Thank you all. The vet phoned this morning to say that Eddie's biopsy results had come through, and showed that he has had colorectal polyps. They were non - malignant, and the surrounding tissue was normal. There is a possibility that they might recur sometime in the future, but as long as he doesn't pass any more blood, there is no need for any further appointments. The original ulceration seems to have healed, so it seems that he actually had two consecutive problems, rather than one worsening one (If that makes sense!). I am so relieved, my lad is now normal, after all this time! I'm going to be sticking to his semi holistic diet, as OH says, 'It has worked, don't change a thing'.
Great news Carole - I am so pleased for both Eddie and you! (((hugs))) for both of you - and Tweed of course!
Just a quick update. Eddie managed to stay bloodspot free for two weeks after his op. Since then he has gone back to his intermittent 'spotting', or a little red stringy mucous. I had an appointment at the vet last week, (it was actually a Tweed appt.- sigh!), but he could offer little in the way of any new approaches. It is probably an auto immune condition. The dog is perfectly healthy in both his appearance and performance. He has no malignancy, and any polyps that might recur in the future, can be removed. In passing, I mentioned human Crohne's disease, and his comment was, 'You might be nearer the truth than you suspect'. It is disappointing result, but Ed will be seven next month and has now been like this for two years without it having had any effect on his general health. We are just going to carry on loving the little rascal the way he is.
The tail is fine Tina, she has now perfected a circular wag with it, which looks really funny. Her skin tag problem is in quiet mode at the moment, (touch wood). She still has quite a few coughing, and reverse snorting spasms. This week we had the 'snotty nose' problem. She is sneezing thick mucous out of her (usually) left nostril. It doesn't look infected, but it isn't exactly decorative - especially on the walls. She is back on a different course of AB's, and prednisolone. She should really have a camera up her nose, but they are a bit concerned as it would be mean a third general anaesthetic in quite a short period, and her heart/bronchi aren't brilliant. Having said this, she's as mad as ever. Last week she ran into a wood and didn't come back when called. She had eaten the hind leg of a freshly dead rabbit when I located her, perfectly camouflaged in the bracken. Today I was practising serpentine heelwork, and sendaway, stop, and recall over a jump with Eddie. She left me in no doubt that she wanted to do it too - which she did, and with better style than him!
I keep meaning to ask after Eddie and Tweed but something crops up so I forget. Then when I go to bed I remember that I have forgotten yet again. At the moment I am so "vermisht" that I cannot think straight in any case - the silence here is deafening,if you know what I mean. The sooner there is another small person in the place, the better.
Eddie's health thread is beginning to look like a novel! This time it is not his colitis that is a worry. Perhaps because we had been preoccupied with Tweed's health problems, or maybe because, at seven, he had become a veteran dog, we hadn't been concerned by Eddie's slowing down until Merry arrived. We then began to notice how tired he looked, compared to her boundless energy. Last Monday I took him to the vet., and asked for a thyroid blood test. At first the vet was resistant,and said that a general blood profile would be more appropriate. He took the blood and we said that we would ring later for the results. On the way home, we took the dogs for a walk, and were surprised to get a phone call when we arrived, saying that Eddie did have a low thyroid reading, but also high red cell, and calcium levels. He asked us to return later to have a sample taken for specialist lab tests for the thyroid and calcium levels. We got another call at teatime, to say that they had kept back some of the second lot of blood and repeated their in house tests. By that time the haemoglobin level had dropped to within normal limits, but his ionised calcium was still high, and his thyroid was very low. He started on thyroxine tablets the next morning. Since then, the specialist lab tests have confirmed these results, and he is beginning to look brighter on the thyroxine. His ionised calcium level is apparently still a cause for concern, and both those tests are due to be repeated in 28 days. I'm trying not to worry about him, as he is still his normal happy self - if a little more sleepy than he used to be. However, I would welcome any insights from anybody who has experienced hypothyroid problems with their dogs. What questions should I be asking? Is there anything we should be looking out for?
Eddie was back at the vets yesterday for his 28 day blood tests. I'm thrilled to say that the results were pretty good, as his cholesterol, haemoglobin and calcium readings are now within non worrying limits. His thyroid level has increased from 6 to 52, - the normal range is 35 - 62, which shows just how low he must have been feeling. (After looking up thyroid hormone ranges, I deduce that this is his T3 reading). He is to stay on his current Thyforon dosage, (200mcg twice daily), until he has had his next 28 day test. Ed seems to be brighter and happier, and is being more sociable with unfamiliar dogs. He is drinking less, and although his coat is thinner than it was, it is shiny, and his skin feels a little looser - it will probably take time to grow anyway. Also, though the vet says that it is not connected, his IBD has also shown a marked improvement. I have bought canine thyroid expert Dr. Jean Dodds book, (Dodds and Laverdure, The Canine Thyroid Epidemic), which although very readable, I am still finding contains rather too much information to internalise quickly. I am amazed by just how many conditions may be affected by hypothyroidism - particularly in those most affected breeds. My vet believes that this is the most over-diagnosed condition in dogs, but I have to say I'm so glad that I did push for thyroid testing. ps. I prefer my hard copy, but Jean Dodds book is freely available as a [.pdf] file if you Google for it.
That all sounds very encouraging - great news. I've just looked up the Jean Dodds book on Amazon - it certainly got very good reviews!
OH dear - here we go again with my unlucky boy's health saga! I'm keeping this thread going because I have found it so hard to get information on Eddie's complaints, and our experience might be of help to someone having similar problems in the future. After returning home from our obedience show this weekend, (only a training round), Eddie had a small bleed from his bottom. Although it is only 7 months since his last bowel op, his polyps had returned, and had grown quite large. He also has a stricture caused by the scar tissue from the last op., so the poor boy has been back in surgery today. I would say two of the polyps the vet removed looked about hazelnut sized, (without shells), and another four were about the size of dried peas. Quite a mass for a smallish Beagle bum to contain! Our vet is going to try giving him a drug to slow down the future rate of regrowth, but the downside could be dry eye, and a worsening of his thyroid problem. At least it isn't malignant, and he is such a brave boy. We will just going to have to take it one step at a time, and hope for the best result.
Oh what an embarrassing problem for poor Eddie! I really hope it can be controlled without adverse side effects.
