Crittercall
Well-known member
Not all good, not all bad. I liked the dr. - she was upbeat and positive, even when the news wasn't the best. She noticed right away that I had my notebook with me and I told her I was her worst nightmare - a former veterinary employee. She said she had worse nightmares than that and was glad that I took notes.
Our list of priorities change constantly. It reminds me of flipping the arrow on an old board game and seeing what comes up first.
Anemia is a big concern. Dr. Goodson doesn't think that it is related to diet, rather that it is related to the red blood cells going somewhere and we don't know where. (And she was aware of the large platelets common in Cavaliers.)
She was also concerned about a high Calcium level which is sometimes an indicator of cancer.
Wallis has some lymph nodes which are large and firm (not normal). She was able to do a fine needle aspirate of one of those lymph nodes (but couldn't get to one close to her neck because Wallis is so buxom).
Her heart is okay. She does have MVD with some leakage, but there is no change in the size or function of her heart so Dr. G didn't think heart medication is necessary.
Her chest x-ray looked okay.
Ultrasound showed that her pancreas is enlarged with fat around it, although it didn't look "active" - more like she had had a bout with pancreatitis sometime in the past.
In the area of the anal gland tumor is one of the lymph nodes and it is right next to an aorta. She said she wanted to wait for the results of the cytology before going any further with that.
Wallis has nodules in her spleen - again, no biopsy there until results of blood work and cytology.
Dr. G thought that her heart would withstand sedation and surgery (although there is a risk, as there is in any surgery) and that it may be possible to remove the tumor from her side and either biopsy or remove the anal gland tumor (depending on blood results).
One of the main things right now is finding out where the red blood cells are going. She said she should have the blood work and cytology back tomorrow or Wednesday and would let us know more then.
Wallis was exhausted by her trip, and we took her to PetsMart afterwards to buy dog biscuits. She'd never been there before and didn't know what to think - she kind of reminded me of Eeyore just going along. We saw a woman there with one of the newer designer dogs that my daughter had just told me about this a.m. - Cavalier/Cocker cross. This one was a dead ringer for a Cav.
Thank you all for your support and concern. I would have been a total basket case without you. As soon as I get the rest of the test results I'll let you know.
Our list of priorities change constantly. It reminds me of flipping the arrow on an old board game and seeing what comes up first.
Anemia is a big concern. Dr. Goodson doesn't think that it is related to diet, rather that it is related to the red blood cells going somewhere and we don't know where. (And she was aware of the large platelets common in Cavaliers.)
She was also concerned about a high Calcium level which is sometimes an indicator of cancer.
Wallis has some lymph nodes which are large and firm (not normal). She was able to do a fine needle aspirate of one of those lymph nodes (but couldn't get to one close to her neck because Wallis is so buxom).
Her heart is okay. She does have MVD with some leakage, but there is no change in the size or function of her heart so Dr. G didn't think heart medication is necessary.
Her chest x-ray looked okay.
Ultrasound showed that her pancreas is enlarged with fat around it, although it didn't look "active" - more like she had had a bout with pancreatitis sometime in the past.
In the area of the anal gland tumor is one of the lymph nodes and it is right next to an aorta. She said she wanted to wait for the results of the cytology before going any further with that.
Wallis has nodules in her spleen - again, no biopsy there until results of blood work and cytology.
Dr. G thought that her heart would withstand sedation and surgery (although there is a risk, as there is in any surgery) and that it may be possible to remove the tumor from her side and either biopsy or remove the anal gland tumor (depending on blood results).
One of the main things right now is finding out where the red blood cells are going. She said she should have the blood work and cytology back tomorrow or Wednesday and would let us know more then.
Wallis was exhausted by her trip, and we took her to PetsMart afterwards to buy dog biscuits. She'd never been there before and didn't know what to think - she kind of reminded me of Eeyore just going along. We saw a woman there with one of the newer designer dogs that my daughter had just told me about this a.m. - Cavalier/Cocker cross. This one was a dead ringer for a Cav.
Thank you all for your support and concern. I would have been a total basket case without you. As soon as I get the rest of the test results I'll let you know.