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  1. #1
    Puppy mjmpirate's Avatar
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    9 1/2 year old Lab not doing well... need opinions.. as we're currently stumped..

    Hello everyone…. I’m new to this board but am a lab person through and through…. I am in serious need of any advice/ideas/help that you, my fellow lab people may have…I apologize in advance for the long post but I wanted to provide as much info as possible...

    He wasn't acting like himself about a month ago so I took him to the vet and his blood tests showed his kidney levels were high so they did x rays to take a look but they didn't see anything other than slight inflammation in his back leg around his knee. They sent the x rays to radiologist and they said exact same thing. They then did ultrasound of his abdomen for a better look and found a mass on his kidney and nodules on his spleen. Being that he's 9 1/2 year old lab we assumed they most likely were cancerous but they took needle aspirations from both places and sent to NC State vet school. Three long days later the tests came back and didn't show any signs of cancer cells which was awesome news BUT still didn't know what was going on then.. Put him on meds and he was better.. Not back to 100% normal but eating and playing again..

    Then last Wednesday 3/9/16 when we got up I saw some pink spots on the hardwood floor from his nose so I called vet and took him in and by that time (1hr) it was solid red blood coming from his nose…not pouring out or anything but a drip every few minutes or so.. although quite messy when he sneezed...which he was doing but since he hadn’t been sneezing until then I figured it was just from the blood tickle in throat but not sure… The vet sedated him and went up there to find out what was going on but didn't see anything that would be irritating.. Also checked out all of his teeth, mouth and tongue and said everything there looked normal as well. They did however find blood basically where the nasal and throat come together.. I forget what that area is called. They also ran blood tests again and his kidney values had increased again from 3 weeks earlier so it was thought that even though biopsy came back as no cancer, those tests aren't always 100% and so putting 2 & 2 together we figured the mass on his kidney did have cancer somewhere and it had spread so more medications to lower blood pressure in order to stop nose bleed which it did.

    By Friday afternoon he was acting much more like normal and was good on Saturday.. Then woke up Sunday morning and he couldn't stand up nor would he eat or drink. I immediately called vet who said to get him to take his Rimadyl and give him a few hours. I did and within a few hours he was acting better again and ate his dinner.

    Yesterday morning (3/14/16) when we got up he again couldn't get up on his own much less eat or drink so called vet and immediately took him there. I, as well as the vet was thinking his kidneys were failing and that was the issue. The vet ran blood tests again and figured depending what blood tests showed we would probably be hooking him to iv to flush his system and go from there.

    Well, his blood tests came back and showed his kidney levels were back down to normal.. great news again.. except for the fact that he was still laid out and lethargic.. All of his other levels on his blood tests were and have been normal.. so they don't indicate any internal bleeding or anything and he also hadn't lost any weight nor has he vomited ....So more meds (Rimadyl & something similar to Pepcid AC I think)..Took him home and he immediately went and drank his water and ate his bowl of food..acted like he felt better…up walking around and wagging his tail… even took him for short and slow walk but only about to houses down and back…acted happy the whole time.. Then this morning he was a little slow to get up but better than yesterday and he took his meds but wouldn’t eat his breakfast… I dropped him off at my parents house on way to work so they could watch him.. They said he just laid out on the screened in porch until 11am and then he got up like normal, came to my dad and nosed my dads arm like he usually does when he wants attention and to be rubbed on his head… Dad did so and then he said Hardy walked over to his food bowl and ate his food as well as drank his water and he’s been acting like he feels better all day today….

    So that’s where we’re at as of this minute…..Just don't know what's going on and specialists have been consulted with and are stumped right now as well… I've been a wreck this entire time too...

    Any ideas?

    Mark

  2. #2
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
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    No ideas at all, sorry. Just wanted to empathize and send good wishes it all clears up for good. Sorry this anxiety is what brings you here, but welcome to the board.
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    mjmpirate (03-16-2016)

  4. #3
    Senior Dog Maxx&Emma's Avatar
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    First of all welcome, I am also sorry this has brought you to us.

