Monday 19 October 2015

Mysterious Dusty

A year ago Dusty had an abscess under his jaw. There followed weeks of antibiotics, a CT scan and an operation to scrape away some of the bone followed by more flare ups. It was all very worrying.

Worst case scenario was that he would have to have the whole bone removed on one side of his lower jaw.

When it came back earlier this year, our vet spoke to the specialist vet who had done the operation and they agreed that as a few weeks had passed since the last flare up, they should manage it – whatever it was because they are baffled as to why he gets these infections – conservatively rather than subject him to a big operation.

A couple of months ago, the lump came back, but wasn’t as big and burst quite quickly. The vet said we could wait 48 hours and see how he was, put him straight onto another 6 week course of antibiotics, or send him for another scan. We decided to wait. The lump flattened and he was fine.

Two weeks ago we noticed his chin was starting to swell again – but slowly. Abscesses usually swell very fast and are very painful. It wasn’t anywhere near as big as the previous swellings had been and it wasn’t painful.



I thought perhaps it was scar tissue, but made an appointment with Tom to double check. Not scar tissue he said straight away and looking at the photo I can see I was deluding myself in thinking it was. He found his lymph node slightly swollen on that side too and took some fluid for testing.

Have to say Dusty was very brave while this was being done, but I shan’t mention the fact that he did a puddle in the waiting room because *shock horror* someone tried to make a fuss of him! He’s a different dog in that waiting room!


So he’s back on antibiotics, but the good news is the test didn’t show any cancerous cells, but that he is fighting an infection. So although Dusty remains a medical mystery his chin is looking more normal now!






31 comments:

  1. Gosh, Teresa, I panicked when I saw your header because I guessed it was about Dusty's jaw and was worried. Whew! At least you know he hasn't any cancerous cells.

    Tim 'n' Ted here: We were woofly worried as well, Dusty lad. Sorry about the infection and all the goings on at the V. place but good to hear tablets will help clear it.
    xxx woof-woof-lick

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  2. He's a worry that's for sure, Pat! The good thing is that this time it didn't drag him down and he wasn't in awful pain like before.
    Hope you are both okay, Tim 'n' Ted - tell your mum to give you both a big cuddle from me :-) xx

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  3. Phew what a relief. Little so and so! If it wasn't so patently obvious he gets nothing but full time lovings, hugs, walkies and whatever else his loving family can provide you'd almost think he was attention seeking wouldn't you!! ;-) So pleased and relieved nothing nasty going on. Love and hugs and wishing you nothing but good health from now on Dusty :-) And love and hugs to you too Teresa! xxxxx

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  4. It's such a huge relief, Teresa, that he is doing well and not in pain. It really is mysterious, but I'm so glad for you and Dusty that it's mercifully treatable and nothing malignant. Sending you both lots of warm wishes for continued recovery. xxx

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    1. Thank you, Joanna. It has been quite worrying waiting for the test results as the lump seemed different this time xx

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  5. I know nothing at all about doggy chins, but that looks fine to me. I hope he gets better soon, Teresa.

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    1. Thanks, Frances. If you click on the first photo to make it bigger you can see the swelling under his jaw. It's nowhere near as big as on previous occasions. There is just a little bump remaining there now xx

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  6. It's certainly a strange infection and Dusty has the vets puzzled too. Glad it isn't cancerous and hope the antibiotics do the trick. There can't be many dogs that enjoy going to the vets. Do you watch The Yorkshire Vet on Chanel 5? It's on tonight at 8pm. It's a great practice and the love they have for the animals shines through.

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    1. The first time they operated, I think they hoped to find some sort of foreign body to explain it all! It's really odd, Maggie.

      I hadn't heard of the Yorkshire Vet - I shall have to investigate - it sounds like my sort of thing, thank you :-) xx

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  7. Poor Dusty, and he looks so cute, he doesn't deserve to feel that poorly. Its good that you know it's not the worst, my heart was in my mouth as I was reading your post, and you're on the ball so you can spot a flare up straight away and get him treated before it really takes hold again. I've got my fingers crossed for a full recovery and for it never to come back again - stranger things have happened.

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    1. Thank you - all we can do is keep a close eye on him and yes, hope that one day it goes away and never comes back :-) xx

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  8. Poor Dusty, he is having a rotten time, but thank goodness the lump's not cancerous. I do hope they get to the bottom of it soon. Xx

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    1. I don't think it's something they're ever going to get to the bottom of. They've done all the tests and the bone biopsy and haven't got any answers. It might be he has to have courses of antibiotics two or three times a year to keep on top of it which is the best case scenario right now - apart from it just going away as mysteriously as it started of course :-) xx

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  9. Shame about his infections, but I'm glad they can be managed without a big operation.

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    1. Me too, Patsy - fingers crossed it stays that way :-) xx

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  10. So glad all seems to be under control for now, Teresa - must be very worrying at times.

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    1. Thanks, Rosemary. Yes, I've had many a sleepless night over the little pickle xx

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  11. Oh, I was holding my breath there for a while. Little Dusty has been through the mill already and he's not more than a pup. He does look happy though, and glad he hasn't been messed about with too much. xx

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    1. Yes he is still just a pup - not two years old yet. Seems to have had more than his fair share of troubles already, but he is a happy little fella :-) xx

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  12. Hi Teresa,

    The end of your posting is encouraging. Seems poor Dusty has had a few problems. Chin up, Dusty :)

    Have a peaceful weekend, Teresa.

    Gary x

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    1. Thank you, Gary - hope you have a peaceful weekend too xx

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  13. Oh what a worrying time for you, Teresa. So glad it was just an infection. Our pets can be such a worry, can't they?

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    1. Thanks Wendy. He's giving us a bit of worry today again - I think we may have to go back to the vet sooner than planned xx

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  14. So pleased Dusty is not in any danger, Teresa, even if you don't know what's causing it. He's so sweet. Fingers crossed it settles down again. And hugs for you.x

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    1. Thank you, Carol. He seems a lot brighter again today, fingers crossed. It's all ups and downs at the moment xx

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  15. Oh my goodness, poor Dusty and poor you. I hope it all turns out to be caused by something simple - as for weeing in the vet, Keano was once so traumatised by a visit that he began weeing in the corner of the room and the vet and I just stood gaping as the puddle spread right across the floor. When was that dog going to stop? I kid you not, the floor was flooded. Suffice to say, we were ushered out of the back door a.s.a.p!

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    1. It comes as a shock when our dogs start leaking when it's completely out of character doesn't it! Dusty's was more of a nervous sprinkle which he managed to get in a pretty pattern. Not that it's out of character for him to spring a leak when he sees his favourite people (which is just about everyone) he often has a happy sprinkle (hoping he'll grow out of that as well as his health problems) :-) xx

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