Cookie had her 2nd opinion appt today...

[Valerie]

and it went so well she is probably in surgery now as I type. 

I really liked this vet surgeon.  She owned a doxie for 19 yrs, so she's good people.   

Seriously, she was down to earth, practical and reassuring.  The 1st vet surgeon said the tumor was cancer and we needed an MRI plus surgery, and possible radiation.   :crazyeyes: 
The doctor today said the MRI was unneccessary, even if I was Mrs Rockefeller and could afford it.  SHe said also, we won't know if it is a benign or malignant tumor until she removes it and biopsies it.  If its benign or low level malignant, we probably will just need to watch that area for life.  Radiation is something we can discuss if I am even interested at that time.   She understood that Cookie had been thru a lot- she even said that her walking and recovery from the type of back surgery she had is very impressive!  :thumb: 

She also knew that we had been trying to get dental done for a year, but other things keep popping up.  So she offered to do Cookie's dental at the same time.   :thumb: She said we did not need to see the dental specialist unless she needs root canels or something. Whew!

Bestest part?????  There is a very good chance she will come home tonight!  

So in dollars - it was good too:
Vet #1 - MRI- $1900, Surgery $3000 , plus future dental $1500
Vet #2- if she comes home tonight and they don't do a dental $1500, if there are complications with surgery and she stays overnight- (worse case scenerio) $2700 (includes dental)

Huge price difference!  The only way she won't get a dental is if there are complications with her surgery that would make dental dangerous.

So hopefully I will be reporting back in a few hours, that she is coming home.

[April]

I'm glad you were able to get a better second opinion and that Cookie is being cared for by someone who understands the situation better.  Please let us know when Cookie gets home!

[Barb]

Wow - that is great news !!!  So glad you found the 2nd vet - I don't know how they would be able to tell if it was cancerous until they tested it ??!?!?!?!  Sending massive doxie rays that all goes smoothly for Cookie - you must be a wreck waiting to hear.  Please let us know as soon as you can -

[doxielady5569128]

What great News!!! :apls: I'm so glad you trusted your gut feeling and took her into a different vet.      Sending rays to you and cookie.  We are praying her surgery goes well an they are able to get it all out.      Keep us posted.

[Dee Dee and Hallie]

Oh man I feel 20 lbs lighter, I can only imagine how YOU feel! That is great news. So much more hopeful than the first vet. I just hate it when vets jump to conclusions and scare you it causes so much unnecessary stress! This vet was no only cheaper but fast acting too thank goodness you went for another opinion. Give us a Cookie update when you have one we'll be praying!

[Valerie]

Still waiting to hear back from them- my stomach is in knots!

Its wayyyyy too quiet around here.   

[doxielady5569128]

The waiting is hard, I agree.  I'm sure she doing just fine.  We're thinking of you and cookie. Just remember that she is in good experienced hands!   

[Valerie]

I just called- they finished her surgery- everything went fine- now they are doing the dental..

Even though mentally I know she is fine, my emotions can't help but worry! 

I am so excited that she is finally getting a dental.  Her kisses are going to smell so much better.

[cheryl186]

 :apls: :apls: So glad to hear about this new vet....and I just saw that her surgery is through and they are now doing her dental.....wow...how wonderful.....lots of prayers and wishes coming for your family and cookie....praying they get all the tumor and that it is benign!!!   

Eagerly awaiting more information tonight...take care!!! 

[Kari]

Wow! That is such awesome news  :thumb: I am so happy for you guys and I am sure she is will do fabulous! Keep us updated!

[Valerie]

Just got a call from the vet.  She did great- she is sitting up on her chest looking around- breathing OK.  The tumor was completed encapsulated so that means it hasn't spread. Whew!  We should get the pathology back in 3-5 days.

Her teeth were another story.  She lost 30 teeth!    We knew her teeth were bad, but not that bad.
They said the tarter was actually holding some of the teeth in.   
I am a little upset with myself that we were not able to take care of her teeth sooner.  But, looking forward,  I am glad that they were finally treated and she will get antibiotics to clear that infection out of her mouth.  I bet she is going to feel so much better not to have those nasty rotten teeth in her mouth anymore.

She is going to spend the night there- they want to make sure she can eat OK in the morning and that she doesn't have too much swelling.  So we can pick her up after 2 pm tomorrow.  I will be counting down the hours!

[Mike]

Thanks for the good news update with Cookie.  Waiting is truly the worst part with imagining "what if".  We've got our paws and fingers crossed for a benign return from pathology. 

I know what you mean about finding a vet who had a dachsie.  There are about 8 vets at the clinic I take Clifford to.  We stumbled on the one who had dachsie for 15 years.  She lost her about 3 months before we met.  I always try to schedule Clifford's appointments with her.

