[ SHOWGSD-L ] vet report on a dog born 5/18/05

From: "Threese Clark" <chcohosh@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:50:28 -0400
An owner of one of my pups now 4yrs old sent me this vet report - the dog is
still intact and was actually on the heavy side when I last saw him so the
weight loss is new.
 

Any experience or comments re this report would be appreciated.

 

I have a sister without any problems from that litter and am not aware of
any other siblings with problems 

 

Following is a summary of Camo's findings to date:

 

History:  Camo presented on 09-08-09 with a history of having been "going
down hill" for approximately one month.  He does not want to sit, he does
this funny thing with his jaws, breathing hard, stools very loose, chronic
diarrhea, no vomiting, eyes goopy, still wants to play with his ball, not
likely to have ingested a foreign ball, and he is on hwp. Owner gives
80-pound dose of horse paste ivermectin orally each month.

 

Physical Examination - alert, emaciated, BCS - 1/10, mm - pink, CRT - ok,
heavy, labored breathing even at rest, no obvious crackles, wheezes, etc.,
can palapte superficial cervical lymph node on left and popliteal lymph node
on right (normally lymph nodes are not readily palpable!!!)  Plan to do rads
and blood work.

 

CBC - all values within normal limits except for the hematocrit which was
35.  This indicates a slight anemia, which is often seen in cases of chronic
disease and is not necessarily associated with cancer.

 

Serum Chemistries - all values within normal limits except for a slight
elevation in globulin and a slight elevation of the total protein (which
coincides with the globulin elevation).

 

Heartworm/Lyme/Eherlichia snap tests - all negative

 

Fecal Analysis - negative

 

Thoracic rads - airways widely dilated.  A suspicious area, possibly a mass
located in the cranial area of the heart.

 

Abdominal rads - possible mesenteric lymph node enlargement, free fluid
imaged in abdomen.

 

Cytology of aspirates from lymph nodes - report came back as "reactive
lymphoid hyperplasia."  This can be seen with a variety of conditions
including immune-mediated disease and cancer.

 

My assessment:  Much as I do not want to say this, my gut feeling is that
Camo has lymphoma, although we have not been able to obtain a definitive
diagnosis as of yet.  I have had several cases in the past that we tested
and the report came back reactive lymph node and later on we did obtain a
diagnosis of lymphoma.  

 

It would also be a good idea to rule out PEI (pancreatic exocrine
insufficiency) since this is more common in German Shepherd Dogs.  This is
the blood test that we need to do when Camo is fasted.  We cannot be sure
that we are not dealing with more than one problem.

 

Although I perform ultrasound examinations all the time, I would recommend
referral to an internist for ultrasound evaluation of Camo's heart, chest
and abdomen.

 

Please let me know how you wish to proceed.  We are committed to working
with you to get to the bottom of his problems and to help him, if possible,
to regain his health.  He is such a special boy.

 

Thanks 

 

 

Threese 

Limited Edition Shepherds (VA)

www.limitededitionshepherds.com

Last Hope Safe Haven for GSDs

http://lasthopesafehaven.com 

 



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[ SHOWGSD-L ] vet report on a dog born 5/18/05

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