Hi everyone My Madchen turns seven today! Her birthday, however, comes with a recent diagnosis of Malignant Histiocytosis. On Friday, February 14, Madchen began fussing about the food she would eat. On Sunday, February 16, I took her to the ER vets after she vomited a bit of bile mixed with blood. The ER vet did an xray -- which showed an enlarged spleen and abnormal lungs--and blood panel which came back normal except for her RBC. Mae was anemic. On Wednesday, February 19, Madchen had an ultrasound that revealed two large tumors on her spleen. She had a splenectomy on Friday the 21st. Pre-op bloodwork showed a decline in RBC and a urinalysis came back normal. Pathology of her spleen showed no malignancy! Both tumors (one was 9cm) benign. Madchen did not bounce back from her surgery and has since been back to the vets twice for CBC and more xray views. Madchen's lungs show evidence of abnormal areas and her breathing has become slightly raspy. Reticulocyte test was normal. Her anemia has worsened. Madchen has no fever, no more vomiting, and is pottying normally. She has lost 9 pounds already and has almost no appetite still. Occasionally she will eat a cookie or two and a plain McDonalds burger. The vet who did Madchen's splenectomy sees a lot of Berners (and he did his internship at UC Davis) , although mostly for orthopedic surgeries. His diagnosis is Malignant Histiocytosis. Our attending vet has never personally seen a Berner with MH and is frustrated that there appears to be no noninvasive way to test Madchen ante-mortem. Madchen will have her staples removed on Thursday, another CBC, and will start on Prednisone. Currently she is on Cephalexin post surgical. I am still awaiting results of more bloodwork (I don't remember which test--I think my brain shut off when I heard "MH" ) We are taking one day at a time here. It is difficult watching her turn down all the foods she loves. Special thanks to Jean Bridge, Madchen's breeder, who has phoned me every day since Madchen became ill, and the members of the BMDCNV, and Pat Long, and Laura Lopez Mendez who have given me information and support.
Ellen Barnaby [EMAIL PROTECTED]
