Hi Rebecca,

Happy New Year and thanks so much for taking an interest with my Boxer named Twister. To answer your questions she had a grade 2 mass cell tumor removed from the front neck area under her head. The full 3 cm of good cells were available with the removal of the tumor. We had to go to a specialty clinic because of the close proximity to arteries. The surgeon was very happy with the results from the actual surgury and the full work up of tests. We were given the choice to watch or perform some chemotherapy. We are watching. This surgury was done in August of 2008.

She takes Sotalol for here heart. She was having problems when we took her in two days ago. The EKG was fine (described as perfect) along with the xray showing no enlargement of the heart. The EKG was done during a time when she was having difficulties. This is the third xray in the last year with nothing remarkable to report on the heart size. Also her lungs are clear and have never had any fluid. She has not had any panting with these episodes. An ultrasound has not been performed.

She has the weakness in her back right leg all the time but the episodes of being tired and staggering are more pronounced when she first gets up in the morning. She staggers only to her right. As the day goes on she perks up and seems better although not the same as when this started several weeks ago. When I say she perks up she walks quicker, does not stagger, can bend down to drink water with out any apparent weakness, and wags her tail like all boxers do. This seems to be related to time of day.

To make sure you understood what I meant by collasping, this is usually after a long time of her pacing or physical exertion. Collaspe is her getting on the couch or bed and with no energy and immediately falling asleep. Best description is episodes but only after pacing or in the morning when she first gets up.

She has a very good appetite and has no weight loss. This whole situation can best be describing as a rapid onset

One last thing, once several days ago when getting off the couch she yelped quite a bit. She has never done this, ever.

Thanks again for your help,

Rick

Hi Rebecca,

I accepted your answer but instead of going over this again with someone else I thought it would be better to ask you.

One symptom I don't think I mentioned is muscle twitching and head twitching. It was not happening much when I wrote last but last night Twister had a turn for the worse with shaking or twitching. Since this is happening all over her body I would assume that this could be coming from the brain. This morning she could hardly walked, did her business in the house, and is basically not very responsive. I put her on the couch and she just falls asleep. She has been doing this lately almost immediately falling asleep.

The Vet has said that a MRI is next but she has gone from a running normal dog to this in a week. She has mentioned to try steroids in the absence of a MRI since there are several conditions that this may help. The problem has definitley moved to the right side because this morning I have seen some weakness on her front right paw.

I am beside myself probably facing having to put her out of her suffering. I just keep thinking that a dog that gets symptoms this quickly in a week can't all be tied to a brain tumor which is where the Vet is now leaning.

Any words or thoughts would be appreciated.

Thank you,

Rick (Ragolfer1)

Rebecca,

Thanks for your help and understanding. Twister took a turn for the worse earl this morning. We rushed her to an animal hospital that was close and they consulted with a neurologist. As you said the spinal tap and MRI were suggested but they were 99% sure based on a host of new symptoms that she was suffering from a brain tumor. She was going blind, did not respond verbally, could not keep her head from going to the left, and could not walk. We were not going to let her suffer and had her put to sleep.

Thanks again for being very insightful about this from such a long distance.

Rick (Ragolfer1)