Dogs and cancer
Discussion
Happy new year folks !
not so much for me and my best pal meg the border Collie who is 8. i had her at the vets 3 days ago, she is showing classic signs of lymphoma, tumours under the jaw, abdomen and on the back leg. cant believe it as i clap/kiss/ cuddle her many times a day and i never even noticed it. I'm just devastated, we dont have any kids yet, so this really is like our baby.
Anyone with any experience of this ? -it seems like its pretty aggressive/
cheers folks
Ross
not so much for me and my best pal meg the border Collie who is 8. i had her at the vets 3 days ago, she is showing classic signs of lymphoma, tumours under the jaw, abdomen and on the back leg. cant believe it as i clap/kiss/ cuddle her many times a day and i never even noticed it. I'm just devastated, we dont have any kids yet, so this really is like our baby.
Anyone with any experience of this ? -it seems like its pretty aggressive/
cheers folks
Ross
our 14 year old Corgi cross has liver, pancreas and a lump in her neck. She also has lumps here there and everywhere. She is not expected to live long...BUT she has massive staying power and has somehow managed to survive to the new year.
Unfortunately I think this will her last.
She has been going to the vets every month for a check up and is due next month on the 21st.
Oh, and she is starting to go blind.
BUT she still runs around like a six month old puppy!!
Discodeek - terrible thing and happened to our jack Russell a few years back. We found the lumps under his jaw and on his joints. Quick trip to the vets confirmed what we thought. Our vets said that he would deteriorate fast within two weeks and only treatment option would be chemo for 6 months. He ŵas a little fighter and we took the tough decision after watching him go down hill fast after a few days but we always agreed that we did not want him to suffer.
He needed to be sedated by the vet before the could put him to sleep ( he was a character!) but the vet said that we had done the right thing as they would have had to sedate him for chemo if we took that path - no life for a dog IMO.
Hardest thing that we have had to do but we have great memories of him and photos - kids think he's still chasing rabbits in the sky!
Not sure if this helps but thought it may be worth sharing our experience.
He needed to be sedated by the vet before the could put him to sleep ( he was a character!) but the vet said that we had done the right thing as they would have had to sedate him for chemo if we took that path - no life for a dog IMO.
Hardest thing that we have had to do but we have great memories of him and photos - kids think he's still chasing rabbits in the sky!
Not sure if this helps but thought it may be worth sharing our experience.
Family Labrador has had cancer. Had a few tumours removed and has battles pancreatitis.
The old girl is a fighter and has battled through it all. I remember when I was living at home coming down one morning letting dog out and she was just crawling behind hedges in the garden trying to find a spot to quietly pass away as far as I could tell. Has certainly bounced back in an incredible way.
Your dog may have a good fight left within. When animals are ill it is horrible.
The old girl is a fighter and has battled through it all. I remember when I was living at home coming down one morning letting dog out and she was just crawling behind hedges in the garden trying to find a spot to quietly pass away as far as I could tell. Has certainly bounced back in an incredible way.
Your dog may have a good fight left within. When animals are ill it is horrible.
Thinking of you all. 8yo is nothing Disco.Just as with human's - there is no fairness.
Our 14yo English Setter has a small procedure booked for Monday. There is a sizeable nasty lump under his tongue causing problems. Given his vice like jaws its not been found early but the vet has some hope as its a softer lump (although dark pigment being a negative factor).
Worst part for us is that we have managed to turn around a dog whose back end had gone - he's had six months with a new lease of life - until now ! Been to his hydro session tonight and was swimming like an Olympian. But at 14 we have to be realistic - a few more months would be nice.
Not quite the same as when a younger dog is involved.
Our 14yo English Setter has a small procedure booked for Monday. There is a sizeable nasty lump under his tongue causing problems. Given his vice like jaws its not been found early but the vet has some hope as its a softer lump (although dark pigment being a negative factor).
Worst part for us is that we have managed to turn around a dog whose back end had gone - he's had six months with a new lease of life - until now ! Been to his hydro session tonight and was swimming like an Olympian. But at 14 we have to be realistic - a few more months would be nice.
Not quite the same as when a younger dog is involved.
Lymphoma does tend to be aggressive . So sorry for this news.
If dogs are ok with vets and being handled etc then chemo present may be ab option. It's quite a regime. Treatment at your own vets. Likely treatment art a referral vets, regular blood tests and poss tablets to give her yourself. Treatment varies depending on individual cases. You tend to know quite quickly if 1) they can cope with it all 2) if the treatment is helping or 3) if they can tolerate it with few side effects. Most can but some can't.
