WWYD?

[LaurenBay]

My 9 year old Dog had surgery around 9 weeks ago to remove a lump from his leg. It was tested and it was cancer. The leg has healed beautifully. During this time he was his usual happy self!

9 weeks on and I have found another lump, this time under his armpit (roughly size of a golf ball) now this wasn’t there 9 weeks ago because he was fully checked over at the vets whilst he was knocked out. And today is first I have noticed it. Again no change in behaviour, still a very very happy boy who is loving life.

I’m now 50/50 on what to do, do I

Go back to the vets and asked them to take a biopsy and if cancer surgery again.
Or
Wait and see, he is insured so money is not an issue. However, he hates the vets with a passion, he is terrified. It took 3 of us to pin him down for the first biopsy and it was quite stressful for both of us. He was also incredibly distressed for the first few days home and literally tried to climb the walls which is something I’ve never ever seen a dog do.

I might be jumping the gun as this lump might not even be cancerous. But with the speed it has grown I’m worried it is. But I cannot cart him to the vets every 9-10 weeks for tests, it would be too cruel.

 

[AmyMay]

Oh God I feel for you.

Given the speed of this new growth, it wouldn’t be surprising if others came up just as quickly.

I think in your shoes I’d probably monitor and evaluate the dog for end of life when the time came. Rather than the continual distress of vets and biopsies. But it’s a hideous decision ??

 

[SilverLinings]

I'm sorry you've had such a worrying time with your dog LB. Personally I'd get a vet appt for the dog to find out what the lump is, as leaving it may make it a more serious problem. The lump could be something like a cyst that can be drained, or it could be tumour that could be removed now but maybe more difficult to deal with if it becomes larger. It is in an area that is likely to be/become uncomfortable for the dog, and it might be something that can quickly be resolved (I have had a dog with a large cyst in that area and after draining and antibiotics she was back to normal within days). I appreciate that with the dog's recent history it must be a big worry for you.

As you say that your dog unfortunately finds visits to the vet stressful, I would speak to them beforehand and ask whether they can prescribe a mild sedative that you could administer before leaving home. I hope that it turns out to be something minor/manageable and that you and the dog are ok.

 

[LaurenBay]

Thanks both. He was previously prescribed Zanex (not sure on spelling) he was dozey until we got there and then panic set in and the medication has zero effect

 

[AmyMay]

As you say that your dog unfortunately finds visits to the vet stressful, I would speak to them beforehand and ask whether they can prescribe a mild sedative that you could administer before leaving home. I hope that it turns out to be something minor/manageable and that you and the dog are ok.

Which is an entirely better suggestion than mine ??

 

[FestiveG]

Given that his fear overrides diazepam, I would be very conservative in any approach. I think I would speak to the vet and ask what the chances are of the original tumour having spread and then take it from there

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I would ring and speak to the vet, discuss all probabilities. When our Rotter had inoperable bladder cancer, we gave her 6 comfortable months on metacam, which the vet advised could have an inhibiting effect on the tumour. We wouldn't have countenanced chemo for her and she also was unhappy about going to see the vet. Not quite as bad as your dog but so bad that we eventually had her pts in the car.
After you have spoken to the vet you should have a clearer idea of what is best to do.

 

[nagblagger]

Could the vet do a home visit? I know they don't like doing them routinely but if your dog is this bad they might make an exception.

 

[druid]

Ask about the chill protocol (gabapentin, trazadone +/- acepromazine) for a vet visit and repeat biopsy if you feel you want to go down that route

 

[LaurenBay]

Gabapentin was mentioned last time to me but I have yet to try that.

we have already decided that when the time comes I will pay for a home visit for PTS if and when I need to make that decision for him. I won’t let his last moments be in the vets.

 

[LaurenBay]

Im just worried if I put him through surgery again, where do I draw the line, if in another couple of months another lump appears. Even if he was good at the vets, that is a lot for any 9 year old Dog

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

I’d have to go for a biopsy. If it’s cancer again, I’d re-evaluate after surgery. It may be a lipoma, Bear had several removed that were in the way and he has a few minor ones that I’m going to ignore. I hope it isn’t another incidence of cancer.

 

[Red-1]

If her were mine, I wouldn't biopsy this time. I would go in and whip it out then biopsy after.

This is because he bounced back from the first op.

If it is cancerous again, I would then make the decision that twice was enough and not to do it again. That way I would be prepared if there was a next time.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Vet might be able to diagnose from a photo.

 

[SilverLinings]

Thanks both. He was previously prescribed Zanex (not sure on spelling) he was dozey until we got there and then panic set in and the medication has zero effect

Druid's suggestion sounds worth asking the vet's about, but I appreciate that you don't want to upset the dog. Is the dog ok sitting in the car if you could ask the vets to come and take a look in the practice car park (or parked across the road if the dog knows the car park too well)? They were doing this during the lockdowns so might be worth an ask if your dog would tolerate it better than going in to the practice.

 

[SilverLinings]

Which is an entirely better suggestion than mine ??

