Suspected brain tumor, looking for input.

[Tuff Love]

Oh Dante.... :( RIP sweetheart. One of the hardest things about only coming on here once in a while is finding that one of the babies I've become so familiar with and enjoyed hearing stories about has become ill or passed. I am so so very sorry to hear about Dante- I've been exactly where you are more than once and my heart still aches immensely over losing Tuff. We went down a very similar path with him when he was 5, though not quite as fast as Dante. I think you're probably correct about the Glioma. Tuff suffered from "head tremors" since he was about 2 or 3 years old, but after we lost him I began to wonder if they weren't related to his untimely death. You may remember me flooding the boards desperately seeking advice all those years ago. It was in the summer of 2010 that he first began showing issues with his balance and after doing a number of tests at the vet's office and ruling out a bunch of other things, they suggested that it could be neurological- vestibular disease, brain cancer, etc. We had an MRI done and took him to Penn Vet for a professional opinion and they determined that he likely either had a glioma or GME (or both). Only a brain biopsy could determine for sure and we weren't going to put him through that, so we went with prednisone since the prognosis of both was poor and the palliative treatment option was the same. His MRI revealed several infarcts, which could have been tumors or strokes (or both), swelling on the brain, and spinal fluid leaking. I knew I had witnessed the tail end of at least 2 strokes where he appeared disoriented. A lot of his behaviors are a little foggy in my memory but much of what you report is familiar. We treated him for 4 months and at the end he was having episodes of heavy panting and was clearly in distress. I'll never forget sitting up with him Christmas night hearing the awful cry he let out. It was time. We let him go the day after Christmas 2010. Ugh.. and here come the tears :/ While I'm not a vet, I think that it's probably pretty likely that Dante could have had a brain tumor. It's so common in boxers. From the sounds of it there really wasn't anything you could do. We didn't even send Tuff for autopsy to find out what happened because we knew it didn't change anything- he was gone. In his case, I think he probably had both glioma and GME. I can't tell you how bad I beat myself up over wether or not to vaccinate Thora for Lepto and Lyme because there's some controversy about these vaccines causing autoimmune issues like GME. I STILL stress over annual vaccines and Thora is going to be 6 this week and need another round. We live in an area where Lyme Disease and Lepto are extremely common... I've already pulled 2 deer ticks off her this winter because it's been so mild. So it's like trying to pick the lesser of the evils. ... Sorry, I didn't mean to ramble on. We wish you peace and hope the memories you made with Dante can bring some comfort at this awful time. *hugs*

 

[xJazerx]

Oh Dante.... :( RIP sweetheart. One of the hardest things about only coming on here once in a while is finding that one of the babies I've become so familiar with and enjoyed hearing stories about has become ill or passed. I am so so very sorry to hear about Dante- I've been exactly where you are more than once and my heart still aches immensely over losing Tuff. We went down a very similar path with him when he was 5, though not quite as fast as Dante. I think you're probably correct about the Glioma. Tuff suffered from "head tremors" since he was about 2 or 3 years old, but after we lost him I began to wonder if they weren't related to his untimely death. You may remember me flooding the boards desperately seeking advice all those years ago. It was in the summer of 2010 that he first began showing issues with his balance and after doing a number of tests at the vet's office and ruling out a bunch of other things, they suggested that it could be neurological- vestibular disease, brain cancer, etc. We had an MRI done and took him to Penn Vet for a professional opinion and they determined that he likely either had a glioma or GME (or both). Only a brain biopsy could determine for sure and we weren't going to put him through that, so we went with prednisone since the prognosis of both was poor and the palliative treatment option was the same. His MRI revealed several infarcts, which could have been tumors or strokes (or both), swelling on the brain, and spinal fluid leaking. I knew I had witnessed the tail end of at least 2 strokes where he appeared disoriented. A lot of his behaviors are a little foggy in my memory but much of what you report is familiar. We treated him for 4 months and at the end he was having episodes of heavy panting and was clearly in distress. I'll never forget sitting up with him Christmas night hearing the awful cry he let out. It was time. We let him go the day after Christmas 2010. Ugh.. and here come the tears :/ While I'm not a vet, I think that it's probably pretty likely that Dante could have had a brain tumor. It's so common in boxers. From the sounds of it there really wasn't anything you could do. We didn't even send Tuff for autopsy to find out what happened because we knew it didn't change anything- he was gone. In his case, I think he probably had both glioma and GME. I can't tell you how bad I beat myself up over wether or not to vaccinate Thora for Lepto and Lyme because there's some controversy about these vaccines causing autoimmune issues like GME. I STILL stress over annual vaccines and Thora is going to be 6 this week and need another round. We live in an area where Lyme Disease and Lepto are extremely common... I've already pulled 2 deer ticks off her this winter because it's been so mild. So it's like trying to pick the lesser of the evils. ... Sorry, I didn't mean to ramble on. We wish you peace and hope the memories you made with Dante can bring some comfort at this awful time. *hugs*

While I haven't been on here for a few years I do remember you. I didn't join the boards until 2011 soon after getting Dante if I remember correctly (he was born Feb 12 2011), so Im not sure that I saw your posts about Tuff in that respect. I truly appreciate you sharing his story with me. I'm so sorry if this caused old wounds to open :(

What is hard about not knowing, is I keep asking myself "what if it wasn't something serious that could have been treated" (like an infection or something)... questions like that dont stop torturing me with being so in the dark.

