Not allowed, Earle, not allowed!!

[Glacier]

I took Earle to the vet yesterday. He's been slow and stiff for the last couple weeks. He's allowed to get old, slow and stiff. He just turned 12 last week. It's been about the easiest life any dog has ever had, but he is getting older. He is NOT allowed to be seriously ill. I thought we had an understanding about that, but apparently Earle wasn't listening. Typical husky!!

His back leg is not stiff because of athritis. Actually, his joints look really good on the x-rays. It is stiff because the inside of his thigh is so swollen he can't bend his knee without pain. Now that it's been pointed out to me, it's really obvious, but I never noticed the swelling before! Crap! Bad Earle's Mom! The swelling is from an invasive lipoma....the normally harmless bengin lumps old dogs tend to get, except this one is not harmless and might not be bengin. This one has invaded the muscles in Earle's thigh. It is potentially cancerous. Even if it's not, it's in a really bad spot...hard to get it all out, hard to heal, not sure it will do any good to operate. Damn!!!

He goes back to Dr. Candace on Monday evening for a core biopsy. We're hoping that a few days of Meloxicam will knock the swelling down enough to see where the lump begins and ends more clearly. Our treatment plan or lack thereof will depend on that and the biopsy results.

Earle is the best dog ever....best temperment I've ever seen, sweet, gentle, just smart enough to be trainable, not so smart that he drives me to drink, likes cats, loves other dogs, never met a human he didn't like. Best dog ever is not allowed to be seriously ill!! Muskwa is not allowed to outlive both his kids(not that I want anything bad to happen to Muskwa either!). Not allowed, not ready, not happening yet!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v38/Glacier1998/2011/earlekidses.jpg
For those that don't know my dogs anymore...this is Earle, aka Best Dog Ever!

[lizbud]

Sorry to hear this.:( Monday is a long time to wait & wonder, but
maybe if the swelling goes down some, It will help the Vet get a better look.
Here's hoping it not as serious as it looks now. Please get better Earle.

[Queen of Poop]

Saying a prayer for Earle to have a non-cancerous growth that, after the Meloxicam can be defined and hopefully removed without a hitch. After being such a good doggie his whole life he deserves only the best in his old age.

Hugs, kisses and lots of prayers for you dear Earle.:love:

[ramanth]

Oh Earle... why can't you listen to your mommy?? No bad illnesses!! I hope the biopsy results come back with better news. He's such a sweet boy.

*HUGS*

[Freedom]

Hey Earle, that is a nice photo of you! Now, you let the meds and the white coats do their work, and you heal up just FINE!

Best wishes for positive results!

[Taz_Zoee]

Yes Earle, it's not allowed. I will be hoping the Dr can get him back on track.

I love hearing about your dogs, but lately its all been such sad news. I'm truly hoping this one ends up with a happy ending.

[Karen]

What a great picture of your handsome dude. I hope it's going to treatable, poor thing!

[chocolatepuppy]

Oh Earle, many prayers for you and your mommy, that this isn't gonna be too bad. We need you around a long time!

[Asiel]

So sorry about Earle Galcier, all your dogs are so lovely and Earle looks so dignified. I always enjoyed the pictures you posted of the gang. I hope everything will turn out to be okay, at least operable if needed.

[K9karen]

Hoping for the best for handsome, sweet Earle. Nothing bad is allowed to happen to you dear boy.

[Pawsitive Thinking]

Hang in there Earle - we need you for much, much longer :love:

[cassiesmom]

Saying a prayer for Earle to have a non-cancerous growth that, after the Meloxicam can be defined and hopefully removed without a hitch. After being such a good doggie his whole life he deserves only the best in his old age.

Hugs, kisses and lots of prayers for you dear Earle.:love:

Agree, agree, agree!

[Vette]

You take awesome pictures of your fuzzbuckets :D
all paws an fingers crossed for him!

[captain]

Huge hugs to you Earle - what is that lump thinking????

Doesn't it KNOW that your Mum needs to keep you around longer, I mean, you are the BESTEST dog ever, and sometimes she really needs reminding of that (what with all the NAUGHTY dogs living there)!!!

Tamara - huge hugs and prayers for a treatable lump ....

[DJFyrewolf36]

Prayers on the way for Earle! :love:

[kaycountrygal]

What a beautiful dog! I do hope he gets a favorable report from vet later today (Monday July 4). I'll check back later to see what you found out.

[cloverfdx]

Sending good vibes Earls way, and hugs for you Tamara.

[wolf_Q]

Oh no not Earle, I love that gorgeous husky boy. Hope everything will be okay with him and its not serious. {{HUGS}} to you both.

[Glacier]

The lump in Earle's thigh is benign! Not sure what we are going to do about it; I'm leaning towards leaving it alone and keeping him on anti-inflammatories. He's a happy dog again on meloxicam. Surgery to remove the lump would be extensive, invasive and painful. Plus he's an old dog(as much as I hate to acknowledge that!). If the meds continue to work and he stays happy and comfortable, I'm good with not removing the lump.

[Karen]

Yay, so glad it is benign! That's good news! Could they aspirate it at all - y'know, suck the guts out of it with a needle - to put it crudely ...

[cassiesmom]

Good news about Earle! :love:

[Grace]

Glad to hear it is benign. I think you are wise to leave it alone.

[Queen of Poop]

Excellent news!! Hopefully the meds can keep it in line and he won't need surgery.

[kuhio98]

The lump in Earle's thigh is benign!

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/kuhio98/fw.gifhttp://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/kuhio98/Applause.gifhttp://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/kuhio98/fw.gif

[Taz_Zoee]

Whew, this is great news!! :D :D

[lizbud]

Congrats on the good news for Earle.:) I also think you all have made
a wise decision for your boy.:love:

[K9karen]

*Benign* is my favorite word. Stay Well Earle. Sending hugs and kisses

[chocolatepuppy]

Yay! Great news!:D

[Bonny]

Glad to hear the good news about Earle :)

[CountryWolf07]

So glad to hear Earle will be OKAY! :)

[Vette]

Oh awesome news an very glad to hear it! :love:

[ramanth]

That is wonderful news! :D