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<DIV>I just went into the Basset of the Week to vote for Clara and lo and behold
there was Abraham (Ga-linkin)...I didn't even know he was in the
running...anyway...don't tell Abe but I voted for Clara. I just love
those senior kids, they have so much wisdom in those eyes...</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>My heart goes out to Momperson and Dadperson on the loss of sweet
Zelda...what a beautiful tribute.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>We could use a little drool as Abraham's brother Owen Max Bloomberg has
been battling a mystery lump...a few weeks back he had this huge lump appear at
a previous surgery site from a mast cell tumor which was removed almost 4 years
ago. The tumor came back as a 2 which for mast cell is pretty
good...a 1 being the best. Anyway when this lump appeared I freaked and
rushed him to the vet . Fortunately Auntie Ilene was able to meet me there
so I had an extra pair of ears as sometimes we hear but don't listen as we are
too upset. As it turned out the Vet took three aspirations and came up
with NOTHING...whew...he sent us away with no diagnosis. Two days later
the mystery lump was gone ...I was thrilled and giving it some thought I came up
with an insect bite...made sense...appeared very fast and went away.
Meanwhile I went and purchased Benedryl just in case of a future
incident. About four days ago the lump has reappeared in the
identical spot...it is as large and as hard. Back to the Vet again
yesterday and after three more aspirations, nothing. I told the Vet that
the lump felt warm and that perhaps it might be an infection. He took a
larger gauge needle and aspirated from again another spot and tons of puss came
out (sorry to be so graphic) . At this point he checked all
aspirations and came up with a bacterial infection. What is causing
it is a mystery. He gave me a few options but highly suggested
tubing the lump to let whatever was in there could drain, a round of antibiotics
and some pain meds as Owen was visible in pain and would not lay on that
side. By the way , the lump is on his ribcage. After an hour and a
bundle of nerves the vet came out and said that he did not get the results he
was hoping for which would have been Mt. Vesuvius erupting. So now
Owen has this tube, and is on meds and I am applying hot compresses. He
goes back Monday for tube removal. Secondary to the lump he has an edema
on his underside. The vet feels that is secondary to the infection.
He took a culture to determine what kind of bacterial infection it is . We
will know probably by Friday. If this doesn't correct itself with
the antibiotics we will have to have more surgery to find what is causing the
infection. The vet explained that sometimes a foreign body gets in an area
and causing the inflammation and infection . Owen is the most selfless dog
I have ever known!!!... he is experiencing pain and is having difficulty
finding a comfortable position to get in yet he stands there cleaning Abraham's
face. The most touching thing to watch. Owen was a rescue from
a home where there was domestic abuse...I rescued him and he rescued me as two
weeks prior to him coming into my life I lost my sweet 10 1/2 year old Golden
Retriever. He help me through my grief along with helping the other
dogs cope. <A
href="http://www.dogster.com/dogs/92950">http://www.dogster.com/dogs/92950</A>.
If anyone else has experienced this or knows of a similar situation please email
me off list. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Shelley, Owen with an Owie and Abraham Ga-linkin
</DIV></FONT><BR><BR><BR><DIV><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">Get fantasy football with free live scoring. <A title="http://www.fanhouse.com/fantasyaffair?ncid=aolspr00050000000020" href="http://www.fanhouse.com/fantasyaffair?ncid=aolspr00050000000020" target="_blank">Sign up for FanHouse Fantasy Football today</A>.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>