-Sad update- I am just so upset and frustrated!

[Gomp]

Well maybe others can learn from this.

I have a twelve year old dog who is basically our child. About a week ago we took her outside and she collapsed but we thought maybe she pulled a muscle. When it happened again I explained it to a vet tech who I know and she told me it is possible shes having a seizure- so that day we went to our vet, one that comes highly recommended and we pay top dollar to go to, and explain what had happened. I used the word seizure making it clear I wasn't sure if it was one. The man took blood samples and an xray. He told me the heart was enlarged, but sounded good so nothing to worry about. Then he sat me down and explained to me he was certain my dog had a brain tumor. We discussed surgery and because of her age he felt she would most likely not survive it. He referred us to a mri but told us it was not necessary since he was sure this was what it was, but it could offer us a piece of mind if needed.

So for a day I mourned what was to come. My partner however was stubborn and began showing me seizure videos. Watching them closely I realized no- she was not having seizures at all. I called this vet and he told me 'well she is, you are just not understanding what you're seeing'. So for the next two days we helplessly watched our dog falling over and debated the seizure medicine the doctor told us we needed. We both kept saying 'but this doesn't look like a seizure at all'.

When she had issues going for a walk I decided this was bull and I needed a 2nd opinion. I had my vet send over their findings to a new doctor and I took her over asap for an exam.

'Your dog has a heart problem- if you look at the xray you can see it and if you listen to the heart it isn't sounding right. These fall overs sound like fainting- something the heart issue would cause.' They referred us to a heart specialist, something we would have to wait a week for the appointment and the doctor gave us heart prescription medication. We both reason this makes more sense then the brain tumor. That night out dog could barely walk but with the new medication it had a ton of side effects so we excused it.

The next day which is today she collapsed. Her breathing is difficult, her tongue went blue, gums white and I really thought it was the end. I rushed her to the vet they put her on oxygen and say they think she is having mini heart attacks and she is about to have the big one. I drive her two hours to the emergency clinic for the heart specialist- I get there and find there was miscommunication and he wont be in till tomorrow. We decide to leave her there over night- that way she can be treated if she has an episode.

The emergency vet comes in and says 'I will be frank- I have no idea. Not all the signs are leading to the heart, not all the signs are leading to the brain.' She walks the dog out herself to see what these collapses are and what they look like to her. With that she goes and takes an xray and comes back- its the lungs. Her lungs are covered in something that we wont find out what till tomorrow morning.

What upsets me is the certainty of the original diagnoses. I am also upset because I had been under the impression they had looked at her lungs. If I had known they hadn't I would have suggested it just out of being logical. We have made it clear to everyone please test everything, price is not really an issue (well of course as long as the testing makes sense). I have just learned that you sometimes have to go with your gut and go with the 2nd or 3rd or 4th opinions until you get solid evidence. I am just praying this is treatable and if so we haven't wasted too much time- especially since a week has past since this all started.

Sorry for the book and any advice I would love to hear.

 

[Verivus]

Sorry for the hard time you're going through with your dog. What breed is is she? Never be afraid to get multiple opinions because no doctor can know everything. I'm surprised your first vet noticed no abnormality in the lungs on the x-ray.

 

[copswife30]

Prayers for you dog What is your doggies name?

 

[Welshanne]

Such a worrying time for you and your hubby. I know our pets are our children and only have us to speak up for them at times like this.
Hope they are able to help her now they know what area to investigate properly.
What breed is your dog? Only reason I ask is some breeds twelve yr old is doing great. You must have looked after her so well over her life and my hat goes off to you for doing this. Good luck.

 

[Myztik]

I am just so upset and frustrated!

Sorry to hear what's been going on. I hope you can get some definite answers soon xo

 

[Bokkapooh]

Were the previous vets new? Did they even have a license? I'd be furious!

I hope your baby will be ok

 

[Mizzely]

Wow that's upsetting! I'm glad you went with your instincts and got another opinion. It's frustrating when the people you are paying to find the problem seem to jump to conclusions without taking everything into account


for Your partner, your dog and you!

