Leah Made that Funny Noise Again

September 28, 2011 16:39 by Donna

I heard it again last night, that funny cough-but-not-a-cough sound, while she was lying in her bed - and then she groaned. So I took her to the vet today, and her examination went really well. Her heart and lungs sounded great, no signs of pain or discomfort. Because of this, the doctor wanted to start with blood-work and maybe take an x-ray later, if they couldn't uncover a cause. But I requested the x-ray now, rather than wait...

And they found something.

Leah's liver is overly rounded, which could just be the shape of her liver, but her stomach is also pushed forward at an odd angle. That, coupled with the discomfort I described, makes the vet suspect a tumor. My sweet senior is going for an ultrasound tomorrow, and we'll be getting her blood results back then too. Please keep her in your thoughts while we wait for her results, and I'll update how we make out.

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Leah, sick, senior, x-ray, liver, tumor, results, blood work, vet, doctor
Categories: Leah
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Comments (9) -

September 28. 2011 17:23

I will keep you and Leah in my thoughts. Hope she turns out Ok!

Belle and Dozer

September 28. 2011 17:38

oh no

I hope you get good news tomorrow.

Amanda @ Click. The Good News

September 28. 2011 22:04

All good thoughts being sent your way Donna! Hope it's good news.

Jodi

September 29. 2011 09:02

Thanks everyone! I dropped her off this morning for her test, and they told me her bloodwork all came back normal. The results of the ultrasound will be in tomorrow....

Donna

September 29. 2011 09:03

fingers crossed for good news!

lexy

September 29. 2011 09:47

Glad to hear the bloodwork came back normal. Sending you all our best thoughts and vibes.

Leslie

September 29. 2011 09:52

Hi Donna,

Since the bloodwork came back good, looks like you are catching whatever is making Leah uncomfortable, early, before major changes have occurred. That will make it a lot easier to help Leah feel good. I'm a big believer in following your gut, because no one knows the subtleties of what is normal for your dog, better than you. That is how Tuck's kidney issues were first detected- because I requested that a urinalysis be done. The internist thought his increased water consumption was due to his known liver issues, but in my gut, I knew a urinalysis, especially given his age, would be prudent. It's always funny 'cause I walk into the specialty/ER hospital here, and I ask for a recheck of this or that blood level, and the front desk asks me, "Which doctor ordered that?" and I always say, "I did, the doctor said to monitor him regularly, and I think he needs a recheck." You need to be pro-active (which you were) because you are your dog's best advocate.

Kelly

Kelly

September 29. 2011 15:58

Thanks Lexy and Leslie!

Kelly, thanks for taking the time to comment. I'm glad you were able to detect Tuck's kidney issues by requesting the urinalysis! It's hard when they already have issues...my vet wanted to start with the bloodwork, and maybe give Deramoxx for a few days first, to see it helped. She thought Leah might have been groaning because her arthritis was bothering her, especially since her heart and lungs sounded so great and a full exam showed no signs of pain anywhere. But I said, why not just do the x-ray now, while she's here already? (Besides, IMO, arthritis should bug you after you've been lying around for a while, not when you first lay down.)

Either way, the bloodwork coming back fine is not reassuring to me at all. My cat was sick last fall, (nothing specific either), and I brought her in for bloodwork, and it all came back normal. Less than a week later her hair started falling out and she was lethargic, brought her back in for x-rays, and then an emergency ultrasound. As it turned out, her entire belly was filled with cancer, (most likely Hemangiosarcoma). It had spread to the walls of all of her organs and she had to be put down because she was in so much pain and in such bad shape. And like I said, the bloodwork was absolutely fine just a few days earlier.... :-(

Donna

January 30. 2012 19:46

Thanks Jade, definitely not a reserve sneeze, more like a "trying to bring something up" noise - but good thinking.