Tiger update-Reading by Denise included!

[Freedom]

The good news is that . . . he will soon be back in charge.

Let Tiger handle the next home showing!

[Pawsitive Thinking]

It was my pleasure

Hope the visit to the vet gives you some answers. Happy Birthday

[MoonandBean]

Emerald (Lara, right?)...

I am just now reading this post and I am so sorry to hear you and Tiger and the rest of the family are going through difficult times. It does sound like you are in the solution (which is better than just burying one's head in the sand ) but I know the solution can be quite stressful too. Happy Belated Birthday and Happy 500th post . Yesterday was full of milestones...I hope it was the beginning of a healthy and peaceful year!

Deb

[Emeraldgreen]

Thanks Freedom, Denise and Deb.

I took Tiger to the vet and they took xrays of his chest and lungs. The vet showed them to me and said there is definitely something going on with the left side of his lung field. There is this milky haze to it and some small white spots, maybe 3 of them, about the size of half an apple seed. She said that if the cancer had metastisized she would have expected to see large spots that would be tumours but she can't be sure what the small spots are and she thinks they could be a number of things.
I left Tiger with them for about 2 hours and she said that in that time she was really able to hear how gurgly he is in his chest and alot of noise coming from his nasal area as well.
The vet said it is not pneumonia but she thinks he could be dealing with inflammation of his lung air sacs and there may be some fluid around his lungs. This could either be due to the cancer or from an infection that doesn't respond to the antibiotic Convenia injections he's been getting. If it is an infection, the only way to be sure what kind of bacteria it is would involve a culture of the area which is way too invasive and she doesn't want to go that route. Neither do I. And I'm sure Tiger would agree!

So, what we decided was to give him a Depo Medrol (spelling??) injection yesterday, (steroid) and if it is inflammation from the cancer, the xrays that will be repeated next week should show some improvement. If so, then we will continue with Depo shots every 2 weeks as palliative care to make him comfortable.
If there is no improvement, then it is likely a bacteria infection and we can begin to try some antibiotics and hopefully will find the right one sooner rather than later.

I expected that he would be doing much better this morning but he is exactly the same. In the past, when he has received a Depo shot, the results would kick in within an hour and last for days. But this time there is no change so far so I think it might be an infection after all.

I think this is potentially good news in that his breathing difficulties of late may be due to an infection that is hopefully treatable.

I'll keep ya posted.

[MoonandBean]

I would suggest letting the vet know an update today because steroids can feed an infection so the vet may want to start the antibiotics sooner than later....just a thought (I only know "human" medicine but would assume there are some similarities). Tiger is so lucky to have you and that video of you blowdrying him was very touching (LES ).

[Medusa]

Potentially good news IS good news in my book. We'll keep the prayers going for Tiger and you......

[Emeraldgreen]

Thanks guys.
I was thinking the same thing with regard to the steroids if it is an infection. I think steroids weaken the immune system and if he already has an infection it would make sense that the infection would get worse.
He is very lethargic today and is sleeping on our bed and doesn't want to do much at all.
I will call the vet to give an update and perhaps they can choose an antibiotic and I can just go and pick it up rather than dragging Tiger back there.
As well, my husband is getting irritated with the continued vet visits and although he loves Tiger, he thinks this is all too mcuh. Most people that we know (friends, family) think that as well. I don't know why I'm trying so hard to save him at all costs. I love him alot and I think maybe it's that so many things right now are out of my control and this is something that I can try and fix so I'm feeling determined to do it. I don't know if that makes sense.
Anyway, we've come this far, he's still with us and if antibiotics can help him then that's what I'm going to try. I will not let him suffer though and if I see that his quality of life is gone and if he is really struggling, then I will let him go. I can barely write that sentence.