Possible Bladder Cancer

Hi all.  Just a question if anybody could help me.  Yesterday (Christmas Eve), my dog Sasha suddenly developed a problem urinating.  She's never had this problem before and it started about 5:00 p.m.  She was acting strange for the next couple of hours (wanting to urinate and squatting constantly) for the next two hours.  I took her to the emergency room and the doctor did an ultrasound and said she either has a very bad case of UTI or she has cancer.  He couldn't draw any urine out of her bladder because she was dry.  He explained the ultrasound and showed me the films.  He said because of the sudden onset and no symptoms prior to this he believes it's UTI.  I'm still going to have her tested for cancer because I have to know and see what treatment is available. 

Can someone recommend what type of tests would be the best in determining if she has cancer of the bladder?  I've had her since she was six weeks old and she is now a little over 14 years old and has become my "kid".  Needless to say this was devestating to me and nothing else has been on my mind since this.  She was diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease last December by a specialist (of course this was after I went to my old vet who sent me to a specialist after she diagnosed her with brain cancer...hence old vet) so I'm a little skiddish on a vets diagnosis. 

 Any information would be greatly appreciated! 

I am so sorry to hear about your Sasha.  I hope it turns out to be a UTI and not TCC.  The first step would be to do a urinalysis and culture for sure.  Now, did the ultrasound so a mass??  That would be good to know.   Here is a site on TCC that discusses symptoms diagnosis and treatment a bit :http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_transitional_cell_carci

 I am no expert and certainly others may chime in with other helpful info. 

 My 12 year old silkie terrier was just diagnosed with TCC a couple of weeks ago and I know how you must feel. 

 Take care of yourself and Sasha!!

On 12/26/2007 fairydiva wrote:

I am so sorry to hear about your Sasha.  I hope it turns out to be a UTI and not TCC.  The first step would be to do a urinalysis and culture for sure.  Now, did the ultrasound so a mass??  That would be good to know.   Here is a site on TCC that discusses symptoms diagnosis and treatment a bit :http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_transitional_cell_carci

 I am no expert and certainly others may chime in with other helpful info. 

 My 12 year old silkie terrier was just diagnosed with TCC a couple of weeks ago and I know how you must feel. 

 Take care of yourself and Sasha!!

 

Thanks for your reply fairydiva!

 I took her to my vet today and he did a urinalysis which indicated she defintely has an infection.  The emergency room doctor couldn't adequately distend the bladder which couldn't give him and "adequate interpretation of the bladder wall".  He said she has a significant thickening of the bladder wall but he didn't know if that was because of an infection or TCC.

 It's the ultrasound that has me worried.  Even though she does have a UTI, is it possible this could be secondary to TCC? 

 Another thing is she has the IBD and has to be on low residue food which she hates.  I usually give her prednisone to keep that in check and spur her appetite but my vet really doesn't want to do the pred unless absolutely necessary to get her to eat.  She's not eating well but she usually eats her low residue cookies.  Since this started she really wasn't interested in those and today she wouldn't eat any cookie.  She has lost some weight since August (about 5 pounds) but she goes up and down since the IBD.  I just don't know if the weight loss could be because of TCC or the IBD. 

 If the emergency room doctor could have interpreted the ultrasound I'd feel alot better.  I think I should have another ultrasound done or some other test to rule out TCC?

 I am so sorry to hear about your terrier.  I'll keep you and your "kid" in my prayers.  Thank you so much for your response and the website link! 

I would think it would be normal for Sasha's appetite to be worse with a UTI.  Could you get a copy of the US from the emergency vet and have your vet take a look at it??  TCC can be hard to diagnose, that's true.  And the symptoms can mimic infection.  I think I read somewhere that the cells sometimes actually show up in the urine.  If another US would ease your mind it wouldn't hurt to ask your vet about it.  But I also think it wouldn't hurt to see what happens after a course of antibiotics and see how she does.  Just a few thoughts.

Thanks for your kind words about my Muffie :)

On 12/26/2007 fairydiva wrote:

I would think it would be normal for Sasha's appetite to be worse with a UTI.  Could you get a copy of the US from the emergency vet and have your vet take a look at it??  TCC can be hard to diagnose, that's true.  And the symptoms can mimic infection.  I think I read somewhere that the cells sometimes actually show up in the urine.  If another US would ease your mind it wouldn't hurt to ask your vet about it.  But I also think it wouldn't hurt to see what happens after a course of antibiotics and see how she does.  Just a few thoughts.

Thanks for your kind words about my Muffie :)

 

Hi again!  I gave my doctor a copy of the films but he's not trained (he said so) to read it. She ate little tonight(maybe a quarter of her bowl) and after I chopped up her cookies into little bites and put them on her bed (while she was laying there) she ate them.   That was a total of 5 cookies so at least she had that.  I'm beating myself up thinking that the IBD was the cause of her not eating and not the underlying cause of TCC and why didn't I look at something else.  I also beat myself up about this lawncare service and reading about how this can cause bladder cancer.  I always waited the prescribed time they listed before letting your pet out but I didn't know anything about this until I researched bladder cancer.

 Of course on the other side of the coin, she hasn't been diagnosed with TCC.  But honest to God, I can't help but think she has this. I think the only solution for me is to get a definite answer to the TCC.  Just the idea of waiting to find this out will drive me nuts. 

Again, thanks so much for your responses.  This is a huge help!  And again I will keep you and Muffie in my prayers!:)

Hi Sasha's Dad!

I can see why you are leery of what your vets have been saying since they are all over the place on your dog's diagnosis!!!

If you read most of the other posts on the board, the vets take too long to decide that it is TCC assuming (rightly so) that the problem is a UTI.

So first off, I would try to relax and assume the best. (I tell you this from experience as my only regret since my pup was diagnosed was how much time I spent worrying when I should have been enjoying every second with my dog!!!)  Next, I would wait and see if the antibiotics resolve her symptoms.

Although you wouldn't think it to read this board, TCC is not really that common a cancer, although it is the most common bladder cancer.  I would also be more inclined to think that your pup's weight loss (and 5 pounds on how big a dog? My golden could and should probably drop 5 pounds, but that's not going to happen!) is more from Sasha's other problems.  Usually, most dogs with TCC have no symptoms --other than their urinary difficulties-- until it is very advanced.  Loss of appetite is not one you hear about. 

Thickening of the bladder wall is definitely a symptom of a UTI as well as TCC.  If you own vet does not feel he is able to read the first ultrasound, can he not give you a referral to someone who can?

By the time you read this, I hope Sasha is doing much better and you are feeling better as well.

Good luck,

Marty 

Hi Marty!

 Thanks so much for all the info.  Sasha is doing much better and it does look like it's UTI.  Her symptoms are gone and she's eating.  Her blood work is perfect (they said best they've seen in a dog that's over 14) and she had a round of radiographs yesterday.  Doctor found nothing on them!  Needless to say I'm relieved. 

I think the anesthesia got her because last night she got sick in bed.  Other than that she appears to be on the mend!  Again, thanks to all who replied!

Don