[mrjaydell]

Hi

I have a 5 1/2 year old male vizsla, here is my problem that I am hoping to get some answers to. About 4 weeks ago I had to take Dempsey to the vet because i noticed his front paw was tender and he had a lymph node that seemed to be enlarged on top of his leg. He has a CBC which at the time showed an elevated level of white blood cells, possible infection, and was placed on antibiotics.
Fast forward, another lymph node in is neck appeared, another CBC was done and showed low protein levels in the liver along with an elevated billie rubin. We did an xray (which showed nothing) and ultra sound that showed some "sledging" in the galbladder, and was placed on doxycycline and an anti-inflamantory. His condition has not gotten better and the vets are fearful of cancer. He has been to an internal medicine specialist and without a byopsy of the area no other tests are conclusive enough to diagnose. He has already had an aspirate test which proved nothing as well. My vet feels that since his protein levels are low the chances to recover from a surgery (byopsy) are low.
I am looking for some help, has anyone been thru this with there Vizla? Any help, suggestions, anything would be most appreciated,, thank you

Please email me @ [email protected], again thanks!

 

[tbone13]

Hi Jay,

I personally have not been through this, but I know a few people who have had dogs with lymph nodes or some type of irregular growth. I believe all of them had a biopsy performed. My fiance's family had a schnauzer that developed LOTS of growths toward the end of his life, all biopsy's turned out negative for cancer.

I was under the impression that a biopsy is only mildly invasive, but your vet would no more than me. I think that's the only way to really no what you're dealing with. Unfortunately you may have to weigh your dog's ability to recover from a biopsy against what could potentially happen if you forego the biopsy and hope for the best.

Also, I would recommend going to a different vet for a second opinion. My feeling is that animal doctors are just the same as people doctors. If you personally were in this situation I would recommend you go to another doctor for another opinion, in my eyes it's no different with your dog.

Good luck. Feel free to reply with additional questions/updates.

 

[ritz]

Jay,
i have not been through this with a vizsla, but my parent's beagle had numerous growths when he got to be around 9 and we got them removed and biopsied for the first year until the doctor said they were all not cancerous and then we just removed them. It was stressful at first, and then it quickly became a part of life for us, but he did get more and more as his time passed. Our beagle was not bothered by them and they appeared everywhere--the legs, body, and face. It was in no way related to his death (we put him down at 12 because of kidney failure) and he lived normally with them.