My dog has cancer:(

MelbourneMark

After 10 days of different meds by our regular vet to try and stop our dogs loss of appetite/diarrhea; we took her to a specialists. They confirmed our worst fear...lymphoma caner. She is 7 years old and was her normal self just 3 weeks ago. Now she has lost 15#s and barely eats.

The good news: prednozone (steroid) and stomach pills has helped the past 2 days.. She ate an arbys sandwhich out of my wifes hand today! But, she is still very very picky about what/if she eats. These pills are helping a little..

The oncologist gave us a few options: #1-stick to the steroids and expect 2-4months.. #2-3course of chemo that should give her 90% chance of 1year and 25% chance of 1-2 years.. #3-1course chemo that will give 6months..

Decisions, decisions..... Any way she passes, but we get more time with her. Evidently, chemo for dogs give little or no side effects; so we do not think that will cause her ill effects.

Tarpon65

Mark, sorry to hear the news. I hope you can enjoy the time you have left with her.

frank

sorry for you mark, peace be with you

Itch-2-Fish

Very sorry. 7 is way too young. Wish you had more time with her.

Griz

The reason I keep health insurance on my dogs. The decision was always too painful and I'd rather pay to remove the indecision. I'm not preaching, but just a thought for the future. The dog is part of your family. Do what you think is appropriate and prudent.

tunaman

It's a hard thing, lost mine a month ago, will never completely get over it..very sorry Mark

cadman

sorry to hear that. If you decide to go for treatment, ask about the new vaccine treatments. they work in some dogs in some cases, depending on how far the cancer has advanced.

Polar

I could not imagine being in your shoes. Im so sorry you and your family have to endure this. Do what you feel is right for you, your family and your pup, there really is no right answer here. Its up to you.

King_Me

Lost a dog about a year ago to cancer. I would just have the dog be comfortable as long as she can and not do the treatments.
You will know when the time is when its time for her to go. :cry

mara5

Deepest regrets. Next to losing a child, pets come next, IMHO. Do what's right for the dog. Good luck.

Noeettica

This is my takeVVV . That "last trip" to the vet is the toughest I hate it . Peace be with you

King_Me wrote: »

Lost a dog about a year ago to cancer. I would just have the dog be comfortable as long as she can and not do the treatments.
You will know when the time is when its time for her to go. :cry

micci_man

:angel:angel

Angler719

Noeettica wrote: »

This is my takeVVV . That "last trip" to the vet is the toughest I hate it . Peace be with you

Just made that appointment for tomorrow.

BigDanS

Lost our Scottie to lymphoma about a year ago, and we looked into and started chemo. It is not easy on your dog, and typically attempting to extend their life is a selfish decision ( meaning we want them around for ourselves, not meant to be derrogatory ) because we do not want to let them go. I will never put my dog through a chemo treatment again. If the steroids are good enough to relive the initial symptoms my advice wouild be to enjoy your time and say your goodbyes at home when you are ready. I am so sorry for your situation.

Peace,

D

Mister-Jr

BigDanS wrote: »

Lost our Scottie to lymphoma about a year ago, and we looked into and started chemo. It is not easy on your dog, and typically attempting to extend their life is a selfish decision ( meaning we want them around for ourselves, not meant to be derrogatory ) because we do not want to let them go. I will never put my dog through a chemo treatment again. If the steroids are good enough to relive the initial symptoms my advice wouild be to enjoy your time and say your goodbyes at home when you are ready. I am so sorry for your situation.

Peace,

D

I agree 100%.

Flash

We lost the dog to cancer too but he was 14. Basically just don't let the dog suffer

mplspug

I am sorry for you and your pup going through this. All pet owners know the dread and helplessness of these situations.

I have a 14 year old pug with a hack/cough. We suspect it's a heart issue. The 2 sets of panels revealed nothing and the dr said next steps are echocardiogram/ultrasound. I am opting out because even if something is found, not much can be done anyway. The vet said they can try different spectrums of medication, blah, blah, blah depending on what they find.

I personally refuse to treat anything that is terminal. I'd rather manage their condition and discomfort as a dog rather than turn them into an patient. I don't want to have my dogs final year or months spent on anything other than living their life out as a dog.

mindyabiness

I believe that is sound judgment.
The only path to regret is waiting to long and your dog takes a really bad turn... you can't get to a vet to stop the suffering.

jcbcpa

So very sorry MelbourneMark. Just got my dog back from the vet yesterday where she had 2 masses taken off of her. Don't know if cancerous yet or not but chances are one or both will be as she has already had one cancerous mass removed. At some point I will probably be faced with your exact same decision. I dread it. Good luck to you and girl whatever decision you make.

cadman

mplspug wrote: »

I am sorry for you and your pup going through this. All pet owners know the dread and helplessness of these situations.

