Kelpie's Nose Bleeding Again.

[David See]

Hi all,

I am so glad I found this site and look forward to becoming involved.

I have a nine-year-old Kelpie bitch, Bess, red-brown and tan in colour and she has to be one of the best dogs I have ever come across. She is a great looking dog with an incredible personality and great sense of humour. Even though she is nine, she still plays and gets excited like a puppy but she thankfully stopped wrecking the yard after two years of age. I have had her from six weeks of age and I bought her just after I bought my first house - I still live there, too, so she is a real part of the furniture!

A typical Kelpie, she is bright and very intelligent and extremely loyal, but not a vicious bone in her body. She is excellent with our kids, letting them pull her around the yard by her collar (my girl is only three) and she loves it as long as someone is touching her. I have neer seen her go to bite anyone, I am not sure if she is capable.

She is also one of these dogs that, if we are sitting down outside having a drink, she backs into you so you are touching her and looks around you with those big brown eyes. If you dare kick her lightly in the butt, the game is on and she runs off looking for the ball.

She is just a wonderful dog and I know impossible to replace, dread the thought!

At the start of this year I noticed every now and then she would do this incredibly loud nasal "draw-back" like someone disgustingly clearing their nose. It would only happen occasionally and up until then I had never heard her do it. I took no notice of it as it was so sporadic, I thought perhaps she just had something stuck or it was an alergic reaction to something in the air. It would leave as fast as it came.

Two weeks ago it suddenly reappeared but stayed. I also noticed that she was having difficulty breathing through her nose and of a night you could hear her snoring in her kennel.

This week I took her to the vet and they have located a blockage in her right nostril, just near her eye and it is also decreasing the air flow in her left nostril. The vet has taken a biopsy but he has told me it looks like an aggressive cancer and if it is, there will not be much time left with her.

Of course I am devastated, this dog has been through a lot of things with me in the last nine years.

I have learned that dogs breathe through their mouth when on the move, so at the moment this only affects her when she is at rest. I wonder if this doesn't actually kill her, can she survive without use of her nose? I guess she wouldn't be able to smell then either.

So at the moment I am ata complete loss. Something has changed here at home and I am having trouble even venturing out into the back yardm, even though she is still with us. Something is missing.

I was wondering if perhaps any of your dogs have suffered from this and did they survive? Did medication and/or operations help them?

I guess I am looking for some relief from the inevitable, but it might at least help me to deal with it all. At the moment it is unbearable.

I look forward to hearing from you.

David

Edited October 21, 2005 by David See

[TigerJack]

David

I have only recently gotten my own Kelpie bitch and she quickly became a part of the family. I can only imagine your distress at the moment. Get the biopsy and result and make sure you get a second (or third) opinion from a specialist.

Best wishes

Jo

[Mana]

I haven't had the same condition, but I hope some people with similar experiences might be able to shed some light.

I know all too well how it feels to get that stomach-turning news though.

Wait for the biopsy and take it day at a time.

With all the best wishes for you and Bess.

[cowanbree]

I have had the same thing in a cat. They removed part of the nose and took the lump out and she is alive 4 years later. She still sounds quite snuffly sometimes and isn't the prettiest thing to look at but she is fine. I would do it again in a heartbeat

[dogbesotted]

Oh such horrid news for you. I know all to well the shock and emotional turmoil such a diagnosis brings. The something missing is that deep emotional belief that our dogs are going to be with us forever..

Do try not to panic ( I know that is next to impossible), wait for the biopsy results, consult with a veterinary oncologist. And remember that Bess is still with you. You now that the opportunity to really live each and every moment with her to the fullest. Also remember that the estimate of time is just that an estaimate based on averages. My girl Lucinda was dxd with Mast Cell Tumour Grade 3 in late August 2002. She was scheduled for a second surgery to try to get clean margins but within the three day wait her condition had deteriorated and surgery was cancelled and i was advised by the oncologist to take her home for a few days to say goodbye. Well that was over 3 years ago and Lucinda is still fiesty and still doing well. Lucinda is holistically treated now.

I belong to two yahoo groups for people with dogs with cancer, there are several members whose dogs have been dxd with nasal cancer.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CanineCancer/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/endlesslove

Sending you an Bess many positive thoughts as your travel this path together.

[Becky in Oz]

Hi David,

This is heartbreaking news and it is so sad to hear. It brings back of flood of memories. it sounds like this darling kelpie is 'the one' for you. For that I am so sorry. The kelpie has obviously touched your soul and will be forever with you.

At the present, the dog is still here, in the backyard.

Something has changed here at home and I am having trouble even venturing out into the back yardm, even though she is still with us. Something is missing.

I think the change is that you have started the grieving process, already. Your pup is still here and still needs you, probably more than ever. Keep going into the backyard, as you are and give the dog the best of you that you can, as I am sure the dog is for you.

Try the suggestions the other DOLers have suggested, too, who knows, maybe your buddy can be with you for many more years to come.

Best wishes and thinking of you and your dog.

[David See]

Thanks all,

I guess my concerns are that we will not know if she is suffering or not.

