Worried

pippixox

pippixox

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So I posted a few weeks ago now about my 5yo Gsd. He wasn't himself and then bloods showed raised white blood cells so given a week of antibiotics. Within a few days of medicine he had perked up- not as lethargic. But he still is not right- now nearly a week after finishing course of antibiotics.
He wines jumping out of the boot and sometimes refuses to even get out- usually flies out in excitement. But other than a small sore on his leg there is no swelling or any obvious physical problems.
He is not as lathargic but still a bit too calm for him!
Also he has been sick a few times in the last 2 days. Although he happily eats dinner and is not sick until hours later.

My husband says what will the vets do other than more expensive anti-biotics and just to leave him to rest. But it's not like he is tired from over exercise- he is only 5 and just potters around the yard and has occasional walks.

I'm worried it is something more sinister than an infection :( what will the vets be able to do next to investigate? Are there more in depth blood tests?
 
That how my seven year old lab presented with what turned out to be a life ending tumour .
Hope it's something simple to fix.
 
As above and also the sore on the leg caught my eye -- blood tests for kidney, etc? (thinking of e coli or Alabama rot type things that can get in via small wounds).
 
I will call the vets tomorrow as to top it off he has barely touched his dinner :( which has never happened in 3 years of having him
 
This is how our lab cross went at the age of 5, not before several trips to the vet and us bringing up this as a subject at the first appointment.
On a more positive prognosis our labradoodle started showing similar problems and anti sickness medication for two weeks and now a couple of spoonfuls of yogurt when she goes to bed has settled it. Go back to the vet, otherwise you will be stressed by it.
 
Without wanting to worry you these symptoms are similar to my old girl who we found to have a tumor on her spleen.
This is fairly common in shepherd's and sadly she didn't survive.
I hope it's not your dog's issue but maybe mention it to your vet.
 
Apologies for repeating what everyone else has said, but I would be back at the vets for scans and x-rays ASAP. I really feel for you, it is every owner's nightmare :(
 
I really hope it's not that. Maybe it's just a nasty infection that needs a longer course of antibiotics.
I have my fingers crossed for you.
 
My old girl had a large tumour on her spleen which we didn't spot until it was too late as she was overweight anyway and in very good coat condition.
She also became lethargic, off food and unwilling to exercise.
She did not come through the removable operation because of how big it was and her own weight/how much anaesthetic she required. She was also nine years old.
Even if it is something serious, the odds are better if you catch it in time and hopefully your vigilance/persistence will mean a positive outcome.
But fingers crossed it isn't as bad as all that x
 
Vet at 2.20 for further investigations. He didn't even want to get up this morning- normally he is by the door ready to go out, even when I used to go out at 5am. Currently he is snoozing on the sofa.
 
pippixox said:
Vet at 2.20 for further investigations. He didn't even want to get up this morning- normally he is by the door ready to go out, even when I used to go out at 5am. Currently he is snoozing on the sofa.
Click to expand...

I hope the news is good, or at least conclusive. Poor boy and how awful and worrying for you.
 
I would mention hemangiosarcoma to the vets as the symptoms your dog is presenting could correlate to this - or lots of other less serious conditions so try not to worry too much yet.

GSDs are prone to hemangiosarcoma (and there is believed to be a genetic link - so do you know whether any of your dogs ancestors suffered?) - which is an aggressive, malignant tumor of blood vessel cells. Hemangiosarcoma can theoretically arise from any tissue where there are blood vessels, which is essentially anywhere in the body, but usually appear in the skin, soft tissue, spleen or liver with the most common site being the spleen. Sadly, relatively few dogs have a diagnosis made before the tumor ruptures.

I would ask for your vet to look at the mucous membranes for signs of anemia (ie pale gums), feel for abdominal swelling, aspirating fluid from the abdomen to see if blood is present, and drawing blood to see if clots form. Further diagnostic work-up that may be done is a complete blood count, chemistry panel, urinalysis and radiographs (x-rays) of the chest and abdomen to determine the extent of organ involvement and whether metastasis is present.

I will keep everything crossed that it is not hemangiosarcoma but something much less serious.
 
Thanks for the info- I had read about that and it does seem to fit a lot of his symptoms.
I got him aged 2 and know very little about his breeding- apparently mum was a white Alsatian and dad half shep half rottweiller

Vet agrees it is probably too long to just be a stomach upset. He is going in tomorrow morning for an ultrasound- she felt he was a bit guarded when his abdomen was touched- but nothing obvious (he is very stoic so hard to tell how much pain he may be in) then depending on what they do or don't find they will do more detailed bloods and further investigation. They are going to phone me as they go.

I hardly ever weigh him- but despite no change in exercise or food I knew he had dropped a bit- sure he was at least 39 kg last time I weighed him. Now he is just under 35. Did not realise he had lost that much :(
 
Just got the call from the vets
My gut feeling was sadly right.
My boys is so stoic, as he barely showed any signs until the last week- I just knew he wasn't himself.
Tumours in his stomach, also liver and lungs. Appear to be very fast growing (said something about needle to pull some cells out and thy found dead among the living so apparently so fast growing it is using up blood supply and dying as it grows and spread further)

There is nothing more worth doing, except to make him comfortable. Vet given steroids as that can help for a little bit. But have already booked for them to come to the house on Monday to PTS. As don't want to delay the inevitable and keep him in pain.

Trying to hold back the tears as my 4 month old baby is very confused!
Picking him up in a few hours.

I know I'm biased but everyone loves him- a truly wonderful dog, far too young to go.
 
So sorry :(

In your initial post the other week it would have been hard to imagine this as the cause, you knew something wasn't right and you acted on it - you did your very best for him, what a brave lad.
 
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