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Post by nickmoss on Aug 15, 2013 23:29:37 GMT
Hi
We have a 6 year old rescue Border Collie, who we think the absolute world of. Over the past day or two, we had noticed that something wasn't quite right with him - he seemed to be shaking his head quite a bit, he was sometimes tilting his head and he was brushing past door frames rather than walking through the door. He generally seemed just a little off balance so we though it best to pop down to the vets. A trip to see the get isn't always straightforward. Mossie has issues with other dogs and some people, including vets! He does get very stressed out and the whole being handled thing clearly upsets him. The vet did manage to get a look in his right ear, but not his left ear as despite two people holding him, he had decided enou was enough. What the vet did find in his right ear was what he called a 'polyp' which I understand is a mass. He was unable to say what it was exactly, just that it was a mass and that it does cause concern as whatever it is is obviously affecting his balance. He explained the options as follows:
1) to take an anti inflammatory (Metacam) for a while and see how it progresses
2) to have him in under GA so that he can take a proper look in both ears, take a biopsy, and if it is just one small lump, remove it. Any more that a tiny lump he will not be able to touch it due to the position.
3) for Mossie to visit an ENT specialist at a vetinerary hospital for an overnight stay. He said these people would be suitably qualified to establish what it was, and if it is possible, to remove it. If it was a Tumor they would also be able to say whether it had spread and to what degree.
This was obviously a massive shock for us as we had only popped him in for what we thought might be an ear infection. Just wondered if any people on hear could answer these two questions and offer advice to us? Money and cost does not have any implication as we are insured.
1) what would you do in this situation and what option would you take?
2) does anybody have experience of 'ear polyps' and how their dog recovered?
Thanks in advance for any advice offered!
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Post by tonib on Aug 16, 2013 0:19:40 GMT
Welcome to the forum, sorry to hear about Mossie's ears.
I'm not a dog owner (I've got 4 rescue cats) so can't really comment on the details but few things to consider in the decision are:-
How easy would it be to give your dog the Metacam? If he wouldn't have it either directly into his mouth or mixed with food then you may well have eliminated that option anyway.
How far would Mossie have to travel to the ENT?
Do you have insurance?
I must admit I might be inclined to go for option 2 - at least the vet would be able to see what is the problem & a decision could then be made as to whether to operate at your vets or refer Mossie to the ENT. I would discuss with the vet as to how quickly Mossie could be referred to the ENT specialist after a GA if the decision was that is the best option.
However if the ENT specialist is close then that might be the least stress to Mossie but if it turns out to be something the vet should have been able to deal with what would be the situation with any insurance? Perhaps speaking to the insurers may help so what they would cover, as just one specialist visit would be cheaper for them than a vet & a specialist.
Sorry I seem to be raising more questions that answers.
Whatever the decision I hope Mossie's ears improve soon.
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Post by nickmoss on Aug 17, 2013 9:23:50 GMT
Hi
Thanks for your opinions, good to have them from a 'neutral' perspective. We have decided to go for option 3 (the specialist) for similar reasons that you said really. Less stress for him only having one GA, quicker than having biopsy, he will see an expert etc.
We informed the vet of our choice and the earliest he could get us in at the nearest one in Derby was on Thursday. We weren't really comfortable with waiting that long but the vet said there wasn't much choice. We then received a phone call from him at 7:30pm last night to say could we be in Birmingham for 9am on Monday. So we've jumped at the chance and he's off to a place called the willows for a CT scan and hopefully resolve whatever the problem is!
Thanks for your advice and best wishes!
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Post by tonib on Aug 17, 2013 12:15:02 GMT
Glad to hear you've made a decision & got a prompt appointment. Don't know where you live but if Derby is your nearest hopefully Birmingham is in the opposite direction so not too much further! Definitely an early start for you to get there for 9. Hope he travels well, mind you I assume it will be on an empty stomach as if he needs a GA then he won't be feed from 10pm & no water from 7 am - at least that's the rules for our cats - your vet will have told you what is needed for Mossie.
Fingers crossed all goes well & please let us know the results.
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Post by scallywag on Aug 17, 2013 12:32:15 GMT
Thats good nickmoss let us know how things go  |
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Post by nickmoss on Aug 17, 2013 18:46:22 GMT
Thanks scallywag, will let you know how it goes.
Thanks for your best wishes tonib - we just thought that we couldn't have noticed it any earlier, as we have had people come round to visit and they can't even see anything wrong (it's only when you truly know your own animal that you see those little things isn't it!). We are actually coming from Lincolnshire, so it is about 100 miles away. He,s not the best traveller, very stressie etc, but like I said, if that's what needs to be to get the best possible treatment at the earliest opportunity then that is what will have to be. Will let you know how things go.
On a positive note he seems really bright and cheerful and certainly hasn't got any worse since we went to vets on Thursday. If anything, we are having trouble keeping him calm!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2013 19:56:48 GMT
I've had no experience with polyps but would like to wish you well for your 'outing' tomorrow. Hope he doesn't get too stressed during the trip.I'm sure the staff will have lots of experience dealing with nervous dogs and will do their very best to keep his ( and yours) stress to a minimum.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2013 7:58:30 GMT
Been thinking about you. Hope all went well and that Moss is OK.
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Post by scallywag on Aug 20, 2013 20:14:50 GMT
Hi nickmoss how did you get on at the vets college with Moss ? |
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Post by nickmoss on Aug 26, 2013 21:07:34 GMT
Hi
Sorry for not posting sooner
Well..... As expected, the specialist was unable to examine without a GA. So he went under, first examinations could not find anything in either ear. Did a CT scan and that came back as clear (picture of health in fact). They also took a sample of spinal fluid, which again showed as perfectly normal. The specialists diagnosis was something called 'idiopathic vestibular disease'. We had obviously never heard of it, but from what we understand it's a disorder in the nerves of the ear which affects balance and causes the symptoms that Mossie was experiencing. Is something that generally occurs in dogs from mid age onwards. There is no underlying cause, hence the name idiopathic. Also, there is no treatment - it should clear itself up within 3-4 weeks on it's own.
We were so relieved that it was not a tumour or anything else nasty - when he came round and ever since in fact, he has had loads of fuss and been spoilt rotten. We really were so worried and it was such a relief to know that he was going to be ok! Our initial reaction was why did the first vet say there was a mass and why did we put him through the process when in fact there was nothing there, but we soon realised that the first vet had a very difficult job to assess in the first place. There was obviously something wrong and all avenues did need exploring, what we have put him through the process for is to find out that there is nothing seriously wrong, that's how we're seeing it anyway.
He has picked up a little bit each day, he is much less wobbly, less head tilt and could do a 20 minute walk yesterday, which he couldn't do a week ago. All being well he should be well on the way to a full recovery within the next week or so.
Thanks for all of your advice and good wishes, they did help and confirm to us that we were doing the right thing!
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Post by charlottte on Aug 26, 2013 21:28:29 GMT
So glad to hear he's picking up well and that it wasn't anything too bad! I know the worry of GAs as I recently had my 7 year old put under for a dental and I was absolutely beside myself. However, he went in at 8:40 and I got a call at 20am saying he was all done and ok. They don't half worry you! But at least he's doing well. I'd have done the same in your situation |
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Post by scallywag on Aug 26, 2013 21:32:47 GMT
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