stressed and scared

[Tony_T]

Hi everyone
I have a 7.5 yr old Airedale that has been very healthy all her life,so much so we have never had to run any blood work on her. However, last week, consulting the vet for a gastro issue, he decided to run a blood panel to serve as a baseline since she is now a senior. The results showed markedly high red blood count, something I later learned is called polycythema. She also has a very low glucose count significantly below the reference range. We repeated the tests 3 days later and the red count was the same, the glucose even worse.Tomorrow is an abdominal ultrasound and I fear the worst. Vet keeps mentioning pancreatic tumors or kidney tumors. Our family is devastated especially knowing that the dog seems clinically unremarkable. She is a bit quieter than usual, but is eating normally and interacting normally. I imagine this being the end of the journey for her, but in denial perhaps that this could be. Anyone here have expeience with kidney or pancreatic tumors in their dogs and what kind of options would i have and what kind of prognosis?
thanks

[Misfits4Me]

Welcome to the forum......I'm not familiar with this disease, but I did go read about it......It sounds to me that with the proper treatment (And diagnoses) that it IS NOT a death sentence!!!

Do you have a copy of your dog's bloodtest results? Where the kidney's involved also??? It appears  like there are a few reasons for this condition and not just necessarily a tumor......

Please let us know what you find out...I'm hoping you have a good outcome. A 7.5 year old is still a SpringChicken in my books! :)  I consider a Senior to be 12 or above... Yes, I have my own base scale!!!!   Karla

[Tony_T]

Hi Jerry_NJ
Thanks for your sharing your thoughts
My previous airedale lived 13.5 yrs although the official line from the airedale terrier asociation is "average of 10 yrs". I just feel 7.5 yrs is young for such a scary emerging diagnosis, especially considering that the dog has not been plagued with disease problems all its life.

[Jerry_NJ]

What is the average life-expectancy for an Airedale?  That's the large Terrier but being a Terrier I'd expect over 12 years.  I ask only as one calibration on setting you hopes.  If that breed dog normally has less than 10 years it would be a bigger worry.

Let us know what your learn, please.  It seems no one reading you post here has experience they can share.

Good luck,