My old dog has cancer...

Sooz00

Sorry to hear about your girl. It's a horrible position for you to in. It's good to read she's well in herself though, that's the main thing.

Has your vet discussed chemo and other options with an oncologist, if surgery isn't appropriate. Some will offer telephone advice to your vet with no or minimal charge. In my experience chemo has not run into thousands (surgery yes, but chemo no). Other treatments such as anti-inflammatory drugs (if appropriate for your girl's type of cancer) and anti-angiogenic drugs seem reasonably priced so they may also be an option.

Just a couple of thoughts. I wish you luck with your decision and hope you still have lots of time left with her to spoil her rotten x

tankgirl1

Byatt wrote: »

Thank you all for your kind replies. She is fine right now, no pain (if she was the vet said she would give pain relief, although of course I wouldn't drag it out). I love her so much I don't want her to suffer in any way.

She had an op last September (where the vet I had then was supposed to remove the lump and didn't! She forgot!) But my pooch was so poorly after that the risk of another is probably too great. She has given me so much joy and love and been there with me through very difficult times. I hoped she would be the one boxer in the world that would live for ever.

I'm not sure how I will cope, even though I know I must do the best for her and not me. I know she will probably age dramatically over the next few months. That's what happend with my othe dog; she literally changed overnight. One minute a "puppy" and the next unable to barely move.

I'm sorry about your loss Unintentional. I wish they lived as long as us.

My DD is heartbroken too.

I'm sorry but I would be upset that your then vet had agreed to remove a lump, forgotten about it (!?) and said lump turns out to be malignent!

I would be considering contacting the RCVS! Was the lump removal specified on the consent form, or in the records?

To 'forget' to undertake a previously agreed surgical procedure is just not on in my book!

Byatt

Tankgirl, I am very upset. I don't think I have the consent form but it wasn't listed, well, nothing was listed come to think of it.It should be in the records. I had been with that vet for years and trusted her completely. My pooch had other skin cancers removed and various other things (which hadn't been discussed). I kept asking about the lump in her mouth and was told it had been sent off for biposy along with 4 others...the vet even called me and said everything was fine When eventually confronted she said "does it come and go?" Which it doesn't. She then measured it and said to keep an eye on it. I am going to write a letter, but have been shell shocked. If I let myself get too angry and upset I won't be able to function. But I am pursuing it. She didn't even apologise.

Thanks Sooz, I will find out about the things you suggest. I did think thousands was an exaggeration.

I'm so glad I posted here, you have all been great.

ameliarate

My heart goes out to you. I read this this morning, it nearly made me cry, I think it is lovely.




If your dog could talk, these are some of most important things she would like to tell you...

1 - My life will probably only last 7 to 14 years. It will hurt me more than you know if I have to be away from you for longer than a day or two.

2 - If you have patience with me and give me time to learn what you would like from me, I can promise you, you will never be disappointed.

3 - Trust me with your life and have faith in our future together. If I don't feel that you honestly believe in me, I will suffer great emotional stress. My sense of self-worth is totally dependent upon your confidence in me.

4 - Don't stay mad at me for long or confine me to a cage to punish me. You have your friends, your job, and your recreation. I HAVE ONLY YOU!

5 - Talk to me about anything you want as frequently as possible. Even if I can't comprehend your precise words, I can understand the meaning of what you're telling me by the tone of your voice.

6 - Remember no matter how you treat me, I will NEVER forget it.

7 - When you consider raising your hand to hit me, remember I have teeth that could break the bones in your hand, but I choose not to bite you.

8 - Before you scream at me for failing to respond to your commands as I usually do, take time to think about what might be wrong with me that would cause me to treat you differently. Maybe I haven't been eating right or drinking enough water. Or maybe my age is catching up with me and I just can't do what I used to do.

9 - Take good care of me when I get old. Someday you will be as old as me and you will see how it feels.

10 - Be there for me through good times and bad. Never say you can't handle taking me to the vets for stitches or surgery. Nothing could make me feel worse. Everything in my life is easier for me to deal with when I have you standing by my side. Remember my love for you is unconditional and it will last for your entire life.


All we can ever do is make sure that as long as our dogs are with us we give them the best life we possibly can.

yarly

So sorry to hear about your doggy. We lost one of ours to cancer last month. She did have surgery, but that was emergency surgery before we knew what was wrong with her (by the sounds of it she had the same type of cancer as zaksmum's boy). It was incurable and any treatment would at best have given her a few extra weeks. We decided that we wouldn't put her through any more stress (staying at vets etc.). She was insured, so the cost didn't play a role in our decision. She had another good four weeks before we decided it was time to let her go.

I wouldn't change her food (unless she likes raw!), as at this stage it is unlikely to make any difference anyway, I'd just give her whatever she likes. And lots of love and cuddles! I really know how hard it is - it's bad enough to have a poorly pet, but knowing it won't get better is just awful. Try to focus on today and enjoy the time you have left with her.

The most important thing you can do for her, in my opinion, is to let her go before she starts to suffer. Better a day too early than an hour too late. It is heartbreaking having to make that decision but you have to be strong for her.

Take care

loulou123

I had to make this desicion with my last dog who developed cancer. He was 10 at the time and the vets were almost 'pushing' surgery as the best option, but it was massive surgery and he also had other problems unconnected to the cancer - hip and knee problems, so in the end we decided the best thing for him, was to opt for pallative care.

The vets gave him something like a maximum of 6 months without surgery, but he went on for nearly 2 years, with only pain relielf (and that was mainly for his leg problems.) And before anyone says it, we were not 'keeping him alive for us' he was still happy right up until the end. He walked himself to the vets on his last day and even chased a cat that morning, but we knew the time was right as the tumour was SO big and he had started being sick alot, and that we wanted him to go whilst he was still happy in himself.

Personally i know for my dog pallative care was 100% the right option, as he would have hated to be made to 'rest' etc after such a big op, and think he would have given up on life, if we'd put him through that or chemo, as he always lived life at 100mph and continued to do so right until his last day.

My thoughts are with you and your dog xx

zaksmum

It's a nightmare situation though isn't it? So difficult to have to decide when the time is right.

There's a dog around here that's about 14, and it breaks my heart to see him now. He has a massive tumour on one back leg, about the size of a melon, and he can hardly walk with it pulling him to one side all the time. He has to stop and lie down every few yards.

His owner is late 60s, a bit "odd" in many ways but otherwise fully aware. I've chatted to her a few times, and asked her yesterday what was happening with the dog. She got emotional and said she's terrified to take the dog to the vet as she knows what he will say, that is to put the dog to sleep. I said that would be the right thing to do if the poor dog was suffering - she thinks he isn't.

But he MUST be. You can see the pain and weariness in his face, he's struggling around off lead after his owner - around the SHOPS, for heaven's sake! Poor little thing just wants to rest. I can totally understand the owner's reluctance because she loves him and wants to have him as long as possible but you just owe it to your dog to know when he can't go on any longer without pain. That's when the needs of the dog have to come first, and it's the hardest thing of all to have to do.

Byatt

Thank you for all your responses. I hadn't thought of palliative care before, thinking it was op (live), no op (die)...but you have helped enormously. She is well in herself and the lump is slow growing (seemingly)...so I will let her enjoy life.

I got a copy of the notes from previous vet and they clearly state her intention to remove lump so don't know why it didn't happen. There is also a note saying, I was "more concerned" about lump in mouth than hearing about other growths that were removed!!