Does this sound like cancer?
Hello to anyone reading this. I have a 9 year old Boxadore. Never had any health problems at all, always been a great dog. About 2 weeks ago, we noticed he was suddenly looking a little skinny. We figured it was because of our German Shepard eating all the food before the Boxadore, Albert, could get any. He was fine last Sunday, a week ago. On Friday, 2 days ago, he was missing from outside. I finally found him underneath our back porch. When I got him out, he looked skinnier than ever, skinnier than he had just a few days prior. He couldn't walk very good either. His legs seemed weak and stumbly. He had a hard time climbing the porch steps. His feet would give out on him and he'd fall. A few weeks ago, we did notice he was climbing up on our couch and his back legs gave on him and he fell but I figured it was because our floor is hardwood and he's always slipped on it. Anyway, this was something far more extreme and new. He's a very active older dog and had been fine just a few days prior. Now he's very slow moving, his legs are weak and he stumbles a lot. Other symptoms, his eyes are leaking a yellowish discharge. He's also thirsty a lot, still eating but not like he used to. He's always had a very good appetite. He still eats but not as much or as often. He drinks a lot more water than he used to though. He's also drooling a lot more than normal. I've googled until I can't google anymore and cancer and diabetes are the two things that seem to fit the most. We are taking him to the vet this week, just want to be a little prepared. Thanks in advance!
A CBC differential will tell the Vet if it's likely cancer. If something abnormal is detected, and in the absence of any "lumps" the Vet will probably want to follow up with an ultrasound. Or s/he might want to do an ultrasound while waiting for the blood results.
A complete Chem panel (e.g. including thyroid) will tell the Vet if a metabolic disease is the underlying cause.
Thanks for the reply. Turns out my dog has a fungal infection in his lungs, blastomycosis is what they're thinking but waiting on his tests to confirm. He's on antibiotics right now, which are lowering his white blood cell count, and the vet kept him for 2 days to get his fluids up. He's eating barely, but some, and still drinking. He just lays around though and stares off. They say this is very bad in dogs, lots of times fatal. The vet quoted a 50-50 chance, however I am starting to think he's not going to make it. He can't even start the antifungals until they get the results back, which is ridiculous because the vet is 99% sure that's what's wrong with him. Anyway, thanks for your reply. Please remember my sweet boy.
Here's a good article on blastomycosis
http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/can...-treatment
The article suggests quick and aggressive treatment is required in the first 7 days. Hopefully the Vet has the results now. One can understand the Vet wanting to wait for the lab results, as the anti-fungal drugs are quite toxic. But after 2-3 days the clock is ticking. I'd be bugging the Vet, asking if the results were in.
If your dog is running a 103+ temp, he will be very lethargic, weak, anorexic, and depressed. The time my Leukemia puppy had a 103.8 he looked mighty pathetic. If he stops drinking water, then it becomes an emergency trip back in.
Quote from Lovemydog on April 7, 2022, 5:04 pmThanks for the reply. Turns out my dog has a fungal infection in his lungs, blastomycosis is what they're thinking but waiting on his tests to confirm. He's on antibiotics right now, which are lowering his white blood cell count, and the vet kept him for 2 days to get his fluids up. He's eating barely, but some, and still drinking. He just lays around though and stares off. They say this is very bad in dogs, lots of times fatal. The vet quoted a 50-50 chance, however I am starting to think he's not going to make it. He can't even start the antifungals until they get the results back, which is ridiculous because the vet is 99% sure that's what's wrong with him. Anyway, thanks for your reply. Please remember my sweet boy.
I am so sorry for the diagnosis of your dog. I am not too familiar with blastomycosis, but one of my dogs had coccydiomycosis as a puppy (another fungal type infection of the desert southwest). It also affected his lungs. He was put on antifungals (flucanazole) and started getting better in 3-4 days. I hope your dog gets better, but yes, he needs those meds if that's what he has!