giraffez

On 22/01/2021 at 6:13 AM, tdierikx said:

When they prepare a slide, they dip it into 2 stains and a fixer, then they put the cover slip on. With a lipoma, virtually no stain will attach to the fatty substance extracted, so it ends up looking quite clear instead of red/purple... thus is really easy to tell even with the naked eye.

When it was squirted out onto the slide, it was clear, no colour at all.  There was one where the vet wasn't sure because he said it didn't feel right, so sent to the labs - it also had no colour.  Didn't even microscope it and I'm not sure why.  It came back as a lipoma also.

I'm beginning to wonder whether I need to change vets.  My boy has seen this vet since he was little.  He is now 11 and I'm not sure changing vets now is a good thing.

On 13/01/2021 at 7:03 AM, tdierikx said:

I can understand erring on the side of caution though... some vets may prefer to have samples inspected by a professional pathologist for the most accurate diagnoses... just in case there is something else going on. It would be horrible to miss something sinister at an early stage, yes?

I actually get the impression that microscope work isn't performed at this vet.  He doesn't even check it, just sends it to the lab.    Some he would look at the specimen on the slide using the naked eye and say this looks like a lipoma and not nasty so we won't send this one to the lab.  But i'm not sure how he can tell without a microscope.

It seems simple enough to diagnose from the above youtube video.  I wonder why they don't do it.

On 13/01/2021 at 1:42 PM, Tassie said:

You should definitely be able to arrange a phone consult with a vet .. it may cost you a bit, but if they do the FNA it should be just bundled into the cost of that.   

If they can't organise a phone consult appointment, and definitely, if they can't/won't do a FNA, then I think for me that would be a bit of a deal breaker and a sign to start looking for a practice that could offer better service.

My vets over many years add the size and nature of lipomas to my dogs' notes  .. and if they're in any doubt, will do a FNA.   My vet and I shared a bit of a laugh one day when he was investigating a lump on an older bitch ..wasn't sure because it didn't feel like a normal lipoma .. did an FNA .. and got the answer when pus shot across the room. ..

 

Over the years, the only trouble I've had with lipomas on my dogs have been a couple that needed to be removed because of their location .. and one that actually became infected and needed to be removed.

Thanks everyone.  Could I just clarify something to make sure I'm understanding correctly, the FNA you are referring to is the test to extract a bit of the lump into a needle and put on a slide then view under the microscope?  Exactly what @Boronia 's video shows.

The thing is, my vet does the first two but doesn't view it under the microscope and they refer it as fine needle aspiration.  They send the slides to the labs to get checked out instead.  Is it common for vets to be able to understand how to use the microscope?

On 10/01/2021 at 6:09 PM, Snook said:

I'd find another vet to be honest. My dog's vet would do the fine needle aspiration, put it on a slide and look at it under the microscope in the consult room.

I'm struggling to find a good vet.  The one I'm going to has the best reviews in the area .... by a long shot and I've been seeing them for a while too.  I would think they would know how to do a fine needle aspiration but doesn't seem to be the case.   Finding a good vet is a  bit of hit or miss.  Until I actually get into the consult room, I won't know whether they can do this and there is no point asking them over the phone because the receptionist is usually a younger kid (I say kid because they are like in high school) taking the call with very little (or none) animal medical background.

23 hours ago, Snook said:

As @tdierikx said, a fine needle aspiration is a quick and inexpensive way for a vet to confirm whether its a lipoma or not. You shouldn't need to pay for lab testing unless it's not a lipoma.

My vet didn't give me this option.  He basically said need to send to the labs, thats the only way to tell.  So its $200 per lump.  I also went to see a specialist for some other matter and I asked him to look at the lump as a passing comment, and he basically told me the same thing, he can't tell without sending to a lab as a biopsy.

My schnauzer is 10 and I've noticed a lot of lumps and bumps on him now.    We got a few of them tested and they turned out to be lipomas which are benign, but there are more appearing and my vet says he will just continue to get more as he ages.  

At what point do i stop testing?  Its a very expensive exercise - around $200 per lump and he now has around 6 new ones.  Are lumps common to appear once a dog is over 10?  I read today at an animal hospital that 50% of dogs over 10 have some form of cancer.

Did you try it with adaptil?

Great suggestions, will try that next time

On 3/15/2019 at 1:07 AM, Garret said:

Hi mate, 

My dog is also suffering from IVDD. And he is somewhat paralyzed, could you maybe tell me more of an update on how's it going at ur end? Since by the look of this post it has been sometime.. 

@Boroniathanks for raising this to my attention otherwise I wouldn't have seen this

@Garret, I'm sorry to hear this.  I ended up taking my dog to the hospital to see a specialist.  Put him on some nerve medication and he has remarkably improved significantly. Hasn't relapsed since (knock on wood).  He seems to be back to normal, however, I keep a close eye on his movement, I don't let him bolt out the door into the yard like he used to.  But its all looking well.  He is no longer on the meds, was only on it for around 2 weeks.  It has help my boy, not sure whether it has the same effect on yours but worth asking the vet.  I'll PM you the name of the med once I find it, I wrote it down somewhere.

We did go for an MRI and confirmed he had a protruded disc.  Doesn't seem to be bothering him at the moment when it hasn't flared up.  Surgery was an option (albeit a risky one due to the angle) if the meds didn't work but in my mind, probably not worth putting him through the pain and long recovery at his age.  I'm thank my lucky stars that the meds worked, I hope it does for you too. All the best!

