An Update on Tank!

[jfisher22]

So for those of you that have seen my other thread about my new guy Tank, you know that he's had multiple surgeries for what we assumed was a tumor that is now tissue, that will probably be apart of Tank for the rest of his life.

Well, he went to the vet early this morning for surgery. The vet decided to take the whole mass area off and he said it was so big it takes up a dinner plate. Sorry, gross visual I know. They said he seems to be in good spirits right now and he's all doped up on pain meds.

But our vet suspects something besides it being a tumor. He strongly believes that the old owners that dropped him off at the SPCA tried to use him as a fighting dog. Looking at his mouth, it's really messed up and even looks like he's missing some teeth. The vet also thinks the incision area may have been a cut from fighting. Now this we don't know 100% but the vet believes he's been through some type of trauma.

My vet also told my mom something else on the phone. He appears to be anemic, and I think he wants to do something called a CBC (I think). He was also talking about a bone marrow transplant but we aren't 100% sure on it until tests come back. But my mom said it's supposed to be painful and doesn't want to put him through that.

My mom and I both cried a few times today, I feel awful for what this dog's been through. Between possibly having a rough life, being dropped off at a shelter, going through 4 surgeries (4 or 5, I lost count) and constantly going back for the surgeries and not seeing us, and him thinking we probably dropped him off and he won't see us again. But the vet commended us for adopting him and taking him in, and giving him a chance at life. Even if it means only being with us for a short time and doing everything we could to help him heal and get past these issues We don't know what's going to happen at this point until the tests come back and then we'll know how severe or how simple it is. The vet said he could be here for only a short time and there's a chance he could make a full recovery and live a full, healthy life.

So that's the update for now, I'm not exactly in the greatest of moods but keeping my fingers crossed for the big guy!!

In other news, here's a cute picture I took last night of him sleeping with his one-eyed panda pillow pet! Hehe!

 

[ruthcatrin]

Regardless of what happens with him, you've given him a home, where he's happy, and fed good food, and loved. Hold onto that. Regardless of what happens next, he has a HOME.

If your vet wants to do bloodwork, do bloodwork! Its not always cheap, but it means you have a chance to look at things.

 

[Rugers-Kris]

Sorry to hear all of this but like Ruth said...He has a good life now and he is loved and that is all that matters regardless of how long he will get to have it. Besides, sometimes dogs will surprise you. Y'all are in my thoughts. LOVE the photo!!

 

[tb44]

Omg I am completely speechless. Tank is so lucky to have you. I literally have tears running down my face right now.

 

[jersey girl]

You are this Tank's angel....you have done so much for him. He is lucky to have such a great owner. I hope everything works out and I would do the bloodwork for sure.

 

[jfisher22]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the kind words and thoughts. I just have to remind myself that we did give him a good home and that we were meant to have him with us, whether for a short time or for a long time. I'm pretty sure they are going to do bloodwork and my vet will probably be calling my mom tomorrow sometime for an update.

I love the picture too, only thing is I had to be super quiet when I took it! He's not the heaviest sleeper so any small sound or movement I make he stirs and just looks at me. I saw it an a opportunity to take a precious picture of him kind-of sleeping haha! I have other pictures of him sleeping I'd love to put on here, we always get a kick out of it. Part of him sleeping the way he sleeps is probably because his incision area had to have bothered him when laying down. But he does it all the time and regardless, it's just so funny because I've never seen any animal lay the way he lays.

 

[Mojo]

You are a true angel. There are very few people anywhere that would do what you have done and continue to do. You are deserving of so much praise. Thank you for sharing this with us and best of luck to you and Tank.

 

[jfisher22]

Thanks so much Mojo, I love rescuing and I will always be a rescuer! It's crazy to me that we have another dog. The funny thing is we weren't even looking for a dog, and every so often I'll check the SPCA website and saw a Mastiff. I pointed him out because I knew my dad always wanted a big dog. We ended up looking and I couldn't believe we got him. But I am so happy we ended up with him. Everyone kind of jokes that he's mine because I found him and he follows me literally everywhere and sleeps on my floor! He's so precious, when we sit on the floor he'll literally just flop right across us and start to fall asleep. When I'm sitting down he'll sit in front of me and just put his paw on my lap. The vet wants to keep him for a few days and I miss him already <3

Once we hear from the vet I'll update this post again!

