I hesitate to reply but I sadly do have 2 different experiences with this awful disease. My first was when our family golden was diagnosed with this around age 8. I was 18 years old then and he was the family dog so my folks made the decisions. They did the surgery. Not sure if chemo was done. Butter lived another 14 months as a happy tripod. But then he got much worse. I came home from college to say good bye. He was only 10.
A few years ago my beloved Toto (Rott x Golden) was diagnosed at age 9.5. It was in her left hind where Butters had been in his front left. I called my parents to ask their advice and on 2 independent phone calls both said that if they had it to do over they wouldn’t have done the surgery again. Butter lived 14 more months but my parents assured me he didn’t have a full 14 months of a high quality of life. That cinched it. I passed on the surgery. I was educated on what would likely happen. To to ’ s tumor grew and eventually she stopped using the leg. She was still a happy dog. The pain meds worked well.
9 months later while playing ball she went to fetch and halfway to the ball yelped once. She had never complained. We brought her inside and called the vet. Gave her a double dose of meds and waited an hour. Then she hadn’t quote improved enough so we took her in. She palpated fine but we needed xrays. So I asked for 2. One of her leg and one of her chest. She broke the leg straight across and there were 4 tumors I her chest. It was end game.
I hate this disease but I still own two Labrador and I recognize that this situation could come up again.
Each dog is an individual and I truly hope your outcome is far better than mine.
Emily