Wouldn’t have a clue, it is most likely in a warehouse.  Not sure whether that is air conditioned.  But I think the volume they sell the stock goes out the door pretty quickly

no freezer space.  Wouldn't it come out all wet?

If the bag is not opened, does it go bad in the foil packaging in such hot weather?

The dog food I want is currently 30% off however I’ve probably got one month worth of kibbles left.  Given the hot weather lately (high 30s everyday) I’m thinking I shouldn’t stock up on more even though the saving is tempting as it’s not often it’s on sale.

The bags are in foiled bags so I’m curious whether the hot weather will make the food go bad, or less fresh.    Your thoughts?

1 hour ago, juice said:

I empty bag into a container so can’t remember exact ingredients , but from memory they are almost the same . Look on the Costco US site as it lists it with Ingredients , $52 , for 15kg 

Wow so much cheaper!  Does the costco one always have stock or is it a rotational item where it only appears once in a while?

Thanks

The strength and brand and packaging is all the same. 

@karly101 Why doesn't the vet just write a script rather maintain all that overhead?  Its bad for the vet in terms of storage and packing and dispensing etc, and bad for the customer as it is so much more expensive.  Wouldn't it work better to just get them to go get their own meds from the chemist and keep the ones that you need for emergency/surgeries at the clinic?

can it go under local anesthetic without putting my dog under?

Thanks

@Divawhat are the websites you are referring to?  How do they fulfil and order online if it requires a prescription?

On 5/19/2018 at 5:32 PM, juice said:

Yes Costco does have the fish one , I feed it . 

Thanks.  Is it the same recipe as taste of the wild, just different brand?  How much is the costco one and how many Kgs?

My boy has some loose teeth.  Don't want to put him under to get it removed.  Will it fall out on its own?  It has been loose for a while now.  Doesn't seem to bother him but its gone a bit brown on the edges.

Why are pet medication so much more expensive?  The same med for dog and human, costs about 50 times more if i get it at the vet hospital. 

My dog went into hospital recently and the specialist dispensed me some drugs.  Because it is for long term use, he says he can write me a script for the future to get at the chemist.  I'm not sure whether this means cheaper prices and what it means for my pet insurance claim.  If i have it dispensed at the chemist, can I still claim under insurance?  I looked up the drug on the chemist warehouse page and it only costs peanuts, but i paid hundreds at the hospital.

i used TOTW salmon for my boy.  I did it because of the good reviews  and it seems to do well with them.  Its one of the few brands that only have fish as the protein.  Other brand chuck in chicken fillers which my boy has a mild allergy to when he was young.  

Does the costco brand have fish?

15 hours ago, Dogsfevr said:

 

The questions you need to ask is if you get an MRI / CT are you prepared to look at surgery or would it be because you want to know .The cost to have one done just because I would have to justify .

Spasms  are muscle related and a vet can’t solve that issue ,painful in there own right .

If the dog is moving differently to compensate for its back or is finding it harder to get up n down other muscles work harder .

Pinched muscle is painful and needs releasing ,pain tablets won’t to do that .

Using rock tape to help support the area helps bigtime as do muscle relaxers.

 

Has the vet rayed the back at all 

 

Very fair point.  The MRI/CT I was told would most probably pinpoint the problem.  At the moment, my dog keeps relapsing into pain once the pain killers wear off.  So in effect, I'm just masking the problem.  Wouldn't the likes of bowen, accupunture, chiro and physio be all in the same boat ?  Gives the pet relief but doesn't fix the issue.  If left unattended, all the symptoms will surface again.  Since getting the pain he can't go a day without the pain killers and even when he does, he can still be in excruciating pain.

With surgery you have a very good point.  At the moment I'm not 100% clear whether surgery can fix the problem.  Can IVDD be fixed at all? @karly101 seems to imply there are success stories and I also read online from some of the websites @persephone kindly sent me that its not all doom and gloom.

Does pet insurance offer coverage for MRI and CT?  I know there is still a huge out of pocket but any coverage will help significantly.

@Dogsfevr how often do you see a bowen and while i understand they do help, do your babies still experience pain. Do you still need them on pain relief medication with these alternate therapy treatment?

I did a google on canine Bowen therapy NSW and I couldn’t find any practitioners.  Where do I start if I was to find one?

31 minutes ago, jemappelle said:

All the vet specialists tend to be located at one of the specialist vet hospitals.  In what area do you live?

inner west

what kind of specialist am i looking for for IVDD?

Thanks all.

I’m not sure I can find a Bowen.  Is i t worthwhile to see a physio, how effective are the treatments?

@karly101 a specialist is probably the way to go.  what kind of specialist look into ivdd?  Do I need a CT or MRI first?

Thanks, when to use cold and when to use heat.  If he has an inflammation (which I think he has) heat will agggrevate it more wouldn’t it?  Usually when the pain is new, you apply cold and few days later heat.  But this pain comes and goes.

surgery I don’t think is an option, I was told it’s very invasive and recovery is long and he may not walk after that.  He is nine so I’m more leaning towards making him as comfortable as possible.

im also worried about the meds he is taking for long term, tramedol is a pain killer and seems to be effective when he is in pain but I worry it’s going to have adverse effects. 

vet diagnosed him with IVDD for the back.  No xrays done yet, vet doesn't think anything will show up in the xrays.  If anything, will need a CT and/or MRI.

He is only on tablets at the moment.  When it get bad, i ice pack him but given the cold weather lately, the cold pack is not ideal.