Really worried about Barney - UPDATED - Good News

[SusieY]

because although I haven't had the formal diagnosis yet I'm convinced he has lymphoma.

Towards the end of last week he cried a couple of times when I touched the left side of his face and neck.  I checked his eyes, ears and mouth and couldn't see anything.  On Sunday i felt an enlarged lymph node on that side so thought I'd get him checked over.  The next day his eyes went weird so I took him straight to the vet and we saw an eye specialist in Leominster yesterday.  The eyes are really inflammed and are a symptom of something else, the biggie being lymphoma.

I'm suddenly realising that this could explain a lot.  Back in January he needed emergency surgery for a blockage and had to go to Langford in Bristol because he didn't recover very well from the surgery.  I'm thinking his immune system could have already been compromised then.  He also had a very bad stomach infection last month - vet thought he might have eaten a dead rat.  

I'd love to be over-reacting and proved wrong but deep down I think I know.

Barney is just 3 years and 8 months old

[elaine.e]

Sending some big hugs and lots of positive thoughts for you and Barney, and really hoping that your thoughts on this are wrong.

When will you get a diagnosis? Did they do tests when you saw the specialist yesterday and was the specialist able to give you an idea of what he thought it might be?

[piph]

So sorry to hear that you are worried in this way about Barney.  Fingers crossed that you are wrong.  Sending big 

[MacTavish Boys]

I really hope you are wrong about Barney, sending lots of positive thoughts in the meantime 
Stephanie, George and Hamish xxx

[JohnK]

Susie

We lost our boy to Lymphoma in May.

We first noticed a problem when his lymph nodes were up in his neck, visibly up, having said that they did not cause him pain, so hopefully your baby will be ok and it could just be an infection.

Even if he does have lymphoma and hopefully he hasn't then with Chemo, which I would recommend, in a young dog like yours there is a good chance of survival.

Have they taken a FNA of the lymph fluid and does he have any other lymphs raised? If its just the neck lymphs then from what our vet told us it is more likely to be an infection which can be cured by anti bionics.

I hope he gets better soon.

[8 Hairy Feet]

me too, I would say "try not to worry"
but I think I would be worried too.
sending you and Barney a load of
love at this stressful time
steffxxx

[Ninasmum]

All my thoughts & prayers are with you right now 
& i really hope its not as bad as you think 
Lots of squidges to Barney 

[Jan D]

Thinking of you and Barney - positive COL thoughts from me and licks from Roxy and Bobby

[coopersmum]

Fingers, paws and hooves crossed that it isn't lymphoma! You must be so terribly worried. Hugs to you and Barney.

[Pauline T]

Lots of positive thought and  for you and Barney, I do hope it is not as back as you think.

[Poppsie]

Awww Susie what a shock for you  I do hope that Barney has nothing more than an infection that can be cleared up with AB's. The thing is if he had eaten a rat he would have been really poorly as rats carry weals disease. Sending you and Barney great big  's and loads of healing thoughts  take care love from Dianne Phoebe and Mia x x x

[Archie bean]

Sending lots of positive thoughts and  really hoping it is nothing serious. Please try not to worry.

[cangrejo]

Fingers and paws crossed for Barney here too x 

[SusieY]

Thank you so much for all your kind messages and support

When will you get a diagnosis? Did they do tests when you saw the specialist yesterday and was the specialist able to give you an idea of what he thought it might be?

The specialist took bloods and lymph fluid yesterday.  A spike in white blood cells in the bloods would indicate an infection somewhere.  I was hoping to hear about the bloods today but haven't.  There's no outward signs of any wound or abscess.  The results from the lymph fluid are expected later this week and these will either confirm lymphoma or be inconclusive.  If they're inconclusive they'll have a look at the lymph node to see if there's a foreign body in there. 

Susie

We lost our boy to Lymphoma in May.

We first noticed a problem when his lymph nodes were up in his neck, visibly up, having said that they did not cause him pain, so hopefully your baby will be ok and it could just be an infection.

Even if he does have lymphoma and hopefully he hasn't then with Chemo, which I would recommend, in a young dog like yours there is a good chance of survival.

Have they taken a FNA of the lymph fluid and does he have any other lymphs raised? If its just the neck lymphs then from what our vet told us it is more likely to be an infection which can be cured by anti bionics.

I hope he gets better soon.

Thanks John, really sorry to hear about your boy

Two groin nodes were slightly raised but not noticeably and the specialist said that the dogs they usually see do have much bigger nodes.  Chemo was mentioned as a good way to manage lymphoma but we were told it couldn't be cured.  That would be a very difficult decision for me because I've had chemo myself and I'm not sure I'd want to put my dog through it although he is very young so I would want to weigh up the pros & cons.

On a more positive note he's been a happy little cocker today albeit a little subdued

[JohnK]

Susie

When Danny was diagnosed I said no way to Chemo, but our daughters friend is a vet nurse and told us we had to give it a try.

I'm glad we did because the lower doses they get mean they are healthy all the way through. We got another twelve months, but I've heard of others getting 4 or 5 years.

With his other nodes not being affected I'm sure he will be ok, I hope so anyway