She is quieter, to be sure, but she is still looking healthy and happy. She doesn't move around as much as she did and spends a lot of time in her kennel during the day.

I noticed before all this happened, she started to become naughty. SHe was digging holes in the lawn and chewing things agin like she was a pup. She has stopped that now, though. Her coat has turned a lighter red as well, she looks a lot older in the last 6 months.

The photo was taken three years ago.

David

Edited October 12, 2005 by David See

[Becky in Oz]

It sounds all too familiar.

If in doubt, can you take her back to vet? Animals tend to just get quite lethargic and find a quite spot away from everyone. They know.

[schnauzer]

Hi David,

Has your dog seen an oncologist? I would await the pathology and then get referred to the best oncologist I could find. I have had several dogs with cancer (one currently - which has had surgery and chemo and now has the "all clear") and have had them all very successfully treated and they have lived years after treatment.

Do not disassociate yourself from your dog. This is when your dog will need you the most - You will know if she is suffering. Best of luck

[David See]

This has all just happened this week so we are still waiting for the results.

I would normally be hopeful but the vet said not to get my hopes up - he is familiar with what is happening and I think he was preparing me for the worst.

Let's see what the results say - should get them back early next week.

David

[ozzieozzie]

Hi David

We have a dogue de bordeaux with lymphoma, and was given a week, two at the most last saturday, there is no hope for him though, Please see about the oncologist, it may help, I think the empty feeling is the greiving process, we have it here, we have a feeling that he is already gone, and you cant help but think what it is going to be like when he isnt. He is permantely inside, cause he has trouble sometimes breathing, so we like to have him close in case, and it was a complete shock to us, too. We have been told that we will know when it is time to take him in, to see the vet for a final time, but that is the hardest thing, knowing that we have to make that trip very soon, and it just simply isnt time. We have been making sure that our dog is really having a great time this final week, taking him to his favourite places, and giving him his favourite foods etc, and making sure that he is comfortable, it is all we can do to say thank you for being such a great pal for the past 4 years.

Please join the other sites, especially the canineswithcancer2 site, they are fantastic over there, full to the brim with advice, as their dogs are all cancer sufferers also.'

Hope this helps.

from Jodee

[schnauzer]

David,

I know this is a very difficult time, but I would also urge you to get a second opinion from an oncologist.

Jodie Dog owner,

I really feel for you at this time - having been through it. You are doing all the right things - giving your dog quality time until he goes to the bridge. I am thinking of you.

[V.A.H.]

May god Bless both of you and your dear dogs suffering right now

Everyone who's lost a beloved dog --so many of us--advises be with them enjoy each MOMENT and dont jump ahead--

to live life with their loved ones and to be relieved by them of any suffering when the time is right is the greatest gift a loving dog can receive from their humans.

it is hard but it must be done -- some time for every dog--

however, your darling girl is still able to enjoy her days and the other dog is in the bosom of a family where he'd always choose to be--so make sure they are GOOD days--

let God design the end when you have done all you can would be my advice

Best wishes and prayers

Val

and welcome D

Edited October 12, 2005 by V.A.H.

[Alibear]

I don't know what to say except to send you lots of

Fingers crossed it all works out! I don't know how I would cope in the same situation!

[Gone Grey]

I can't give you specific advice either David. I can really sympathise with you though.

My dog was diagnosed with bone cancer. It was very quick and sudden, and by the time it was diagnosed is was all through his system, and we only had 3 days to say goodbye.

Sometimes I still think, "What if? What if I took him to the vet earlier? Could we have saved him? Could we have had him with us for longer?" There are hundreds of them.

I draw great comfort in knowing that those last 3 days were the best in his doggy life. He had a great life anyway, but those last 3 days we spent 24 hours a day with him, he slept in the bedroom, he got a cooked meal every day, and got as much love as we could possibly give him.

Whatever happens (and I truly hope he has a lot more time with you yet!) these are the last memories you'll ever have of your faithful friend. Make sure they're good ones.

I feel for you too Julie, will be thinking of you both and sending lots of healing vibes.

[aus_k9gsd]

David sorry to hear and i know what your going through so my fingers are crossed for you and i hope it will all work out but also thankyou, i have my 8yr old dog at the vets as we speak he had blood tests Monday and they have knocked him out today to xray his whole body as he hasn't been himself and has been really sick since last Thursday, he too does that nasel drawback but like you i never thought much of it until reading this so i am going to mention it to the vet when i pick him up in the next hour, depending if they have found anything else.

[booboo]

*

Edited March 12, 2009 by booboo

[Becky in Oz]

This is David and also to Jodi

Thinking of you and your dear doggie family members and all of your family, too.

[Kirra_Bomber_Zeus]

Im so sorry David (and Jodie) this must be a terrible time for both of you.

Bess looks beautiful in the photo David. I cant really offer much advice, but if I was in the same situation, I would get a few opinions - and I would not discount the homeopathic and natural route either. There have been many successes with cancer in homeopathy.

Jen

[David See]

Thanks so much,

Where do I find such treatment?

David