[Doxherding Karen]

Holy molars, Cookie, with 30 teeth gone, how many are left? :scratch:

Glad to hear your coming through o.k.  Don't forget da L@@K to maximize tummy rubs and nice soft tweats!

XOXOXO

Guinness, Merlin, Dr. Beau Leaky and Roscoe the handsome one

[Teresa]

I'm so glad the tumor was encapsulated. If it does happen to be cancerous, you can ask for a better scenario than that. As for her teeth, at least she has 12 left (I was curious and had to find out how many adult teeth dogs have-human teeth I know very well, canine teeth, not). Sounds like lots and lots of eggies for Cookie!

[Brekkesmom]

How cool that the second vet had a dachsie - making it all so much more bearable and knowlegdable!  That is a mighty big price difference, too.  We are sorry that Cookie has to spend the night, and lost so many toofers, but how wonderful that she will feel so much better!   Go, Cookie! :thumb:

[Dee Dee and Hallie]

OH that is GOOD NEWS. It was painful to read about your stress waiting but well worth the wait! :) Lets hope it wasn't malignant at all but sounds like an excellent prognosis even if it was.

Thirty teeth! Whoa Nelly! I didn't even know they have 30 teeth...LOL Teresa thanks for looking that up and saving me the trouble!  She'll do just fine with12 teeth I'm sure and don't beat yourself up over it, seems some of these little guys will have bad teeth no matter what you do!

Can't wait for you to get her home you can both relax some now!

[papbouv]

Glad to hear Cookie made it though the surgeries and will get to come home soon amazing the price difference in vets seems like they should be all the same??? Hope you get good news about the Biopsy will be thinking of you and Cookie and sending rays from Oklahoma.
Papbouv

[Roberta]

fantastic and we all know Dachies don't chew anyway they just suck it down, and worry about what they have eaten later..........
You both will be excited to see each other lots of kisses to her.
roberta

[cheryl186]

 :apls: :apls:  HOW WONDERFUL .....GREAT NEWS SO FAR....SO SORRY ABOUT LOSING ALL THOSE TEETH BUT AM GLAD SHE FINALLY GOT HER DENTAL DONE....KUDOS TO THE DOCTOR....
HUGS AND KISSES TO COOKIE!!

[MindyKay]

This is great news.  Glad to her Cookie is on the road to recovery.  I'm sure you will get the L@@K and will be handing out lots of soft treats and belly rubs.

[Barb]

That is great news that they got all of it.....saying many prayers that it comes back benign.......   She will feel much better with all the bad teeth out - and when there is a will, there is a way - she will do just fine eating !!!!   I would think scrambled eggies for din-din tonight would be very good for her !!!    Have you talked to them this morning?  Hope she had a restful night - let us know !!!

[PattyInAK]

I'm glad this is behind you.  I hope she has a peaceful night and comes home tomorrow as scheduled.  Let us know how she is doing.

[Delia and girls]

I'm sorry you and Cookie had to go through this, but you couldn't have asked for a better outcome. Even if it turns out to be cancer (worse case scenario), it was encapsulated. Good to hear good news. This board has had a bad rash of bad news lately. Maybe we're starting to get out of that trend - we can hope.

Ouch! 30 teeth?!?! My Nugget-Angel had really bad teeth most of her life. She lost a lot of teeth over her almost 16 years and did quite well in the eating department. I would venture to say it was probably close to what Cookie lost by the time all was said and done. They are quite remarkable creatures when it comes to healing and having to adjust. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at how she lives life minus 30 teeth. Not to mention getting rid of the infection.

Thanks for updating us. You go, Cookie!

[Valerie]

Thank you all!  I am looking forward to some better smelling kisses, that's for sure!

The vet called- she will be ready after 1pm, so i am going to leave work early and pick her up at 3pm.  ( I already took a sick day yesterday to take care of her).  They said she was doing great- she had no problems eating.  That's my girl- she loves to eat!

I can not wait to hug her again!  We missed her so much last night- the house is too boring and too quiet when she is gone!

The vet did say that we will need to water down her food to make it mushy for her.   

I am expecting to get lots of L@@k's tonight. 

[Mike]

I know that Sold Gold makes a very small kibble for tiny mouths as I just bought a bag for Clifford to rotate his protein source.  Some wet green beans on top and VOILA it's a feast for tender mouths.

[Sandishooligans]

Loads of Dachsie Rays to Cookie.  And very good news about the new Vet.  Sounds like Cookie will be getting the best of care.

[Barb]

I know that Sold Gold makes a very small kibble for tiny mouths.

Mike - just curious - I feel Rudy Hundenfloken (sp ???) and he does fine with it but I was wondering  what is the small kibble called?

[Mike]

It's called Just a Wee Bit.

http://www.solidgoldhealth.com/products/showproduct.php?id=68&code=140