bubbad

1. Check Lymphnodes. Cancer is a BIG problem in Bassets today. If you have never lost a Basset to cancer I can guarantee, you will. One of the first signs is swollen lymphnodes. Swollen lymphnodes can also mean somethng as generic as an infection of sorts, so you don't need to panic ,but go to your Vet and tell him what you feel so they can do tests to find out what is going on. There are three sets of lymphnodes that you can feel.The first set is up under the neck,one on each side. Like where your Dr. feels for yours. The second set is in the arm pit area ,again one on each side. The third set is the rear legs one on each leg midway up the back of the leg ,they will feel like a lima bean,if they are swollen ,more like a peanut. Checking these occasionally may help you catch something early and early is better.
2. Normal Temerature Use a rectal thermometer or an ear thermometer to take your dog's temperature. The normal range is 101' to 102.5 anything above or below is not. If your dogs temp is high he may have an infection 103' ,104. If you read anything higher than that it usually involves heat stroke and the dog may go into convulsions.Anything lower than 98' is possible hypothermia.In all these cases a Vet needs to be seen.
3. Vomiting and/or Diarrhea There can be many causes for either of these but if you know for certain you dog is not infected with internal parasites(worms etc. only a stool sample to your Vet will tell)then your dog has possibly ingested something not agreeing with him. Remove food ,and water if he throws up that as well.Cook chicken and rice together after about 12 hours try a little chicken /rice. Do this for the next 24 hours as long as he is keeping it down. If it stays down you can start him back on his regular food small increments at a time .If the chicken and rice come back up see your Vet ASAP, there may be a blockage Keep on hand a bottle of Kaopectate and some Imodium. Pepto-Bismol is ok too but "BEWARE" because you will be wearing most of the Pepto till you get done. Use a 5cc syringe (or something you give babies medicine with) no needle ,of course. Fill with Kaopectate or Pepto put into the corner of the dog's mouth while holding the jaw partially closed, squirt quick,and stand back.You should be able to get more in than out. Do this once every 6 hours for up to 24 hours if no improvement see your Vet.
4. Poision Have poison hotline number in your home. If you dog ingests something like pills or chocolate you can induce vomitting with Peroxide about a tablespoon full every few minuets till vomiting occurs. There are some substances that you should not induce vomiting for since it could cause damage on the way back up,call the hotline.
5. Never,never allow a sick dog to have vaccinations.Tell (yes TELL) your Vet to wait till your dog is feeling better,then he can have them. To give vaccinations to a sick animal compromises an already compromised immune system. When my Vinny was being treated for a substantial ear infection he was a little over-due on his shots,I told my Vet I would like to wait on the vaccs till his ear was better ,she didn't argue with me,she agreed. Surprised,I was.
6. I am not a Vet I do not pretent to be, everything I know I've lived it or learned it from working for Vets in the past.Much I've learned from having dogs in general(Dobermans before Bassets)from good breeders before me,and a darn good mentor. Beware not all Vets know this breed ,they think they do, but they don't,if yours does not ,teach him/her the quirks of the breed ,if he values his clients he will listen ,if he doesn't change Vets. (You could start by asking if he sees many Bassets) I'm sure much will be added to this thread, at least ,I hope so. I know many of you already know most of these things I've written,this isn't meant for you ,it is meant for those that want to know what they can do before they can get to a Vet. Someone add Bloat/signs, please

Herzo

Thanks good things to know. I have lost two bassets to cancer.

bubbad

Yep me too.Bubba and Grace.Bubba's story in on here if you are interested I think I posted it about Nov or Dec, 2010 as far as dates go.

bubbad

Oops put this on the other post oh well. Bubba's story starts at page 78 to pg 76 if you are interested.

BubbaLeroy

Thanks!! Nice to see all this in a consice manner. We lost our Bubba at seven years of age to Lymphoma cancer. His first symptom was difficulty breathing on a very cold December day in South Dakota after a walk. Two weeks later we sent him to the Rainbow Bridge with him in our arms. If we had known to check lymphnodes regularly it might have been a different story.

__________________
You don't own a Basset, a Basset owns you!!
Aroooooos from Bogie !! - Trumbull's Who's Teasin Bogart CGC- Born April 21, 2005
ATB: Bubba - (Trumbull's Surley It's Stormin Norman) Sept. 8, 1998 - Dec. 20, 2005

bubbad

That is how I discovered my Grace's cancer.

barneysmom2510

Thanks for this info on the lymphnodes. If it is caught early is it treatable?

__________________
-LISA


Mini daschunds Sadie Lou & Daisy dukes
Chihuahua Lola
Bassett Hound Barney

houndmomma

As much as I hate reading something like this with all my current worries with Lucy – its great info to have. And thanks for taking the time to type it all up for us Bubbad.

Jen~

__________________
Momma to Lucy age 12 ~ Basset Hound
Momma to Rickie age 5 ~ Shi-Poo (don’t tell him though – he thinks he’s a hound dog)
Momma to Mabel age -1 ~ Basset Hound
Momma to Flash – RIP 2000 ~ 2011 – Gone in body but with me in spirit ~ You will live on forever in my heart baby ~ Je t'aime

Herzo

I did go back and read Bubba's story. It is very touching and of course made me cry. At least mine were older when I lost them. It's just never easy.

bubbad

Catching it early doesn't always mean treatable.There are so many different kinds of cancers you just don't know but catching it early will possibly give you more choices on how to treat it. It also depends what body parts are involved. Caught early maybe chemo will have a better chance of eliminating it. I have to say, by the time owners are aware their dog has cancer, it is usually advanced and it will take their life quickly. Bubba 's cancer was Lymphosarcoma (a type of Lymphoma) it involved his liver and intestines.If we did nothing he had a couple weeks if we went with meds maybe two to four months.We could not afford to do chemo. We took the meds .They did put him in remission for a short time,he lived 7 months more, 3 more than the Vets gave him. His quality of life was good to the end but at the end it was time. Grace had Lymphoma she must have been advanced she was only on the meds two weeks before I knew she was in pain and let her go. Checking lymphnodes are not a sure fire way to catch cancer because obviously,once I felt Grace's and hers were swollen, the cancer had already invaded but just maybe someone else can find it early enough to get adequate treatment to extend their dogs life.