Dog cancer

[BaBaBlacksheep]

Anyone ever done doggy chemo or radiation? My dog's cancer has come back. She's got two tumors on her legs and some small ones in her chest now. I haven't seen the oncologist yet, so I don't know of they can do anything or not. I'm wondering if anyone has gone through this with their dog?

 

[airtime143]

Yes, just recently. Lymphoma, and not a good result.

surgery on the tumors on the skin is a definite possibility. If they are mast cell tumors, that is actually pretty easy to lop off.
If they suggest an ultrasound and you can afford it, do it. My little lady had tumors in her abdomen that were not visible via xray but easily seem via ultrasound.

As for chemo, depends on what for, and what kind. my first dog had cushings, and went through light chemo for years, and it worked well.
If it is a more aggressive cancer, chemo can be rough. We countered the effects of the intense chemo with a steroid, anti nausea, and appetite stimulant to varying degrees of success.

 

[BaBaBlacksheep]

Yes, just recently. Lymphoma, and not a good result.

surgery on the tumors on the skin is a definite possibility. If they are mast cell tumors, that is actually pretty easy to lop off.
If they suggest an ultrasound and you can afford it, do it. My little lady had tumors in her abdomen that were not visible via xray but easily seem via ultrasound.

As for chemo, depends on what for, and what kind. my first dog had cushings, and went through light chemo for years, and it worked well.
If it is a more aggressive cancer, chemo can be rough. We countered the effects of the intense chemo with a steroid, anti nausea, and appetite stimulant to varying degrees of success.

Yeah, the ones on her legs will be easy to get. Its the ones in her chest I'm worried about. I'm all for getting her treatment if it works. I just don't want to put her through chemo for no reason I guess. Kind of hard to explain to a dog why you're doing all these things to her.

 

[Urblock]

Damn guys. I really respect the love you guys have for your dogs. Good luck to both of you.

 

[airtime143]

Absolutely.
However, Dogs do not have near the amount of adverse effects as humans do.

We continued as long as she was having a good quality of life and still up to playing, and the hard part is knowing when you are beat.

Did they biopsy the ones in her chest? or do you already know based on history what they are?

 

[airtime143]

Damn guys. I really respect the love you guys have for your dogs. Good luck to both of you.

I appreciate the well wishes, but our battle is over. Heartbreaking.

 

[Urblock]

I'm sorry to hear that.

 

[airtime143]

I'm sorry to hear that.

She will be missed.
Never thought I wanted a girl, but my elder statesman of a pooch chose her at the rescue society out of 4 possible friends. She turned out to be the most loyal, loving, and athletic dog I have ever had. She certainly made my life much better and much more active.

A good dog is an outstanding thing to have.

 

[BaBaBlacksheep]

Absolutely.
However, Dogs do not have near the amount of adverse effects as humans do.

We continued as long as she was having a good quality of life and still up to playing, and the hard part is knowing when you are beat.

Did they biopsy the ones in her chest? or do you already know based on history what they are?

No, the scan results just came back this morning. I have an appointment fort next week with the oncologist. Sucks I have to wait that long but that's first available.

The bad thing is her quality of life is not great already. She's had a real hard time walking lately because of arthritis. She's still mentally sharp though so I try and do whatever I can to keep her happy. Our days of hour long walks are over though unfortunately.

 

[airtime143]

No, the scan results just came back this morning. I have an appointment fort next week with the oncologist. Sucks I have to wait that long but that's first available.

The bad thing is her quality of life is not great already. She's had a real hard time walking lately because of arthritis. She's still mentally sharp though so I try and do whatever I can to keep her happy. Our days of hour long walks are over though unfortunately.

I am truly sorry to hear she isnt doing well.

Forgive me if I am giving you info you already know, but maybe you don't so it is worth saying-
For arthritis, Rimadyl (maybe spelled wrong) is an inexpensive and very effective anti-inflammetory/pain killer.
Additionally prednisone is a fairly cheap steroid and works wonders with physical ailments... as well as controls allergies.

Both of those drugs do have long term issues, but that might not be relevant. additionally, neither of those drugs can be mixed with the other- you gotta pick one.

 

[BaBaBlacksheep]

I am truly sorry to hear she isnt doing well.

Forgive me if I am giving you info you already know, but maybe you don't so it is worth saying-
For arthritis, Rimadyl (maybe spelled wrong) is an inexpensive and very effective anti-inflammetory/pain killer.
Additionally prednisone is a fairly cheap steroid and works wonders with physical ailments... as well as controls allergies.

Both of those drugs do have long term issues, but that might not be relevant. additionally, neither of those drugs can be mixed with the other- you gotta pick one.

We've had her on Rimadyl for a week now. Plus some other supplements the doc recommended. She seems to be in less pain, her legs just don't support her like they used to though.

