Oh Willie. Bad News, Good News. Bad News. BEST News.
Good news: Willie is back home from 4 days at the emergency clinic. We are happier to have him home than words can express.
Bad news: Early Tuesday afternoon I returned home to find Willie vomiting violently (that’s the only way I can describe it) and barely able to walk. I rushed him to my vet, Dr. John Dally, who did an Xray, found nothing and agreed that this is urgent. He directed us to the Veterinary Emergency Clinic in Middleton, about an hour away. Thus began a 24-hour nightmare of tests and IV support for an increasingly weak dog. The first ultrasound reading and test results showed no sign of an obstruction or pancreatitis. One vet suggested lymphoma based on the view of the liver. An expert oncologist reviewed the results later that night and saw no sign of that, but still had no idea what was wrong. Willie spent the night on an IV. We spent the night sick with worry.
The next morning Willie seemed perhaps 5% better, but as the morning wore on and the mystery continued his condition degraded. He could no longer walk without collapsing. He held his head so low it almost touched the ground. He had another ultrasound. More tests. Nothing except a slightly elevated ALT, a liver enzyme often associated with vomiting and GI distress. Things got downright scary, as if they hadn’t been already. There were discussions about sending him to critical care or getting an MRI. Finally, Dr. Alicia Sibly and I sat down on the floor with Willie and talked and talked and talked about what could possibly be wrong. I wondered yet again if there wasn’t an obstruction, and Dr. Alicia began a thorough palpation, during which she got a reaction from him when she pressed on his upper abdomen. (He merely turned his head and looked at her, but it was a direct look right into her eyes and it was clear to both of us that he was communicating something important.) That important discovery led to a third (fourth? I lost track) ultrasound and the finding that he had a large amount of fluid in the duodenum as if there was an obstruction. He went into surgery Wednesday afternoon.
Good news: No actual object of obstruction was found, but surgeon Dr. Harpreet Singh found an enlarged, red and angry gall bladder and some weird tissue on one lobe of the liver that was described as an abscess for lack of a better word (description: “It looked like old cat food.”). Needless to say, both were removed.
Bad news: Hiding under the gall bladder was a mass on another lobe of the liver. Eventually about one third of Willie’s liver was removed because so much of it was necrotic. (He has plenty left, no problem there. Discussion have ensued about how Willie got such a bad case of hepatitis. Drug pushing Border Collies behind the barn at sheepdog trials using dirty needles?) We got the results biopsy two days later: Carcinoma.
Great news: Drs. Singh and Kai Shui (one of the state’s leading oncologists) say it was a very slow growing cancer, which was completely removed and there is no reason to do chemotherapy. Glory hallelujah! (I don’t yet have the details on the exact type of carcinoma, the written diagnostic report was garbled on the pdf I received. I’ll learn more as the dust settles.) Although the margins around the tumor weren’t as large as would be ideal, it was completely excised and Willie should be fine without chemo.
Bad news: Of course, the fact is that Willie just had major surgery, and he isn’t exactly feeling perky. He is quiet and subdued. My guess is that it’s a combination of factors, from a massive abdominal surgery, to the effects of anesthesia, to possible side effects of pain meds, to depression over yet again being leash restricted. I say the last because a few years ago Willie strained his iliopsoas, was leash restrained for awhile, and walked around like a teenager with his iPhone taken away. Remember that years ago he was on leash restriction for over a year of his life, and I don’t think he has ever forgotten that.
BEST NEWS: Jim and I are overwhelmed with gratitude for the care that Willie has received. Willie’s primary veterinary, Dr. John Dally, has been a bastion of support. A special and heart-felt shout out to Dr. Carrie Donahue, who responded instantly to Willie’s crisis and came to the clinic to do acupuncture to help prep Willie for surgery, and then worked miracles the morning after his surgery with acupuncture designed to support his GI tract, his liver and kidneys. Anyone who doubts the power of acupuncture should have been there when she put in one tiny needle to encourage his appetite (he had refused cooked chicken moments before). One needle, in for five seconds, and Willie began snarfing down food as if he was starving. (If anyone knows of how one can accomplish the reverse, please let me know.)
And how great was everyone at the VES to support Dr. Donahue coming in as a team member? Overall, there were so many people who helped in this crisis, and we count ourselves lucky to have worked with Drs. Tristan Daugherty-Leiter, Alicia Sibly, Kai Shiu, Josh Smith, Harpreet Singh. And more, I’m sure. Not to mention a raft of skilled and supportive Veterinary Technicians (hugs to Amy M!) who did all they could to help me and Willie be together while at the same time getting him the treatment he needed.
Next: Lots of time at home. (Thank god this didn’t happen when I was out of town.) Either Jim or I will be full-time with Willie for a least 8-9 days to be sure he doesn’t lick/chew on his incision, which I want to say is at least three feet long, but uh, is actually just the length of his belly. (I won’t put an Elizabethan collar on Willie, I think I hate them as much as he does. I have an inflatable collar we can use if need be, but I’ve been lucky and always able to discourage dogs from licking an incision with distractions and positive reinforcement.) Today we’ll start leash walks of gradually increasing length. In a week or so I’ll begin to let him trot short periods of time. Around then I can stop sleeping on an inflatable mattress beside his crate and let him come up the stairs to all of our usual beds.
Meanwhile, we could all use a little less drama in our lives right now. Thank heaven for Netflix; there will be binge watching. There already have been martinis. More predicted.
Last, but never least: To Mr. Willie, my Silly Willie Billie Boy. My god I love you. Please refrain from doing this again.
From left: Dr. Carrie Donahue, Dr. Alicia Sibly, Willie in full medical regala and finally, Willie home, rocking a purple tank top to protect the hole in his abdomen for the drain (now removed) and his incision. (Apologies for poor photo quality and probable typos. Other things on my mind….)
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About the Author
Patricia B. McConnell, PhD, CAAB Emeritus is an applied animal behaviorist who has been working with, studying, and writing about dogs for over twenty-five years. She encourages your participation, believing that your voice adds greatly to its value. She enjoys reading every comment, and adds her own responses when she can.
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What a relief! Yay Will and all of his helpers!
Prayers for a speedy recovery Willie. Fingers and paws crossed that this doesn’t come back.
OMG! How absolutely terrifying for all concerned, including Willie. Best wishes for a smooth and complete recovery and more years ahead. And also for drama free!
Healing thoughts and a full recovery for you both…Willie from the trauma of surgery and his mom for the horrid ordeal of wondering if her heart dog would survive.
Gosh, how terrifying that must have been, so glad you found the problem and he’s ok.
What an awful ordeal, but with a good outcome! I was afraid you were going to report that he had Hemangiosarcoma. That is what killed my Aussie Wil.
Hopes for fast healing and complete recovery!
Wow, glad he is on the mend. Hope you also get some much needed rest. I am sure you are mentally drained.
Oh Willy! Give give him a scritch for me and tell him what a good boy he is. I’m a so glad he received such excellent care. Tell him I miss pet-sitting at the farm! <3
So glad everyone persisted to discover the cause of Willy’s illness. Prayers for his perfect healing.
Very best to Willie. He (you) have been a great help to me and my own little quirky mini Aussie. It some how helps to know that her quirks are not my fault and we have just learned to adapt to her personality. She is of course the love of my life😀
So very happy to hear that Willie is beyond the worst. May he thrive for a long time to come! And a shout out to all of his caregivers.
Goodness, what a time you’ve had! Best wishes as all of you recover from the roller coaster of emotions. And ear scratches to Will!
Peace to all of you. ❤️
Oh thank God for all the wonderful support Willie had! Sending virtual hugs to both of you!
PS I am a big believer in acupuncture and Reiki!
Oh! Poor Willie! You both have been through so much, My heart goes out to you. Thank you for sharing and I will pray for him…and you💐
Sending warm wishes and prayers for Willie and his people!
Wow! All I can say is my heart is with all of you and for a quick recovery for Willie (and for you and Jim). So hard when our best friends are very sick and they don’t understand what’s happening. . .
I am saying prayers of gratitude for Willy! I know how awful that must have been for you and how distraught you must have felt! I have been there! Sending love and calm for both you and Willy ❤
So glad the story has a happy ending. Dr. Sui talked to us about our dear, dear dog’s cancer years ago and was a wonderful support and resource. I’m so glad Willie is on the mend, and you deserve all the martinis and Netflix you desire!
So scary! Heal up soon, sweet Willie! Will be thinking of you all in this tough time.
Oh how I love Dr. Carrie Donahue.
Oh Willie! Don’t scare your Mom like that!
Hope his recovery goes well. My thoughts are with you all.
So glad that Willy is in recovery! The next time you see John Dally, say “hi” for me! He was an assistant at the Animal Emergency Clinic in Milwaukee where I was the lead Vet Tech before he went to Vet school. I always knew he’d be a wonderful veterinarian! I recall that he adopted a very strikingly coated long-haired cat that he named “Cutter John”. How’s that for trivia?
So glad to hear Willie is home and expected to make a full recovery. What a terrifying time. My heartfelt sympathy that you had to go through this. The uncertainty is the WORST! I’m speaking from experience; Ranger pulled a similar stunt a few years back. They never did figure out exactly what the problem was but he spent a week at the emergency vet hospital on IVs. Some of the tests were positive for tic borne disease, some were not. Int the end he got off with a massive course of antibiotics for about two months. Paws crossed that Willie’s recovery is swift and he can soon resume his regular activities.
I know so many of us have gone through something similar. Thanks so much for all your comments and understanding. What a bond dogs are, what a village our relationship has created… And my heartfelt sympathy back to anyone going through this now!
There’s nothing so scary than to not know what is happening as you watch a loved one decline in front of your eyes. Thank goodness you and the docs persisted. Wow. What a team and what a dog. I hope he has a thorough and uneventful recovery. Lots of hugs and ear rubs from us.
I’m with you on abhorring the cone of shame. Last time Phoebe had some rather large lumps removed, I wrapped her in t-shirts and that gauze that sticks to itself to hold the cloth in place. It worked for the most part. [I also had an inflatable collar on hand but we didn’t need to use it.]
Cheers to true happy hour(s), and my Netflix recommendation is Grace and Frankie, David Letterman’s new show, and for a fun escape, Queer Eye.
Oh, a foam topper on top of the air mattress makes it almost comfy.
Ha, First, Grace and Frankie is my favorite on Netflix. Love it. And should mention that WIllie is rocking a purple tank top in the last photo. I too find it great protection from wounds. No need to even tie this one up!
What a terrifying rollercoaster, and how wonderful to have such excellent vet care around you! I hope Willie heals quickly, and you all have a peaceful, happy summer to quietly recover.
Sending healing thoughts.
All the best to Will for a fast recovery. Nothing rips at our hearts as much as our canine partners do. Hugs to you to you as well.
Re protecting the incision, my standard poodle had a similar incision after a preventive gastropexy. I found that putting a clean T-shirt on him, knotted at his waist at his spine, keept the incision protected and gave me a clear idea of how much drainage there was (ick, but useful).
Warmest wishes! Hugs to all of you. I’m so glad Willie is on the mend – I actually didn’t think I could worry so much in such a short period of time about a dog I didn’t meet half a world away. Enjoy your martinis! I’m certainly getting one on your behalf 🙂
So so sorry for you all during this time of illness, wishing Willie a speedy recovery! Glad to hear he does not need chemo.
Oh Willie! I’m so glad for the good news update. Love and hugs to all of you!
Amazing Veterinary Care for the WIN!
Acupuncture for the BONUS!
Mojo for quick and thorough healing for Willy! I know it was heart-wrenching and worrying for you too, so love to you as well.
How awful and scary that all sounds, and I’m so glad you got the veterinary support you & Willie needed. Much love and healing to your silly boy; many martinis for you!
So happy to hear of a positive outcome. I just lost my beloved Aussie to illness that presented exactly like this, and turned out to be carcinoma, they think of biliary origin, diagnosed through fine needle biopsy. The oncologists at CSU would not treat it because they said it was so aggressive and outcomes were poor regardless. She died less than a month after diagnosis, was only 11, and was healthy prior to becoming violently ill with vomiting, just like Willie. Hearing Willie’s story makes me wish I had insisted on surgery. My very best wishes for a speedy recovery and many more years with him! I hope some smart vets are working on understanding the origins of carcinomas like this.
Oh Katie I am so sorry. Try not to second guess, and remember there are many types of carconoma. Willies was extremely slow growing, surgeon said it would not have killed him for up to two years. And yes, here’s to great research that’s helps dogs and people alike. We must encourage our govt to stop cutting funding for research!
I have just found you here. Better late than never.
SO sorry to hear about all you have been through as I know too well the stress on the family as well as the patient. Know the heart-stopping terror of a sick love and the initial attempts at worse case scenario diagnoses…and the relief and delight at a solution and positive outlook. Hoping you get plenty of rest and recuperation along with Willie and some chocolate (for you) too.
Have been dealing with hermangiosarcoma with our Hannah for the last 7 months. Good news she is still with us, Bad news it’s a roller coaster if emotions. You are so right, Netflix is a godsend. Hugs to you both. I am so sorry
WOW what an ordeal for all of you. So glad you sat on the floor and discussed and kept reaching for answers for Willie. Hope it is fast and easy healing from here out. And I hear you on the psychological effect leash restriction can have on a dog. After my dog had severe leash restriction (also for iliopsoas) she became truly depressed– lethargic, lost weight, coat very dull, no sparkle in eyes. That was years ago and I am still appreciating her happy spirit every day. Love to you and Willie <3
I just love how much you love him. The part about sleeping on an inflatable mattress beside his crate just broke me. I wish all the best to Willie and all of you as he heals.
Sending best thoughts that he recover smoothly and surely, and never, ever do this again!
Wow! I echo LisaW in the scariness of watching such a terrifying decline. Thank goodness you had a great team to work with and the knowledge and determination to push and analyse and gamble on the surgery. Here’s to Will’s smooth recovery, no more drama (that goes for Maggie and Tootsie as well), and some dark chocolate (for you and Jim) to go along with the martinis and Netflix! Whew! Hugs from Boise!
I am glad to hear that the long four days are over, and Willie is back home with a lovely tank top in my favorite color. I am sending healing thoughts, now that Willie has had the best care and will be on the mend.
Mercy. How horrible and how good that you have all come through it ok. Good boy Willie, good on all of you.
I took the Cone of Shame off Habibi after her surgery too. She hated it. We kept a constant vigil, but she never touched the wound… maybe she understood. Wishing a quick recovery to Willie and some rest to you!
Hugs to Willy. He is lucky to have you.
Oh my gosh! Poor Willie, poor you and Jim! So very glad all is well, but what a scary few days.
So sorry for Willie’s medical roller coaster ride but happy for you all that it has ended well. Get well Willie and may you stay well.
Hugs to all of you – what a terrifying experience. Not knowing what is going on has to be the worst thing….here’s to a nice calm couple of weeks for you and a full recovery for Will.❤️❤️❤️
A long road to good news. Great!
There is no doubt in my mind acupuncture helps. One of my Malamutes was treated for quite some time.
Sending Willie healing prayers and lots of comforting thoughts to you.
Thank goodness Willie is okay!! How scary!! And thank you for telling us about acupuncture before and after surgery. I had a dog who had acupuncture to relieve pain years ago, but it wouldn’t have occurred to me to do it if they need surgery. You teach me things even when you have an emergency! Best, Laura
Oh my dear. I’m so glad that you were able to save Willie, and so sad that you all had to go through this. That kind of fear and distress really takes it’s toll…and I’m talking about you and Jim here. Please be kind to yourselves and schedule any downtime you can – you need to recover too.
Sending prayers and good thoughts. Glad Willie and you are on the mend. Very glad you decided on an exploratory. Sometimes it’s the only thing that finds an answer, Sounds like you have an amazing vet team. (There is a phenomenon in vet med called “cone paralysis”: you put a cone on and the dog goes straight down on to the floor and refuses to move)
So sorry for you all, and so thankful for a slow-growing tumor. Please keep us all posted on his progress…
So happy to hear Willie is on the mend. There is no feeling more terrifying, or helpless, than one of our babies in the ICU. Thank goodness for great vets! Keeping you both in my thoughts.
My heart goes out to all of you! Sending healing Chi your way.
My best wishes to Willie, you and Jim!!
That must have been so scary for you all. How wonderful that Willie has you guys to look after him.
Oh, poor baby!!! I’m lifting you all up. And yes, Acupuncture is amazing both for animals and for humans. It really is indescribable how much it helps us all. Trish, take a nap!!! Hoping Jim is hanging in there as well.
Oh Trisha, how terrifying! I’m so glad Willie’s on the mend. Wishing you and Willie a calm and steady recuperation, with all your favorite home comforts- fuzzy blankets and hot dinners and fresh baked goods and plenty of peaceful snuggling.
Get well soon, Willie.
What a traumatic few days! I am so sorry that you and Willie had to go through this! Went through something similar and my boy ended up needing an emergency gastropexy. Opening him up revealed a bunch of scarring and organs that had been scarred from repeated episodes of partial gastric torsion. It was a lengthy surgery and required a lot of extra work to try to get everything where it should be and clean up the scar tissue as best they could. T-shirts and baby socks were my best friend for weeks. My boy wore a t-shirt over his head like normal and another with his tail coming through the neck hole and back legs through the arm holes. I stitched the bottom of the two shirts together and pinned the top together. This allowed him to be without a cone when I could directly supervise. The cone made him very depressed even though he never tried to resist when I put it on him. The socks were used on his back paws when the massive shaved area around his belly started to get really itchy. The socks on the paws prevented his nails from scratching at the sutures and exposed skin. No-slip bottoms make it safe when walking around on the slick floors inside. Due to the major work that went on, my boy took much longer to recover than from a normal gastropexy. It was several weeks before he was feeling better . Seemed like forever before his fur grew back. He was as bald as an egg for months. Sending prayers that Willie will be feeling better soon!
What a blessing they found it and his prognosis is good!
I hear the series “The Queen” can be addictive…
I hope you ALL heal quickly. I know all too well the human trauma when our best 4-legged ones are ill. Sending you as much healing energy as I can muster, and I think all the collective energy coming your way should do you well!
OMD Tricia. Would you consider Willie accident prone? But this latest was not an accident. Does fear for those we love put us closer to heaven (supply y0ur own definition)? I remember sleeping on an inflatable in the back hall close to the door when latest pup came home with giardia and had to go out. Not nearly as scary as Willie tho. Hope you recover and that you have no trips scheduled. Tears for all of you.
I’m so sorry to hear about this. And so very grateful he is on the mend. Thank you for sharing and know how much you and Willie are loved.
I was breathless reading this from start to beginning. So glad about the ‘Great News’ bit and sending prayers for the healing and dust settling.
Patricia/Jim/Willie, Best wishes from the “Shaky Isles”—-Keep “loose” and “hang in there”—Alex H
So glad he made it through! We had to use a cone on Kira, or so we thought, since she immediately went to chewing her incision–too bad I didn’t know about the T-shirt solution. (The little guy thought there was an alien trying to eat his sister.) Glad too that you were able to assert yourself to have them keep trying to find the problem.
Love to willie and wishing him him a speedy recovery
What a traumatic few days! You are so blessed to have him home – that is the best news of all. My sweet Hazel never made it home when my wonderful vet operated in an attempt to save her life after discovering that she was bleeding internally. I was able to rush from work to lay on the vet office floor and hold her while she was humanely euthanized. I’ll never forget the feeling of going home with a leash and collar in my pocket, sad beyond belief that I’ll never see her again. This was a year ago and it’s still raw. I hope Willie and you have many more years together in health and happiness.
Trisha,
I’m so glad Willie is on the mend! and that you were able to go where you went to get him treated safely.
I have a “Willie”; her name is Sally. So far, we’ve had no such scares. I know they will come at some point. Sally has walked with me, indeed pulled me, through one of the most difficult years I’ve ever had. I want to express my congratulations on the your book. My history is somewhat similar to what you described. I’m very grateful for all the support I’ve had over the years.
I wish you. Willie, Jim and all the rest of your family the healthiest and happiest year you’ve ever had.
All the best,
Rosemary Teetor
Gresham, OR
So glad to hear the outcome of such a distressing situation is good. Am just finishing up your book on the Education of Willie and what you went through. You are one of my favorite authors of dog books and have been a great help with my reactive dog Casey. He is the successor of the previous border collie who died of kidney failure after nursing her for six months. I too would sleep with her. Six months later went through cancer with my husband so ended up with anxiety like my dog, your book has made me reflect strongly on events in my life and how they formed me. They say you get the dog you need and Casey and I are going through things together.
Best to you , Jim and Willie.
So happy for you, and of course Willie – I so relate to how you describe your love for him as that is how I feel about my border collie. Following your journey with Willie over the years through this blog and your book makes me so concerned about a dog I’ve never met in person, but have grown to care about so much.
I too am so relieved to read the outcome of the surgery. I’m sending all sorts of healing thoughts Willie Jim’s and your way. What an emotional Rollercoaster for all of you!
Best wishes for a speedy recovery to Willie, and cheers to Trisha and Jim.
So glad that your Willie is going to be OK. When my dog had surgery, instead of the E collar I was able to use a one piece doggy surgical recovery suit that I ordered from Amazon – it comes in different sizes and colors and she tolerated it much better than the collar.
How frightening for both you and Jim and poor Willie. Once again, competent help has “savd the day”. I’m praying for you all. I just finished reading “The Education of Will” and greatly appreciated it’s wisdom. it helped me understand myself and my fear biter dog that I ended up putting down. How I wish I knew then what I know now. I will change my strategy in working with my 8 year old lab golden mix who is petrified of thunder, gunshots (we live in the country) and fireworks.
It is so good to hear that Willie is okay. I hope you realize how very lucky you are to have such great vets to help and work with you. This is not always the case. I know from experience. My poor guy didn’t make it. It still hurts more than a year later. Ahh the t-shirt trick. Yes, it usually works. Just keep an eye on it as the healing progresses because the incision can get itchier and he may start trying to tear or eat the t-shirt.
Just reading this now. I hope Willie is continuing to recover. Sending fast healing vibes by the truckload. They do know how to scare the hell outta you, don’t they?
I was a vet student working under Dr. Singh when he was an intern/resident at Tufts. He’s a great doctor and a hilarious person. So glad Willie’s okay; how frightening and stressful that must’ve been for you guys. Wishing Willie all the best.
Willie update, please?
Feel better Willie, I had the same surgery on April 9, 2015. Scared all of my family too! Soon you will be running and playing and, although you won’t be able to wear belly revealing clothes, your scar won’t be so horrible.
Hugs to you all. And yes, I am a human.
Oh no, you poor thing. I hope you are running and playing now yourself! No scars on my belly but belly revealing clothes, at age 69, are long a thing of the past!
Ditto HRC, what a pleasant surprise to see his name. I wish we’d overlapped more. So glad the outcome wasn’t too scary for all.