OMG! Going Downhill FAST!

He was at the vet last week because of a swelling on the top of his head.
This is him when I took him to the vet. You can see there is a bump so I brought him in to get checked. That was on 8/30/08

They did a needle biopsy and the fluid was more like a mucus so they were not sure if it was really an abcess. They did a cytology and aerobic culture.
The reults came back on 9/3/08.

Cytology results of the 5 slides were:

Microscopic Description: Cellularity was moderately high with a small amount of blood. Cells were a mixture of heterophils, lymphocytes and azurophils. Mixed bacteria were observed. No cellular atypia suggestive of neoplasia was evident.

Cytological Interpretation: Septic inflamation.

Comments: Culture results will be helpful to determine appropriate antibiotic therapy.

The culture results showed 3+ gram negative rods and 3+ aeromomas species.

Treatment was prescribed as 0.08 ml of Fortaz injected IM every 3 days for a total of 10 injections.


Now for the OMG part. Here he is today on 9/8/08.

I just got back from the vet again. They have no idea what is going on now since he has blown up so much in such a short amount of time. He has also lost 50 grams in the past week and his skin is flaking.
I have been told by the vet to contact Dr. Mayer at Tufts University. No one else in the state would be able to help at this point. A highly skilled specialist is now needed and the Fortaz may be ineffective.

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO HIM?!

Holy Crap!

Thats Crazy. What are you going to do? I hope he heals quickly. I wish I could help.

Originally Posted by kellysballs

What are you going to do?

Continue the Fortaz injections and attempt to get in to see Dr. Mayer.
I'm already past the $500 mark for treatment so far. Might as well add to that with a trip to a vet a few states away.

Good Lord Steve, I have never seen anything like that, let alone happen so fast.....I don't know what to suggest.

Originally Posted by TheFragginDragon

Good Lord Steve, I have never seen anything like that, let alone happen so fast.....I don't know what to suggest.

You're not alone. The vet called in 2 others at the hospital and a tech. No one can figure out what is going on and why is spread so fast.
Looks like the bee is on hold indefinitely now.
Money needs to go to finding out what is wrong with this guy.

Steve, out of curiosity, where did they give the injections of Fortaz, at the site or other? I'm just wondering if he's having a reaction to it. I wish you the best of luck paisano.

Wow. I'd guess that it's fluid buildup from whatever the lump is. Maybe there is a sinus that has ruptured to under the skin? Then the fluid from the infection would be pushed to under the skin? Manipulating the lump for the biopsy, and the injecting of the needle for the biopsy maybe made a path to between the skin layers.
Can they attempt to drain it?
Good luck. I'll watch for updates.

Originally Posted by TheFragginDragon

Steve, out of curiosity, where did they give the injections of Fortaz, at the site or other? I'm just wondering if he's having a reaction to it. I wish you the best of luck paisano.

The injections are going into the muscle. Roughly half an inch from his backbone on the side and a littel less than a third of his ody length down from his head. They are not be given near the site of the original inflammation (or his head for that matter).

Originally Posted by Wolfy-hound

Can they attempt to drain it?

We discussed draining it today. The vet felt that since it is not a normal abcess and the fluid is a sticky mucus like stuff, it would be very difficult to do and may not even help but could cause more damage so for now, I am continuing the injections, keeping him on newspaper isolated from everyone else, and have the tstat set to the highest range of temps (95 hot side and 85 cool side).

So they have no idea the make-up of this mucus like material? It is not actual mucus correct? No an excess from an RI that has found a way to get into the skin? It seems strange that a fluid causing that kind of swelling would have that consistency, usually it is thin almost water like with pockets of pus. Had he shown any signs of another ailment before the lump on his head? Could he have been rubbing his head, received a small cut and bacteria enter it to cause a horrible inflammation and infection?