This has been going on for quite some time, and it looks like the vets
are shooting in the dark now. Started around the end of November, with
the dog not eating well, and having "knots" in his rear legs. He was
also making occasional gagging/coughing noises. Vet found swollen lymph
nodes in the legs, 104 temp, and congestion, gave antibiotics (shot and
oral). A week later, no change in temp, he's eating less well,
congestion is better, but the veins in his back legs were swollen.
Since blood work came back normal, he took lymph tissue for biopsy.
While cutting, vet discovered that the swollen area was full of blood -
no pus - kind of like hematoma of the leg. Vet said it reminds him of
phlebitis. Another week later, he is eating better, but not back to
normal. Temp is mostly normal with occasional spikes, appetite is
almost normal, but veins remail swollen. Another week later,
blood/fluid culture is normal, temp is back up to 103, veins are still
swollen. Appetite is much worse.

Next report is a month later, and after having got to the point where
the dog was eating only a cup of food a day, he is starting to eat more,
and temp is back to normal. Another vet had diagnosed him with
pneumonia, and a tick panel turned up Ehrlichiosis. Liver, kidney
functions are fine, and autoimmune tests came back negative. But, lymph
nodes around the dog's heart are very, very enlarged. Vet thinks
possibly fungal infection (negative fungal tests), unusual bacteria
called nocardia or cancer. Sent home with Doxy and Baytril. Chest
X-Ray 2 weeks later showed no change in the lymph nodes, so the vet did
a transtracheal wash. The wash showed nothing. While he was under, vet
checked him out, found a mass in his mouth and nasal cavity. Biopsy
came back negative. Although he is eating, playing and gaining a little
weight, his legs are starting to bother him. He shifts his weight
constantly if he has to stand for any length of time.

This is all the information we have as of yesterday. Any ideas on what
this could be, or if there is something, anything we should check for?
The vet is considering steroid therapy as a means of getting the
swelling in his legs down.

Suja

Have you looked into any alternative treatments? Sounds like there's not
much left to try. . . .

"Suja" wrote in message
news:9az%b.9121$UU.6291@lakeread01...

This has been going on for quite some time, and it looks like the vets
are shooting in the dark now. Started around the end of November, with
the dog not eating well, and having "knots" in his rear legs. He was
also making occasional gagging/coughing noises. Vet found swollen lymph
nodes in the legs, 104 temp, and congestion, gave antibiotics (shot and
oral). A week later, no change in temp, he's eating less well,
congestion is better, but the veins in his back legs were swollen.
Since blood work came back normal, he took lymph tissue for biopsy.
While cutting, vet discovered that the swollen area was full of blood -
no pus - kind of like hematoma of the leg. Vet said it reminds him of
phlebitis. Another week later, he is eating better, but not back to
normal. Temp is mostly normal with occasional spikes, appetite is
almost normal, but veins remail swollen. Another week later,
blood/fluid culture is normal, temp is back up to 103, veins are still
swollen. Appetite is much worse.

Next report is a month later, and after having got to the point where
the dog was eating only a cup of food a day, he is starting to eat more,
and temp is back to normal. Another vet had diagnosed him with
pneumonia, and a tick panel turned up Ehrlichiosis. Liver, kidney
functions are fine, and autoimmune tests came back negative. But, lymph
nodes around the dog's heart are very, very enlarged. Vet thinks
possibly fungal infection (negative fungal tests), unusual bacteria
called nocardia or cancer. Sent home with Doxy and Baytril. Chest
X-Ray 2 weeks later showed no change in the lymph nodes, so the vet did
a transtracheal wash. The wash showed nothing. While he was under, vet
checked him out, found a mass in his mouth and nasal cavity. Biopsy
came back negative. Although he is eating, playing and gaining a little
weight, his legs are starting to bother him. He shifts his weight
constantly if he has to stand for any length of time.

This is all the information we have as of yesterday. Any ideas on what
this could be, or if there is something, anything we should check for?
The vet is considering steroid therapy as a means of getting the
swelling in his legs down.

Suja

Have you had him seen by an internal medicine specialist?

Jo Wolf
Martinez, Georgia

What about the dog being referred to a vet college.
Where training is going on all the time.
I had one friend who's dog was seemingly very ill .
Vet kept putting the dog on a drip.
Making the dog well only to find a week later the dog was ill again.
The college found a salt problem.
Another friend after months of vets.
Took his dog there and found the problem.
Worth a thought I feel.
Pat.


"Suja" wrote in message
news:9az%b.9121$UU.6291@lakeread01...

This has been going on for quite some time, and it looks like the vets
are shooting in the dark now. Started around the end of November, with
the dog not eating well, and having "knots" in his rear legs. He was
also making occasional gagging/coughing noises. Vet found swollen lymph
nodes in the legs, 104 temp, and congestion, gave antibiotics (shot and
oral). A week later, no change in temp, he's eating less well,
congestion is better, but the veins in his back legs were swollen.
Since blood work came back normal, he took lymph tissue for biopsy.
While cutting, vet discovered that the swollen area was full of blood -
no pus - kind of like hematoma of the leg. Vet said it reminds him of
phlebitis. Another week later, he is eating better, but not back to
normal. Temp is mostly normal with occasional spikes, appetite is
almost normal, but veins remail swollen. Another week later,
blood/fluid culture is normal, temp is back up to 103, veins are still
swollen. Appetite is much worse.

Next report is a month later, and after having got to the point where
the dog was eating only a cup of food a day, he is starting to eat more,
and temp is back to normal. Another vet had diagnosed him with
pneumonia, and a tick panel turned up Ehrlichiosis. Liver, kidney
functions are fine, and autoimmune tests came back negative. But, lymph
nodes around the dog's heart are very, very enlarged. Vet thinks
possibly fungal infection (negative fungal tests), unusual bacteria
called nocardia or cancer. Sent home with Doxy and Baytril. Chest
X-Ray 2 weeks later showed no change in the lymph nodes, so the vet did
a transtracheal wash. The wash showed nothing. While he was under, vet
checked him out, found a mass in his mouth and nasal cavity. Biopsy
came back negative. Although he is eating, playing and gaining a little
weight, his legs are starting to bother him. He shifts his weight
constantly if he has to stand for any length of time.

This is all the information we have as of yesterday. Any ideas on what
this could be, or if there is something, anything we should check for?
The vet is considering steroid therapy as a means of getting the
swelling in his legs down.

Suja