Confused and Overwhelmed-Diagnosed Anal Sac Carcinoma (Woody has passed)

Oh my gosh, I can't believe they are giving you the run around about the results and then refusing to refer you. :(

Definitely contact someone. They should just print up the results while you are there waiting and give them to you. I wouldn't leave next time without them.

As for an ultrasound, some don't like to do it, but they are required to do so if requested, just like they are required to provide you your test results for Woody.

I agree, there is a problem for Woody and you and it needs to be treated. Did the vet ever give the drops a try for Diabetes insipidus? Can you remind me what Woody's specific gravity on his urine is? DI is usually Very, very dilute, even more so than cushings.

I want to see what those results say too. I am sorry, but I'm not feeling very trusting of Mr. Vet at the moment. :(

I will say, there is 5% of dogs who will test negative on an LDDS and still have cushings, according to Dr. Peterson and others. It is possible. I might be in that group myself, it's only because my dog has no outward symptoms consistent with cushings that I haven't pursued that as a possibility, but it does exist.
The ultrasound might be able to tell you quite a bit. It is up to you and not the vet if you have it or not. Perhaps you have to say, just call and make the appointment, or I'll be in to pick up the consult, however they do it, and just force it.

Hang in there!!! And don't be a stranger!
hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

I,ve had the vet on the phone about 10 mins ago. After much discussion and an apology for his flippant remark of "its just Woody" he will refer us to an IMS at the Glasgow Vet School Yay !!! He said after I hung up the phone on him he went back and looked up all Woody,s notes and the notes the locum had added and realised that something was up and that it had been going on for months and now some more symptoms had appeared. He explained he was really busy (I don't care) and that he hadn't given woodys case the attention it deserved. I,m still looking at alternate vets! He mentioned other illness it could be like DI but his urine isn't diluted enough for that I think last one was 1.008 also spoke of a disease of the thyroid gland cant remember the name, he also finally admitted that he had done all he could for Woody as all tests were negative so it was time to put him to a specialist. So now have to wait for the appointment, only thing is that they will want to probably re do the bloods, and possibly the LDDS test.:o

Oh I can also pick up his results next time I,m in. Thank you everyone for giving me the strength to stand up to my vet.

Good for you.. although I don't condone what the vet did originally at least he has the decency to tell you he's done all he could. Unfortunately, every vet usually wants to re-do the blood work and urine... at least they have in my case and I am now on vet # 6.

If you can get to the bottom of what is going on and get those test results... you are well on your way.

Glad you have had enough of this vet. he didn't give Woody's case the time it deserved??? What kind of crap is that? I would not be happy and would get the referral, along with all Woody's testing and go elsewhere where they have the time to give to his case. I hope you get some resolution as it is very difficult pushing people for answers. I am proud of you that you stood up to this vet, you are a wonderful advocate for your baby. Keep on going, don't stop until you get your answers. I never quit on my girl yet, and I will help her if it kills me. All the money and heartache you have gone thru deserves better treatment than this. We are all behind you so you are not alone. Blessings
Patti

Way to go, Mom! :cool::):cool:

Have had the Vet Hospital on the phone, how quick was that I didn't expect to hear for a couple of days. Woody,s appointment is on Monday 30th September at 1145 hours gulp. She will send me a letter with all the details in the next day or so. Yay could I finally be getting some where god I hope so:)

Can you please try to get the actual numerical results for the diagnostic LDDS as soon as possible? If those results were misinterpreted (and actually were "positive" for Cushing's), you may not need to launch into a whole lot more testing. :o

Marianne

We're so proud of you! Your vet said one absolutely true thing - Woody has not had the medical attention he deserves. It's too bad you had to get tough with him to get to the next step, but unfortunately sometimes that's what it takes, and not everyone is willing or able to do it.

We'll be watching for those LDDS results, which we are all very interested to see, although with your vet's too-busy-to-bother attitude, I have to wonder if the test was performed correctly, so it might be a good idea to have it done again. So many tests are useless if not done correctly that I can understand the specialist's reluctance to rely on tests done by others.

Thank goodness you are at last getting somewhere Tracy, what a relief. Keeping paws and fingers crossed for you here for your specialists appointment and hoping they come up with a diagnosis at last.

Big hugs to Woody too. xx
Freda

I have just read your thread. I'm sorry for all of the hassle you have gone through. I hope you get some answers soon. Welcome to the forums and as you know the folks around here are PAWSOME!
Angela

Good for you for standing up and insisting that they provide you with a referral to someone who will do their job!

Honestly, the fact that he admitted that Woody didn't get the attention that he deserves is criminal. You are due a refund of some sort really.

I would find another vet as well. Maybe the IMS can give you some names?

Best of luck with the upcoming appoinment!

Woodys referral letter came in this morning, he,s not to be fed after 10pm on Sunday night oh dear he won't be a happy chappie lol. The letter says he maybe kept in overnight but I called them and the told me they always say that just in case to prepare the owner so fingers crossed he won't be kept in I couldn't bare that. The appointment cost is high so beans and toast this month but as long as Woody is all right I can live with that.

