Zuri's X-Ray Results; New Updates Post #60

[NeylasMom]

We just got back from VOSM. Pain was localized to the left shoulder. X-rays were good except for a few fishy things in that shoulder, one white spot that he said could be related to tendon issues (that I think is new bony growth) and some darker areas that are small, but don't look good. The x-ray of the bone in his other shoulder looked really good. So it's the usual story, he's not seeing anything that says this is definitely bone cancer, but he can't rule it out and thinks we've caught it early if that's what it is. Their radiologist will review the films and get back to me in about 48 hrs so probably Tuesday with the weekend.

 

I'm fairly convinced he has osteo. I already called the oncology group we used for Neyla to get the ball rolling on a consult. In the meantime, I am going to get Dr Couto to take a look and we'll see what the radiologist comes back with.

 

Does anyone think Dr. Couto would take a quick look if I emailed them or would I have to go through the consultation service? I don't mind paying the fee, I just want whatever will be quicker. I think the email address I have is his old OSU one so if anyone thinks it would be okay for me to just email him and could share his address, I'd appreciate it.

 

Apparently they had an issue with the x-rays being saved to the server so they had to take them twice. Between that and the manipulation in the exam Zuri is very stressed and sore. Going to feed him early so I can give him his Deramaxx and will add some Tramadol in tonight.

 

Here are the images:

 

Right, non-affected leg:

 

 

Left, affected leg:

 

Edited May 23, 2016 by NeylasMom

[Jenbo]

I don't know what I should be looking for but I really really hope it's not osteo, Jen

[ramonaghan]

[Guest MnMDogs]

Aww man, I was hoping there would be nothing there.

 

Dr. Couto replies to consult requests very very quickly. He was amazing for both Macy and Greg so I would request a consult via web site http://www.coutovetconsultants.com, and also email at coutovetconsultants@gmail.com. I think for Greg I just emailed him first actually.

[robinw]

Keeping fingers crossed for you and Zuri.

 

I've always just emailed Dr. Couto directly.

Edited May 20, 2016 by robinw

[45MPHK9]

Thinking good thoughts for Zuri.

[NeylasMom]

Thanks. Just shot him off an email. If I don't hear back by Monday I will do the online consultation.

 

I got the report from the vet, all sounds a lot more cancery than it did in the office. The report specifically mentions determining the cause of the "lesion" so yeah. I'm living in a temporary state of denial. I spent Wednesday night and yesterday morning bawling because I "knew" so I suppose I could use a breather. When Dr Couto says it's cancer it will be real.

[macoduck]

Are you looking at the smudgy round spot or two? Almost looks like my Gracie's film that was calcium deposits in the muscle tissue. They caused her to limp.

[NeylasMom]

Are you looking at the smudgy round spot or two? Almost looks like my Gracie's film that was calcium deposits in the muscle tissue. They caused her to limp.

There's one bright white round spot that could be something like that, but there are also dark areas throughout that look like what you see with the moth eaten appearance. You have to blow up and compare the healthy leg and it's easier to see. I don't know if the way Photobucket stores them if you can blow them up enough?

 

ETA: Its not glaring like a really progressed cancer would be. This is what happened with Neyla. We just caught it early then and that's my guess now as well.

 

On that note, I got the email from Dr. Couto saying Neyla had cancer 6 years ago yesterday to the day. It was also in her left shoulder and she was also 11 years old.

Edited May 20, 2016 by NeylasMom

[winnie]

Dr. Couto is the speaker tomorrow at Greys & Grapes is you can make it out to 868. Hoping for the best!

[tbhounds]

Well bummer. Let's hold a good thought and see what Dr Couto has to say.

[Remolacha]

 

Hoping for the best. Dr C usually responds very quickly, he got back to me the same day.

[vsrenard]

'Lesion' is used for any non-specific abnormality. I've had lesions on my chest that turned out to be operator error, my mom had one that turned out to be a calcium buildup.

[Guest MnMDogs]

Thanks. Just shot him off an email. If I don't hear back by Monday I will do the online consultation.

I got the report from the vet, all sounds a lot more cancery than it did in the office. The report specifically mentions determining the cause of the "lesion" so yeah. I'm living in a temporary state of denial. I spent Wednesday night and yesterday morning bawling because I "knew" so I suppose I could use a breather. When Dr Couto says it's cancer it will be real.