I have a 14 year old pug with a hack/cough. We suspect it's a heart issue. The 2 sets of panels revealed nothing and the dr said next steps are echocardiogram/ultrasound. I am opting out because even if something is found, not much can be done anyway. The vet said they can try different spectrums of medication, blah, blah, blah depending on what they find.

I personally refuse to treat anything that is terminal. I'd rather manage their condition and discomfort as a dog rather than turn them into an patient. I don't want to have my dogs final year or months spent on anything other than living their life out as a dog.

My black lab had a heart defect that led to a cough, he lived many years after that though. He just had a cough every so often. He was diagnosed at around 10 or 11 and lived to 15. I don't remember which test U.F. did to discover the problem. They said he would just live with it, no heavy exercise or running. It made the problem worse.

mplspug

cadman wrote: »

My black lab had a heart defect that led to a cough, he lived many years after that though. He just had a cough every so often. He was diagnosed at around 10 or 11 and lived to 15. I don't remember which test U.F. did to discover the problem. They said he would just live with it, no heavy exercise or running. It made the problem worse.

No exercising or running you say? No problem for his lazy butt. He does like a good 10 minute sunbath in 90 degrees once in awhile.

I think the coughing for the most part bothers us more than him. I was feeling pretty bad for him. Now I give him some of the drugs when he's having a bad day. It's actually gotten a little better with the warm weather, but now with the AC back on it got a little worse.

boanro

About 3 years ago, I put down my Rottie. He was 7 and we had him for about 5 years. He had complications from diabetes which we had just found out that he had. The vet said we could spend thousands trying to get him healthy again and then he would be on insulin for the rest of his life. Also, she couldn't even guarantee that he would get healthy. And she advised that it would probably be better to put him down. We did. Ever since, wish I had spent the thousands. Recently got another dog and have pet insurance now.

CatBox

Sorry buddy,

I just went through this with my Border Collie a few months ago.

Find a Vet that makes house calls for a home "procedure" and enjoy your dog as long as she wants to hang on. At the end you will know when it is time to help her to move on. I asked the same question when I did a similar post a few months ago, and they were right, you will know....

Best of luck and be sure to get a sack of double cheeseburgers for the last day.

Sorry again... :angel

http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?235034-UGH-my-dog-has-lymphoma-advice-plz

MelbourneMark

I appreciate all the kind words.

Since the steroids have started, she is almost back to her normal self...eating a bit more, but still very very picky. As luck would have it, my wife was awarded a grant yesterday, and $ is not too much of a problem now. (We live very frugal and spend more on the dogs(our kids) than most likely do.)

We will likely start the chemo next week, and basically take it a day at a time. We will NOT keep her alive if she is in pain tho. And, with chemo; it may not work at all. I hope we have her for a few more months and get a few more mountain/hiking trips in. This dog is a special one.

2amigo

Sorry to hear about this MelbourneMark. We went through this in 2014 with one of our dogs. Had a leg amputated then spent a lot on chemo. Gave us about a year more with him and he was in no pain. If the time does come, dog hospice will come to the house instead of doing it in a cold vets office. BTW, all of you need to get pet insurance and not Banfield. We spent a small fortune on the dog I just mentioned. The older dog that accidently fell into our lap in 08/14, we took a policy out on. We pay 40.00 or 50.00 a month and they send us a check back for 90% within 10 days. It has more than paid for itself already.

joyce

Oh my God. So sorry to hear this.

mplspug

MelbourneMark wrote: »

I appreciate all the kind words.

Since the steroids have started, she is almost back to her normal self...eating a bit more, but still very very picky. As luck would have it, my wife was awarded a grant yesterday, and $ is not too much of a problem now. (We live very frugal and spend more on the dogs(our kids) than most likely do.)

We will likely start the chemo next week, and basically take it a day at a time. We will NOT keep her alive if she is in pain tho. And, with chemo; it may not work at all. I hope we have her for a few more months and get a few more mountain/hiking trips in. This dog is a special one.

You sound like my wife and I, although I wouldn't say my wife is frugal. The internet is killing our bank account with the online shopping.

Sounds like you have a good plan in place. I am wish the best possible outcome for your dog and family. May she exceed all expectations.