Ruby's Cruciate Surgery Takes Another Turn

[Dog_Horse_Girl]

I've deleted much of my OP because it's not relevant ATM. Ruby's got a tumour on her spleen and we're waiting for the surgeon to ring again after he's removed it all. I'm hoping against hope it's benign...if you can, please send positive vibes our way.

Please keep my special staffy cross girl in your thoughts this week. BTW - she's nine and a half so not a spring chicken but not elderly either - we didn't see this coming at all.

Edited December 23, 2009 by lillysmum

[Kelly_Louise]

Best of luck for Ruby - I do hope the surgery helps. I'm glad you feel comfortable with the specialist - I prefer them in situations as these as well.

Chloe was 8 almost 9 when she had 2 cruciate surgeries (one on each leg) - and you'd be surprised how well they adapt. My advice is to be well prepared with boredom busters, and ensure her area and any area she will have access to is totally safe (ie, nothing she can slip or trip over).

Don't be surprised if she blows the other cruciate at some point... it is very common within 18 months of the first surgery - and I guess seeing that the 'good' leg has been taking up alot of the slack both before and after surgery, it's not surprising. But fingers crossed it won't come to that.

Do you know what kind of surgery Ruby will be having? Just interested as they were experimenting with some new techniques when Chloe had her tibial wedge osteotomies and just wondering if they were more advancements now?

Hugs to you all, and hope Ruby is home for Christmas to spend with her family. Good luck and keep us updated!

[Dog_Horse_Girl]

She's having the older style surgery, can't recall exactly what the specialist said.

However, we won't be going back to this practice. OH took Ruby in this morning and wasn't impressed with the check-in procedure or lack of compassion shown by the receptionist. The woman was trying to get him to PAY and fill in the forms while Ruby was still with him and she was clearly terrified. OH asked if they could settle the dog down first then do the required paperwork and payment. While this was going on, a man brought in his greyhound; both were clearly distressed and it looked like an emergency rather than a routine visit. Rather than rush the dog into a consult room, what did they do? Ask the frantic owner to fill in some paperwork and swipe the credit card...just in case (I suppose in case the dog died and the owner didn't want to pay the bill?). ;)

OH also baulked at one of the admit questions on whether we wanted the patient resuscitated during surgery - of course we would want that! Do they really feel the need to ask that in a relatively young and healthy animal?

So, we'll be going to Anvet in Kedron next time.

[Kelly_Louise]

It's the simple things that tells you if you can trust your vet, or not.

I wouldn't go back their either. I guess the resuscitation question might have been protocol (even though we think the answers only natural)... but to have no concern over the patients, especially if they are showing distress, is just chilling. There's procedure, and there's humanity.... gotta have a bit of both I'd say.

Stick with someone you trust 100%, it takes so much of the unnecessary worry out of it.

How did Ruby's surgery go? Hope all is well.

[Dog_Horse_Girl]

Things did not go well at all and Ruby hasn't had the surgery yet.

Apparently she had a bad reaction to the GA (which she was fine with in August with our previous vet) and she was having seizures so they stabilised her and brought her out of it. They didn't even inform us straight away. When they did, OH was given two options:

1. Keep Ruby in overnight for observation and complete the surgery today or

2. Take her home and re-consider the surgery's timing

As OH is off work a few more weeks, and as the surgeon recommended it, he decided to leave her there and have the surgery done today. We're both concerned that something could go wrong again and I'm feeling as if we should have just gone and picked her up. But OH just wants it done (and I understand that too).

I would have thought they would ring us this morning. But they didn't. So OH has just called to find out that she's apparently much brighter this morning and that surgery is scheduled for about lunchtime today.

I hope it goes well and there are no more complications. Please keep Ruby in your thoughts everyone, she needs all the positive energy we can send her way.

[Kelly_Louise]

Done - best wishes being sent her way

Did they give a reason for the reaction to the GA? Or even have a guess as to what it might have been that caused it? To be honest, I don't know alot about the complications that can occur with GA nor the different reasons for it - however, before attempting it again, I - and I would assume the vet, would want to know why it happened or what triggered it before trying again? Again, that's just my logic and perhaps they know it's a one off situation and is safe to try again?

Very worrying - I'm sorry you have to go through this. I do hope the surgery goes off without a hitch this time - and I also hope that you never go back to this vet again unless it's necessary. Not saying the reaction was caused by them (I wouldn't know) but their procedures and lack of compassion towards patient and clients (who've shelled out alot of money and expect better service for their beloved pets) leaves alot to be desired.

I understand just wanting to get it done... the sooner it's done the sooner she will hopefully be racing around again, after proper recovery time of course.

Best wishes - and do make sure you find out more about this reaction... you will probably need to know the details for if she ever needs it again to warn other vets etc so need to know as much as possible.

Let us know how she goes... hope she's home for Christmas.

[Dog_Horse_Girl]

Done - best wishes being sent her way

Did they give a reason for the reaction to the GA? Or even have a guess as to what it might have been that caused it? To be honest, I don't know alot about the complications that can occur with GA nor the different reasons for it - however, before attempting it again, I - and I would assume the vet, would want to know why it happened or what triggered it before trying again? Again, that's just my logic and perhaps they know it's a one off situation and is safe to try again?

