Trying to figure out if I'm just displacing my upset onto the vets or not.
We have a very active and full of life 11 year old shih tzu with no previous medical problems. Noticed a lump under his jaw / neck on Sunday. Took him to the vets, said he would have taken a biopsy there and then (? lymphoma) but couldn't due to bank holiday Monday. Started on Abx / anti-inflammatories on Sunday just incase it was a deep tooth abscess and returned on Tuesday when fine needle aspirate was taken. I asked how long the result would be and explained I would pay whatever was necessary to expedite it. He said that wasn't an option but we would have the result by Friday (today) at the latest.
I'm fairly certain this is a case of lymphoma (or something equally horrible) as the lump is very hard and just feels nasty. ABx making no difference at all and he isn't acting as though he is in any pain. As I understand it, untreated lymphoma typically kills a dog within 4-6 weeks of diagnosis. Our boy is not ready to die and we want to do everything possible to save him. In view of this we have managed to secure an appointment with an oncologist on Monday morning.
Have been bracing myself for receiving bad news today (i.e. the result) only to find out that there is no result yet. Lab (Idexx) are giving the stock response - result will be available 'early next week'. This isn't what the vet promised me. The vet says he has contacted the lab and asked them to process it urgently yet they are still trotting out the 'early next week' response.
I feel so let down. Without the result it makes our long and expensive trek to the specialist pointless (unless they can repeat the FNA there? Davies specialists in Bedfordshire - any idea anybody?) I feel like the vet mislead us about the time frame for the result and the lab doesn't care. All the while the clock is ticking for my boy :(
I'm a medical doctor so not sure if it's the same but whenever I have contacted a lab to expedite an important test result they have usually been understanding and do so - and this is the NHS. We are not insured and are paying for all of this. Feeling a bit let down by our vets and the lab so far. Does anyone have any experience of lab turnaround times for suspected cancer diagnoses?
Feeling so sad. Really want Monday to be productive. I was hoping they would start the chemo there and then but obviously won't with no result.
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The doghouse
Feeling very let down by vets. Probable lymhoma. Advice please. Any vets out there?
25 replies
Sunshine020916 · 02/09/2016 18:24
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