I spent today in Missoula on the weekly run, driving in with a truck full of dogs -- the blind Poodle sisters Molly and Priscilla to the groomers (finally!), and blind Penny and Dexter the Dachshund to our internal medicine specialist, Dr. Dave Bostwick. While the dogs were all being attended to, I did grocery shopping, went to Costco for supplies, took deposits to the bank, interviewed a horse trainer we're going to use to work with blind Cash (more later), and made a few other stops along the way.
Penny needed yet another growth removed from her lower back. Dave thinks it was benign but sent it off for a biopsy to confirm. As for Dexter ... well, there turned out to be nothing at all wrong with him, which is why he was probably more indignant than usual about being in a cage.
The other day Alayne felt a lump on his neck under his jaw, and when Dexter turned his head towards the light, she could see it as well. She had me look at him, and I could definitely feel it ... and another one on the other side of his neck, too. Swollen lymph nodes ... uh oh ... was my first thought.
Then I remembered something. When I took blind Callie to WSU for her brain tumor radiation, the 4th year vet student who did Callie's initial pre-intake physical exam felt lumps under her jaw on both sides ... and she was concerned that Callie's cancer might have spread to her lymph nodes. The vet student wanted to know if the referring vet -- in this case, it was Dave -- had mentioned these lumps to us. By the time I got Dave on the phone to ask about them, the oncologist had already walked into the room, felt the lumps, and said, "Oh, those are just very pronounced salivary glands!" Which is exactly what Dave was telling me, between chuckles, on the phone. It was a good learning for both the vet student and me.
So when I dropped Dexter off this morning with Penny, I told Alex, Dave's vet tech, that I was 99% sure these were salivary glands I was feeling on Dexter ... but just in case, let's have Dave do an exam and he can have another chuckle at my expense. What made me just a tad bit nervous was the fact that after first feeling the lumps on Dexter, I went around and examined all the other Dachshunds -- and not one had lumps like that. Alayne and I thought, hmm, we'd better find out and not make an assumption.
Sure enough, they were salivary glands.
So when I went back to the clinic this afternoon to pick up Penny and Dexter, the wee-one was very vocal about being locked up for no reason at all. And since I didn't move fast enough to get him out, he threw his head back to let rip:
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Vote in the Shelter Challenge here.Last year we won $3,000 in the first round and then won the $20,000 Grand Prize in the second round, so your votes really do add up and make for a wonderful gift for the animals here.
Thank you!
I am so happy Dexter is all right & I am happy you were the protective overly cautious parent to make sure it was nothing. I hate when I hear someone tell me as I heard today. My dog has been throwing up since Tuesday. This being Friday I had to do everything I could to not yell at the person & say...what are you waiting for? Please take your dog to the Vet. I am a worry-wart when it comes to anything out of the ordinary & cannot wait & try to hold out to see if there is an improvement. I rather pay a vet bill & be told everything is okay. But, I did encourage the person in a loving-way to try to get to the vet asap. So sorry for the inconvenience to Dexter though! Hope it's good news for Penny! How do the Sisters look after their spa day???
Posted by: Colleen & Sweet Kitty Erin | February 05, 2010 at 04:53 PM
You tell em Dexter
Posted by: Evelyn | February 05, 2010 at 01:50 PM
Don't be subtle, Dexter, honey! Tell 'em what you really think! LOL!
I'm so glad those are just salivary glands!
Posted by: Vicki Small | February 04, 2010 at 08:59 PM
Oh, Dexter! You are ALL doxie, that is for sure! I would howl too if that would have been me. Hope you are snug and happy back on the ranch.
Frankie, the Walk 'N Roll Dog
http://www.joyfulpaws.com
Posted by: Barbara Techel | February 04, 2010 at 08:18 PM
Barooo...get me out of here. I know you're there!!
Posted by: Janet in Cambridge | February 04, 2010 at 08:15 PM
He lives up to his name, doesn't he?? So glad he's OK and hope Penny will be fine, too. It was nice to see RDR is a weekly winner in the shelter challenge. That was a good idea to have two weekly winners and change the grand prize amount. (Now that you've won it already, of course.) Gives a chance for more sanctuaries to get a little extra help. Stay warm.
Posted by: Barb Ribinski | February 04, 2010 at 06:38 PM
You take such great care of all the critters at the ranch! Here's hoping all is well is with precious Penny! Dexter is sooo cute...gotta love the sounds of protest!!
Posted by: Nina | February 04, 2010 at 05:04 PM
I'm in complete agreement with Ginger. All of us with pets know what it's like to have a sick pet, think it's nothing or will pass, then take them to the vet and hear "Now if we had just seen him *last* week". Better safe than sorry! It's also less trauma to your wallet in the long run!
Posted by: Aliza | February 04, 2010 at 11:32 AM
I think Dexter is more upset that they only gave him ONE blanket to nest in! Next time I think you need to bring a laundry basket FULL of blankets for proper nesting purposes. :) Glad that all is well.
Posted by: Amy | February 04, 2010 at 11:14 AM
Dexter reminds me so much of a mini named Bruiser that let me share 15 years with him. When I first got him, he had a tiny spot of ring worm that I faithfully went to the vet every week to have him dipped. At 4 months old and only 3 1/2 pounds, the attendants were absolutely besotted by his "cuteness", but like Dexter he had a "don't fence me in" attitude. The first time, I was told to come back and pick him up in 6 hours. The next time, it was 3 hours pick up time. The third time, I just pulled into my drive at home, about 40 minutes away, the phone ring, I could hear Bruiser's "dulcet tones" in the background, and I was told to pick him up immediately! It seems that even with the lights out in the room and everyone tip toeing around, as soon as the cage door closed, Bruiser registered his non stop unhappiness with the situation. It's why I am so crazy about Dexter!! He's all "boy" and puts me so much in mind of my beloved Bruiser! Enjoy!
Posted by: Kathleen Rivard | February 04, 2010 at 11:12 AM
No more lymphoma scares! My dog, Jack, can tell you that lymphoma is no fun at all. I wish his were pronounced salivary glands...
So glad Dexter is okay.
Posted by: Linda | February 04, 2010 at 10:55 AM
We hope Penny's biopsy comes back with good results!
It sure seems as though Dexter is confirming that he has no problems, except being in a cage for no apparent reason! ; )
Posted by: boundforglory | February 04, 2010 at 09:20 AM
I just love Dexter! Waht a cutie.
Posted by: gayle | February 04, 2010 at 08:53 AM
Wow! A week 2 winner on the shelter challenge.....maybe that's really what Dexter is howling about??
Posted by: Peggy S. | February 04, 2010 at 07:47 AM
Oh, the indignity of it all...how dare you (LOL)! Seriously, glad it was nothing to worry about...I would have been concerned as well.
Posted by: Debbie | February 04, 2010 at 07:32 AM
How funny. He is SO indignant!
Seeing the harness on him reminded me of something I read yesterday (and can't find again, of course) about some recent study that finds a link between collars and glaucoma in dogs. Seems collars, as opposed to harnesses, can cut off blood flow to the brain to the extent that it affects the eyes. Wish I could find the article again but it made me get harnesses for the 3 of mine that didn't have them.
Posted by: Lynne Parker | February 04, 2010 at 07:20 AM
What a cute little guy.
Posted by: Adele in the Bronx | February 04, 2010 at 06:47 AM
Always better safe than sorry! Thanks for taking such great care of all the animals in your care at the RDR! They are so fortunate to be in such great hands!
Warm hugs to all,
ginger, Tobias & Tlingit
Posted by: ginger, Tobias & Tlingit | February 04, 2010 at 03:58 AM