    I do not have any experience or advice in what you are describing. I do have experience with the use of NSAID's and I will not use them although many do without issues. Sending good thoughts for your sweet boy.
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  6. #4
    Senior Dog POPTOP's Avatar
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    Hello and Welcome!

    So sorry your boy is having so much trouble. First thing that hit me was the Rimadyl. While a good medicine, there are more reactions in labs to this med. I went through this with one of ours. Took 3 months to get her liver levels back to normal. Other than that, no further suggestions. You are doing the right things, getting him seem and looking to the specialists for help. Maybe a GI or internist? Had a chest x-ray been done?

    Sending good thoughts and prayers that the problem can be figured out.
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    mjmpirate (03-16-2016)

  8. #5
    Senior Dog janedoe's Avatar
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    I'm so sorry. I don't really have anything to offer other than we have one who shows multiple signs of cancer and the tests come back negative. You can only do so much.

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    mjmpirate (03-16-2016)

  10. #6
    Senior Dog
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    I'm so sorry...I also have nothing to offer but seriously good thoughts and a welcome to the board.

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    mjmpirate (03-16-2016)

  12. #7
    Puppy mjmpirate's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by POPTOP View Post
    Hello and Welcome!

    So sorry your boy is having so much trouble. First thing that hit me was the Rimadyl. While a good medicine, there are more reactions in labs to this med. I went through this with one of ours. Took 3 months to get her liver levels back to normal. Other than that, no further suggestions. You are doing the right things, getting him seem and looking to the specialists for help. Maybe a GI or internist? Had a chest x-ray been done?

    Sending good thoughts and prayers that the problem can be figured out.

    Yeah, I'm not a fan of the medications either..I went through that with my last yellow lab and prednisone. It's just that right now the Rimadyl is the only thing that's making him feel and act more like his happy go lucky old self. "Dang if you do and dang if you don't"

  13. #8
    Puppy mjmpirate's Avatar
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    Hardy has basically had x rays of every part of his body other than his head so I'm fairly certain they looked at chest as well but I will definitely confirm that with them today as well as ask about GI and internist. Thanks for the thoughts and suggestions.. also the much needed mojo for Hardy as well as myself.. I will always do whatever I can for my Hardy Boy or as my 4 year old daughter calls him "HardyBear".

  14. #9
    Puppy mjmpirate's Avatar
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    Also, a quick update... Last night after my original post I left work and picked Hardy up from my parents house and when I walked in he was at the door to welcome me with tail wagging and happy face on.. He even then went and got his leash and brought it to me like he's always done when he wants to go for a walk..�� He was in good and happy mood the rest of the evening too... I again slept downstairs with him but this morning he's really slow moving and mopey again but he has eaten a little bit. This up and down roller coaster is not fun but I know I don't have to tell that to any of you wonderful people on here.

  15. #10
    Senior Dog Sue-Ram's Avatar
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    I absolutely hate doing this, but if it might help.

    help with Rimadyl...

    Quote Originally Posted by mjmpirate View Post
    Then last Wednesday 3/9/16 when we got up I saw some pink spots on the hardwood floor from his nose so I called vet and took him in and by that time (1hr) it was solid red blood coming from his nose…not pouring out or anything but a drip every few minutes or so.. although quite messy when he sneezed...which he was doing but since he hadn’t been sneezing until then I figured it was just from the blood tickle in throat but not sure… The vet sedated him and went up there to find out what was going on but didn't see anything that would be irritating.. Also checked out all of his teeth, mouth and tongue and said everything there looked normal as well. They did however find blood basically where the nasal and throat come together.. I forget what that area is called. They also ran blood tests again and his kidney values had increased again from 3 weeks earlier so it was thought that even though biopsy came back as no cancer, those tests aren't always 100% and so putting 2 & 2 together we figured the mass on his kidney did have cancer somewhere and it had spread so more medications to lower blood pressure in order to stop nose bleed which it did.
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