Update on Jake 7/20/10

Let's not go to the Vet mom.

Let's stay in bed and you pet my belly.

See the nice soft belly

You know you want to pet!

CAR RIDE!!!!!

Alright!

I want a cheeseburger!

You tricked me.

See...I'm healthy!

Look at my nice pink tongue!

Mommy....they took my blood.

They took x-rays of my chest and neck.

I wanna go hooooooooooooooome.

The x-rays and blood work has all come back.  Jake doesn't have cancer in his chest (unless the radiologist finds something) and his blood work is great.  Most likely, the Horner's Syndrome is caused by either an ear infections (which would be in the deep inner ear) or there is no cause.  Jake has a CT scan scheduled August 9.

BTW:  I've decided Jake needs a birthday.  I've declared August 16 as Jake's birthday.  It happens to be the feast of St. Roch, patron saint of dogs.

Jake has Horner's Syndrome

On Friday evening, I noticed Jake's left eye was really red and his third eyelid was raised.  Since we went to the prairie earlier in the day, I thought he just irritated it running through the tall prairie grass.  I attempted to flush out Jake's eye using eye wash.  This seemed to make Jake's eye worse.  I noticed that Jake's left side was rather droopy.  I decided that it would be best to take Jake to the emergency vet because he seemed uncomfortable and I thought he scratched his cornea in the grass.  We went to the vet, who stained Jake's eye but there was no scratch.  The vet flushed Jake's eye again and prescribed some eye drops.

Jake's eye wasn't getting any better, so I took him to his regular vet on Tuesday.  She diagnosed Jake with Horner's Syndrome because in addition to the eye looking all ooky, his pupil is small and not responding correctly.  She advised calling the dermatologist who treated Jake's ears to make sure it wasn't a complication from the surgery.  I've spoken with the dermatologist who is believes it is not a complication for surgery.  The dermatologist recommended seeing a neurologist sooner than later.  One course of treatment for Horner's is to wait 6-8 weeks to see if it resolves itself.  However because one of the possible causes of Horner's is cancer in the chest, it might not be prudent to wait.

Jake has a neurology appointment at UM-Columbia Vet School Monday Morning and chest x-rays on Tuesday afternoon.






Links about Horner's Syndrome:
From Mar Vista Vet:  Horner's Syndrome
From Dr. Fosters & Smith:  Horner's Syndrome

Preliminary Biopsy Results

Good Friday to you all!

The surgeon called this morning with the preliminary biopsy results. So far, it is excellent news. The mass in Jake's ear appears to be infection and inflammation. NO CANCER! The full biopsy isn't completed as they have to de-calcify his ear to check the deeper parts.

The cultures of the infection came back as well. Our favorite bacteria, psuedomonas, was present. And, unsurprisingly, resistant to the free antibiotics they hand out at the grocery store. But don't worry, it is susceptible (sorry it was a mistake earlier) to an antibiotic that is $7.50 a dose. yay?

Update on Jake 12/5/09

I visited Jake this morning in the vet hospital.  He's doing really great! He's not really eating well, but that is to be expected given the stress of the surgery and the opiates.  Jake won't take his medicine (shocked, I'm shocked not at all) so he has to stay until Sunday so they can give him shots.  They wanted me to try and give him pills while I visited...yea, right.  The vet student also said he kept trying to escape...

They shaved his butt for a pain patch.  They also shaved his head and his actual ear flaps.  Walks are going to be very, very cold.

His paw has lots of band-aids and the IV.

He's bald!

You can see the base of his ears are swollen.

Jake Update

Hi Everyone!
Jake is back to his old self!  He's can sort of yawn and his appetite has really improved.  He's even hiding in the closet when he sees me with his medicine syringe.  I never thought I'd be happy to see him run the other way.

I'm ready for Christmas Cookies!

Today's Jake Update

Hi all.
Jake was able to be seen by the dental service at the vet hospital.  The dental vets don't think he has the doggie MS disease.  They think the tumor in Jake's ear has grown or that the pressure in the ear canal is what is causing him not to be able to open his jaw fully.  The vet brought out a doggie skull model and the ear area is really close to the jaw bone and joint.

The moral of the story is that Jake needs ear surgery sooner, rather than later.  As in Jake's surgery is scheduled for Thursday, December 3.

I'm not sure what the prognosis is at this point.  I think if they can get the mass out, everything will be okay.  It all depends on whether or not the mass is cancerous or not (the vets aren't sure) and what happens when they start operating.

I do know Jake will be in the hospital for 3-4 days and most likely will have a cone.  Don't worry, I'll take pictures of that.

I gots a chewy to hide, stop following me!

(This was taken early Sunday afternoon, when Jake could still chew.)

Update on Jake

As you know, Jake has been feeling ill.  Jake's bloodwork came back indicating an inflammation or an infection.  He's been prescribed antibiotics.  He was doing better until Sunday.  He didn't want to eat, but I thought his tummy was upset from the antibiotics because it has happened before.  The twitching/shaking started back up as well.  Jake then decided he wasn't having any of his pills.  Hot dogs, velveeta, the pb from a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, Jake wasn't buying it.  I was like fine, I'll just pry your jaws open and jam the pill down your throat.  Jake screamed when I opened his mouth.  Needless to say, pill attempts came to an abrupt halt.  I then noticed the left back side, where the jaw joint is, was swollen.

I was able to get Jake into his vet on Monday.  She was not able to get Jake's jaw open either.  She prescribed liquid meds (we have a pharmacy here that can compound meds!) and referred me back to University of Illinois and Jake's vet there.

The vets at University of Illinois Vet Hospital don't think it is the mass in Jake's ear growing.  It is unheard of for that kind of tumor to act that way.  The vet suspects Jake has masticatory myositis, which seems to be some kind of doggie MS.  Hopefully the vets can pry Jake's jaw open to take radiographs.  If not, a CT will have to be done.  They need to check to see if his jaw has fused shut.  If it has the prognosis is poor.

He is doing better today.  His appetite is back and he's eating lots.  Jake has an appointment with the dentists on Wednesday, 11/25, at 9 am.  I'll keep everyone updated :)

Jake is Under the Weather

Hi all.  Sorry postings have been light.  Thursday night, Jake started twtiching/shaking/trembling in his front legs and shoulders.  I ended up taking Jake to the emergency vet.  The vet is unsure what is wrong with Jake.  The blood tests seem to indicate either an infection or inflammation.  Jake is now on antibiotics and pain killers.  He seems to be doing better today (Friday) but doesn't seem to want to walk very far.

Drawing is by Owen at Drawn to Be Catholic

(He's totally awesome and a dog lover :) )