Our elderly dog has a huge leg tumor - experiences?

[grayci]

A couple months ago, we finally decided even though it’s not recommended, to shave our husky. I’m not sure if I’m glad or not that we did - doing so resulted in us discovering a lump on her shoulder. She had a vet appointment at the same time as the grooming appointment, so had them look at it at the same time. They said to keep an eye on it and let them know if it got bigger.

Fast forward to last Monday. It hadn’t grown at all since its discovery (about ping-pong ball size), but when she got up that morning, she was favoring that leg a bit.

Got home that afternoon and it had nearly doubled in size.

Called vet, got an appointment for two days later. It had more than doubled in size again in that time. Did a biopsy and scan to see if there was anything going on anywhere else.

Results came back today. It’s a ‘medium grade’ ‘something-something’ sarcoma (don’t get the paperwork about it til we go in for consult tomorrow). She said it wasn’t the ‘best’, but not the ‘worst’. It’s growing really fast but sticking to the same spot. They usually recommend removing the leg, but she’s not a candidate for that as she has two bad back knees. However, they said they could also try removing as much of it as possible with a few possibilities: it’ll grow back in a couple months or couple years, with a smaller chance of back within days, or never.

It is not a cheap surgery, but quick to do and recover from. Husband also just got his yearly bonus and it seems just… wrong… not to consider surgery. We’ve had her 12 of her 13 years. At the same time, I also just left my job, and I’m afraid it’ll just come back in a couple weeks. I’m the type who has no qualms about euthanasia if that’s what’s best, but being in otherwise pretty good health (just the bad knees other than the tumor, but happy and active), and her scan didn’t come back with tumors growing anywhere else. We also just lost two kitties and our very elderly (almost 18) dog and I’m still reeling from those loses. I just… don’t know

We ALSO have to make a decision pretty quick, as the tumor is now the size of a small watermelon, but hubby is away on business, complicating things further.

I’m kind of babbling now, I know… but trying to come to a decision and wondering if anyone else has had something like this on their dog, and opted for removal of the tumor rather than leg, and how it turned out and if they’d do it again?

[shakeytails]

Had it done twice. First one (~10yo dog) it grew back quickly and amputation was the best option. This dog would not have tolerated the care that comes with amputation, so I took her home and loved on her extra for a couple of weeks and opted to euth while she was still a happy dog. Second time (~12yo), the dog tolerated the surgery and aftercare well, but went downhill quickly after that. I don’t know if it was tumor related, but I came home one morning a couple of months later and her lungs sounded like they were full of fluid. I asked the vet what he thought (through tears because I knew the answer), and he just shook his head. She’s buried under the tree with my best farm dog ever.

I guess my answer is no, I would not opt for another tumor removal on an old dog. Spoil 'em and let them go. I’m a believer in “Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should.”

[snowrider]

I know someone who removed a softball sized one from an 8 year old dog. That was 4 years ago and dog is still kicking. It was a back leg, high up so amputation not an option.

If its “growing” enough to quadruple in size in a day I would be concerned it is either bleeding or accumulating fluid somehow. I don’t think tumors can grow quite that fast, can they?

[Pep_n_Ann]

I don’t have any personal experiance with this. However, if it was my dog, I would euth. She has had a good life and I would let go. Hugs, prayers and jingles for you.

[Zu_Zu]

No advice ~ just ((hugs)) of strength and comfort during this struggle ~

Wrap her up in ‘home love’ and cherish each day ~

[GoForAGallop]

Had a similar situation with a cat, almost identical, in fact. He was giant and fluffy, we clipped him one summer to find a nub on his chest. Watched it for a year and it seemed fine, didn’t grow. Then, very suddenly, it started growing. As in your case, a matter of a week to 10 days. Fast enough that the skin started cracking, and we had to topically medicate it and clothe him in little baby shirts to keep him from gnawing at it.

I am lucky that I have a really, really honest vet. She said surgery was an option, but that it was not an option she would choose in the same situation. We took him to the hospital for a consult, and the vet there shared the same feelings. That we could attempt to remove it, but because of the location she could absolutely guarantee that the edges would not be clean. And then it would just be a matter of how long it took to get right back to the same spot…if it kept growing at that rate, it would be ~4-6 months.

Money was not an issue, quality of life absolutely was. We took him home, spoiled him rotten for a weekend, and let him go. My poor boy was only 8 and such a love, but so miserable with that thing on his chest that I couldn’t bear the thought of keeping him uncomfortable just for my sake.

[Callista17]

I don’t understand how all of a sudden, it’s growing that quickly…

I guess…I’d want another opinion/answers, but…you already know the answer…If a surgery and taking part would give her longer QUALITY time, but…if it’s growing that quickly…

[Marshfield]

I would do a consult with an oncologist before pursuing surgery.

[LauraKY]

It’s so hard to say. I adopted a 14 year old cocker spaniel and a year later she needed emergency gall bladder surgery for $1,000. We just had just received our tax return and decided to go for it. She lived for 3 more years, but was virtually blind and deaf and senile for the last year so. Looking back, I’m not sure I made the right choice. It all depends on the dog though, she was an odd little dog, didn’t really want attention, only got excited about food.

[hosspuller]

Only you can decide if putting the dog through surgery and recovery is balanced by the added time with you. Considering the growth rate and the dog’s age, it seems the decision leans toward letting go.

“We take the emotional pain to spare our animals their physical pain”

[GraceLikeRain]

Personally I would spoil and let an elderly dog go peacefully. These tumors get ugly really quickly and surgery outcomes are pretty hit or miss. I wouldn’t feel comfortable putting a dog through something of that nature if joints in other legs are already compromised.