Very worrying - I'm sorry you have to go through this. I do hope the surgery goes off without a hitch this time - and I also hope that you never go back to this vet again unless it's necessary. Not saying the reaction was caused by them (I wouldn't know) but their procedures and lack of compassion towards patient and clients (who've shelled out alot of money and expect better service for their beloved pets) leaves alot to be desired.

I understand just wanting to get it done... the sooner it's done the sooner she will hopefully be racing around again, after proper recovery time of course.

Best wishes - and do make sure you find out more about this reaction... you will probably need to know the details for if she ever needs it again to warn other vets etc so need to know as much as possible.

Let us know how she goes... hope she's home for Christmas.

They are rather vague in relation to the issue with the GA - that worries me. There are other medications available and another type of drug will be used today. As we already have a dog with epilepsy I know how serious, life-threatening and dangerous seizures can be to a dog. I'll be making sure that whatever drug/s caused the reaction, we have it in writing from the hospital so that we can make all future vets aware of this incident.

I just have a bad feeling...and hope it's completely unjustified.

Will never return to this vet regardless. And I'm sure they'll charge us for both inductions and GA's etc.

[Kelly_Louise]

Yes I'll bet.

Well it's comforting to know they are using a different drug - I'd hate for them to just try again with the same one... Fingers crossed.

I'm sure she will be fine... your uncomfortable feeling is most likely due to the experience you've had with this veterinary clinic so far and their behaviour towards patients, and now you feel a little mistrust. I'd say that would be natural given the experience you've had.

Hope all goes well this time and the surgery can be completed.

[Dog_Horse_Girl]

We've just had a call from the surgeon. The news is not the best. ;)

Ruby started tremoring again with the induction drug so they started looking for the cause. It seems Ruby has a tumour on her spleen about the size of an orange, they're going to remove both and try to determine if it's benign or not. ;)

OH is distraught (Ruby is his heart dog), and I'm trying to stay strong.

Please keep Ruby in your thoughts and hope with us that it's just a benign mass.

[Dog_Horse_Girl]

Anyone with experience in this sort of thing would be welcome to contribute whatever might help.

I'm at a loss...have seen others go through this but never imagined it would happen to one of our dogs. ;)

[Dogsfevr]

A dog we breed at 11 had a tumour removed from the spleen.it was massive.They where great owners but slow to see the symptons.We groomed the dogs still & kept saying something isnt right .

The dog lived another 3 healthy years

[Dog_Horse_Girl]

Ruby's had no specific symptoms. She has food allergies which result in very itchy skin and sometimes a bit of tummy upset - we've had her on a proper elimination diet since April this year and the allergies have settled down quite a bit. Her last check-up was October and nothing was out-of-the-ordinary then. She was put under for cruciate surgery before we moved from Darwin and the vet didn't notice anything unusual other than the knee was correcting itself so he didn't proceed with the surgery at that time.

What causes these tumours? Is it likely to be benign? ;)

[Dog_Horse_Girl]

Another update from the surgeon: they've scanned her chest and abdomen (both of which are clear) but she has a small growth on one adrenal gland in addition to the spleen mass. I'm hoping this is good news and gives her a good prognosis.

We are proceeding with having the spleen and mass removed this afternoon. Hopefully the pathology will come back clear but we're not sure on the time-frame due to it being Christmas.

Please send positive thoughts for Ruby. ;)

[Kelly_Louise]

So the cruciate surgery is out the window for a while then?

Goodness Ruby's been in the wars alright... she must be a tough little thing ;)

Hopefully the removal of the mass on the Adrenal will maybe remove the chance of her developing Cushings disease further on? Usually this disease kicks in when a tumour on the Adrenal or Pituitary gland starts affecting production of cortisol.

We continue to send best wishes. There is nothing worse than taking your dog in for one thing, and receiving unexpected bad news. But best to catch these things early on than too late!

Fingers and paws crossed for a quick recovery and excellent prognosis.

[Dog_Horse_Girl]

I think cruciate surgery is off the agenda to be honest. I'm not sure that we would want to put her through another major operation any time soon...and the finances are going to be a mess. I've been off work since Sept due to moving interstate and today quit my (newly-acquired) job of 2 weeks! ;)

We want whatever is best for Ruby - she has been through a lot in her time...if it's the worst news when the path results come in, we'll just enjoy her and keep her comfortable for however long she has. But we are hoping with all we have that the tumour is benign...surely her luck has to change! ;)

[Kelly_Louise]

Sounds like you're all having a run of hard luck... hopefully that will change when you get some good news.

There are other alternative methods that can keep Ruby's knee comfortable until she is fully recovered and the finances are restored (not telling me anything I don't know - I feel that pain LOL) and you feel she might be ready. First things first, she needs to get over this little hurdle first, which I'm sure she will.

[Erny]

Just caught this thread, LM.

Sending my well wishes to Ruby and hoping that she'll be back and on the way to recovery, with a good prognosis, by the time Santa comes to visit and when he does visit, I hope he brings for you, your dogs and family a bucket load of good health (and some money wouldn't go astray either ..... I know what size the Vet bills can and do add up to).

;)

Edited December 23, 2009 by Erny