It's been 12 weeks since Zander's Spontaneous Pneumothorax episode that scared the absolute **** out of me. I still don't know what to think of it. He nearly suffocated, and there's no reason why. His x-rays were clear, his blood panel, other than elevated liver values, was clear. He nearly died of something extremely rare and usually associated with some sort of disease or issue with the lungs, and we have no idea why.
I've opted for no CT Scan. In the beginning, I was going through all the motions and I was determined to find a cause. There MUST be a cause. But I'm coming to terms with the idea that maybe there just really isn't one. And while it would be a fantastic case study - Zander is the only dog I've found that has made it 12 weeks without surgery or re-occurance - it isn't for us. It isn't worth his stress, the risk of sedating him, our stress, any of it. I wouldn't want anyone else to ever suffer this, but I'm not willing to risk it. Honestly, part of it is that I just don't want to know. Either it is so serious we won't be able to do anything about it, or he will be healthy. No matter which, the outcome is the same. We do nothing. I'd rather just spend time with him, and not know what is on the stopclock.
I have my vet mailing me a copy of his records. I'm vet shopping. I'll probably do one more round of x-rays and a blood panel to see if he can be cleared for light exercise starting this fall....another 9 weeks, maybe. Currently he is on a multivitamin, Cosequin, and fish oil for general old man things...stiffness and keeping up on his health.
He's been completely normal, though. Nothing has changed pre and post near-death experience. He screams and yells and wants to play and run. We don't let him, but it's nice to see the energy is there. His coat is thick, soft, and his legs have already grown back in. The spot on his chest is still quite short, though, and has another inch and a half or so to grow. I imagine by spring it'll be all grown in.
He's made great friends with Faith, Fiona, and Willow. Faith is his old dog friend, they cuddle during storms. The only time he has ever cuddled with another dog. Fiona is his girl. Puppy love and all. Willow is the only young dog in the house he's taken to and tolerated. He ignores Quinn and the others for the most part. The pug, Zoey, he is fascinated by. There's even a child that comes over every now and then that he can play with and watch. He is very healthy and happy with life, and unless this next round of x-rays and blood work says differently, we're starting to put all of this behind us.
I've opted for no CT Scan. In the beginning, I was going through all the motions and I was determined to find a cause. There MUST be a cause. But I'm coming to terms with the idea that maybe there just really isn't one. And while it would be a fantastic case study - Zander is the only dog I've found that has made it 12 weeks without surgery or re-occurance - it isn't for us. It isn't worth his stress, the risk of sedating him, our stress, any of it. I wouldn't want anyone else to ever suffer this, but I'm not willing to risk it. Honestly, part of it is that I just don't want to know. Either it is so serious we won't be able to do anything about it, or he will be healthy. No matter which, the outcome is the same. We do nothing. I'd rather just spend time with him, and not know what is on the stopclock.
I have my vet mailing me a copy of his records. I'm vet shopping. I'll probably do one more round of x-rays and a blood panel to see if he can be cleared for light exercise starting this fall....another 9 weeks, maybe. Currently he is on a multivitamin, Cosequin, and fish oil for general old man things...stiffness and keeping up on his health.
He's been completely normal, though. Nothing has changed pre and post near-death experience. He screams and yells and wants to play and run. We don't let him, but it's nice to see the energy is there. His coat is thick, soft, and his legs have already grown back in. The spot on his chest is still quite short, though, and has another inch and a half or so to grow. I imagine by spring it'll be all grown in.
He's made great friends with Faith, Fiona, and Willow. Faith is his old dog friend, they cuddle during storms. The only time he has ever cuddled with another dog. Fiona is his girl. Puppy love and all. Willow is the only young dog in the house he's taken to and tolerated. He ignores Quinn and the others for the most part. The pug, Zoey, he is fascinated by. There's even a child that comes over every now and then that he can play with and watch. He is very healthy and happy with life, and unless this next round of x-rays and blood work says differently, we're starting to put all of this behind us.