Neeko Update - It's NOT Cancer

Yes. You read that correctly.

3 weeks ago tomorrow, my dog was given a diagnosis of cancer. A week ago yesterday, I learned that she doesn't have cancer. Which is wonderful! But we still don't know what's going on with her.  I will try to give a condensed version of where we are right now, and how we got here.

In the previous update, I shared about our trip to the emergency vet, and plans for further diagnostics. I described how I dropped her off at the vet a week and a half ago, and they did chest xrays, which showed something abnormal, and a fine needle aspiration of her bone.

On Saturday, 4 days later, I was at Costco at 2:30 in the afternoon when my amazing vet called me. "It's NOT cancer." I started crying in the middle of Costco. This is not what I was expecting to hear. I was overwhelmed, elated, and confused, all at the same time. Her cytology report had come back that day, no cancer, no bacteria.

We discussed next steps. She was leaving a 21 day supply of antibiotics outside the office for me to pick up that afternoon. The next diagnostic - a urine test for blastomycosis.



I dropped off her urine specimen, which was "interesting" to try and collect, at the vet's office first thing Monday morning. Then I waited. All week. I was hoping it would come back positive. Because then we would have an explanation. For both the spots in her lungs, and the bone issue. On Friday, an RVT called me to tell me it was negative. I was shocked. And I know it sounds weird, but I was also slightly disappointed.

What's next? I don't know. I imagine I will speak with the vet office at some point this next week. Because Neeko is not ok. She's depressed, lethargic. Her appetite isn't very good the majority of the time. Tonight, for the first time in 3 weeks, I allowed her off leash. I think she enjoyed it.

For the first time in 3 weeks, I let her off leash. I think she enjoyed it, and spending time with her brothers. I hope we can figure out what’s going on, and get her feeling better. . #myrottendogs #wolfdog #germanshepherd #malamute #rescuedog #dogplay #heartdog

A post shared by Rebekah (@rebekah_lw) on Jun 24, 2018 at 4:51pm PDT

She is not limping nearly as bad as she was, which is what prompted me to take her to the emergency vet 3 weeks ago. That is very much a positive. I know being separated from the boys is likely impacting her affect, her mood. Both the antibiotic and anti-inflammatory she is on could be upsetting her stomach. She has had diarrhea for the last 2.5 days. This dog, who hasn't had an accident in the house in over 7 years, had an accident yesterday. I'm not even mad about it. Her stools are actually fairly formed today, but she has had 4 BM's, when she typically has 1, or rarely 2, per day.

She's on an antibiotic, an anti-inflammatory, and I've been giving her CBD consistently for the last 2 weeks. I've had it on hand for several months, but began actually giving it scheduled a couple of weeks ago. I'm also shoving some form of turmeric down her throat a couple of times a day. She is still on her adequan.

I don't know what do. I don't know what's next. I don't know what is going on, but I am so relieved that it is not cancer.