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Started By
Message
Dog has cancer
Posted on 11/12/20 at 7:40 am
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!
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!
25
Posted on 11/12/20 at 7:46 am to latxwoman
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 on 11/12/20 at 7:47 am to latxwoman
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 on 11/12/20 at 7:51 am to latxwoman
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
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 on 11/12/20 at 7:52 am to latxwoman
Seems like the treatment will not add to the life expectancy. Makes the choice obvious for me.
Posted on 11/12/20 at 7:57 am to latxwoman
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.
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 on 11/12/20 at 8:10 am to latxwoman
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 on 11/12/20 at 8:12 am to latxwoman
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 on 11/12/20 at 8:16 am to latxwoman
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.
If your dog is happy and can recover from the amputation, I would do it, but that is me.
Posted on 11/12/20 at 8:16 am to latxwoman
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.
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 on 11/12/20 at 8:17 am to latxwoman
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?
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 on 11/12/20 at 8:30 am to latxwoman
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 on 11/12/20 at 8:40 am to latxwoman
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
i pray for you and your family that it is not the aggressive kind for your pooch - i wish you the very best
Posted on 11/12/20 at 8:57 am to latxwoman
Sorry for you and your Pug. If it were me, I'd make the tough decision to put her down when the time comes and not put her through the surgeries and treatments.
I see your screen name has "latx" in it. The vet's name doesn't rhyme with Killer does it?
I see your screen name has "latx" in it. The vet's name doesn't rhyme with Killer does it?
This post was edited on 11/12/20 at 9:01 am
Posted on 11/12/20 at 9:43 am to latxwoman
We lost our 9 yr old last year to cancer. She got sick for a couple days and wouldn't eat. Took her to the vet and found large tumor and she was seriously anemic to the point of death. Had to put her down. She went from great pet to gone in 3 days. I feel for you brother !
Posted on 11/12/20 at 10:20 am to latxwoman
We were in a similar situation with our lab a couple of years ago. She was 12 and had an abdominal mass. They said if it was cancer, she’d probably live six months. If it wasn’t, it would probably be a year. They could have done surgery to confirm diagnosis, but it wouldn’t change her prognosis and she would spend part of her time left recovering. We opted not to do the surgery...she lasted a year. The vet told us we would likely know when it was time as she would decline rapidly, and that’s what happened. I don’t regret the path we took at all. Miss her terribly.
Posted on 11/12/20 at 10:37 am to latxwoman
First off sorry to hear and hope all goes well for you and your pup
This is not a good idea, when you clean a dogs teeth you flush bacteria into their bloodstream. I know they need their teeth cleaned and the risk of doing another separate procedure could be high but my vet refused to remove a tumor and clean teeth at the same time due to the heightened risk of infection.
quote:
trying to sell me all sorts of other care while she was under to have the tumor removed. - Teeth cleaning,
This is not a good idea, when you clean a dogs teeth you flush bacteria into their bloodstream. I know they need their teeth cleaned and the risk of doing another separate procedure could be high but my vet refused to remove a tumor and clean teeth at the same time due to the heightened risk of infection.
Posted on 11/12/20 at 11:55 am to latxwoman
Hello latx,
Disclaimer: this is not official veterinary advice, just suggestions
has your vet done a chest radiograph and if so what did it show? if they did not, they really should. my second step would be to do a lymph node aspirate and histopathology and cytology of the nodes closes to the tumor.
distal (far part) limb melonoma can be quite aggressive. if it had spread to other areas already i would recommend just having a good time with your beloved pup and call it when it needs to be called.
if it has not spread to other areas then i would recommend limb amputation. You said they recommend paw, personally i would not do that and remove the entire limb. I know that seems pretty radically but animals get along just fine quickly with loss of limb. it ensures you get everything that may have tumor cells.
As far as long term survival, if it is completely removed the animal will be essential that same as before. her/his life expectancy wouldnt change. ive seen pugs that are 20 years old.
What ever decision you make, just remember its not a wrong decision, just the decision you decided. Do what you think is best for your pup.
edit: If you do decide to go forward with perusing treatment, id suggest getting a referral to a specialist in your area or LSU. Keep in mind, LSU wont be cheap. I find it unsettling your current DVM is suggesting teeth cleaning and other BS in face of a more dramatic health issue.
Disclaimer: this is not official veterinary advice, just suggestions
has your vet done a chest radiograph and if so what did it show? if they did not, they really should. my second step would be to do a lymph node aspirate and histopathology and cytology of the nodes closes to the tumor.
distal (far part) limb melonoma can be quite aggressive. if it had spread to other areas already i would recommend just having a good time with your beloved pup and call it when it needs to be called.
if it has not spread to other areas then i would recommend limb amputation. You said they recommend paw, personally i would not do that and remove the entire limb. I know that seems pretty radically but animals get along just fine quickly with loss of limb. it ensures you get everything that may have tumor cells.
As far as long term survival, if it is completely removed the animal will be essential that same as before. her/his life expectancy wouldnt change. ive seen pugs that are 20 years old.
What ever decision you make, just remember its not a wrong decision, just the decision you decided. Do what you think is best for your pup.
edit: If you do decide to go forward with perusing treatment, id suggest getting a referral to a specialist in your area or LSU. Keep in mind, LSU wont be cheap. I find it unsettling your current DVM is suggesting teeth cleaning and other BS in face of a more dramatic health issue.
This post was edited on 11/12/20 at 11:58 am
Posted on 11/12/20 at 2:38 pm to latxwoman
Many, many years ago my dog got cancer. We did everything we could to try to save him. What we ended up doing was torturing him to death. It has haunted me every day since then and I hate myself for it.
That is my experience.
That is my experience.
Posted on 11/12/20 at 2:53 pm to latxwoman
My lab was almost 9 when she was Dx with cancer.... she was having abdominal swelling (ascites). Did exploratory surgery and vet said cancer was everywhere so I just asked if he would close her back up and keep her pain free til I could get off work and say goodbye.... hardest thing to do for a dog lover but I didn’t want her to suffer
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