Heartworm treatment*** Update cancer diagnosis

[KalamazooMom]

I posted previously about my dog testing positive for heartworm. They repeated the test and it came back positive as well. So I'm, taking her in on Monday for the treatment. My concern now is caring for her post treatment.

The vet said she will need to be kept calm and quiet for about a month after the treatment. She said those first 2 weeks are the most crucial. This is a pretty perky dog so I am worried about not getting her riled up. The vet said basically she can't have her heart rate up to the point where she would be panting.

She does have a kong and I read a suggestion about stuffing it with chicken broth or peanut butter and freezing it. That seems like something that would keep her calm and in one place while she worked on it. Any other suggestions for things that would keep her occupied and in one place? Any other suggestions from any one who has been through this?

[Avarie]

Do you have a crate for her? How big is she? If she's fairly small you might be able to get an old playpen from CL or Freecycle for her. But a crate is probably the best idea. I know it sounds restrictive, but if a HW treated dog gets over excited they can die.

[KalamazooMom]

Originally Posted by Avarie

Do you have a crate for her? How big is she? If she's fairly small you might be able to get an old playpen from CL or Freecycle for her. But a crate is probably the best idea. I know it sounds restrictive, but if a HW treated dog gets over excited they can die.

She's about 52 pounds. No we don't have a crate. We got her from the animal rescue (she was a stray) and her foster mom said when she tried to put her in a crate she freaked out. So I've never tried to put her in a crate. We were thinking she had a really bad association with it. During the day when we're gone she is free in the house and is generally pretty trustworthy. She has some separation anxiety and if we're home and we put her in the laundry room or close her off for a short period of time she barks and scratches. So when I told the vet this she said it was probably best to let her just be free in the house since isolating her would cause more anxiety. I asked about giving her some kind of tranqulizers and the vet said she didn't recommend it. But I'm wondering if maybe one of those kind of tablets that are supposed to calm a dog might be a good idea?

[mamallama]

My dog was hw+ when I adopted her & we did the treatment.

She felt pretty bad for the first few days, so keeping her calm was easy. After that I used a radio to mask the noises on the street. I also taped a note over the door bell, as that's a huge excitement trigger for her. I used the kong. And meaty bones. I gave her lots of training (calm tricks, solid down/stay, that kind of thing) and grooming--that's a great way to wear out and relax a dog.

I'm not going to lie--it was tough. The treatment period was great for bonding and training, though. I don't know that I would have had the dedication (busy mom, lots competing for my attention) to intensively train her the way I did if I hadn't had to do it to keep her calm.

[mamallama]

How did the treatment go?

[KalamazooMom]

Originally Posted by mamallama

How did the treatment go?

Thanks for asking. They postponed the treatment at least for a couple weeks. We took her in yesterday and they did the x-ray first. They found some enlargement in the right side of her heart as well as some "nodules" in the lungs. The vet said this is most likely the heartworm disease (her body trying to attack the worms) and looks like she's had the heartworm longer than we thought. But she said there's a chance what they're seeing on the lungs is cancer. They did an ultrasound of her liver and spleen and those look good but they still can't rule out cancer. So they sent us home with a 2 week course of steroids. They said if the stuff on her lungs shrink in the next 2 weeks it's not cancer. If everything looks clear in 2 weeks they'll do the treatment.

Does that all make sense? At least that's how I understood it from the vet. Hearing that her heart is enlarged made me anxious to do the treatment ASAP. But the vet said it was best to wait. I guess the idea is that if it's cancer she might not survive the treatment?

They also said to restrict her exercise. Her heart is not functioning efficiently so we need to try to avoid her exerting herself too much.

It's all very troubling. I didn't tell the kids because I knew how upset they'd be. I just said the vet decided it was best to postpone and give her some medicine for a couple weeks.

[mamallama]

Oh My. I'm sure you didn't expect that

Your explanation of what the vet said does make sense. It also sounds like the prognosis is hopeful. The simplest explanation is most often the correct one.

My girl had moderate hw disease. Enlarged heart, heavy parasite load. She was only 3 years old, but it was impossible to know how long she'd had the hw. She wasn't a stray, but she'd had several homes that the rescue knew about, and an untold history before that, so she could have had it for a while.

Her treatment was 2 years ago. Her recovery was slow. Her stamina is still not what I would expect for her age and breed, but she is over sized and presumably poorly bred (shes a very fit 88lb GSD--she just has a ginormous frame.)

I guess what I'm saying is that even though your dog's hw disease is advanced, with good care, her chances of a full recovery and return to normal health are pretty good to excellent (that's what my vet told me.)

Waiting is hard.

Let us know what happens.

[mata]

I'm so sorry. Ask your vet if she can take canine Rescue Remedy.

http://www.naturalcanine.com/Merchan...tegory_Code=RR

hope your girl stays calm and gets on the road to recovery.

[KalamazooMom]

Update: very bad news

After 2 weeks on the steroid we took her back hoping the nodules on the lungs would have shrunk. But instead they are bigger and there are more of them. In the meantime she also had a seizure.

The vet here said it was likely lung cancer with metastisis to the brain. They referred us to the vet hospital at MSU and we were there all day today. I am so sick and worried.

After more x-rays, ultrasound, blood work, etc. the oncologist said it is most likely metastatic lung disease spreading to the brain. They checked for other tumors and didn't find any. She said we would likely only find the primary tumor is we did an MRI or a CAT scan.

We could put her on chemo and see what happens. But I am so afraid to do that because of the heartworm and the fact that her heart is already compromised then.

I've paid about $900 for the tests and vet visits so far. The MRI would be about $1700. I don't know what the chemo would cost.

I talked to my kids tonight and my DD is so upset and insisting we have to do something. I am so upset about this, and wish I knew what to do. At this point the dog is behaving pretty normally. But the vet said whatever this is looks like it's moving pretty fast.

Would love any thoughts, or advice or words of wisdom!

[onelilguysmommy]

Oh no!

[mamallama]

wow. I'm so very sorry.

How old is your dd?

Honestly, in the case of an aggressive, fast moving cancer in a dog with significant hw disease...I can see going straight to comfort care.

It sounds like you are still just reeling in the shock. I would be, too.

[KalamazooMom]

My DD is 9. My DS is 6. We've been crying, and talking, and thinking all weekend. This morning I am thinking that if we do chemo it will be for us, not for Lacey. Even in the best cases chemo doesn't seem like a great option, and this is a dog with heartworm. Last night my DD said she just wants what's best for Lacey. She said she can't bear losing her, but she doesn't want her to be sick and miserable. This morning Lacey was rolling around in the snow and I thought I want her to have as many days as possible to roll around outside, chase squirrels and play with her kids. Even if chemo didn't make her sick I think she likely wouldn't be doing those things. Will keep thinking, reading, and talking to the kids. Right now she seems to be behaving pretty normally. Maybe we'll all feel differently if she starts seeming sick? It's been good for the kids and I to talk about all this, and I feel like it's a good learning experience for all of us. See there's yet another gift Lacey has given this family.

[mamallama]

You are lucky to have each other.

[KalamazooMom]

Originally Posted by mamallama

You are lucky to have each other.

Thanks. The kids and I did decide this weekend that even if we do lose Lacey soon we wouldn't have traded this time for anything. She was / is the perfect dog for us and has been such a blessing.

[gingerstar]

No advice, but I couldn't read without sending you a big .
Best wishes to your family and Lacey.