 

[Gomp]

Thanks everyone. She is a blue heeler. She has been very healthy (minus a little weight which we have been working on)- went for a checkup a few months prior with a clean bill of health. My dogs name is Roo.

I would have expected them to notice something on the lungs as well, but I have no idea if they really checked the lungs- I just assumed. The first vet was not the typical vet we used at that practice (ours was off that day but we didn't want to wait). However, I don't think I will go back to that place with all things considered. It just sucks because we used the place a lot and it is such a drive to even get there, they just came so highly recommended and I trusted blindly I suppose.

I called the emergency clinic (I'm sure I'm getting to the point of being annoying!) they told me currently she is stable and just resting. She seems to be doing very well and tomorrow morning she will go through a bunch of tests with a specialist that works specifically with the lungs. The weird thing about all of this is all of her basic readings are very normal and she appears healthy on the outside (disregarding the lung xray)- it is only when she exerts energy that she begins to have stumbling/ collapsing episodes. Today was the first day she kind of seemed in a slight daze. No diarrhea, no coughing, no vomiting, and no weight loss. She has been eating and drinking normally. I just am so worried this is terminal or just too much time has past.

I appreciate the good vibes

 

[Brooke]

Your problem sounds similar to mine. I have a 3 1/2 year old Boxer who has been diagnosed with a severe case of Subaortic Stenosis. I also have to deal with my dog fainting and passing out, I have actually had my dog die in front of me and I had to give him mouth to mouth to bring him back.
I take Dino to his Cardiologist, and I will agree with you that is is expensive. I feel for you on that. Just know you aren't the only one!!

I hope everything goes well! If you need someone to sympathize with, please PM me, I will be more than happy to talk to you, I can definitely relate.

 

[Thugluvgrl187]

I am so sorry that you all are going through this. Wishing you all the best!

 

[roxynoodle]

Try not to be too upset with the vets. Our animals can't tell them what they are experiencing and they have to go on what they see, feel and what we tell them.

Seizures are not all grand mal. One of my dogs had them where she would walk in circles licking her nose. I didn't know what was wrong with her and the vet had to tell me it was seizures. My African Grey just goes all still and sits there with her face on the ground and can't move (called ataxic seizures).

I was also thinking lungs as I was reading through your post, but remember they are closely linked to the heart. My male Dalmatian was having similar symptoms to your dog and we knew he had a heart murmur. So when I took him in we thought he had congestive heart failure. The vet did an Xray to confirm and realized there was something all over his lungs. He was pretty sure it was metasticized cancer, but ran a test for whatever that disease is from inhaling spores in bat poop (histoplasmosis or toxiplasmosis; can't remember, sorry!). It came back that it was cancer. It had started likely in his stomach, bladder or liver and then spread all over.

I'll be thinking of you and wishing the best for your dog.

 

[Anne & Gang]

so sorry this is happening...many prayers on the way

 

[65sunnyday]

I am so sorry about Roo's failing health.

 

[AMidnightSoul]

I had a dog that died of congestive heart failure. When I first noticed problems, his energy level had declined and he would have episodes where he would get confused. I could literally be standing 5 feet away from him and would call his name and he would immediately start looking for me, but in the opposite direction or he'd go into a different room looking for me, even though I was standing not far from him, in the same room. I took him to three different vets. One mentioned he had a slight heart murmur, but nothing to worry about and they all chalked it up to old age. So, I took him to the CSU Vet School and they diagnosed him with CHF right away. They set us up with a cardiologist, got him on good meds that were adjusted every few months and he lived another happy three years.

Don't know about the diagnosis with your pup, but a Specialty clinic (like what we have here: Veterinary Referral Center of Colorado- Emergency Pet Care- VRCC or a vet college might be your best bet on getting a good diagnosis. General Practitioners might not necessarilty know what to look for when it comes to hard to diagnosis issues, so a cardiology specialist might be your best bet.

