First off, thank you everyone for your love, your support, your prayers and your concern. Your kindness during Wyatt’s hospitalization means more than you will ever know, and has helped keep us sane during this very scary week of events. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much.
And now, for the update . . .
Leave it to Tripawds Spokesdog Wyatt Ray Dawg to baffle some of the greatest minds in veterinary medicine. Today, after eight days of hospitalization and waiting for an answer from Texas A&M Veterinary School, we received word that:
- Cancer isn’t the cause of his lump bump (YAY!)
- No major body organs or structures are endangered (HIP! HIP! HOORAY!)
- There is no clear answer to the underlying cause of his alien lump bump (WHAT?)
What IS That Thing?
One of the most frustrating scenarios of coping with a dog’s illness, is not knowing the cause.
Throughout the last week, Wyatt has been recuperating at the A&M vet hospital from an exploratory surgery that pulled tissue samples from the infected area of his body, which spanned from his anus to just up above his hip bone. The Thanksgiving holiday delayed further tests beyond the biopsy procedure, but today Wyatt underwent final diagnostics to confirm the cause of his sudden abscess/lump/tumor/mass.
At first, the Aggie vets wanted to perform a MRI but after more discussion they decided that a CT scan would give just as much information about whatever was going on. We are thankful that they chose a procedure that cost much less than a MRI.
Being OK with “We Don’t Know”
Just a few hours ago we learned that Wyatt has a “bacterially infected tract” deep within his body, but the docs simply don’t know the underlying cause of this infection. So far, not a single odd object or foreign matter was spotted within his body, although tomorrow they’ll take one more look at 3D renderings of the scans just to be sure. We are still waiting to hear if the pythiosis test for this rare fungal disease came back negative, but doctors are pretty much ruling that disease out at this point.
The good news: the best outcome we can hope for is that the infection / rump lump can be cured with one month of strong antibiotics. 30 days will tell us if this is the case. Should it not work, we would be talking about a risky surgery to rid the area of the diseased tissue that surround vital nerves and spinal areas.
The not-so-good news: we may never know what caused this infection.
This past week has been a tough test of patience. In our new world of advanced veterinary medicine, all of us have come to expect that doctors will know exactly what is going on with our dog’s health.
Whether it’s good news or bad, we all want a clear-cut diagnosis in as little time as possible, so we can know exactly what to expect.
But what we’ve had to learn with this ordeal, is that sometimes the answers just aren’t there. When they’re not, we have to accept this reality, and move on as best we can to live each day as it comes, and make the most of life.
To Be. More. Dog.
Wyatt will most likely be coming home tomorrow, for that which we are very, very grateful. It’s been way too quiet around here!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfcP8helNZs&feature=share&list=UUvZ24Tv83DmWu8Ct-7jpRiQ[/youtube]
Love the video!!!!
Well, I know you’re breathing a big sigh of relief that it wasn’t cancer! Glad to know it’s something you can do something about too. We all know that Wyatt has the best of care so it’s strange that something like this would happen. Maybe you were meant to learn something new about something else and Wyatt is leading you there.
How long are you staying in TX this winter?
Yeah, we’re hoping that the antibiotics are going to work. The docs have no idea how this could happen, it’s weird the way something can infiltrate a dog’s body with no signs whatsoever until it’s too late.
We’ll be in TX until Wyatt’s 30-day follow up ultrasound test. It’s gonna be a long month but we’re enjoying ourselves at Rainbow’s End. If you make it out here during your holidays trip to LA, let us know!
Hey you guys! Your magic worked! I’m HOME! I’m better! And NO CANCER!!! Ain’t this the best? Thank you for all the love and good wishes, you kept my pack in line and nobody freaked out too much. You’re the best!
oh my goodness….what a scare you have all had!! Wyatt Ray has been on my heart for the past week, so were his pawrents!! I am overjoyed to hear the news that this is not cancer!!
Love to you all.
Ginny! Wow it’s great to hear from you! I’m so hoppy that you were thinking of me, I know it helped. Thank you! Lots of love and woofs to you and your pack!
So glad to hear it is not cancer!! Wyatt will be back to normal in no time! Now its time to spoil him!
~L.
Yay Wyatt…I am so glad to hear it is not cancer and that you get to go home! I didn’t like when I had to stay at the hospital after my surgery, there is no place like home…and with the love everyone is sending you and your family you will be better in no time!
Sooooo Glad to hear that Cancer is not the cause. Hopefully antibiotics will knock it out and it really won’t matter in the long run what caused it. Germs are nasty little buggers.
Give Wyatt’s rump a gentle “love pat” from us!
Darcy & Bart
So very glad it isn’t cancer! We will be keeping everything crossed that the antibiotics get rid of it and it stays GONE!
I bet you can’t wait to get Wyatt home and spoil him silly.
Karen, Ruby and Spirit Magnum
No cancer is good! Going home tomorrow is good! Now we just need for those anti-biotics to get rid of that nasty lump! We’re sending all our positive thoughts your way, buddy! Get well soon!!
I’m so sorry you have been going through this ordeal, what a test it has been for you. But what a blessing it is not cancer! All paws crossed here that Wyatt can come home tomorrow so you can love him and spoil him. And that the antibiotics do their job!