I know this isn't the same, since it's a different type of cancer, but my vet, my specialist and dr. Couto all told us Greg had urethral cancer, so we thought he did for about 5 months until he miraculously had a normal ultrasound. It was inexplicable, but anything can happen. Many many good thoughts for you and your sweet faced boy,

[teri_d]

Finger and toes and paws all crossed here for you and your Zuri

[Pepperjack]

[greysandmollie]

Thinking good thoughts for you and Z man.

[seeh2o]

Sometimes Dr. Couto is wrong. He was about my boy, Carl. I'm still hoping this is something treatable, Jen.

[Charlies_Dad]

Good thoughts for you both. I truly hope it's nothing.

[cleptogrey]

as to the boney growths annie had/has 2 on her shoulder. a year later it seems as if the body may have absorbed them??? i can't feel them now.

 

but they were on the front of her shoulder under the muscle/tendons that bundle from her spine to the shoulder. talk about pain!!!she screamed non-stop and this started on a road trip down in florida. this was due to a past injury(she has a major 3-4" y shaped scar on the opposite side). dr. couto was the second opinion(he checked her over at GIG and said please send x-rays. even with out the x-rays he had the same diagnosis as the ortho specialist up here). a both said the calcification was due to an old injury. 6 weeks of crate rest, pee and potty only, metacam, gabapentin and tramadol then we weaned her off of the last 2 and kept her on metacam for an additional 2 months. she slowly resumed normal activity, but never built her muscle mass up to it's original state pre-pain issue.

 

can you start crate rest immediately ? even though he may be just hanging around it makes a difference. yes, the steps are a PITA, but try them slowly or can he potty on your porch?( you do have one, no?) less is more. those boney growths can cause an amazing amount of pain. the ortho specialist up here gave me the option of having the growths removed, around $3-4k worth of surgery. mmm....1 year and 2 months later she's fine with out the surgery.

can your vet up his pain meds? there is another drug(i no longer have it) that will boost the effectiveness of metacam, amatadine??? it think that's the name, emily took it when she had osteo.

 

here's the link to my original post http://forum.greytalk.com/index.php/topic/312708-calcified-growth-on-shoulder/?hl=%2Bannie+%2Bshoulder

Edited May 21, 2016 by cleptogrey

[NeylasMom]

Dr. Couto is the speaker tomorrow at Greys & Grapes is you can make it out to 868. Hoping for the best!

Did you see him and ask him to check his email for me?

 

I'm probably good continuing in my state of partial denial for as long as I can as unpleasant as it seems.

[EllenEveBaz]

Just adding our good thoughts.

[NeylasMom]

Well I heard back from Dr. Couto. Still a lot of unanswered questions, but confirmation that we are dealing with cancer of some sort.

 

"Unfortunately the lesions in the left humerus are fairly convincing for a destructive bone lesion; I am looking at them on my small laptop and not using the radiology software (Im on the road until tomorrow AM), but I can see similar (though less convincing) changes in the right. Have the done lab work? To give you some perspective I have seen only 3 dogs ever with bilateral osteosarcoma (2 were Greyhounds); given the fact that the lesions are predominantly moth eaten, and that the has lumbar pain, I would do lab work to check his blood count and proteins, since myeloma (a different, yet quite treatable without surgery) can also present with similar changes.

If the lab work is normal, I would pursue sampling the bone, but I am not a big fan of biopsies (I recommend needle aspirates instead)."

 

The comments about the right shoulder are discouraging. The vet had mentioned seeing some slight changes, but I blew it off because I didn't really see anything and cancer in 2 legs didn't cross my mind. Now I am wondering if he could have a primary tumor elsewhere, like his spine that has metastasized. Does anyone know if bone cancer occurs in the spine ever? Often? I know it's sometimes seen in the rib, but I'd expect we'd see swelling of he has that.

 

I'll call my regular vet to schedule bloodwork for Monday.

Edited May 21, 2016 by NeylasMom

[ml529]

I believe that bone cancer can be in the spine. They were concerned about that with Minnie a couple years back. I'm so very sorry Jen. Hugs, my friend.

[MP_the4pack]

I did an amp for my Diamond who had OS in a front leg. Six months later I sent her to the Bridge because OS hit her back leg. Smiley also had OS in two legs. I was at OSU with one of my girls when Smiley had an amp. Three days after his surgery his other front leg broke from OS.

 

I don't know if either had spinal cancel neither showed signs.

 

I'm sorry for the news.