Bella x-ray3
Bella x-ray3
Originally uploaded by studio583art.
3.2008 Bella Magic
Ok, so here's what's been going on with Little Miss Bella for the tow weeks, it's a lots so just bear with me as I type through it. It all started Sunday the 16th, little purple nose gave us quite a scare. She was sleeping all normal while we we just doing stuff around the house when she sat up suddenly with a glazed expression and struggling to get comfortable in her bed. We immediately moved her to the bedroom on her favorite bed for comfort and sat down on the bed to watch her closely. There she struggled to get comfortable and her breathing seemed faint and a little labored. She seemed aware of our presence but very listless and out of it. She wanted her face stroked and seem to be soothed by knowing we were near by. She felt rather warm so we held cool compresses on her head and ears, which seemed to help a little but her demeanor stayed the same. Well, as you can imagne, after about 10 minutes or so with no improvement in her condition, we decided to call Dr. Hyatt (her vet that makes house calls for Bella) who was fortunately very nearby and could be at house in matter of minutes.
As soon as Dr. Hyatt got to the house he examined Bella, listening to her heart and lungs and said it sounded like there was moisture in her lungs. He also said she seemed dehydrated (which really freaked us out to say the least). He took some blood, made some calls to get some more information, pondered over her and examined her again as Scott helped her up to stand (she at this time had little or no balance so Scott was either holding her up completely or carrying her). He then sent us to a nearby emergency veterinary clinic so that they could x-ray her and examine the blood samples he took. When we arrived they weighed her in at 63 lbs, Scott basically carried her from the car to scale then to the table (her man is a little overprotective). She was still listless but more aware than she had been at the house. She was as always the best patient ever and she laid on the stainless table while we waited for the prep of her x-rays and the processing of the blood panels to come back.
The madding thing about anytime you go through something like this is that time always stands still and you feel like you are waiting at the vet office til the cows turn purple. It doesn't really matter which office, how nice it is, or how nice the people are, you are just waiting with every crazy idea going on in your head driving you nuts and still just trying to hold it together. It's enough just to make you want to scream, "Hurry the F--- Up!". Well anyway the wait always seems longer than it really or ever should be and like I said your freaking mind darts from scenario to scenario, hoping that if you prepare yourself for the worst, it really won't be that bad. Silly humans.
Well Dr. Hall, that was the name of the vet at the emergency clinic (and the crazy thing is Bella charmed the hell out of her even though she wasn't feeling well), returned with Bella and her blood panels were normal. Nothing was spiked out of the ordinary and nothing of significance to be noted. We then looked at the x-rays. Bella's chest had not been x-rayed since 2005 when we needed to be sure she did not have osteosarcoma and to make sure her lungs were were not filled with cancer (that's a whole other scarey kind of story). These new x-rays showed all healthy organs with the exception of a mass through her back near the right side of her lungs. Dr. Hall said she was not optimistic but that she could not tell us anymore about the mass, would have to go to a specialist. She did say it was a good sign that there was only one visible mass but without a biopsy there was no way to know what we were dealing with. So completely scared out our wits we took her home, called her specialist Dr. Stubbs (she has a thing for Bella so she gave us her personal number if we ever needed it, never thought we would, who knew) and set up an appointment in two days.
All of her diagnostic information and the x-rays were emailed to Dr. Stubbs, Bella's geriatric vet specialist. She would know better how to handle this growth and could let us know exactly what we have ahead of us. Her appointment was in two days and in the mean time all we could do was watch over Bella and hope that she would gradually come around to herself.
Getting Bella her back home was key no matter what and no matter what we were told anywhere we went. She is such a creature of comfort and love her own surroundings and soft stuff. We got back in the bedroom on her favorite bed and sat around watching her, she seemed to be able to settle in to herself and doze lightly. She took a little water and feeling optimistic, we tried a little chicken broth which she was willing to taste (this was an improvement since she had not wanted to touch anything since this all had started). Sleep was essential and she slept through the evening and in to the next morning (we on the other hand, well you can imagine I'm sure). The next morning she was alert watching us and looking around, she was still pretty weak, but was acting more like herself. She definitely had she a clarity back to her.
