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[christina77]

Well, my vet has pretty much confirmed that my Jolene has Blasto today. She has swollen glands, multiple lumps, a fever that comes and goes, but still a pretty good appetite. Did anyone get the chest x-ray done? Her's was clear, which is apparently very good, but she has many lumps down her spine, that continue to grow and spread. These are what woryy me the most. Did anyone elses dog have lumps along the spine?? I'm freaking out!!!!!!!!!! I have four dogs, ALL DIGGERS, and live in a hollow along a stream bank. Digging for moles is their favorite past time!!! Any suggestions for ridding myself of these little critters? I read that the spores are very common in their tunnels on their feces etc.. Good grief. Any suggestions?? Console me please.

[carolh]

Good luck, Christina,

My digging dog got blasto in the eye.  Have you had a Mira Vista urine test done?  I ask just because I haven't heard of blasto causing lumps down the spine (doesn't mean it doesn't happen.  I just have never heard of it.)  Also, clear lungs is not so usual (though my dog did not show blasto in the lungs either).  Are you treating Jolene for blasto?  Good thing to start asap.
Thanks for sharing info re mole dens holding blasto spores.  We don't have moles on our property though one place we walk our dogs does.  We'll stop walking them there now!
Carol

[Jen]

Most of us have dealt with diverse lumps, bumps, various swellings, lesions, etc.  We don't really know why blasto presents differently from one dog to the next. 
But - if caught early, these issues often resolve with treatment. We have better diagnostics and monitoring (MiraVista Labs), we know more about the treatment process, and among our members, there's probably someone here who has experience with whichever issue presents itself. 
We're seeing much more success now than even 2 years ago.

jen

[mhitesman]

Best of luck with Jolene.  Yes, Comet had chest xray (and liver biopsy, kidney ultrashounds, blood tests, urine tests, retinal biopsy, a blur of others) and was clean.  We lost his right eye to blasto. 

Your topic title brought back memories.  I thought that Comet's diagnosis of blasto was my worst nightmare too ...until the vet said he was permanently blind which was my nightmare until the vet said he would have to have his blind eye removed, which was the new one.  ...soon to be replaced by the notion that he could DIE.  Now THAT put it all into perspective.

My Comet lost his eye and suffered much pain, but he is alive and right here beside me.  I am one lucky person indeed, and I never forget it for one minute.  It took a long time (over a year) before I would let Comet run along the creek again, and I still fear it.  Now I watch him and call out the command I wish he never needed to learn "NO DIGGING!".  I can't protect him from blasto spores because of what it would do to his quality of life (and mine).  So, I try to make up for it with the best diet I can give him, learning, and watching, watching, watching, for any out of character symptoms or behavior.  This forum is so important in helping me to stay vigilant.

[gunner]

Sorry for your bad news.  

As scary as it is, since Jolene doesn't have lung involvement, your path *should* be a whole lot less scary than those who do have it in the lungs.  Watching dogs struggle for every breath is AWFUL!!

So, being thankful for that little blessing aside, Gunner had many lumps, some by her spine and others on her paw, tongue, inside her thigh, on her side ranging in size from 1/2 a grapefruit size to thumb (tip to knucke).  She also had a bulgy eye that she ended up loosing as well.  The lumps were't the worst of it though.  She also ended up with a HUGE absess on her flank.  It was slightly bigger than a tennis ball and then it ruptured twice before it was all over.  My poor bulldog.  Not the most beautiful creature to begin with but with all of the horrid lumps and bumps she looked like the elephant man version of a dog.  Poor girl, what she went through!  But, with proper medications and TLC all of the lumps, bumps and absesses went away.  

Though you never know for sure about this disease, I feel completely confident that your little fur baby will recover and be back to her beautiful self right shortly.  Hang in there, just finding out what is wrong in the first place is a good half of the battle.
All the best,
Joyce

[evayola]

Unfortunately all of us have been where you are at right now... It is a nightmare BUT it is "good" news that Jolene doesnt have the blasto in her lungs. Many of the dogs here did have lesions and some worse than others. Nothing is "typical" when it comes to blasto so its hard for someone to say that they had the same bumps as Jolene does. Have you started treatment yet? I wish the very best for you and Jolene and the unfortunate disease she has to battle. We are all here for you. Keep us updated!

Eva

[Kash-]

Nightmare?  Yes.

But, in the warm light of day, as long as you're on anti-fungal meds then your nightmare will turn into a guarded sigh of relief.  Yes, you'll suffer from blasto-noia (think paranoia) like the rest of is do, but if you're diagnosed and prescribed, then the worst is probably over, maybe.

My dog didn't have the bumps but his whole front leg swelled up to the point I thought it would burst and he had a weeping sore on his toe for a couple months.  My blasto-noia made me measure the swelled up leg to see if it was going up or down a couple times a day. 

[jiggasmom]

Sorry to read about your poor Dog. Jigga had ONE pea sized lump on his spine but that was it. He mosly had extreme swelling in his front right leg and an oozing sore. Blasto seems to take so many shapes. Be strong you will get through this!!