ETA: I see he will be seeing a specialist. That's great news. I'm sure you'll get much better answers from the Specialist. Hope all goes well.

 

[Laurul Feather Cat]

I am so sorry to hear your dog is not doing well. I understand what it is like to get a wrong diagnosis; I had a ten year old Keeshound who was getting weak and would refuse to walk. I saw three different vets and finally got a dx of congestive heart failure. I had an EKG done but could not afford a heart catheterization. The cardiac specialist finally said he felt she had blockages in her coronary arteries and to just take it very easy on Missy and don't take her for long walks and when she declined to do anything physical, to just let her alone. He put her on heart medication and said I would probably find her dead on the floor some day. True to his warning, four months later, I came home from work to find Missy dead in her favorite sleep area. I was lucky she went quietly in her sleep.

I hope your dog is treatable, whatever he has. I am sending you warm fuzzy hugs and positive healing energy for both you and your beloved dog. Keep us informed about what is happening. Cherish every moment you have with him.

 

[Gomp]

So an update:

Presently she is in an incubator receiving oxygen. A cardiologist is watching her. The heart is for sure damaged, as the liver and spleen (possibly kidneys, I'll be honest can't remember which) are swollen. We do know something is in the lungs, still unsure what. We have no idea how much damage has happened to her body including the heart. She was in a very critical state today so the tests they could do on her were very limited. Basically all they could do was a sonogram making it difficult to see the extent of everything.

They have her on MANY medications to see if she responds. At this rate I am under the impression they are treating her blindly in hopes she responds to just something.

If she survives this her life will depend on constant medication we have been warned. If by tomorrow morning when they do a physical on her and nothing has changed, they are certain there is nothing they can do (basically anything they would do would just cause acute death if she remains how she is now).

We are preparing ourselves for euthanasia. The vets do not seem very hopeful that she will survive this, but I guess we just pray and hope. I have so much regret I didn't go to emergency sooner, but I also know I had no grasp our dog could be perfectly normal and healthy and within a week be like this. Whatever hit her hit her very fast and attacked her system hard.

Thank you for all the good wishes it really helps.

 

[AMidnightSoul]

Sending good thoughts and well wishes your way for your little pooch

 

[adinafloyd]

My heart and prayers are with you and your family during this time...

 

[Welshanne]

So sorry you and your darling dog are suffering like this. You must stay strong for his sake and do what is best for him now.
Our old labrador ended up having seizures and was treated for epilepsy. I ended up washing him when he became incontinent and staying up with him because he was afraid to close his eyes and rest as it always brought on a fit. In the end he was afraid of his own shadow and did not even recognise me instantly. I had to steel myself and take the decision to put him to rest for his sake and stick to my belief of quality of life over quantity. Often think it would be great if someone could make that kind of decision when my turn comes, but of course that will never be. Stay strong for all of your sakes and know you have had a wonderful life together, keep your memories and know what to do when the time is right.

 

[Gomp]

Well today actually took a surprising turn. They were able to take her for a five minute walk- something she couldn't really do the last three days. They doubled her medication and tonight will try and see how her breathing is off the oxygen. They even discussed if she can be off oxygen maybe we can take her home monday- I am shocked to say the least. However, working professionally with animals for most my life, I do realize while at the moment she has improved this can easily change.

Presently we are staying away as to not excite her- especially since we are not 100% sure of the shape her heart is in. I am simply going by what the vets are saying- they say she seems 'comfortable'. Welshanne we strongly agree with what you're saying. We have no intention on making her suffer. If she can make it through this but her quality of life is greatly diminished we will do what we feel is best for her. We just really want to give her a chance. The very difficult part out of everything is she went from happy healthy and in a matter of 8 days to this. Its amazing how quickly this has all taken place while we still have no idea what caused it.

We put in a request to be moved to the first floor of our apartment complex. We are really hoping that can happen in a month or so- if she does come home this can at least be easier on her.

Thanks for all the well wishes, I feel like shes getting those vibes. I really hope this continues on a positive path.