I began reporting after Christmas on the radio show that Butch was not feeling well and we were stumped as to what the problem might be. Well, the worst of all news has come to pass regarding the illness and the Seizures that he began having in January. With only a few weeks of slowed behavior and an almost complete loss of appetite, the seizures started with no warning on January 16th. After a tough month into February and a trip to the Ohio State University Center for Veterinary Medicine Neurology Department for a complete workup and examination, it was discovered through an MRI that Butch has a tumor growing from the center of his brain and a mass of fluid roughly the size of a walnut surrounding the tumor. This tumor is called a meningioma which is relatively slow growing but nonetheless as dogs his size age roughly 5 to 7 years to 1 human year his time on this earth will be decidedly cut short. With the various treatment options available, the least objectionable (and least terrifying to him) was the use of steroids to reduce the swelling of his brain and hopefully significantly reduce the fluid built up around the tumor. This will relieve the pressure on his brain and in conjunction with the use of phenobarbital
Butch MRI from OSU
to curb the seizures, will give him the ability to function normally for the time that he has left. As he has now been on the steroid taper since Feb 23rd and finished the first round on March 27 he has done remarkably well and is basically his old self again…for the time being. He has had more good days than bad days and is fully functional. He still plays and enjoys laying in the sun but his squirrel chasing days are over. There is no way to know what has caused this, where it came from, or if there is a genetic component to it. It is very difficult to watch this middle aged dog (7 yrs 8 mos at this writing) who was healthy as a horse slow down so rapidly in the prime of his life. I am enjoying the time we are spending together while he still has good quality of life left in him. As I was ready to put him to sleep on a couple of occasions, I was persuaded that as long as he is not in pain, is functioning on his own, and still enjoying his days to ”just leave him be!” There are many people that I have spoke to that say “He will let you know when he’s had enough and his time has come.” I’m taking it a day at a time and hoping that they are correct. Only time will tell. In the mean time, we’ll just keep playing ball as long as he wants to and he’ll be eating steak every weekend!
Since many of the cancers that develop in dogs are so similar (if not identical) to those in humans the definition of “Meningioma” may apply to both.
MENINGIOMA – These tumors grow from the meninges, the layers of tissue covering the brain and spinal cord. As they grow, meningiomas compress adjacent brain tissue. Symptoms are often related to this compression of brain tissue, which can also affect cranial nerves and blood vessels. In some cases, meningioma growth can also extend into the bones of the head and face, which may produce visible changes. Most meningiomas are considered nonmalignant or low grade tumors. However, unlike nonmalignant tumors elsewhere in the body, some of these brain tumors can cause disability and may sometimes be life threatening. In many cases, meningiomas grow slowly. Other meningiomas grow more rapidly or have sudden growth spurts. There is no way to predict the rate of growth of a meningioma or to know for certain how long a specific tumor was growing before diagnosis. Meningiomas are graded from low to high. The lower the grade, the lower the risk of recurrence and aggressive growth….read more
Hour 1 – Gary Nice CEO and founder of the National Canine Cancer Foundation checks in with Jeff to give an update on some of the things they are up to. They have been busy conducting ongoing studies and cancer research, one of the most recent of which is happening at the University of Minnesota. He also talks about where some of these studies are held and some of the upcoming events that are happening around the country. This cancer research not only benefits the dogs but also humans in way you can’t imagine. Jeff discusses the winter cleanup happening in backyards everywhere due to the warm weather we have had. News and announcements. Cat falls 19 stories…out a window…that was opened to let in some fresh air…”DO I EVEN NEED TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THIS?” Jeff exclaims listen in!
Hour 2 – Carol Caprita of Woodside Pet Cemetery in Ohio joins Jeff to talk about pet cemeteries around the country the growing popularity of these facilities. She also talks about the history of Pet Cemeteries and they go back longer than you might think. Pre Need arrangements are also a topic that she knows much about and she gives us a few tips to prepare for the inevitable and makes it easier to deal with it when the time comes. (Butch is coming along fine by the way so he doesn’t need this yet!) It’s an important issue that we will all need to tackle sooner or later. Veterinarians around the country have been sent a letter regarding Wellness exams for dogs and cats and they are to pass on the importance of these to clients…Jeff let’s us in on some of the information. News and Announcements – “Pink Slime” Mmmm, Mmmmm doesn’t that sound good!?! If they are putting this stuff in our ground beef can you even begin to imagine what they are putting in our pet’s foods? Well, Jeff used to be a Butcher’s assistant as an after school job when not playing sports while in high school and knows what this is…it’s not as bad as they are making it sound IF it is being prepared correctly.
