Mass that moves in dogs abdomen

[KingTitus]

We had a seemingly healthy dog up until I woke up last Saturday.  She vomited and had diarrhea pretty bad.  We took her to the vet and they recommended a bunch of tests that we couldn't afford.  We had some blood work done which showed all of her organ functions were fine.  We were given meds for nausea and an antibiotic.  Then she wouldn't eat.  So from Tuesday till today she wouldn't take any food.  We forced baby food into her.    Today we took her back to the vet to get her hydrated and for more tests.  We were going to get the rest of the blood work done and the vet called saying another vet found a mass. They say its most likely the cause of the problem.  It's also wierd because they say it moves which is why they had a hard time finding it.  We had xrays done which were inconclusive to the vet but are getting reviewed by a radiologist.  The vet doesn't think its a foreign object because it would have showed up differently.   This "mass" takes on the same color as its surroundings so its hard to tell.  

Any one have any advice.  

[Misfits4Me]

I've been following, too! GREAT NEWS!!!!!  I'd make a necklace out of the pit! Just say it's a "Very Expensive" one...It will make people wonder!!!!   ;)   Best wishes to you and yours...Karla

[Margot49]

No kidding!!!!!  Thank goodness someone could read the test.  Like I tell my own doctor, these tests are only as good as the people that do them and read them!!
That's great news and hope Mable is back to her old self soon.
$1,500!,,,,,,!!!!! To remove a peach pit?  
And, you're welcome and thanks for the update.  I was so hoping you would get some answers.
So, you gonna bronze that peach pit?  :-)

[deadgamegrrl]

OMG! I've been reading this thread, and best ending EVER! So happy for you and your dog!

[KingTitus]

To think we were 4 hours from putting her down......  We took her to a vet that specializes in ultrasounds this morning and the vet found the mass we were discussing.  It was about 1/3 down IN her intestine.  She was 90% sure it was an obstruction with a 10% possibility that it was a tumor.

$1500 later, we came home with a peach pit in a sandwich baggie!

Margot49, thanks again for all your help and well wishes.  It helped immensely!!

[Margot49]

Sorry, been out today but came to the forum to check.
Oh, you sound like me who insists there has to be an answer to every question and a solution to every problem.  In reality, we know that us often not the case.
The inevitable may certainly happen but I am surprised she rallied like she did.
Whatever the outcome, hang in there.

[KingTitus]

We gave her more food at 815.  We gave her something to "grease the wheels" so to speak.  A 1/4 cup of 100% pumpkin with some shredded boiled chicken in it and a teaspoon of flax seed oil.

She hasn't vomited at all.  She hasn't drank that much water but peed about 4 times since I got home 3.5 hours ago.  

I would also like to thank you for listening.  My wife just says "if it happens it happens".  God I hate that!  I diagnose complex circuitry for a living and it drives me nuts when you think there is no solution.  The first thing I learned is that if its not working right something has changed.  

KT

[Margot49]

Thanks for the update!  Fingers crossed.  

[KingTitus]

So......Yesterday we fed her the critical care a/d food the vet gave us.  She had one can from 1230 PM to 830 PM.  I fed her again 1/4 of a can this morning and she wolfed it down.  However, at lunch my wife tried to give her some more of the canned and she wouldn't eat it.  But I was sitting with her on my lunch and she tried to eat my pizza.  We took some boiled chicken out of the fridge and she at some of that at 1230, 3 and 530.  She hasn't pooped but the vet said it could take 24-36 hours.  She hasn't vomited either.  Right now she is kind of fidgity like she has to pee or poop but she has gone outside several times in the last hour.  We will have to wait and see!

KT

[Margot49]

Any updates on Mable?  Anxious to here.

[Margot49]

No kidding!  
Well, no way I would have kept that appt either.  You are being smart to give her smaller meals spaced out.
All you can do is watch and wait.  
Is she still on meds? Dud you happen to ask about the Pepcid?
Sometimes, like people, they sometimes to rally towards the end but maybe she can pull through this.
Hoping fir the best.
Please do keep us posted!

[KingTitus]

Ok, you are not going to believe this.  So Mabel hasn't eaten any food since the 20th. Our appt started 4 minutes ago to put her to sleep.  Well, we are not there.  This morning my wife got up and asked the other 2 dogs if they wanted to eat.  Well, as weak as Mabel is, she jumped out of her chair, tore head over heels into the kitchen and looked at mama to see where her bowl was.  She tried to eat the other dogs food!  She grabbed a piece of hard kibble before I could snatch her up.  I grabbed a can of this a/d critical care food the first vet gave us and gave her about 1/4 of a can and she gobbled it up.  This was at 1230.  I then gave her another 1/4 of a can ( 4 tbsp ) about 4.  No vomiting yet, she is drinking water and peeing.  No poop yet but we'll see.  I am not sure what to think or do.  I called the vet and told the vet tech what was going on and she was speechless.  the vet called me back and said lets cancel the appointment and see what happens.  She did this the last time she ate, went 12 hours before she vomited it up.