 

[AuCN]

This thread makes me sad...but glad to see responsible pet owners that are willing to do what is necessary to take care of their animals. Good luck Sheep!

My dog is covered with about 20 lumps, but none have been malignant yet. He had surgery a few months ago to remove one the size of an orange and two in his armpits. They took off almost 5 pounds! He is back down to 65. The rest are fairly small and not in critical areas. Although I think he just got one around his junk. I hope that doesnt start causing problems.

 

[airtime143]

This thread makes me sad...but glad to see responsible pet owners that are willing to do what is necessary to take care of their animals. Good luck Sheep!

I am in the same boat... love seeing caring owners.
Some in my family are not as responsible, and it sickens me. Hell, I spend more time and money on my dogs well being than my brother puts in to his kids.

My dog is covered with about 20 lumps, but none have been malignant yet. He had surgery a few months ago to remove one the size of an orange and two in his armpits. They took off almost 5 pounds! He is back down to 65. The rest are fairly small and not in critical areas. Although I think he just got one around his junk. I hope that doesnt start causing problems.

Any idea what they are?
A lady friend of mine had a dog that was always getting fatty tumors, and she would lop off the worst offenders anually with no ill effect. She had a doberman, so with the short hair and thin build it was funny looking- but no ill effects overall.

 

[AuCN]

I am in the same boat... love seeing caring owners.
Some in my family are not as responsible, and it sickens me. Hell, I spend more time and money on my dogs well being than my brother puts in to his kids.

Same here. Once my sister started having kids, the dog neglect started. Not terribly, but the essentially became wild. I know they would have spent the money to take care of them medically, but they just stopped paying attention to them. My wife and I have no kids so our dogs are our kids. We do everything together.

Any idea what they are?
A lady friend of mine had a dog that was always getting fatty tumors, and she would lop off the worst offenders anually with no ill effect. She had a doberman, so with the short hair and thin build it was funny looking- but no ill effects overall.

As you said, just told they were fatty lumps. He has had them since he was about 5. He is 10 now. Interestingly, he is 1/4 doberman as well! That is likely the path we are going to have to go. The armpit ones were obviously affecting his gait. But he is playing like he was 2 again. He actually got more annoying because he wants to go biking all the time now.

 

[airtime143]

Same here. Once my sister started having kids, the dog neglect started. Not terribly, but the essentially became wild. I know they would have spent the money to take care of them medically, but they just stopped paying attention to them. My wife and I have no kids so our dogs are our kids. We do everything together.


As you said, just told they were fatty lumps. He has had them since he was about 5. He is 10 now. Interestingly, he is 1/4 doberman as well! That is likely the path we are going to have to go. The armpit ones were obviously affecting his gait. But he is playing like he was 2 again. He actually got more annoying because he wants to go biking all the time now.

My lady and I only have four legged kids as well. They sure as hell make sure we get our daily exercise in... it is less overall energy expended taking them on a 3 mile hike and wearing them out than it would be to try and entertain their hyperactivity all night if we didnt!

Funny about the doberman lineage... from what my friend said, that is a pretty common issue among the breed.

 

[Desperado34]

My first beagle started having nasal cancer around 12 years old. He would sneeze nonstop and a tumor would come out with blood, horrifying and tough for me to deal with. We got medication to help him and eventually it didn't work and at his age, we didn't want him to go through chemo even though I heard mixed results. The doctor recommneded putting him down but I refused. We still went on our walks, gave him as much hamburger/steak/whatever he wanted and then one day he started coughing up blood and just laid on my lap.

Knew it was time then. One of toughest things i went through. Everyone was in the room before we put him down but I refused at first, just couldn't do it. Then eventually I did and when my dog saw me, even though he was literally dying, he wagged his tail slightly. Til this day still breaks my heart.

I'm really grateful I had spike to grow up with. Nothing more American than a kid getting his first pickup truck at 16 and bringing his dog along on a Saturady, riding around town to get a car wash, food, whatever else, with the dogs head out the window.

Memories I'll cherish forever.

Good luck my man.

 

[Mitchapalooza]

My Beatle had a tumor in his ass. Lol weird place but it happens. It constipated him and the doctor suggested euthanizing him so we put him down. He was in pain, we had to. Lived to be 13. amazing dog.

 

[Urblock]

We had big dogs that range from 200 to 85. Never had one live past 10. Hope our 65 pound Aussie can do better. This thread is sad while it's also showing who the dog lovers are. Usually if you're kind to animals you try to do the same to people.

 

[Bergz22]

One of my aunts dogs had chemo and got through it successfully. I don't know how old he/she was at the time. Hard to keep track with 19 of them.

 

[Wintermute]

Sorry, don't have much to contribute to this thread. My cat had an incidental finding in the hilar area of his chest some time ago. Looks like it hasn't grown in the last 7 months, but looking at ultrasound imaging to confirm. He is 15 and we're trying to keep his quality of life as high as possible for as long as we can.