Hour 1 – Jeff ran across a great new book that just may interest the whole family. Taking no political sides on the matter, Jeff was interested that many of the programs being debated during the 2012 election were started during the Presidency of Lyndon Baines Johnson – Medicare, Head Start, the Voting Rights Act of 1964 and PBS & NPR were all signed into law by LBJ. Joining Jeff is Mark Updegrove, who is a presidential historian and the director of the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin, Texas and has a new book being published, INDOMITABLE WILL: LBJ in the Presidency (Crown; March 13, 2012), that profiles the programs that have changed our world and the future of which are being debated in this election. As a presidential historian, Updegrove be on with local party officials or alone to discuss – how these programs have changed our world and what will happen and who will be affected if these programs are changed or taken away?Is Garlic good for your pet….well, can you tell me exactly why you would feed garlic to your pet? Some holistic vets sayit will keep the fleas and tics away along with other internal benefits. Garlic a cousin of the Onion contains Thiosulphate which is a substance known to be very Toxic to Dogs, cats and horses. By its size alone the amounts are much smaller than an onion yet the substance is nonetheless toxic and there is an enormous fight for both sides of this issue. Some folks use topical products, tablets, or even shots to keep away fleas and ticks others use natural remedies like Garlic to do the same thing. The Natural pet people say the pharmaceutical remedies are toxic for your pet. I guess the question is do you want to kill your pet the medicinal way or the natural way. We have NEVER heard of a pet dying from a LACK of GARLIC in it’s diet. News and announcements. Pet food debate, marketing plans are picking your pet food for you.
Hour 2 - Jackson Madnick is the researcher and inventor of Pearl’s Premium Ultra Low Maintenance Grass Seed. After his cat died from toxins introduced by a golf course that was near his home, Jackson set out to develop a blend of grass seed that needs very little watering and grows very slowly, yet stays beautiful and green throughout the year. Jackson Joins Jeff to talk about this grass seed and now that spring has sprung it’s time to get planting. Jeff will be following Jackson’s advice for planting this seed that is safe for the whole family. Jeff discusses the Top 5 Pet Problems that affect pets in America. He lists them all and not surprisingly Humans have the same issues. News and announcements.
Hour 1 – The new series America the Wild with Casey Anderson, premiered Sunday, March 11, 2012, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Nat Geo WILD. It’s now on Mondays at 9pm and Casey stops by to talk with Jeff about how he gets up close to lizards, vultures, grizzly bears, rattlesnakes and other elusive and endangered species. From the Arctic cold to the scorching Grand Canyon desert, Casey goes to learn how these animals adapt and survive in their sometimes brutal and unforgiving ecosystems. It’s just the next “job” of this adventurer and his wingman to a 900-pound grizzly bear best friend named Brutus. Jeff discusses his trip to Ohio State University Center of Veterinary Medicine to get a diagnosis and treatment for the seizures that Butch started having in January. Late stage seizures like the ones he has been having are not good and are generally caused by one of three things, a lesion on his skull from hitting his head, idiopathic epilepsy, or a brain tumor. As none of these are desirable for any pet, epilepsy is treatable and pets can live normal happy lives for many years. Listen in for the results.
Hour 2 – California’s Game Wardens are back for a second season of Wild Justice on the National Geographic Channel Sunday at 10pm ET/PT— and they’re goal is to better explain the difference between hunters and poachers. Patrick Foy is a Game Warden at the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) stationed in Sacramento and he joins Jeff to discuss how he goes on regular patrol for game in season in the Sacramento region such as deer, waterfowl, doves, salmon, sturgeon, and many others. Jeff discusses that fact that although Butch came from a decent lineage he still has genetic disorders. His newly found brain tumor may or may not be a result of this. Now, how this relates to the poor breeding of dogs that are held captive in many puppy mills around the countryis obvious. You should do as much research as you possibly can before buying a purebred puppy. Rely on reputable breeders and breed rescue groups for your information on a specific breed or you can easily end up with a heartbreaking situation where a puppy only lives a few years then develops a life ending situation. The Chicken Jerky fight continues and it could be tied to 3 major brands, listen in to the news and announcements for more info. Jeff makes Butch’s Jerky from meat purchased at his local grocierie store…this is the only way to be sure your pet is getting safe jerky…and it’s so easy to do there is no reason not to do it yourself.
Jeff and Butch bringing you important information on caring for your pets!
Note from Jeff:
I have been at the Ohio State University Center of Veterinary Medicine the past week to have a complete neurological work up and MRI done to get to the bottom of Butch’s seizures. So I have been out of the studio in order to get a full diagnosis and treatment for Butch. Butch is 7 yrs and 7 months old which is roughly 53 in human terms. Late stage seizures like the ones he has been having are not good and are generally caused by one of three things, a lesion of some kind, idiopathic epilepsy, or a brain tumor. As none of these are desirable for any pet epilepsy is treatable and pets can live normal happy lives for many years. As he has been in ideal health and in great shape his whole life the most likely of these is a brain tumor causing his seizures, unfortunately.
Ohio State University is one of the top Veterinary hospitals in the country and Dr. Ronaldo de Costa of the Veterinary Neurology Department has been monitoring the procedures and tests Butch is going through at the facility and his current treatment. The MRI tells the whole story. Stay tuned for more details…