Glad you got the referral. Hoping and praying all comes out well. I know how expensive all this is. I wish for all of us these tests etc. were more affordable. It would make it easier for many to help their babies. Blessings
Patti

Today's the day we,re off to the IMS fingers crossed for some answers, back later with some answers hopefully

Hi Tracy,
Best of luck at your IMS appointment today. I too am hoping you get some answers for your sweet boy.

Hugs,
Tina and Jasper xo

Good luck today! :).
I hope they have the answers for you and Woody

Hugs
Sharlene and Molly muffin

I am saying a prayer for you and Woody that he gets the treatment and attention he so deserves, and that you get the answers you deserve. Blessings
Patti

I,m back but Woody is staying in the hospital tonight :( The IMS we saw was very very good and the consult alone took over an hour. They asked a load of questions. The IMS looked over his results that my own vet had sent through and as he has some elevated blood results, calcium, potassium, liver enzymes, phosphate she wants to do a full blood panel again, he has also to get a full urine urinalysis and urine culture, an ACTH test, a specific blood test that checks only his calcium, his urine is to be tested every hour or so for the gravity level, T3 and T4 bloods done and finally a ultrascan phew! As the US is booked in for 9 am tomorrow morning she suggested that Woody stay with them, I,m gutted but I know he,s in the best place he has his own nurse who I met her name is Julie and Woody took to her so don,t feel so bad but I did cry when they took him away. So if anyone would like to send Woody some "don,t be scared" prayers then I would appreciate it.

Now for the rant the IMS told me that reading through Woody,s results his T4 results showed something up, now I had them done weeks ago and my vet told me they were fine, but the IMS told me that with that result it warranted further investigation. To say I am disgusted with my vet doesn't come close to how I feel right now, I,m raging that I was told they were fine all negative when the IMS said it warrants further investigation. I,m so annoyed at myself for not pushing for a copy of his results then someone on here may have picked up on this. I feel like I,ve let Woody down.

Don't beat yourself up. You did the best you could. I definitely would be ringing up that vet for a partial if not full refund of what you spent. If he is not stopped he will do this to others. He has his nerve, he should be disgusted with himself! I am glad you left Woody as hard as it, is he is in the best place to get all this done. There is so much to learn about this disease, and when you are new to it, you are at the mercy of vets that do not know what they are doing, and that is criminal. All of us beat ourselves up regularly including me. You can only do the best you can. Try to have peace knowing you finally got him somewhere through your insistence. It was you who helped him and you are doing a very good job. I am confident they will fix Woody up. Rest up while Woody is in the expert care of others, you will need to be well when he gets out. Blessings
Patti

It's possible the GP vet just doesn't have enough training to recognize something was off while the IMS, with much more education and experience, could see it. I know from my own decades of trying to get a diagnosis on my thyroid disease, none of the GPs saw anything beyond the T4 results. It took a specialist to see further and know something was wrong. ;)

Sounds like you're in good hands with this vet. Hoping the time goes by quickly so you can pick up Woody and bring him home. In the meanwhile sounds like you will finally get some answers. Sending positive thoughts for Woody!

Barbara

Thanks everyone I don,t know what to do with myself, the house is empty without him, but I just have to focus on him getting better. The hospital rang about 10 mins ago Woody has had all his bloods done and 3 urine samples collected results should be in later tonight or early morning. He can finally have something to eat poor boy must be starving bless him. I told his nurse that he may not eat from a different bowl so she has promised to hand feed him if needed phew. She also said that he had settled well and was a very friendly little chap and she had already received a kiss from him (little traitor lol) so I feel so much better, looks like he,s not missing me ;)

Sending calming thoughts of reassurance to both you and Woody!

Don't blame yourself, you did your part and took Woody to the vet; you had every right to expect your vet to know what he was doing and to take the time to give Woody the attention he deserved. You did more: you went online, found this group, stood up to your vet and persevered until you got Woody to someone who will help him. You have been heroic, and you have nothing to blame yourself for!

Awww, sending you lots and lots of hugs. :) Woody is a little trooper, making friends every where he goes.
Hopefully they will get this figured out. hmm, interesting about the thyroid as it is possible thyroid can show the same symptoms as cushings.

Arggh, they have to do all the tests again :(

It's true, sometimes the GP's just don't know as much as the IMS. The responsible thing would have been to say that before it got to this point. I don't know how they can misread the test results when the ranges are usually printed right on them. At least you do have an IMS now. That is good. :)

Hang in there,
hugs!
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Prayers for both you and Woody. Tracy don't feel bad. I didn't get copies of my tests for almost a year. Luckily and I really mean this, Thank God nothing serious has happened. Here's to you, the IMS, and hopefully a GP vet working together to make Woody feel better.
Angela

I'm glad that Woody is finally getting proper care! Don't blame yourself, it is SOLELY the vet's fault. He should've referred you when he realized that he couldn't figure things out.