 

[Robtouw]

A CBC is a complete blood count, basically they are looking at the ratio of red blood cells to white and the type of white blood cells the body is producing. Low red blood cells indicate anemia, a high white blood cell count points to infections and the type of white can rule out types of infections. Partial wbc's or low numbers of them can indicate types of lukemia, and so on. Its a pretty common test, also done quite often on humans with anything from a cold to cancer.

I hate the thought of anyone using a mastiff for fighting, how horrible that must have been! He is lucky that you have found him! I hope everything goes well!

 

[musicdeb]

You are such a blessing to Tank. Regardless of how long he is on this earth, you have shown him what love & loyalty truly is and he has done the same for you.

 

[mx5055]

Tank is so lucky to have found you! Keeping my fingers crossed and prayers and thoughts that all turns out good

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

Keeping everything crossed for Tank and your family. Tank is one lucky boy and I am sure he knows you love him!

 

[Neidermeyer]

A lifetime of turmoil means he loves you all the more for what you have done/are doing for him. Lucky guy

 

[KristinandCianna]

Fingers crossed, and praying for Tank. God bless you all for taking him in and giving him the love he deserves!!!

 

[CeeCee]

I'm adding my prayers as well. Blessing to you and your family!

 

[jfisher22]

Thanks everyone a bunch for the well wishes, it means a lot! All of your posts put a smile on my face today! My mom spoke to the vet today, they said he's doing very well after surgery but they are going to keep him for a little while while he's healing. He's all patched up around his surgical incision area and the vet doesn't want to send him home just in case he gets home and it falls apart or something. The vet is telling my mom that he thinks there is a chance that Tank has cancer, which I of course really hope he doesn't! So our vet is testing him for that now and I'm not entirely sure when we will know the results.

But we are probably going to visit him tomorrow and of course I will let everyone know how it went!

Also-I have another thread under the 'Training & Obedience' section of the forum. In it, I mentioned him being a bread thief (lol). We decided to set up cameras on our laptops: one in the kitchen and one in the office facing the front door. We were gone about an hour and when we got back we saw bread wrapping ripped up on our office floor. A little over 6mins30secs into one video you see him walk in the kitchen, disappear for a few seconds, and walk off with a whole loaf of wrapped bread. On my camera (in the office) you can see him turn the corner, bring the bread into the office, drop it, and go back into the kitchen. Then on the other video he goes back to the counter and you can hear him rummaging for cookies that were on our stove top! He didn't get them but you can definitely hear it! We got home and the whole loaf was completely gone!

The only reason I'm mentioning the video on this thread as well is because I keep meaning to post the video on here because it's actually pretty hilarious (we also joked that we felt like we were watching a paranormal activity movie!). We just kept laughing at the fact that he actually took a whole loaf of bread. So I definitely want to post it on here, I think you guys would get a kick out of it!

 

[Amanda F.]

So sorry to hear about Tank. Thought and prayers to you and your family.

 

[jfisher22]

Thank you Amanda, much appreciated!

Well, there is good news on Tank! We went to visit the big guy today at the vet. The incision area looks really good and looks like the stitches are holding up really well. It was very inflamed but of course it'll go down after a little while because his surgery was only two days ago. He was very out of the loop and seemed very tired. He slipped and did fall but when the vet came in we were told he was on a tranquilizer so he just sleeps more. They have him laying on soft and cushioned surfaces just so he's not laying down really hard against his incision area. He seemed happy when he came in the room, came right over to us. My mom was a bit worried he wouldn't recognize us because he hasn't been with us for that long and has been away from us a few times.

His bloodwork came back good, no problems! He is anemic, though. They sent a biopsy to the lab to test for cancer, let's hope he doesn't have it!! Other than the anemic issue and still waiting for the biopsy (results will probably be back on tuesday), he seems to be doing really well. He's eating and drinking the vet said which is good. He just looks tired and in a lot of pain, we felt so bad for him!

But that's the update for today, I'm glad we were able to go and see him and to see what the vet said!

 

[raechiemay]

This is all new news to me but wow just reading this thread has me tearing up. Thank goodness for you & your family becoming Tank's forever family. His picture melted my heart & I am so glad that you guys are giving him the fighting chance he so deserves. Please do keep us posted on him. I'll send up some prayers that he does not have cancer & he continues to heal & do well.

 

[jfisher22]

Thank you raechiemay! I am so glad to have come across such a great and gentle dog! I'm very thankful for being able to have him in our house and that we're able to give him the help he needs! I can't imagine what he must have been through and what he's thinking right now, the poor guy! I'll definitely continue to update this thread as he's healing!