Update - Spindle Cell Carcinoma

bugslet

In case anyone is in a similar situation and searches and stumble on the previous thread and wonders what happened.

About 18 months ago I asked the good people of MSE about a dilemma I had about possibly amputating a back leg from one of my dogs.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5102184

In short, 12 year old mini schnauzer, with a recurring spindle cell carcinoma in her left back leg, not enough soft tissue after a previous op to allow for another op and it was either amputate at the hip or see how it went.

Ultimately after much thought and input from internet and 'real' peeps, I decided against the amputation, reasoning at 12 it would be a tough operation.

She's had a remarkably happy 18 months just on a daily dose of Metacam. In March, her leg seemed grow more and we introduced some painkillers - more out of playing on the safe side and then any noticeable requirement. Really the only difference had been that she couldn't walk too far, 15 minutes being sensible, otherwise she was playing, eating and hogging sofas as normal.

She was off colour day before yesterday and more poorly yesterday, vet thought it was an infection and gave her some antibiotics ( nothing sinister showing on the bloods). In the afternoon she went into shock and I felt the kindest thing would be to let her go. What exactly caused her to die, is a mystery, but it was a quick illness and nicely for me, obvious that her time had come instead of the horribly should I, shouldn't I.

So if anyone does end up in a similar situation, my experience of letting her keep her leg was the right one. Obviously every circumstance is different, but it really didn't trouble her that much and she had good quality of life till the end.

Here she is providing support for her sister's chin.

jrtfan

Bugslet, I'm sorry for your loss.

You made absolutely the right call, from what you've said. 13/14 is a good age for a dog, and putting her through an amputation when she was 12 may not have gained her any longer than the 18 happy months she had without the surgery. As you say, nobody has established what caused the seizure so it could have been something entirely separate from the cancer and which would have happened in any case. I hope you can take some comfort from knowing that she didn't suffer and enjoy your happy memories of her.




Run free, little girl x

Fosterdog

So sorry for you loss Bugslet, you did the right thing for her. She really was a cutie. It sounds like she had a very good life right until her final days.

Thinking of you xx

bugslet

Thank you jrt and foster, she had a very happy sausage munching life!:)

*zippy*

So sorry for your loss bugslet, we lost one of our mini schnauzers to cancer last year, they are such lovely dogs xxx

HB58

I am so sorry for your loss.

It does sound clear that you made the right decision for your dog, I'm very glad that her end was not painful and drawn-out. As you say, it was her time.

UKTigerlily

Really sorry for your loss and what a beautiful girl she was! I too believe you did the right thing, and that it would be exactly what i'd do if it happened to my 12 1/2 year old dog. My thoughts are with you x

ali-t

Sorry for your loss bugs, i also lost my 13 year old on Thursday as a result of a very quick illness. Run free pups x