I never vaccinated for Lepto/Lyme. I felt his exposure risk was so low it wasn't worth it. We don't live in an area where those are exceptionally prevalent, and he doesn't spend a lot of time outside where wild animals are. He was also on regular flea/tick. I vaccinated for everything else though.

 

[xJazerx]

I am so so sorry for your loss :( ... I was in your shoes almost 4 years ago and had to help my Boy to the rainbow bridge ..... at the age of 2 he started having seizures every 4-6 weeks. We thought it was a possible brain tumor so we took him to UT Knoxville for a mri. We were told the same you were, cost could possibly be $10,000 and would only give us another year, with 6 months of that being in recovery from the surgery. After many exams and several opinions we decided against the mri...... we were afraid of how the sedation would affect his seizures and if they confirmed a brain tumor We couldn't see putting him through surgery had we been able to even afford the cost. We treated the seizures with medication but ultimately, lost him 3 years later to Lymphoma and had to help him peacefully in my arms to the rainbow bridge.

Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers, Your boy sure was handsome hugs to all.

Thank you for sharing your boy's story. I appreciate your support. Im sorry you had to go through such a grim prognosis as well.

 

[xJazerx]

I'm so very sorry to hear about your loss. Last Thursday I lost my beloved Sammie as well. She also went downhill in a matter of weeks. I suspect some kind of colon or stomach cancer, but like you, I was not going to put her through the extensive testing and treatment to find out exactly what it was when my decision was just to keep her comfortable and hope for recovery. We did blood and urine tests all mostly normal and tried the same things with meds and boiled chicken etc. While I might like to know exactly what it was, I try not to focus on that part as it does not change the outcome or what I could have done for her. Sammie was 10 so while that stings, I understand why you might be looking for answers since your boy was only 6. My thoughts are with you and I hope you find peace. I know for me it's going to take awhile but it should come in time for both of us with the support of this community.

Thank you for sharing Sammie's story. I am so sorry for your loss as well :(

I do wish we had a few more years with him. His mom passed at 9 due to a tumor in her snout/nose (if I remember correctly). We thought we would at least have a few more years with him, even if he did die at a younger age like his mom. This came on so suddenly it was just that much more shocking and devastating. He was SUCH a good dog. Im not even saying that because he was mine, . He was soo patient, lovable, and just the best.. he just plain deserved a few more years. I guess that's part of why it hurts so bad.

 

[xJazerx]

Here are some pictures from his 6th birthday (he got a homemade peanut butter puppy cake) and from Christmas this year. God he will be missed <3

 

[msnitsirk]

Thank you for sharing Sammie's story. I am so sorry for your loss as well :(

I do wish we had a few more years with him. His mom passed at 9 due to a tumor in her snout/nose (if I remember correctly). We thought we would at least have a few more years with him, even if he did die at a younger age like his mom. This came on so suddenly it was just that much more shocking and devastating. He was SUCH a good dog. Im not even saying that because he was mine, . He was soo patient, lovable, and just the best.. he just plain deserved a few more years. I guess that's part of why it hurts so bad.

Those pictures are precious memories! What a handsome boy! Thank you for sharing. Right now, I find the only thing that comes close to filling the giant size Sammie/Boxer hole in my heart is reading about the rest of the boxer family still with us. It still makes me smile watching the rest of the wigglebutts kidneybean and do boxer burns. They are such little stinkers that grab your heart with their little paw and hold onto it Furever. RIP Sammie and Dante, you two new inductions to the rainbow bridge better be watching out for the next to pass over, and may that time be very long from now.

 

[xJazerx]

Thank you. :*( I feel like I'm going to have a huge gaping hole forever. He was just so special. I love my little dog, but the connection with Dante was just, different. I don't think I will be getting another Boxer when I am ready to get another dog (tho it will probably be a long time).. I just don't know if I can.

 

[xJazerx]

On a medical related note - Dante had already had 4+ growths/tumors. 2/3 were believed to be histiocytomas (aspirated and viewed under a microscope).. they went away on their own after a few weeks/months.. 1 I had removed about 2 months ago, looked like a swollen skin tag. He didn't have definitive diagnosis on exactly what it was, but said it did not look like anything bad, just a benign growth. 1 would swell up some days so that it was noticeable under his fur, and other days you could rarely find it. My vet wasn't too concerned because he said a mast cell tumor wouldn't shrink like that? Like all the others, no mast cells present under a microscope. I dont know if it has any relation to what his final health crisis was caused by, but maybe worth noting. Poor guy had a history of growths at such a young age :(

 

[ZekeZira]

Oh, this is heart wrenching. I am so sorry for the sudden loss of your beautiful boy. I have no experience/advice, I can only offer you my support and sympathies. I recognize sweet Dante's photos and am just heartbroken for you.

 

[Tuff Love]

Those photos are great He was such a handsome boxer. Tuff had a handful of surgeries to remove various lumps and bumps over the course of his short life. He had 2 MCTs (1 was a grade 2) and the rest were benign growths. He had his first MCT when he was 9 months old and demodectic mange around the same time, so clearly his immune system was not working properly. Unfortunately I think both our boys just had the misfortune of having a crappy immune system. If I had another dog that started out with autoimmune issues like that at such a young age I would feel pretty uneasy about their future.