Morning all had the worst night sleep ever so been up for hours willing the phone to ring lol. They,ve just rung Woody is doing great had something to eat and a restful night, thankfully. They tried to give him his US this morning but he was too wriggly and getting stressed so they decided to stop so not to stress him out too much so they will give him a light sedation and try again at noon. He is now away a walk with the vet nurse calm him down. Some blood results are back but they are "unremarkable" but she will go into in depth when I pick him up at 6pm tonight. Only 8 hours till I see him yay x

I am glad that Buddy did well last nite. It seems he is getting the care he deserved all along. I know you will be so excited to see him, and I am glad you are going to get answers. I pray that it is just something that can easily be straightened out. Blessings
Patti

I'm so glad you can pick up your boy and bring him home! Sounds like he's gotten through the worst of testing just fine. You'll both feel relieved once he's back with you.
Hoping the tests will get you to the answers and a treatment plan for Woody. Just looking at the time here...by now he's probably already home! :)

Barbara

Hi everyone we,re both finally home Woody looks like a map of the world with all his shaved bits but he,s home:D

But I,ve still no results just lots more questions, I,ll list it so it is easier to read.

T4 and T3 bloods done - both normal
ACTH test done - not indicative of cushings
Blood panel done - mild increases in cholesterol and high liver enzymes were found, his previous calcium level was found to be normal.
Urine Sample taken - analysis and culture results still pending
Abdominal ultrasound done - revealed a chunky right adrenal gland approx. 9 mm and an irregular lymph node (left medial iliac lymph node) Liver was enlarged and his prostate revealed evidence of suspected previous inflammation.
Chest Xray taken - full report pending
Urinalysis and urine bacteriology - results pending
Blood pressure - unremarkable
Aspirates of liver and lymph node taken due to what was seen on US - results pending.

Plans - The blood tests Woody has had have been largely unremarkable but unfortunately a very large lymph node was found during his scan today which is very concerning for Cancer and aspirates of this and his liver have been taken and I will contact you tomorrow with the results. His right adrenal gland is enlarged and this could be an incidental finding "incidentaloma" but given his history of increased thirst and urination then adrenal dependent cushings is still a possiblility despite the negative tests so far.

I have typed this just as it is on the report he came home with, I,m well I don,t know what I am to be honest numb I think. On speaking with the IMS she is very concerned about the size approx. 5 mm shape and colour of his lymph node and his liver. She doesn't want to pursue the cushings avenue at the moment but sort out what was seen on the US first, which I am glad off. I asked her, her honest opinion did she think the lymph node look like cancer and she said "I think there is a strong possiblilty that it is, but lets wait for the results tomorrow" her face pretty much said it all to me, she must have said about 5 times how shocked she was to see that on his US as she never for one moment expected it as all bloods etc were unremarkable.

I am going to lye in a dark room as my head is spinning with all this, I can,t get her words out of my head, I had to stop twice on the way home as I was crying that much. Woody on the other hand is asleep next to me and that is all that matters tonight.:)

Just hold Woody and love him. I pray all this works out for you both. Blessings
Patti

It sounds like you've found competent care for your beloved Woody at last. Try not to despair, but hold on until all the results are in. As you wait for answers, we will be waiting and worrying with you. Hugs,

Well, lets just wait and see what the results are then you talk to them about what kind of treatment plan, they would like to see Woody on, whatever the result of the tests might be.
I know I'm on the optimistic train here, but for now this is where we need to be. You have Woody, he is home with you and a happy little guy. So lets take this one day at a time.
HUGS, we are right here with you!
Sharlene and molly muffin

I agree with Sharlene, just wait and see what the final results are and the course to take for treatment if necessary.

Keeping you and Woody in my prayers.

Sweetheart, no matter the results we will be right by your side and I have no doubt whatsoever that Woody is in the very best hands possible with his loving mom.

Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

Thank you all it's good to know there is people out there who care without this forum I would have went nuts. Woody had a very restless night and suffered some abdominal spasms which I was told could happen but as long as I sat with him and told him stories yeah I know I'm nuts he got through them and finally slept. Today he is back to normal sleeping, eating, playing and just generally being Woody. I'm staying positive about all this and will deal with the results when they come as yet I've not heard anything but as it's only 3 pm there's still time.

Again thank you all you are angels x

We are all in this together. We are all waiting on the results with you. Never feel alone as we are always here. I am curious about the stomach spasms you say her had, please describe, and did they tell you he would have them? If so what was the reason given? I am praying for you and Woody that this all has a good outcome, and that it lessens your worry. Blessings
Patti

Patti

His spasms were about 30 seconds long he would stand, shake and hunch his back upwards like he was holding in his tummy. They told me it can happen in some dogs due to them poking about inside him to take the biopsy,s. My last JRT had IBD and did the same when it flared up so I'm quite used just holding them and calming them down till it passes. They offered my something for it when I left but I declined.

Sending positive thoughts for Woody. Happy to hear he is happy and playing today!! Hope you don't think anyone here thinks you're nuts for telling Woody some stories to get him settled last night! This crowd understands completely!! You're definitely not nuts!!

Barbara

Right here with you, waiting too. Poor Woody, I'm sure it does give him cramps and some pain, having had biopsies taken. :( Glad to hear that he is doing so much better today.

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin