Today’s blog isn’t quite what was planned, because Willie scared us by developing a mass on his foreleg that looked exactly like the sarcoma tumor his uncle Luke had at a similar age. Willie’s mass developed quickly over the weekend, looked like a copy of Luke’s tumor and is on the same part of his foreleg as Luke’s was. Scary stuff.
But good news! It looks like it is just a cyst, so in all probability it is nothing to worry about. The vet did still recommend taking it off, in part to prevent it growing and causing trouble, and also to be absolutely sure that it isn’t cancerous. Willie will have the surgery tomorrow, which means much of our sheepdog work will have to go on pause until he recovers in 14 days. He is NOT going to like being back on a leash (argh, breaks my heart to do this AGAIN to him; he was on leash for 3 months last summer with a torn iliopsoas, not to mention over a year from his shoulder injury and eventual surgery 3 years ago.). Heaven knows how we are going to keep Maggie busy without Willie to play with.
But most of us have been through this at one time or another with our dogs, and a minor surgery and 14 days on leash is trivial compared to the alternatives. Whew.
Here’s a photo well matched to our feelings of happiness and relief. Jim and I took a walk at the Pope Farm Conservancy yesterday and I snapped this in a field of sunflowers. The park is a wonderful place with over 4 miles of walking trials and a stunningly healthy prairie. These sunflowers are in the “cropland” section, and make me happy just to look at them, just like the news we got this morning. Here’s to good news from our veterinarians. Have any to share yourself? What’s good?
Gayla says
I probably speak for all of us when I say we’ll be hoping your vet’s initial assessment proves out.
Maybe look at his recovery time as an opportunity to teach him something new? Can he “wink” on cue?
Kat says
Such happy flowers and happy (all paws crossed) news.
Ginny Brynjolfson says
Our best wishes for Willie to make a fast recovery. I am sure Maggie will miss him
Just love those Sunflowers.
We got a new granddaughter this morning!
Ginny
Helen says
I can imagine your fear and your frustration with having to keep an active dog confined to leash walks. I am going thru the same thing as my youngest Brittany is still recovering from ACL surgery. For me the hardest thing is keeping her stimulated mentally, puzzle balls and stuffed kongs only go so far.
Marjorie says
Good news indeed! I hope all goes well and he makes a speedy recovery. Sucks being laid up in the summer, but I’m sure he’ll be more comfortable in the long run minus the lump. Nothing like a scare to really put things in perspective and to realize how privileged we are to be able to share such a special relationship with our canine companions.
Last fall there was a possibility of one of my dogs having a brain tumor. That experience granted me a much greater appreciation and acceptance of the dog that I had rather than the dog that I hoped/wanted her to be. When I got the news that the MRI was clear and that all was going to be well, a big tsunami of gratitude washed over me and I cried many tears of relief and joy.
Love your sunflowers! I always feel warm and happy when I see them, they are such an optimistic flower.
Robin Jackson says
I hope things turn out benignly. Lovely attitude you have–I’m sure the whole household will benefit from it!
About 3 weeks ago, we thought Tulip had reached the end of her 14 year life. In addition to being deaf blind, she lay completely still most of the day, and when she did get up, she was walking in circles and falling over every few steps.
Took her in to the vet, who said he wanted to try something. He’d found a number of his very old patients with hearing loss had developed vertigo. In fact he’d found several cases previously diagnosed as senior dementia and walking in circles responded really well to the canine equivalent of Dramamine.
So we started her on a low dose, and by the second day she was walking straight, very cheerful and alert, and quite active. After another week she’d even regained a bit of hearing! (Apparently both dogs and people with vertigo often have tinitus to go with it.)
It’s an amazing difference, and a very mild drug. She’s still very old, mostly blind, mostly deaf, with heart issues and a bad back–but her quality of life is tremendously improved with the anti vertigo treatment. I don’t know how much longer we’ll have her with us, but she’s definitely much better able to enjoy the days she has.
Sunflower days, indeed!
Pj Bremier says
Awww. I remember Luke. He was such a nob k e boy. Best wishes for Willie ♡
Sharon Woolman says
My good vet news yesterday was that my oldest dog (who had been inexplicably peeing in the house) had a UTI. With previous back surgery for a herniated disc, it could have been much much worse. Never been so glad for a UTI in my life!
Stacie Shirko says
So glad Willie’s okay! I had the exact same experience yesterday with my Border Collie, Hob. He has something on his leg which started growing (again) but it’s just infected. It was such a relief. And I love the sunflowers. I had a bunch of volunteers this year around my bird feeder from dropped seed. I didn’t have the heart to mow over them so now it’s a little difficult to fill the feeder but the birds can eat off the flowers.
Gordon says
Sending all the good wishes, tummy rubs and neck scratches that we can muster your way. The time will pass quickly and Willie will be back on the run in no time!
Trish K says
I bet your heart sank and the tears flowed until you heard the good news. My heart sank for an instant til I read further. Feel better Willie you big jerky goofball sweet boy. Maybe Maggie will play with Tootsie? I know you said she won’t play with willie but I forgot if u said how Maggie and tootsie get along. Good luck today. Take care
Jeanne says
As my dear mama said, nearly every day of her 93 1/3 years, “every day is a good day”. Your sunflowers shout that with every bob of their glorious heads. Thank you for the sunshine! Keeping good thoughts and prayers for Mister Willie.
Laura Anne Welch says
Hope that all tests out well for Willie. A couple of years ago my Winston developed a growth on his leg and the aspirate showed questionable spindle cells. After much worry, consultations with the vet school and more tests, it turned out to be benign, and no reason given for the questionable cells was found. This year the growth disappeared. It had never caused him pain or affected his movement. I am sure that Willie will be fine.
If you could post some of your pictures from the actual prairie, I would love that. You take such great photos of plants and flowers. As a lover of the original prairie plants of the midwest, I would enjoy seeing some of your photos.
Vicki in Michigan says
Adding my good wishes along with everyone else that it be a cyst and that’s that!
We are having lovely gorgeous cool weather this summer — that makes me happy every day!
Chris from Boise says
Fingers crossed that the surgery confirms “just” a cyst and for a quick and easy recuperation. We send hugs from out west.
Your photo is very timely. Unlike much of the country, it’s been extremely hot and dry in southern Idaho, and our irrigation system went kaput in June. Hand-watering is keeping the vegetable garden, flower gardens and trees (barely) alive, but the lawn is gone (and good riddance! Drought-tolerant landscaping is in our near future). However, our un-irrigated sunflowers are spectacular, and the back yard is alive with goldfinches appreciating them!
We very recently and unexpectedly had to euthanize our dear Aussie Bandit, who was Zen Master to our dog-reactive border collie Habi. The good news is that a 4-year-old male border collie with equally excellent dog social skills, at a local rescue group, looks like a great match for her. One more meet and greet on her territory, and we’ll decide. In preparation, I’m re-reading all your posts on introducing and managing Willie and Maggie, Willie and Tootsie, and Willie and Hope. There is so much great information in your explanations and so many thoughtful reader comments.
Robin – thank you for sharing Tulip’s story. I’m going to share the vertigo information with my vet.
Kathy says
So sorry to hear about the roller coaster of emotions over Willie’s leg! The Freudian slip at the end of your second paragraph is quite revealing of the emotions this incident has dredged up. Here’s hoping it’s nothing serious and there’s a quick and complete recovery.
What’s good? Our two dogs have decided that gentle bitey-face and sniff-the-same-spot are great games to play–rather than resource guarding toys and people–and that they should be friends. We played a lot of wait-your-turn-and-good-things-will-happen (give a treat to one dog while the other one watches and then give a treat to the waiting dog, increasing time between treats and decreasing distance between dogs–now when one is getting treated, the other is sitting right next to him, wagging and smiling (and sometimes drooling) in anticipation). When disputes did happen, removal of the disputed item, a down-stay within sight of each other and a speech of sad, growly-voiced disapproval seemed to cow them both.
None of these strategies would have occurred to us without your blog and books, Trisha, so keep in mind that one more thing that’s good is YOU!
Trish K says
“Heaven knows how we are going to keep Maggie busy without Luke to play with.”-
Trisha, this situation with Willie must bring back memories of Luke. Wish I followed the blog while he was with you. I know how much he meant to you from reading your books.
Rose C says
Trisha, noticed a typo: “Heaven knows how we are going to keep Maggie busy without Luke to play with.” I can tell how much Willie’s remind you of Luke’s own ordeal. Best wishes to Willie with his surgery and recovery. And you coping and holding things together.
Janette Hankins says
I hope it’s a simple little cyst and nothing to worry about! I sometimes think our animals sit around when we’re gone and plan out their strategy for scaring “mom and dad” to death.
Robin Jackson says
@Chris
The vertigo condition is called by a lot of different names, including Old Dog Vestibular Disorder. It used to be treated with steroids, but AVMA no longer recommends that. It often resolves on its own in a few weeks, but many vets, like ours, prefer to start a dog on meclizine or another anti vertigo medication very earlier if, like Tulip, the dog has other conditions that might make falls particularly dangerous.
His particular observation is that senior dogs with significant hearing loss seem particularly prone to vestibular disorder. That makes perfect sense, it just isn’t usually mentioned in the clinical discussions.
http://thebark.com/content/idiopathic-or-old-dog-vestibular-disease
The exact treatment used for any dog will depend on her particular medical history, of course. But it’s helpful to know that sometimes what looks like a stroke or dementia may be something much milder.
LisaW says
You wrote: “Heaven knows how we are going to keep Maggie busy without Luke to play with.” Isn’t it funny and heartwarming to know that even with three dogs you love to pieces and so many amazing things in your full life, Luke is never far from your thoughts? I have the same thing with our first dog, Sadie, truly the queen of dogs. (I seem to hold all our past dogs close to mind, but she is closest.) As one of our current dogs gets older and her physical condition worsens, I find myself calling her Sadie more and more. There’s something about the stage of life and health issues that present in senior dogs that my brain connects with Sadie in her last year of life. It’s a sad but fond muscle memory.
My good news is that two years after our other dog blew her CCL, and we went through 1+ years of rehab, PT, leashes, restrictions, three specialists, etc., etc., our wonderful vet exclaimed that Olive looked phenomenal — her gait was good, her pivot was great, and we’re really the only ones who could tell something was a little off. Yippee.
Paws crossed for a speedy recovery for you and Mr. Willie.
Trisha says
Ah, I’m laughing as I write at my calling Willie “Luke,” as several of you noted. Ha! I guess that made it crystal clear how much Willie’s lump took me back to the dark days of Luke’s diagnosis of sarcoma just days after 9/11, and the next 5 weeks of his radiation treatment. But all the news about Willie is good: the lump was indeed just a cyst and Willie is already doing well after his surgery this morning. Maggie and I got a great lesson from Lyle Lad on driving and flanking off balance this afternoon, and Maggie did all the chores for me tonight. I’ll teach Willie a new trick this week and fill his belly full of chicken. But thanks for all your good thoughts and understanding. It’s great to have a village, isn’t it?
Nic1 says
So pleased to hear that it was just a cyst. Wishing Willie a speedy recovery.
Trish K says
Wonderful news! When things like this happen and the outcome is good, everything in life is appreciated a bit more. The sky is brighter the air fresher and colors of the flowers more beautiful. Yay! Grab that boy by his cheek fur and give him some serious Eskimo kisses. YIKES! I do it with my Simon…poor thing haha He lets me.
@gayla- are you serious about teaching dogs to wink on cue? Simon winks at me and I wink back…just in case. Haha
@Ginny- congratulations on the New grand baby. Life is good
em says
Three cheers for it likely being just a cyst! I hope that Willie is recovering well and Maggie and Tootsie are soldiering on without him 🙂
Mireille says
So pleased that Willie is doing well. A pity we live so far apart because Spot would love to come over and play chase. The only downside would be that he can scale two mtr fences if there is something he really wants… Like sheep (ahum….). So your probably better of with an ocean between us…..
Gayla says
Woohoo! and Whew! So glad to hear!!
@ Trish K: Echo can’t do it yet. (I’m still getting a double-eye blink.) But it sounds like Simon could easily. Be thrilled, mark and reward instead of winking back…
ute hamann says
Trisha, I tried to find more on Lukes leg as my friends dog war just diagnosed to have a mast cell tumor between the toes of the front leg. Everybody thought it was only a small wart but it was sent in to the lab so it turned out.
This is why I searched for “Luke” in category for more information on what the treatment was. Only to find that his name is not listed anymore (Lassie and Tulip is). Makes me think how fast the years go on, how much happened in between. I feel it was like yesterday in a way but still it was so many years ago.
Hugs
Ute