I know Emmie knew something was wrong in her head, and all she could do was scratch at her ears to try to relieve the … sensation? Discomfort? Pain? She’ d been trying to tell me, but I didn’ t understand. I never made the leap from ear scratching to brain tumor, especially with no notable behavior changes. I know that even if we had been able to diagnose her back in August or September, the options were few, but I still wish I had known.
best girl. Failed as the one person who should have deciphered what she was clearly getting at. Failed to push the vets harder for more testing and further investigation. Failed as a canine professional.
A year later, I no longer blame myself( scratch that: not as much, anyway). So, I share Emmie’ s story as a plea to dig deeper into our pets’ communication efforts. Observe as closely as possible, ask all the questions, probe, and collaborate with vets to investigate thoroughly. Even though we know dogs will hide pain or discomfort, Emmie wasn’ t trying to hide anything from me; she wanted me to know her secret, that her tumor was talking, but I didn’ t hear her.
PERIPHERAL NERVE SHEATH TUMORS Emmie’ s facial atrophy was quick and obvious: it seemed as though it happened overnight. Alarmed and confused, I texted pictures to my vet. I also started furiously googling causes. These tumors are uncommon, and my vet admitted not having much experience with what we determined to be the cause: a peripheral nerve sheath tumor, which makes up only 27 % of nervous system tumors in dogs. Usually malignant, nerve sheath tumors are considered sarcomas and occur in the periphery of the central nervous system, affecting nerves and tissues that surround the brain and spinal cord. As they grow, they put pressure on nearby tissue and can cause pain and mobility issues. Benign forms do exist, but they are far less common, as are nerve sheath tumors in the legs and abdomen. The cause of nerve sheath tumors is unknown.
Clinical signs include:
• Seizures( most common clinical sign)
• Behavior changes: jumpy, aggressive, staring into space, painful
• Circling / pacing( in the direction of the tumor)
• Head muscle atrophy
• Vision loss / blindness
• Trigeminal neuritis, or“ dropped jaw.” Some dogs have trigeminal neuropathy, where they have difficulty chewing, but this can happen without the presence of a tumor, and it doesn’ t necessarily happen when a tumor is present.
Treatment can involve surgery, but the location is problematic and risky, and regrowth is likely anyway. Radiation is another option. Survival times are typically 4-21 months after diagnosis, the average being 1 year. Emmie was at the low end: 4 months and 4 days.
Had we suspected a brain tumor and diagnosed her earlier, though, I don’ t think I would’ ve changed anything. I wouldn’ t have risked surgery, and radiation would’ ve diminished her quality of life without necessarily prolonging it. As it was, she had four great months almost to the day after her diagnosis. We continued our daily walks, weekend adventures, and trips out to run along the shore at the harbor, her favorite place. I could tell she was slowing on certain days, but her spirit never wavered. On her 13th birthday, we walked to the doggie bakery in town, did backyard agility, and played games. Ten days later, she would be dead.
LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT I knew I was taking her home from the moment I saw her. Having recently lost 13-year-old Percy, my first dog as an adult, I was not looking for another dog. I was nevertheless convinced I was meant to have this hapless puppy because“ surely she was husky / beagle like Percy was.” It was 2011, and I was the Lead Dog Trainer at Petco. She was one of the rescues on Adoption Day, lying in a crate and looking very depressed. I called my then-husband and asked him to please come to my work to meet her. Afterward, we went to dinner, and I told him we were taking her home; her name would be Emerson, and we would call her Emmie.
Em was beautiful: tri-colored and fluffy and“ looked like” a husky / beagle mix, but she was neither breed. She tested detectable breeds of Chow Chow, American Cocker Spaniel, Australian Cattle Dog, St. Bernard, Bull Terrier, Boxer, Harrier, Otterhound, Miniature Pinscher, and then 25 %“ Super Mutt,” which included various
28 Better Training Through Education Photos: Rachel Brix