly. One of her symptoms at the time was gas, which was visible on the x-rays. I hope whatever is bothering Apollo resolves soon. Quote Standard Poodle Daisy (12/13) Missing Cora (RL Nevada 5/99-10/09), Piper (Cee Bar Easy 2/99-1/10), Tally (Thunder La La 9/99-3/10), Edie (Daring Reva 9/99-10/12), Dixie (Kiowa Secret Sue 11/01-1/13), Jessie (P's Real Time 11/98-3/13), token boy Graham (Zydeco Dancer 9/00-5/13), Cal (Back Already 12/99-11/13), Betsy (Back Kick Beth 11/98-12/13), Standard Poodles Minnie (1/99-1/14) + Perry (9/98-2/14), Annie (Do Marcia 9/03-10/14), Pink (Miss Pinky Baker 1/02-6/15), Poppy (Cmon Err Not 8/05-1/16), Kat (Jax Candy 5/05-5/17), Ivy (Jax Isis 10/07-7/21), Hildy (Braska Hildy 7/10-12/22), Opal (Jax Opal 7/08-4/23). Toodles (BL Toodles 7/09-4/24) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Smiley Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 I'm so glad that there was no metastisis in his spine. Hopefully he'll feel better soon and it will resolve quickly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greymama002 Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 to Apollo & hope the mystery will resolve and he'll be feeling much better soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EllenEveBaz Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 All paws crossed here. Quote Ellen, with brindle Milo and the blonde ballerina, Gelsey remembering Eve, Baz, Scout, Romie, Nutmeg, and Jeter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
queenwinniesmom Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 Apollo, please feel better soon! Your Mom loves her sweet brave boy, and so do we. Quote Nancy, Mom to Evangelina and Kiva Missing Lacey, Patsy, Buster, my heart dog Nick, Winnie, Pollyanna, Tess, my precious Lydia, Calvin Lee, my angel butterfly Laila, and kitties Lily, Sam and Simon My Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Catsburgandhoundtown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest FastDogsOwnMe Posted July 16, 2010 Share Posted July 16, 2010 Update?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sabrina Posted July 16, 2010 Share Posted July 16, 2010 for Apollo Quote Caroline, Mom to Daphne (49B-50215) and Penny (41D-55779)Remembering Bridge Angels Margo and Sabrina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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