Possible Brain Tumor - Help

[Amy Vansant Brunell]

I'm wondering if anyone out there has any input from experience on this. Our Gordon, 5 years old, had a seizure about a month ago. The vet did all the blood work and found nothing odd, so she said just to keep an eye on him and that if it kept up we might want to get a CT scan.

Since then, he hasn't been as lively as he used to be. Doesn't want to play ball (which he loved, previously). Then we noticed he seemed a little unsure on his feet - wasn't jumping quite as well - but this sort of came and went. He would have little bursts of energy and want to play tag, but they didn't last as long as they used to.

Then I woke up at 4:30 am to find him just staring at me today. I let him out and when he didn't come back in after a bit, I went outside and found him at the bottom of the stairs just looking up at me. They are shallow stone steps and there are only about 4 of them, so it isn't like he has to climb a ladder to get back into the house. He wouldn't come when I called him. I went down and doted on him a bit and then tried to get him moving back into the house again. Eventually, he just snapped to and went into the house.

All day he has been just laying down, and when he does walk he seems to be doing so gingerly. We couldn't coax him up on the bed. Sometimes when we talked to him he barely responded, and wouldn't go get the paper.(which he loves).

He will still eat a treat if you give it to him, so he isn't off his food. We called the vet and she confirmed they had run all the tests (except lyme disease, he is on preventative) and at this point it might be a brain tumor.

He's getting more alert as the day goes on, but he is definitely not right. All the nuerologist in our area are apparently on vacation - we finally got an appt. for a consult next Wed. but though we thought we had to get a CT, they implied the 3 hour away $3000 MRI was the better way to go if he needs a brainscan. I'm not sure what they do at the consult that would change what seems like a straight path to a CT or an MRI.

Does any of this sound familiar to anyone? Any input welcome, we're falling to pieces here. He is our baby.

[Kim]

I would have the Vet do a Lyme test to be sure. What is a preventative? The vaccine? Allie got the vaccine and THEN got Lyme disease. It will be WAYYYYY less expensive for you to just test for Lyme first. Her symptoms though did not sound like this. She would basically howl in pain when trying to jump, but then became lethargic after a few days. Her symptoms only lasted a few days before her diagnosis.

I'm sorry he's not feeling well. I hope you find answers soon!

[Amy Vansant Brunell]

Really? that might be a good idea then.. at least it will be something to do between now and next Wed. other than rattling around and staring sadly at him.

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

I am just curious if he had any vaccines or spot-on flea treatments in the recent week or few days or any new chemical cleaners, lawn sprays or anything like that?

[Amy Vansant Brunell]

Sadly no or all my hope would be in that basket for sure! He just ate one of his crunchy bones, that he usually violently munches up, really slow and gingerly. I wonder if his jaw muscles are sore. Then he walked like he was achy out of the room. Made an appt. to check for lyme.

[Leslie and Halas]

Like everyone else, I'm hoping there's a better explanation out there. I know it's hard, but try not to focus on the worst possible scenario. I think a lot of other things have to be ruled out first. Our prayers are with you. Just try to hang in there until you can get some solid answers.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I have no advice about possible medical causes, but I just want to say that I am so sorry that you have to through this. I can only imagine how anxious and worried you must be right now. Sending Doodle hugs your way!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Just keep us posted. We will be sending positive thoughts your way and hoping it is something MUCH less serious than a tumor. Try to stay calm until you know for sure - easier said than done, I know.

[Amanda and Quinn]

I think it's crazy for your vet to immediately jump to a brain tumor - and it was not at all cool to say that to you over the phone. Quinn had some of these symptoms when his epilepsy started (the incident on the steps sounds like a small seizure), and epilepsy does not show up on blood work or anything like that. It's just the diagnosis they give when everything else is ruled out. We did have to do the MRI to rule out a brain tumor officially, and that is one painful vet bill, I know. But it gives you such peace of mind. And the neurologist may be able to shave off some of that price... ours was able to look at Quinn and rule out some tests, and even in the NYC area, our bill was not that high. Now that he's on medication he has been seizure free and back to his old self for months now, so there is hope.

You will be in my thoughts - I really hope the neurologist can give you some answers next week.

[Amy Vansant Brunell]

If you don't mind me asking - was your dog lethargic following seizures? Did he move like he was sore or seem to be less sure of his footing? I'm just wondering if maybe he had a seizure we didn't know about last night and all this is residual. He yipped when mike just touched his him now too.

[Amanda and Quinn]

He would be very tired afterwards and a little out of it for a day or so. I did not notice any soreness but they can injure themselves during grand mals - it's possible that he had one without you knowing it and hurt himself.

[Amy Vansant Brunell]

New symptom - mike just lightly patted his hip area and he yipped as if in pain. This morning it wasn't like that. Is that more lyme or can a brain tumor do that too?

[Kim]

Allie was very sensitive to touch, yelped to touch and to jumping/running. I don't know anything about brain tumors.