What would you do? Dog has cancer :(

xxlaurissaxx

Really just looking for some advice

My 14 and a 1/2 yo dog has been diagnosed with cancer in the mammory glands. I took her to the vet for reassurance about an over sized teet that hadnt gone down after her season, and was given anti-biotics which have seemed to take away half of the redness/swelling but she found 2 tumours aswell

Fast forward to last week and the cell samples taken (from 2 tumours) has came back as 1 cancer/1 inconclusive) . She says there are tumours under each teet so all will most likely be cancerous.

The vet wants to remove the 1 over sized teet and tumour underneath as its the one thats angry looking but I dont see the point in just removing 1.

Am I being selfish in saying, theres no point operating to just remove the one, and just letting my dog be happy and once it starts affecting her, having her PTS?

She isn't at all affected by the cancer and we didnt even know it was there until a couple of weeks ago. She is still acting normal, her appitite is the same, shes drinking the same amount of water, and still being a lazy, spoilt little b***er :rotfl:so nothing out of character.


I feel she is too old for an operation and there are high risks due to her age that she will not make it through the operation.

Sorry for rambling but I just want to know if you think I am doing the right thing in saying leave her until it starts effecting her then once it does get her PTS.

donnap83

I think your suggestion is the best really. Do you really want to put her through the ordeal of an op, that she may not pull through, only to remove half the cancer? Enjoy the time you have with her, maybe see about painkillers from the vet to ensure she is comfortable. You'll know when it's time. xx

xxlaurissaxx

Thanks Donnap83, I think i've known it is what I should do since I found out but the vet is insistant on removing the 1 tumour. Its my first dog so want to make sure im doing the right thing for her and not being selfish.

Thanks xx

Caroline_a

Don't know whether this helps - I had an dog years ago, I grew up with her from a child. At a similar age to yours she developed the same sort of cancer. We did wonder what to do, as you have, but my parents decided in the end to let her have the op. She pulled through, and it gave her a totally new lease of life - she lived for another 5 or 6 years!

I am totally against putting dogs through treatment that is painful and only prolongs the agony, but in this case it really was well worth it!

Frugalista

We had a similar situation with one of our "boys" once. He was 14 and the vet found a massive tumour in his stomach. We were told an operation could maybe give him an extra month or so (if he survived the op in the first place). With much soul searching we decided to bring him home to say our goodbyes. Two weeks later we took him on his final journey and let him go.

It's so, so very hard to make that choice - but I think you are doing the right thing at her age. <<< Hugs >>>

inamegajam

I agree with donnap83, if she has the op her emune system will get low, if she does come through the op, which will give any more cancer the chance to run riot as it does with people, and bring the dreaded day sooner rather than later. Enjoy the lazy beauty while she is still ok . All the best to you and your dog:beer:

Stephb1986_2

Hi my labrador had cancer about 2 years ago we had them removed she was 8 years old we now have noticed 2 more lumps on her in the same sort of area we've decided now that she's too old to be operated on and we should let it be, she's not in any discomfort or anything she's acting normal eating and drinking etc.

We know that one day we will have to make a decision but for now we're giving her the best quality life we can.

You know what the right thing to do is.

Thinking of you, give your hound a stroke for me

Steph xx

peachyprice

I would leave her be and let her live out the rest of her days in comfort.

An op at her age, even if she survives, will take alot to get over and may not give her that much londer to live than if she carries on blissfully unaware.

Sagz_2

It depends on how 'old' your 14 and a half yers old dog is. (does that sound daft?)

I had a full mammory strip done on my little JRT when she was 12, I'd only had her a couple of months at the time and thought she deserved to be loved for at least a few years of her life. She died at the grand old age of 18.

Also had the same op done on one of my old Retrievers - age unknown but well over the hill. She recovered as well as the little JRT and lived for another 3 years.

On the other hand I've had several dogs with lumps that I have left as they were 'old' old dogs. They had slowed down and were losing the joy of life and I though the last thing they needed was to be put through an op. We used medications to keep them comfortable for as long as possible.

The decision has to be yours OP - you know and love your dog the best. It won't be an easy decision, but I'm sure it will be the right one xx

rising_from_the_ashes

I'm so sorry to hear this and know what you're going through.

I have a 12 year old lab who has several cancerous lumps (probably around 18 months now) - like your dog, they don't bother him at all just now and he's still full of mischief and loving life (tho' has obviously slowed down due to age).

I decided not to go for any "aggressive" treatment - mainly due to his age - fingers crossed he has a long time left but we enjoy each day and as long as he's happy in himself and enjoying life, we'll keep going.

As a comparison my mum's dog (also a lab) had 2 lumps removed at the beginning of March - they turned out to be "nasty".

The op knocked the stuffing out of her - she had a nightmare with the wounds not healing (split her stitches, then the replacement staples etc) . It took her a good 2.5 MONTHS to recover - and she's only 6. Mum has already decided that if they come back, she won't put her through the op again as it was a nightmare recovery for the poor wee one.

I'd say, treasure every day and let your loved one see out her days enjoying life and not in pain.

Wishing you all the luck.

elsien

I think perhaps you should go back to your vet and discuss in a bit more detail what your concerns are and why he thinks the op is a good idea. I tend to find that good vets are reluctant to put animals through invasive treatments if age and health mitigate against it, so if he's suggesting it as a realistic possibility then perhaps you could get him to explain exactly why he thinks it's such a good idea in this particular case.

Having seen how much having a toe amputated last year due to a tumour knocked mutt for six and aged her overnight, (she's now 14), now that she has a mass in her abdomen I'd need some very good reasons indeed to consider anything other than palliative care if it does turn out to be bad news.
Mutt has a another lump in her armpit, and the vet asked if I wanted to do a needle biopsy which would not need a general anaesthetic. I asked him if there was any point given her age and health, and he said probably not. So we've left it at just monitoring and seeing how it goes.
On the other hand the longer lived breeds may benefit from a couple more years, depending on the treatment and prognosis for your dog and his specific illness,

I'd advise going back to your vet, tell him your concerns and get a better idea of why he's suggesting it before making a final decision.