We have had dogs do very well and surviving another yr plus and having a decent quality of life with it. Sadly (abd probably more commonly) there are those where either the cancer was too aggressive or the dog couldn't cope either physically or mentally with the treatment.
Some people opt out of this route altogether so usually it's high dose steroids and monitoring all regularly.
There is no one option or right or wrong answer but make sure you talk to your vet and ensure you are happy with whatever route you choose for he, wishing you both all the best.
. So sorry for this news.If dogs are ok with vets and being handled etc then chemo present may be ab option. It's quite a regime. Treatment at your own vets. Likely treatment art a referral vets, regular blood tests and poss tablets to give her yourself. Treatment varies depending on individual cases. You tend to know quite quickly if 1) they can cope with it all 2) if the treatment is helping or 3) if they can tolerate it with few side effects. Most can but some can't.
We have had dogs do very well and surviving another yr plus and having a decent quality of life with it. Sadly (abd probably more commonly) there are those where either the cancer was too aggressive or the dog couldn't cope either physically or mentally with the treatment.
Some people opt out of this route altogether so usually it's high dose steroids and monitoring all regularly.
There is no one option or right or wrong answer but make sure you talk to your vet and ensure you are happy with whatever route you choose for he, wishing you both all the best.
Hey folks
well most results back in today -confirmed type b lymphoma, not really surprised or shocked as i was certain that would be the case.
results show that its not yet in the bloodstream and does seem to be just in the Lymphatic system. we seem to have caught it quick, going to give chemo a go, the vet is a good friend of mine, and says if it was his pet he would not think twice about starting it -thats good enough for me - even just to reduce the size of the lympnodes and make her more comfortable, there is a good chance of remission that could keep her going for a while, i'm happy as long as she wont suffer. -thank god for insurance, looks like it's pretty expensive !
keep u guys posted -thanks for all the advice & support
well most results back in today -confirmed type b lymphoma, not really surprised or shocked as i was certain that would be the case.
results show that its not yet in the bloodstream and does seem to be just in the Lymphatic system. we seem to have caught it quick, going to give chemo a go, the vet is a good friend of mine, and says if it was his pet he would not think twice about starting it -thats good enough for me - even just to reduce the size of the lympnodes and make her more comfortable, there is a good chance of remission that could keep her going for a while, i'm happy as long as she wont suffer. -thank god for insurance, looks like it's pretty expensive !
keep u guys posted -thanks for all the advice & support
The family Border Collie had multiple myeloma (bone marrow cancer) for a year - she died a couple of weeks ago.
As with humans treatment for myeloma is only palliative (aiming to control symptoms and preserve quality of life) with no cure possible. She had oral chemo and got an additional really good year of life out of the deal. The day she was diagnosed none of us thought she'd last the week - she did really well and the whole thing was a real tribute to the value of good palliative care. It would have been easy to argue to euthanase her when she was diagnosed but I'm so glad that didn't happen - right up until the day she died she was active and bright, albeit slowing down a little as the year passed.
As with humans treatment for myeloma is only palliative (aiming to control symptoms and preserve quality of life) with no cure possible. She had oral chemo and got an additional really good year of life out of the deal. The day she was diagnosed none of us thought she'd last the week - she did really well and the whole thing was a real tribute to the value of good palliative care. It would have been easy to argue to euthanase her when she was diagnosed but I'm so glad that didn't happen - right up until the day she died she was active and bright, albeit slowing down a little as the year passed.
thats good mate -it's all about making them comfortable.
Well Meg was in yesterday and her 19 week program of chemo started, along with daily steroids. I can honestly say after one day the lymph nodes have decreased dramatically - i do realise its a very long road though, again the aim will be to extend her life, BUT priority is to give her a comfortable life.
1st treatment down, she has had pretty bad diarrhea, which i was told to expect, and a wee bit sleepy, aaprt from drinking lots of water she seems fine.
keep you posted !
Ross
Well Meg was in yesterday and her 19 week program of chemo started, along with daily steroids. I can honestly say after one day the lymph nodes have decreased dramatically - i do realise its a very long road though, again the aim will be to extend her life, BUT priority is to give her a comfortable life.
1st treatment down, she has had pretty bad diarrhea, which i was told to expect, and a wee bit sleepy, aaprt from drinking lots of water she seems fine.
keep you posted !
Ross
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