Cancer

[nomembername]

We had a Belgian Mallinois when I was a kid, and he died of cancer, no idea what. Back on New Year's Eve 2000-01 I had to put down my dad's black Lab due to cancer, he had a rare mammary cancer. But I've never had to face it with a dog who is 'my' dog.

This morning I got a call from the vet following up on Tuesday's visit... that lump? Not a fatty mass, it's a spindle cell tumor, and it went from what felt like a healing tick bite to about the size of a lemon in four weeks. The vet wants to operate, obviously based on outlook for recovery or spread of the cancer and an issue of cost. The vet did an aspirate and sent it out for a reading, but it would need to be excised for a biopsy.

For a dog who's 9, this is a more difficult decision for me than if he was older... not that Akitas get all that old.

If you've had a dog with cancer, what was your course of action? Do you feel you did the right thing? Would you or could you have done more, and do you think it would have helped? My concern is if he has to keep going for more surgeries or chemo... well, that's not something dogs can really understand. I think I'd rather give him the best quality of a shorter life than put him through that kind of ordeal because I can't let go when the time comes. But if a surgery increaes his odds dramatically and it's just one in all likelihood until he passes on from something else in a few years, then the answer is an almost definite go ahead.

Poor fella doesn't even know he's been diagnosed yet. Nobody's told him.

 

[titanpat57]

Sorry bro...sad news...

Hope for the best for you and him..

 

[BrotherRob]

Beautiful dog bro, and a tough decision. The best bet is to listen to your vet.

Logically, the money we put into our pets makes no sense. But they are family, and economic sense is not as important as quality and longevity of life. Losing a pet after spending huge amounts of money sucks. But wondering if you could have or should have done something after the fact will eat away at you for a long time.

The best thing I can tell you is to get the facts and do some soul searching. Making an informed decision now beats having regrets later.

 

[wob]

My Rottweiler was diagnosed with cancer when he was 10 or 11. I couldn't justify the expense or guilt of sending him off to do chemo by himself several hours away. In the end, I'd said that I would let him live out his life until he quit eating, couldn't get up, or started going to the bathroom on himself.

He had several good months after his diagnosis, and I put him down when it looked like he wasn't having fun any more. It took me several dry runs to vet before I could muster the courage to do it. In then end, I was glad I did it when I did.

Good luck.

 

[ken_79-fj40]

I'm sorry to hear this. I have a friend who spent thousands keeping his lab mix alive for the last 3 of 16 years. He doesn't regret it at all but he had the money at the time too. My bulldog/pitbull mix is now 13 and he's been diagnosed with cushings disease. I can't afford the treatment so basically I'm just dealing with the side effects until he's not having fun any more then it will be time for one last cruiser ride to the vet.

 

[yzftaco]

Sorry to hear this.

My Dog had a lump removed from his front leg about 2 months ago, and the vet said it was cancerous..
We're hoping it doesn't return!

Our Siamese cat was put down last week from cancer in his lungs.. He went downhill fast! like within 2 days.. Poor guy he was a good cat.

I feel your pain!

 

[nomembername]

We've scheduled one surgery... if this takes care of things, then we did the right thing. If more tumors crop up, then he's going to get the best shorter life a dog can have. I won't have him suffer through things he can't understand. He's a good little guy, and still the tiny baby puppy that came home so long ago every time I look at him.

 

[splitshot]

Beautiful dog bro, and a tough decision. The best bet is to listen to your vet.

Logically, the money we put into our pets makes no sense. But they are family, and economic sense is not as important as quality and longevity of life. Losing a pet after spending huge amounts of money sucks. But wondering if you could have or should have done something after the fact will eat away at you for a long time.

The best thing I can tell you is to get the facts and do some soul searching. Making an informed decision now beats having regrets later.

Wow, couldn't have said it better. Been there....
Hoping for the best.

 

[nomembername]

Ten days after surgery, a roughly 14" scar in his side all stapled up, and first day without a goofy looking sweatshirt on (to keep him and my bitch from licking at it or scratching it or anything) and he's trying to run up and down stairs and wrestle and play like he's three years younger. This from a dog who I attributed his slowness and increasing grumpiness to old age...

Second best decision I ever made for him, after the decision to rescue him in Feb 2003. I didn't realize how much this (almost softball-sized by the time of the surgery) lump was affecting the dog. Apparently the pain was more significant than the localized tenderness he was reacting to.

The vet got the results of the biopsy - I forget what kind of sarcoma he said - and the important part is, by taking such a wide margin around the tumor, the pathology shows no abnormal cells at the extremities of the margin... the clear range is from 17-38 mm, which means the Doc did really well, since he went just over a half inch out from where diseased cells were found by the lab. Luck and skill, some combo to have!

What a relief. Now we have to keep tabs on any other abnormal lumps and bumps that older dogs get...

Thanks for the replies in this thread which helped to reassure that surgery was the right thing to do. Hopefully my pal is around for a bunch more years.

 

[BrotherRob]

Great news. I'm so glad it's working out for you and him

 

[sirenmoses]

Great news. I'm so glad it's working out for you and him

x2.

Sorry I didn't see your thread earlier...

Last year I dumped a bunch o money on a lumpectomy for my 6+yo rescue. The longterm results are astounding, but I don't know that I'd put him through that recovery period again, especially as he ages.

 

[73fj]

Our dogs should be able to live as long as we do.....10-12 years is not enough. Absolute worst day of my life was losing my Cruiserdog.
I would spend what it took to keep them comfortable and healthy, you made the right decision IMHO. Dogs just make life better. Period.

 

[Eldorado556]

Glad the surgery worked out.

My parents have had 5 greyhounds over the years. Had to have Sally, the first put to sleep due to bone cancer. Bone cancer is incredibly aggressive and the only option for her was the amputation of her right leg, which she might not have survived. It a very hard decision especially when your dog is 9+ years old and the surgery is $5K.

 

[65FJ45]

As you probably know you are looking at spending a lot of money with probably 50/50 chance of survival at best. Look into the Budwig diet. It will take time money and effort but at least you will be minimizing discomfort and the huge bills. There is a large support group at yahoogroups of people using it (on humans) with a long list of testamonials for which the post history can be researched.

 

[haryv]

I asked my wife vet about dogs and cancer and which breed to avoid. she said there is non, its luck of the draw. She is so good at her job that the center treats all the police canines, and was the official Vet for Caesar Millan when he came to town to do his dog teaching show.

Our dog had three forms of ecoli. Two are permanently removed. last one has been in his system for two years and cost us 10 grand to get to this point. Lots of money, but he is stabilized with life long medication.

 

[sparkplug]

I asked my wife vet about dogs and cancer and which breed to avoid. she said there is non, its luck of the draw. She is so good at her job that the center treats all the police canines, and was the official Vet for Caesar Millan when he came to town to do his dog teaching show.

Our dog had three forms of ecoli. Two are permanently removed. last one has been in his system for two years and cost us 10 grand to get to this point. Lots of money, but he is stabilized with life long medication.

10 grand? Holy s***.