Ideas? Suggestions?  We don't really have our hopes up but how can you not when she flipped a 180, yet again?

I am so confused!  She has all the symptoms of IBS (IBD)......

I am just thinking WHAT THE HELL?!?!?!

[KingTitus]

Thank you.  We wanted to know for certain.  Then we could honestly say we did everything we could.  

Again, thank you for your support and the hugs:), my wife and I appreciate it.

[Margot49]

Oh, I am so sorry to read this.  Not good news but at least you have some answer.  Many of us have been down this road and it is not an easy one to travel but often the last act of live we can do fir our pets.  Hugs to you. :-(

[KingTitus]

We went to another vet and he did a ultrasound with his small "cheapy" machine as he called it and here is what we found:

Her intestines are not moving. They are not moving the food from her mouth to her butt.  He also found little "circles" on her liver or kidney I don't remember which one.  He then realized what he was looking at and went and came back with a book.  He pointed out a type of sarcoma.  So our poor little Mabel does have cancer.  We will be going back tomorrow to say our goodbyes.  

Margot49, thank you for all you have done.
KT

[KingTitus]

I will.  We don't think she will last until tomorrow.  If by some miracle she does we are still going for the ultrasound.  Our other dog got in the trash he had something stuck in his stomach. He went from 15lb to 8 lb in a few days.  He went in for surgery and came out in bad shape but survived.  He is a sissy compared to Mabel.

Thanks again
KT

[Margot49]

Sounds like you are trying everything.  How frustrating.  Hope you can get some answers.  Please keep us updated

[KingTitus]

The chem 17 clip shown all the organ function results which were all normal.  We have tried to feed her EVERYTHING.  Boiled beef, chicken, rice, baby food, the vet sent us home with a hi-cal soft canned food, vanilla soft serve, chicken jerky, I mean everything.  She is at home in bed.  Her eyes are very responsive,  when the boys came over she perked up.  We took her off the antibiotic and we think she has bad gas.  Which may be a good sign?  Her bowels are somewhat working.  She has drank a lot of water over night but not yet peed,

Thanks again
KT

[Margot49]

Well, I had started to respond to this and lost it. :-(

Looks like you are doing what you can.  I hope your Vet is trained, as the radiologist, in doing the tests and reading the results.  Even my own Vet has referred me to another Vet in town for testing as this Vet is trained to do the test and interpret them.  Your dog, your expense so I would ask.  Tests on people and animals are only as good as the people that do them and read them.  In regards to myself, had a call back on 2 tests because my doctor did not like the way they were done and the radiologist sitting on the fence.

Anyway, have you tried feeding a bland diet if some chicken or hamburger and rice in small amounts?  Even some Science Diet, canned but you need a prescription.  You can also get a gel supplement at PetsMart (in a tube) fir some nutrition.

Not sure if those tests done would have shown kidney, liver or pancreas problems but the CBC might be a good idea, if not.  I don't have time to look them up.  Maybe our member, Blu, will see this.

[KingTitus]

We took her to the vet on last Tuesday, Friday and Today.  Here is what we have had done. Chem 17 clip and Hematocrit blood test.  All came back normal.  She has received IV fluids 3 times this week. We have an anti-nausea med and Metronidazole antibiotic.  The antibiotic has a side effect of loss of appetite which is why we think she is not eating. We were going to do a CBC but the vet found the mass in the abdomen while checking on her when getting fluids. We went to the vet today to get the results of the xrays after the vet couldn't verify the problem.  They were reviewed by a radiologist and they said the xrays were inconclusive.  The vet suggests we get an ultrasound which we were unable to get today because we couldn't get to the clinic before they closed. We had 10 minutes to drive 30 miles.  They aren't open on Sundays so the vet called and left a message saying we would be in on Monday.  The vet says she is going downhill but death isn't imminent.  According to our vet the ultrasound will be the tell all.   She seems comfortable.  No whining or crying.  Our poor girl is one tough dog.

I know being a vet is a difficult job but just disappointed that we have spent so much without any hard evidence of the problem.  We are keeping here hydrated and we are going on Monday.

[Margot49]

Sorry, not sure what to tell you.  Where is the mass located?  Possible impact ion or tumor?  I understand funds are tight but you may not have any other resource than surgery if that can't determine the nature of this.  It worries me that this has been going on fir so long.
Will your Vet take payments?