Update..URGENT Input needed - Page 2

I don't know?!  Describe what you mean?  Does it look like one big mass on an ultra sound?

Ok... Please those of you in warm tropical areas of the world, in the U.S. those of you in Georgia, especially Atlanta and my Texas and Gulf Coast friends read this. If you read this make sure your friends and puppy buyers handlers and trainers are aware of what is to follow. This scares the heck out of me. The surgery was done and the puppy has been diagnosed. It is called: PYTHIOSIS (I am holding Merck's vet manual in one hand any typing with the other so forgive small typos) It is an aquatic pathogen that is closely related to an algae. It is found in LAKES and swamps. It in rare in the US EXCEPT Gulf Coast, Texas, and Georgia. It affects dogs and horses. This pathogen is more common in fall and winter months in the USA. It usually affects puppies up to 3 years old and Labs are the most common victims. It weaves and grows itself over the internal organs becoming part of it. Most often by the time the dog shows symptoms it is too late This puppy is in the ATLANTA metro area, one of the nice upscale community deals. There is a lake and the dog was only in it 2 times ever. The recommended treatment is removal of the effected area however because the dog is either not showing symptoms or is mis-diagnosed by the time it is discovered (if ever, not everyone would pay for expensive surgeries and specialist), it is too late. By too late, I mean the organism has weaved and attached itself so that removal is death. The book said there is 20% chance of success with special drug therapy. This puppy had some of his stomach and some of the intestine removed. They called me tonight just before 11 pm to update me and ask if I ever heard of it. I hadn't and of all the books I have only the vet manual had info on it. Someone had responded to the first post that where there is life there is hope...I believe so too. These people want to know if anyone has treated this and success of it. Torn between not giving up if there is hope vs not wanting him to suffer. IF there is a way to kill the pathogen, to get it to recede, he could live a normal family life. Main cause of death is not being able to absorb food. They are open to holistic, non-traditional, breaking new technology, anything....of course "He's the most remarkable puppy they've ever loved". They are waiting to see if I come up with anything, basically not wanting just one vet and his one opinion. Again, please cross post. Please let those you care about know of this. I will be questioning and adding it to any dogs I ever place in the future. I didn't add it but I guess you probably figured...it is/was NOT genetic in anyway.

Thanks Love your dogs and appreciate their lives because at any moment it can change without warning. Standing by for input... .

I would treat the same way you would for lyme disease or even heartworms, but treatment may be as bad as the disease :(

but I am no vet.

There was an outbreak in North Texas a few months back near Fort Worth at a little waterhole called Burgers Lake.  a few people got sick.  but nothing as bad as this puppy.  water is getting warmer every year and more and more pathogens, ameobes (sp?) and weird fungi are becoming more common in the water.  water is becoming stagnit.

but I am not vet and do not pretend to be

No, treatment is different.

Someone posted this link from another list.  New hope we were looking for.  I am posting it here because people need to know about it.

http://www.pythiosis.com/