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Dog has cancer

Posted on 11/12/20 at 7:40 am
Posted by latxwoman
Member since Mar 2019
749 posts
Posted on 11/12/20 at 7:40 am
My sweet 12-year-old pug mix has cancer. She had been licking her paw a lot, so I took her to the vet and they found nothing I got her nails trimmed, and took her home. About a month later, she started to limp, so we put her on CBD for arthritis. A week ago, I noticed a bump on her paw that was bleeding.

I scheduled another appointment and they've determined it's a tumor- likely malignant melanoma which is aggressive when it's on their paw. It's been sent off to a lab.

The Vet ( will not say who) was very aggressive, and was trying to sell me all sorts of other care while she was under to have the tumor removed. - Teeth cleaning, more senior blood work, more testing for a thyroid condition she's been proven not to have three months ago. It really seemed harsh given the circumstance. It made it really hard to process the fact that my baby is dying.

To save her, I will need to amputate her paw, and give her some sort of shot every month for six months. This will give her approximately one year-- if she survives the surgery at nearly 13. Without it, she could survive six months to a year.--

( I did not get this from the wonderful vet, I had to google the condition and it's the outcome)

I am just so torn. What would you do? Surgery- or just let her live out her life- enjoy it, and euthanize her when she begins to suffer?

I hoping someone has the same experience-- and let me know how it worked out. I know it's a stretch to find someone else who had a dog with the same condition, but it's worth a try.

Thanks!
Posted by oleyeller
Vols, Bitch
Member since Oct 2012
32021 posts
Posted on 11/12/20 at 7:46 am to
No one can tell you what to do. Everyone is differrnt. Personally i would just keep her home, go about daily buisness as normal with her... until you know its time. Spending all that money for 1 yr, and a year thats going to have the dog down a leg, taking injections and other meds to keep her comfortable isnt worth it, or fair to the pup
Posted by FlyinTiger93
Member since May 2010
3586 posts
Posted on 11/12/20 at 7:47 am to
Putting all that effort into 6 to 12 months? Just let her get loved for the last few months, and bring in a new pug into your life.
This post was edited on 11/12/20 at 7:50 am
Posted by LSUJML
BR
Member since May 2008
45652 posts
Posted on 11/12/20 at 7:51 am to
1st I’d get a 2nd opinion / treatment plan from another vet

You have to make the best decision for your pup, personally I do not want my pets to suffer even a little & will do what is needed to make sure that doesn’t happen
The decision is never easy, I’m so very sorry
Posted by Springlake Tiger
Uptown
Member since Aug 2006
15531 posts
Posted on 11/12/20 at 7:52 am to
Seems like the treatment will not add to the life expectancy. Makes the choice obvious for me.
Posted by Proximo
Member since Aug 2011
15556 posts
Posted on 11/12/20 at 7:57 am to
Your situation is unique and you’ll probably need an evaluation at the LSU vet school—they can help you with prognosis and decisions about the care.

I’m currently going through cancer with my pup and decided to do surgery and treatment options, it’s just such a different form of the disease from yours that I can’t help much. Just spend every day with her and make the most of the time you have left.
Posted by latxwoman
Member since Mar 2019
749 posts
Posted on 11/12/20 at 8:01 am to
Thanks to all of you. I am considering LSU, and feel like the rest of you. Loving her means making hard choices.

At this moment, I am leaning toward just letting her live her life out and making her comfy. I can't imagine living without a paw even for a year.

I really appreciate you all. It's such a hard choice, and it's nice to have the support.
Posted by Philzilla2k
Member since Oct 2017
11070 posts
Posted on 11/12/20 at 8:05 am to
quote:

At this moment, I am leaning toward just letting her live her life out and making her comfy. I can't imagine living without a paw even for a year.