[Casey09]

I don’t have experience with that specifically. I did euthanize a senior dog with a broken leg because it was highly likely to be bone cancer, and he was so down in his hips with arthritis that I felt it was the right thing to do. It wasn’t a financial decision, and it’s one I’ve never regretted. I think in cases like yours, it is a highly personal decision and with people taking their animal to the vet and caring as much as you clearly do, I don’t think that there is a wrong choice. Get as much medical information as you can and I think you will know what is right for your dog.

[JBD]

You mentioned the recovery was quick. I’d do pre surgery blood work and if that came back OK, yes I’d do the surgery. Especially considering your recent losses.

[ryansgirl]

My last rescue (black lab/greyhound cross who was 109 lbs) had a tumor on his hind leg - diagnosed just shy of his 11th birthday. It was osteosarcoma :(. I opted for pain mgmt as with the cost of amputation wasn’t something I could justify and due to his age and size I couldn’t put him through the surgery. He was an extremely high-energy and keeping him quiet would have been nearly impossible. The tumor grew to be softball size and it opened up at the end and the next morning I had him euthanized (about 2.5 months since being diagnosed). He was truly one of those “unadoptable” dogs who had no chance at being adopted until I came along (he spent months at the shelter and the shelter told me to please not return him because they would never find a home for him :no:). He had a great life with me and my horses (just under ten yrs) and the kindest thing to do was to hold him at the end while he was euthanized.

I’m sorry for what you are facing and hope it turns out okay.

Edited to add that my vets said once it gets to the point of being noticed, tumors have probably already spread throughout other parts of the body :(.

[grayci]

Thank you everyone for the prayers and jingles. The vet (actually the oncologist as someone suggested – that’s what today’s appointment was about) had to reschedule for tomorrow, but I think I know what other questions to ask now before making a final decision.

It is likely fluid causing a lot of the huge growth - where the biopsy was taken keeps randomly leaking gross stuff (she’s on antibiotics to keep infection at bay) - but it’s very ‘lumpy’ between the fluid-feeling parts, so it’s definitely grown a whole lot in addition to building up fluid.

She had blood work done at the same time the biopsy was done. Everything looked great other than one liver enzyme (which is consistent with some types of cancer, but nothing was found other than her leg, and the type it turned out to be wasn’t the type that will cause those enzymes to be high) and that she’s got hypothyroidism (which we already knew).

Her knees have been a problem her whole life. Every vet who’s seen her has always been surprised her hips are in great shape while her knees were bad. It’s only started slowing her down this past year.

ryansgirl – Oh man. We had a very similar story. Adopted a 10 year old lab/mastiff cross. Huge, HUGE dog. He developed a tumor in nearly the same spot as our husky, but his was in the bone and very painful (went from running around to so bad we had to carry him outside to do his business in the span of a week, which was fun with a 100+lb dog) so we opted to euth right there; there was no ‘maybe we should/shouldn’t’ question. He’d been in the shelter forever as well; no one wanted a massive plain black dog. His final year was full of joy for us all, though

[SquishTheBunny]

Reseting before it’s unresectabe is always a good option sounds like you have your dog’s best interest at heart and I hope.everything goes smooth for you both

[TrueColours]

If I can make 1 suggestion if you want to give him a few more weeks, if he remains comfortable …

Try the Dr Reckeweg R17 product, easily found online and in most health food stores - about $25.00 - $30.00 in total for the bottle. 15 drops 3 times a day. We put the drops in a little 2-3ml syringe, mixed maybe a ml of water in there and shot it down their throats morning, noon and evening. We have used it on humans and animals with incredible results on tumors, growths, etc. One was my husband who was diagnosed with bladder cancer on Feb 4th and when they did surgery to remove the tumor on March 25th it was completely gone - all they scraped out was dead and necrotized tissue (he was also on several other products as well leading up to the surgery that I put him on). But it has worked incredibly well on some animals we have used it on, that were only on the R-17. The main component in there is cobra venom which studies have shown to be a potent anti cancer product.

Why it worked on my husband and on animals we tried it on - I have no idea - but it did work, there was no taste, no side effects, extremely low cost and I wouldn’t hesitate to use it on myself or any animals in my care before I took the final “PTS” option for them

This is a really good pictorial of this product at work. It really does work as quickly and well as everything in these pictures show. And this wasn’t done by the manufacturer of the product or anyone associated with it - they were done by the person administering the product to this colt

http://www.gestuet-falkenhorst.com/MochiSarcoid.html

Good luck in your decision - there is no right or wrong answer here - just whatever is best for the animals in your care …

{{{HUGS}}}

[prudence]

Just wanted to say that determining the kind of cancer might be good. My dog had a similar tennis ball sized lump that was originally thought to be osteosarcoma. An oncologist determined it was histiocytic sarcoma and the dog is getting palliative chemo which both shrank the tumor and made her feel so much better.

Best of luck to you with whatever you decide.

[grayci]

Okay, she is at the vet right now, scheduled for surgery tomorrow. Spoke with oncologist and regular vet at length… they both say that most of the growth I’m seeing is fluid, and while it’ll likely come back, it’ll be at least a year before it’ll likely be a problem again. It’s not causing any discomfort (other than being in the way), and it’s fairly slow-growing and completely localized (scans of at least her chest and abdomen don’t show any issues).

Based on that, and that she ran and jumped into the car with excitement (she hasn’t been able to jump in the car without help in a long time because of her knees, so it was a surprise to see) when we left this morning, I couldn’t not give her a chance.

I did opt to leave her with the vet for the night instead of bringing her home, so I can’t change my mind. Ugh… I told myself when we finally decided it was time for our old dog to go, I’d be practical about the next pet to get sick.

[Zu_Zu]

Jingles & AO ~ try to get some rest so you can help her when she comes home ~ ((hugs)) ~