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.

[Kevin Poole, Penny & Ozzy]

We had a Border Collie, the sweetest, most docile dog. When she was 2 years old, very occasionally, she'd just get aggressive right out of the blue, she bit me twice, but that characteristic only lasted a few seconds and she'd be back to her usual self, most unsettling. That was brain tumor.

[Deirdre]

I had the same thing with my sweet 8 yr. GR from sweet to aggressive back to sweet. My vet sent us to UC Davis when we arrived she started walking into walls it was a brain tumor. I'm sorry you had to go through this too.

[Amy Vansant Brunell]

Hey everybody -- I also wanted to do something for you for all your support, ideas and kind words... if you use coupon code "gordon" at http://www.doodlesport.com it will be 30% off, which is pretty much wholesale for us!

[shelly]

Oh my gosh, Amy... what a great site... totally unnecessary to thank us! Our thanks is that you are feeling more at peace and that Gordon continues to do well! I never heard of doodlesport. I just quickly looked at it... I love it! What great items!

[Lauria Orr]

Amy,
I just ordered some wonderful toys on this amazing site. Thank you for this! Again, please keep us updated on Gordon. I am thinking of him and you constantly. Hugs.....

[Stacy Cook]

Good Luck with everything, you are in our thoughts!

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Unfortunately, it sounds very familiar to me. My Siberian Husky, Thor, had a brain tumor that caused seizures which were controlled by medication for several years. He had his first seizure at 18 months. The last year of his life the seizures became more frequent and harder to control. The last 6 months or so he behaved just as you are describing. He was 9 and although the vet did say we could have a MRi (same $3000), he did not recommend it as he was sure by this time it was a brain stem tumor, probably not operable, and horribly expensive if we were to try. There are a couple a medications for brain tumors that help some dogs have a more normal life. Neither helped Thor but may help Gordan.


On a cheerier note, definitely test for Lyme disease. Please make sure that the blood work included a glucose tolerance test. Canine diabetes can also cause similar symptoms and is manageable.

You may be surprised what a good neurologist can find just with an exam. Good Luck and prayers for you and Gordon.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Amy keep us posted. Paws crossed on my end. And you are so sweet to thank us for support - DK has always helped me immensely. I love your website by the way!

[Lauria Orr]

Hi Amy, Just checking in with you....have any test results come back on Lyme's Disease? The Neurologist we saw sent us to an Internal Medicine Specialist, and she was such a sleuth! She was wonderful with our dogs, and they loved her. I hope this is clear soon. Wishing you all the best. By the way, I had a friend with Lyme's Disease, and he did have sensitivity to touch, as well as other odd sounding symptoms. It was painful for him to even wear tighter fitting clothes, so pressure on his legs would have been painful as well. Keep us posted! Thinking of you and sending you positive thoughts.

[shelly]

I too have been thinking of you and poor Gordon! How is everything? Sending you good thoughts!

[Amy Vansant Brunell]

Sorry - I thought I had posted here the latest - in short, he's been on anti-inflammatory and dasuquin for a week now and he is a LOT better. Clearly it is hip displaysia or some other achy joint thing -- a bummer, but much better than a brain tumor!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm so glad to hear it isn't a brain tumor and he's feeling better. HD can be dealt with; much better than a brain tumor!