Your not a dog, dog won’t care, the other issues should be used to make your determination, not an amputation.
Posted by VernonPLSUfan
Leesville, La.
Member since Sep 2007
15851 posts
Posted on 11/12/20 at 8:10 am to
Can you imagine your dog waking up after surgery with no leg after you took the dog there to have surgery? Give it meds, keep her comfortable and do what's right when it's time.
Posted by MasterAbe1
Member since Oct 2016
5014 posts
Posted on 11/12/20 at 8:10 am to
I’m sorry my guy. Really only advice I can give is just think about the dog and do whatever you can to make it the most comfortable in can be in whatever you choose.
Posted by BeachDude022
Premium Elite Platinum TD Member
Member since Dec 2006
34828 posts
Posted on 11/12/20 at 8:12 am to
My good girl had a tumor on her tail so we amputated her tail. If spread 6 months later to her tummy and liver so I had to finally put her down. I say amputate her foot. It’s prob best case scenario and will give you a few more months with her
Posted by kywildcatfanone
Wildcat Country!
Member since Oct 2012
119231 posts
Posted on 11/12/20 at 8:16 am to
Our sweet dog was diagnosed with cancer, but the vet thought chemo would help and give her quality of life for a while longer so we tried it. She died 2 days after the first treatment. It was terribly sad watching her deteriorate the last few hours and couldn't do anything for her. Had I knows it would end that way, I would not have opted for the chemo and just put her to sleep, but I still think it was worth the try.

If your dog is happy and can recover from the amputation, I would do it, but that is me.
Posted by TypoKnig
Member since Aug 2011
8928 posts
Posted on 11/12/20 at 8:16 am to
Sorry to hear.

Maybe you can make a list of the top five things your dog enjoys. If the treatment results in not being able to do or enjoy those things, it may help make your decision a little easier.
Posted by Open Your Eyes
Member since Nov 2012
9252 posts
Posted on 11/12/20 at 8:17 am to
You don’t trust your original vet and you shouldn’t trust your conclusion from reading online because there might be additional information you may not have or things you don’t fully understand.

You should get a 2nd opinion before making a decision. Where are you located?
This post was edited on 11/12/20 at 8:18 am
Posted by latxwoman
Member since Mar 2019
749 posts
Posted on 11/12/20 at 8:23 am to
quote:

You should get a 2nd opinion before making a decision. Where are you located?


BR, taking her to LSU for 2nd.
This post was edited on 11/12/20 at 8:24 am
Posted by offshoretrash
Farmerville, La
Member since Aug 2008
10177 posts
Posted on 11/12/20 at 8:30 am to
I would get a 2nd opinion and if told the same thing I would just let her live out her life. You never know she may die on the operating table. Just enjoy the days you have left.
Posted by Philzilla2k
Member since Oct 2017
11070 posts
Posted on 11/12/20 at 8:33 am to
quote:

Can you imagine your dog waking up after surgery with no leg after you took the dog there to have surgery?

a dog has no conception of missing a leg, or for that matter having 4 legs. Dogs scare themselves when they fart. Dog will adapt almost instantly.
Posted by LSU alum wannabe
Katy, TX
Member since Jan 2004
27005 posts
Posted on 11/12/20 at 8:36 am to
quote:

1st I’d get a 2nd opinion / treatment plan from another vet


This. Ask around for who may be less aggressive. I assume they are talking some form of chemo for your dog? Fortunately (if you can see it that way) there is no wrong answer. My dog deteriorated with arthritis. All sorts of hip surgeries were discussed but not pushed. Ours was 14. We let her be. Got a year with her. Kept her comfortable until we just knew it was time. How’d we know? She stopped taking joy from food. Less tail wagging. Also, one day she stumbled and fell. It was like a horse. She almost did not get up. You could see it in her face that she didn’t want to.

It was time.
Posted by Thracken13
Aft Cargo Hold of Serenity
Member since Feb 2010
16015 posts
Posted on 11/12/20 at 8:40 am to
we had a 10yo cat recently that had a bump on her side that felt like a fur mat - 4 months later, it was an open sore and we ended up having major surgery to remove a massive tumor. she lives about 5 more months after it. her Cancer was the super aggressive kind.

i pray for you and your family that it is not the aggressive kind for your pooch - i wish you the very best
Posted by Drury01
Lafayette
Member since Jan 2015
596 posts
Posted on 11/12/20 at 8:56 am to
So sorry that you and your pup are going through this. Go with your gut extinct and try not to second guess your decision once it's made. Wishing peace for both of you.
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