Amymay, you have had an awful time this year and were brave and kind making the decision that you did for Jack. It is sometimes absolutely the right thing to stop pursuing treatment. I only posted differently to you as I have had experience of more benign lumps on dogs than cancerous ones, but you have gone through a very unpleasant recent experience of cancer in dogs so I completely understand your views too. Without personally knowing the dog we are only able to put forward opinions based on our own (in your case, recent) experiences, so as long as those opinions/suggestions keep the dog's welfare at the forefront they are all equally valid.

 

[rara007]

If money is no object get through home oral sedation, then go in for sedation/GA/exam/biopsy/possible removal. They’ll have a weight on system so should be able to sedate him pretty promptly on arrival, though the may find the orals do the job enough he’s happy to be examined.
Remind me of the breed?

 

[PurBee]

I had a dog with lymphoma. He had a couple of small lumps appearing quite quickly, vets said were lymphoma, they said keep an eye out for radical changes. They werent in any places that inhibited movement or bothered him. Then a lump grew under his chin, really quite fast and large. Vets removed it, confirmed having investigated other small lumps, lymphoma. They said to not go removing lumps as they grew as there would be lots of operations. Just to keep an eye on his health and see how he does. Prognosis was pts eventually.
Like your dog, this boy wasn’t one for liking vets, but he didnt have extreme panic, just aversion.

His behaviour, energy and appetite were all top form at the time the lumps appeared in 2012. I had read from others online lymphoma is generally quite fast developing and most dogs last 2yrs average, so that prepared me for a rapid decline.

My dog was pts last year 2021 age 18…he jollied around the farm chasing deer, playing with his dog mate for 9 more years! He was very energetic except the last few weeks. His appetite was on/off so i knew time was very close.

Looking back im glad i didnt operate on every lump. He had a fair few over the years and luckily didnt develop in places that restricted nerves/ligaments or joints. I knew his personality well so could tell if he was not right. Even writing this now, im amazed how well that old boy did. He truly beat all the lymphoma odds.

My female gsd developed a lump on her chest, 4yrs ago, it grew fast so the vets operated and said benign, shouldnt be a worry. Since then she’s been lump-free.

Hopefully my experience shows sometimes they beat all the odds despite having loads of lumps appear, and sometimes we worry about loads of lumps appearing and nothing more transpires.

I focused on removing lumps that were in places of problem areas - his bottom jaw lump i worried would grow and impede throat or eating. After it was removed it didnt grow back there.

A fellow horseman had a spaniel with a large lump behind front leg on his chest, its a common place for large tumours. He didnt have that removed and that dog was around for many years as an active rural dog.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

If money is no object get through home oral sedation, then go in for sedation/GA/exam/biopsy/possible removal. They’ll have a weight on system so should be able to sedate him pretty promptly on arrival, though the may find the orals do the job enough he’s happy to be examined.
Remind me of the breed?

Beagle.

 

[rara007]

Then yes would stick with that advice. I was just checking it wasn’t a mastiff riddled with arthritis. Beagles are prone to lipomas (and vet aversion..!).

 

[LaurenBay]

Thank you all, I will call the vets tomorrow

 

[SilverLinings]

Thank you all, I will call the vets tomorrow

I hope they can give some helpful advice, I will keep my fingers crossed for you both.

 

[misst]

I am sorry to read this. Good advice above but he is your dog and you will know when the time is right even if it is an awful decision. x hugs x

 

[LaurenBay]

Sorry I meant to update Friday, vet is away until next week so he is booked in Monday evening. I am still not sure if I will consider surgery, but I'd at least like to know what the lump is.

 

[LaurenBay]

Was just grooming him and found another lump in his neck

vets is Monday evening. But if he has more then 1 lump then I don’t think surgery will do much if they are cropping up this quickly. I don’t want him to spend his last years in and out of the vets being distressed

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Was just grooming him and found another lump in his neck

vets is Monday evening. But if he has more then 1 lump then I don’t think surgery will do much if they are cropping up this quickly. I don’t want him to spend his last years in and out of the vets being distressed

I agree, but I think I’d see what the vet says. All of Bear’s were lipomas. Older dogs do get them. Is it a very small practice? Or do you want the same vet?

 

[Flowerofthefen]

So sorry to hear this. The lab we lost earlier this year had lumps come up when she was ten. They weren't sore so we decided to leave them alone. Ten in my option in a lab is too old to go digging. They never seemed to bother her until towards the end when I think she must have had internal things going on and she completely went off her feet. She was fine for over a year with her lumps.

 

[LaurenBay]

Not really small. But has a good reputation. The vet I am waiting for is the same vet who did his surgery to remove the lump from his leg and the one who gave him a good check when he was under.
The lumps are causing Ralph no issues at the moment. He is still very much loving life. In fact I have just re started his dog walker and he has so much energy and I’m struggling to fit in as much walking as I’d like him to have.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

My farmer friend's lab came up in lumps all over. They didn't seem to bother and she just carried on with life, she was a gundog, until one day most of them burst and she was put down. She was literally smothered in them. Had a happy life up to the end.

 

[LaurenBay]

Good news with the results. Neither lump is showing any cancer cells. Vet said they are fatty tissue lumps and to leave them be for now. What a relief