Advice needed please what would you do???

[Ellie20]

Hi,

I have a 2 yr old yellow lab bitch called Willow, early feb this year i noticed her eye looked saw so i took her to the vets thinking he would give me some drops charge me the earth then let her go. He looked at her and on closer inspection realised that she had "Horners Syndrome" and kept her for tests. When you look at will it looks like her 3rd eyelid is about a quarter shut but her eyelids have also droped and her eye seems to have moved back ever so slightly into her head although this can only be noticed if your looking for it, and only effects one eye.

Horners Syndrone is a problem with the nerve that runs from the eye - brain - spine - top of tail - stomach - chest - ear - back to eye and that somewhere is damaged, there is no problem with her eye or sight the eye being like it is is just the sign.

Horners Syndrome can be caused by a whip lash type injury eg car accident or bad fall etc it can also be a cancer on the nerve in the brain or spine also it can be nothing in 40% of cases the cause is left unknown.

If what willow had was a whip lash injury the chances are that by now her eye would be back to normal but its not which it what is making me and my vet think of other possibilitys,..... Tumer!!! Willow is only 2 and is really fit and the correct weight,

My options are to leave it and wait

Or to take her to Liverpool which is 3hrs away for a consultation with a specialist in nerves etc and then go back and have her sedated for a MRI scan

This will cost about £1500 she is insured but my insurance it up for renual soon so if i were to get this done i need to this insurance year. If the tests find a Tumer im not sure the insurance will fork out the full cost of removing the tumer aswell?

The web site below is all the details on Horners Syndrome

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm ... 5&aid=2478

The frustraiting thing is that there is nothing wrong with my dog she doesnt even notice its there! it has never effected her and never will unless it is a tumer but at her age the chance of this is tiny...

I would really appreciate your advice and appreciate your time taken to reed this.

Kindest Regards
Ellie & Willow

[pippin&co]

Hi Ellie,

If it were me I would want to know one way or the other whether or not she had a tumour as I would guess that the earlier a tumour is found the better the chances of a full recovery. Do you trust your vet to advise you what to do without worrying that he would just automatically recommend the most expensive course of action? If so I would discuss it fully with him.

Sorry I can't be more helpful - just my take on what I would do in the circumstances. I really hope it isn't a tumour. What a stressful time this must be for you!

Rebecca

[Ellie20]

My vet is advising me to go some where more specialized for the consultation and scan so he would not be benefiting from it, thank you for your opinion i really appreciate it. x

[Sal]

I had a lab with Horners, whole side of her face dropped, eye not shutting. A dab of chlormycetin twice a day in her eye, and right as rain in about a month.
She had the habit of lying in a plastic basket with her neck and head flopped over the edge. That had caused it.
I think you are making a mountain out of a molehill here.
Wait and see if it improves, or has it been continual from Feb?

[greatdogsato]

Hi - I was really interested in your story as this is something I've never heard of. I can't advise you, but I think I would consider what is in the dog's best interest. If this is not affecting her quality of life then that would be a consideration. Obviously there is the worry that it may be a tumour. Have you thought of the Dogs Cancer Trust - they have a website and may be able to offer further advice. I do hope you find the best solution for you and your dog, never easy, and thankyou for raising my awareness of this condition.

[greatdogsato]

Sorry, just found the website: www.animalcancertrust.org.uk
Good Luck

[lagopus]

I'd want to know whether there was a tumour or not. Especially as she's insured I'd go for it.

[scottishquine]

This is a difficult one for you.... We took Duncan to the Royal Veterinary College in Glasgow to get him diagnosed. They did mention doing an MRI scan on him, we were insured but not enough to cover the scan. So our choice was to not have it. It is a decision only you can make...if your vet is good I would trust their advice...you have to weigh up the pro's and con's. You have to be happy with your choices... but if this is something that has just come on, could be worth while waiting... but that is my opinion. Good luck with whatever you decide

[Lynn]

I don't insure so my attitude is if the dog isn't concerned I "wait and see" but , If I insured and was in your situation ie at the end of the insurance ,I would discuss it in depth with my Vet and probably decide on the MRI scan. Good luck.

[scottishquine]

Insurance wise you best check the small print, or call them and ask what they would cover! The problem could be that you only have a certain amount for every condition, when you re new check if you will get more cash for an existing problem. If you won't get any extra cash for this claim, you best work out what other treatment you dog may need...as in if it would turn out to be that there would be nothing left for treatment after an MRI. I hope this makes sense to you. Financially you have to make sure you have the cash to cover it... Problem is it is too late to start another insurance with a higher amount of cover as the condition has been diagnosed... sorry to be doom and gloom