Pulmonary Infiltration with Eosinophilia ...or cancer

[Dav_s]

Picked my 6 year old Rottweiler up from the vet yesterday after an overnight stay. He's been under the weather for the last week or so (lethargic, losing weight, off his food, laboured breathing and generally not himself).

X-rays have shown that he has a problem with his lungs. He's been given a steroid injection in the hope that he's suffering from "Pulmonary Infiltration with Eosinophilia" (too many white blood cells causing inflammation and blockage), if the injection doesn't do the trick, then it's highly likely that it's cancer
Having lost my first Rottie to cancer when he was just 5 years old, I'm really worried.

Has anyone got any experience of Pulmonary Infiltration with Eosinophilia? Causes? Recovery chances?


Trying not to even think about it being cancer.

Edited by Dav_s on Saturday 17th August 18:14

[bexVN]

Have they mentioned anything such as lungworm at all? I'm a bit out of my depth with this one I'm afraid.

I really hope the treatment works. Is he on antibiotics?

[Jasandjules]

Can always give Zara's Herbal Tea a go, if it is needed.

But fingers crossed for your pooch.

[Dav_s]

He was given an injection of Depo Medrone whilst he was there.
We were given "Advocate Dark Blue" to administer ourselves.

He's really weak. Doesn't seem to be improving at all. So so gutted.

Haven't given up hope though.

[Jasandjules]

How happy is he? That to me is key.

[Dav_s]

That's obviously the most important thing to me too, but I'm no expert on illness in dogs, and the chances of recovery, time taken for steroids to take effect, etc, hence I'm on here.

Rest assured, if he can't be helped, I won't put him through even one unnecessary day of suffering.

[Turn7]

Deepest sympathies, this time is never easy....

[bexVN]

I tried to post last night but after writing a rather long one my phone refused to send it .

I thought it interesting you mentioned the advocate as that is a prevention treatment for lungworm.

If there is a tumour some of them can be removed but sadly depending on the type some cannot. The type will decide best line of treatment and this your vet will advise.

I often have to reassure people that they are not causing their pets to suffer if they are poorly but there is a chance of getting them better. Suffering is if an illness/injury not treated or if a diagnosis shows that we can't help get their pet get better or treatment can't alleviate symptoms but the pet is left to struggle on. So as long as supportive care is in place (eg iv fluids if he is not eating well) and there is still a chance of getting your four legged friend better please don't think of him suffering (feeling rotten yes, like us when we get I'll), a good vet will always be able to guide you with this if you aren't sure.

I hope he is feeling a bit better today.

[Thevet]

Can you give anymore info on how this odd diagnosis has been reached, any blood samples? don't think xrays alone could say this was the problem. It certainly seems that your dog hasn't got a simple/straightforward problem. Depomed injection sounds a good idea but I don't know enough about the case to give much comment at the mo.

[Dav_s]

Thanks for all the replies/concern.

Blood results are due back by Tuesday. No definite diagnosis at the moment - just possibilities.

Hasn't been any improvement since the Depomed injection on Friday. If anything he seems a little worse.
Not sure how long steroids take to kick in etc, but if he doesn't show any signs of improvement in the next day or two, then we're going to have to do what's best for him....

[bexVN]

Don't rush a decision if poss. A depo injection isn't t exactly much in the way of treatment. It's a start but unless diagnosis shows something concrete there must be other options to try, he's still quite young.

[Dav_s]

It's just really hard to see him like this - he's a big strong boy, and usually very active and full of life.

Hardly eating at the moment - and when he does eat it's only when fed by hand rather than from his bowl.

Will be calling the vet first thing in the morning to chase up the blood test results.

[bexVN]

It is hard to watch them when they're ill Tell the vet how he is, he may need to go on iv fluids (would strongly recommend if he is not eating well)

[BlackVanDyke]

2 bits of experience here: the family Border Collie is living with myeloma, which is a treatable but not curable bone marrow cancer, and I provided palliative care for a year (!) to a cat with a brain tumour - it was completely untreatable in terms of doing anything about the actual tumour, but for that entire year his symptoms could be really well controlled with simple things - steroids, something for runny bum, extra nosh, warm place to sleep and a steadying hand on the way downstairs. The tumour was so obviously advanced that the vets were more than prepared to euthanase him as soon as its extent became clear but we agreed that we'd at least try palliative care (this means prioritising symptom control where cure is unlikely, impossible or not being attempted) - a fortnight later with a transformed Ollie cat we actually re-scanned him to make sure there'd not been a mistake! He got good things out of that year and so did I, I'd do it all again in a flash if offered the same choice. Once a symptom came along that we couldn't adequately control (breathing trouble from a secondary tumour in his nose, we think) then we agreed that it really was time to go; he was euthanased almost exactly 1 year after he arrived at my house with that diagnosis.

[Dav_s]

He seems to be a little bit better today. Yesterday was a really bad day. Thought he was on his way out.

Vet left a message this evening saying that Veeru's blood test results have come back and he's anaemic.
My concern now is what has brought this on so suddenly. Going to speak to the vet first thing in the morning and see where we go from here.

(Fingers still firmly crossed!)