In the afternoon she ate some hotdogs (hey, when you don't feel well you get whatever you want). Yeah we know, processed meat but getting her to eat anything in a day and half was our only objective so yeah for hotdogs! Anyway, what do you feed a dog that eats roast chicken, vegetables and home cooked meals? Gwen cooks specifically for her and she has never ate table scraps. It's all part of team Bella. It's funny how we each have our designated roles, Gwen is food maker and comforter (when she doesn't feel well), Scott gets to be her legs and bather and OOna her adversary (we all have our parts, even the evil one). Together I think we make up, Bella's "personal assistant." The people who do all the other things the star (dog) doesn't want to do and it's okay cause you do it for her love and because, well...she's magic.
Bella was ready to go see Dr. Stubbs. She was feeling better and really wanted to go for a ride in the car (a good sign). She seemed to be feeling spunky and enjoying the change in the weather. All I know is the girl was almost back to her usual rare form. She had her balance back and was galloping in the backyard. It's funny to see her use the small hill to gain momentum as charges us (the girl is smart as a whip).
Anyway, Going to the specialist is an excellent example of how medical offices should be run, you meet with tech to describe any changes in diet, behavior, and general health concerns (and the tech always takes great notes). After the general overall the tech then leaves for the work up. The work up consists of an estimate of your bill; high end and low end and should they begin procedures and how if this happens it will go this way or the other way. It very clear and I personally think it prevents heart failure on the part of the owner when you get the bill after everything (you know what to expect) but I also appreciate their consideration that vet bills can be expensive and it's not always easy to know what is absolutely necessary when the patient has no means of telling you.
We knew we were in for an biopsy, and probably ultrasound and any other diagnostic test that ran with this protocol. Bella left with the vet tech and returned to us with a big pink patch of Weimaraner skin showing on her right side (see before photo). She had been shaved but the good news was they were able to get a sample for biopsy and we would know soon what we were dealing with.
Dr. Stubbs then came in and sat down on the floor with us and Bella and said it was good there was only one tumor. She then explained where it was located, which was in the lung, but that it was good that it was one lump mass instead of lots of many little masses which was what usually happens. She also said that it could possible cause her no problems. She did said there was scar tissue in her lungs, and that Bella probably had chronic bronchitis which would account for her coughing. What had happen that Sunday was she probably was having trouble breathing and that's why she seemed so listless and disoriented. The best case scenario is that this tumor is very slow growing. There would be some options to help treat her symptoms but it is hard to tell until we get the biopsy back. She also said that the tumor is small, and that Bella would benefit from an anti-inflammatory drug which would help her lungs and may even slow the growth of the mass.
We will know more when the results come back but until then we will work hard to spoil her but not over exert her. Dr. Stubbs mention that we might make the list of five. The list of five consists of five things that are determinedly your Bella. Five things that make up the core of who she is and sadly this list will help you determine when it is time to let them go.
Five things:
1. Head nuzzles; wanting attention
2. Barks for water, attention, treats
3. Shreds sealed box for treats, sometimes that's the only way to get a treat — for the sport of it
4. Cheese — we are convinced she was cheese monger in a former life
5. Always wants to go for rides.
We struggle with the lists, amending it, rewriting it. Always trying to decide if we have missed some detail.
UPDATE:
The results are in and Bella has primary lung tumor. We don't know the histopathology yet but there does not seem to be any sign of malignacy. These tumors are slow growing and usually detected between 10 -12 years of age with no sex or breed predilection. There is evidence of granuloma on her lungs which indicates scar tissue probably from having chronic bronchitis and probably from living in the city. One of Bella's samples was frozen and will be sent off for more diagnostics to determine if there are any additional infections due to the granuloma. We will also x-ray her again in month to see if there is any change in the tumor. Dr. Stubbs does not expect there to be any significant changes but this will help determine the rate of growth and how aggressive the tumor is in her body.
Sorry this is so long and all three post are pretty much the same with different x-ray angles
Thank you for all you kind words and support.
Love from Bellaland!
