Surgery for 11 year old large dog - would you do it?

[c5rose]

What would you do?

An 11 year old mixed breed large female dog has a wort on her eye lid and an “ulcer” on her lower leg. The vet biopsied the leg and, although it isn’t cancerous, the cells appear to be irregular. The leg ulcer has grown in the last few weeks. The vet suggested surgery to remove both, costing around $2K. The owner is retired, had a mild heart attack in the past and on a fixed income, but loves her dog like a child and is absolutely hysterical of what she should do.

Would you go ahead with this kind of surgery for an 11 year old large dog?

[StGermain]

I have an almost 13 year old standard poodle and I just had a leg mass removed. It turned out to be sarcoma. The vet thinks he got it, but all it takes is a cell or two. But she’s here 3 months later with no signs of regrowth.

She could shop around for a better price.

StG

[Konasmom]

I will never understand how age alone seems to be the final determining factor for whether or not to do surgery on a pet. Age is not a disease, and 11 for a large dog, if it’s otherwise healthy, is not that old. Aside from that, the price seems VERY high to me. I would certainly get a 2nd opinion. This doesn’t sound like a very complicated surgery. An experienced GP vet should be able to do it for less. Just make to find a vet who does high quality anesthesia and monitoring.

[Horsegal984]

That quote seems high to me too. Where is this ulcer on the leg by chance? Is the dog licking it?

[c5rose]

[QUOTE=Konasmom;8788146]
I will never understand how age alone seems to be the final determining factor for whether or not to do surgery on a pet…[/QUOTE]

It is not a final determining factor. Senior dogs are more sensitive to anesthesia.

[c5rose]

[QUOTE=Horsegal984;8788300]
That quote seems high to me too. Where is this ulcer on the leg by chance? Is the dog licking it?[/QUOTE]

Yes, she is licking it. It is located on the lower hind leg.

[Natalie]

The quote seems very high to me as well–we had an invasive nasal sarcoma removed from our older medium/large dog a year ago for about that price at a specialty veterinary hospital, by a veterinary surgeon. That included some extensive after-care as well.

My story doesn’t have a happy outcome (the tumor was aggressive and had already regrown before, so you can guess what happened) but I would operate on an older dog again in a heartbeat. Clearly it’s up to the individual, but I feel like I would like to give a beloved pet every “fighting” chance, regardless of age. Even 6 more months of happy, comfortable life is an immense amount of time for a dog, imho.

[Sillypony]

[QUOTE=c5rose;8788304]
It is not a final determining factor. Senior dogs are more sensitive to anesthesia.[/QUOTE]

Not necessarily. If you use age appropriate drugs and again, high quality anesthesia, they do just fine. I’ve done a dental cleaning–just routine even, no extractions, on a 20 year old (yes, truly 20) yorkie, who was awake within 5 mins. of bring turned off the gas anesthesia, and bounced out like nothing happened. Now, I’m not sure if I would have made that decision if my dog was 20, but this dog did fine and I’ve had plenty of older pets do fine as well. Anesthesia and veterinary medicine have come a very long way recently and it has made things much easier on both the pet and the veterinary team. Obviously it’s a balance of risk vs benefit, but being older doesn’t mean the pet will do any worse than a younger pet, or be more “sensitive.”

[Laurierace]

I vote second opinion even though that wasn’t one of the options.

[SAcres]

I would shop around for a better price, but ultimately do the surgery assuming the dog is otherwise healthy. Yes, surgery on an older animal (or human) has higher risks, but on a healthy animal, no, I would not hesitate.

However, if I couldn’t afford the surgery, had no option to pay it off in incriments, and could not find a better price, I would consider not doing it, especially if the dog’s quality of life isn’t severely affected. I might consider trying something like a gofundme page to raise money, especially if the dog is improving the owner’s quality of life.

[Simkie]

Healthy dog with good bloodwork and positive prognosis, sure. Agree that the price seems quite high and wonder if there’s more to the diagnosis or treatment plan? Are they amputating the leg entirely?

I did recently go through a very high-risk surgery on a 10 yo 75 lb dog and no, I would not do that again. Regardless of weight and age.

[Kodidog763]

[QUOTE=c5rose;8788304]
It is not a final determining factor. Senior dogs are more sensitive to anesthesia.[/QUOTE]

This…

Is the dog otherwise healthy?

[ElisLove]

We just spent 1300 on a dental on our 16 yr old. Came out of it great.

[SquishTheBunny]

Age isn’t a disease - healthy dog otherwise may live for 3-4 more years!

Senior dogs are not necessarily more sensitive to anesthesia - there are so many anesthetic options available now that a healthy 11 year old is NOT considered an anesthetic risk! Very common age to do even high risk (iem gdv, splenectomy) anesthesia on.

Also regarding price, don’t forget you often get what you pay for. $2000 can easily get eaten up with costs of surgery, anesthesia, iv fluids and intraop pressors, histopathology, pain meds, antibiotics etc. If the leg is actually amputated I’m shocked how LOW that cost is! Diffusion catheters alone and fentanl CRI s cosy upwards of 5-800.

We do hundreds of anesthesias per week and I wish they were all healthy 11 year old dogs!

[vxf111]

[QUOTE=Konasmom;8788146]
I will never understand how age alone seems to be the final determining factor for whether or not to do surgery on a pet. Age is not a disease, and 11 for a large dog, if it’s otherwise healthy, is not that old. Aside from that, the price seems VERY high to me. I would certainly get a 2nd opinion. This doesn’t sound like a very complicated surgery. An experienced GP vet should be able to do it for less. Just make to find a vet who does high quality anesthesia and monitoring.[/QUOTE]

Age would be a major factor for me if there were osteopathic issues and the surgery was one where I thought rehabbing it would be difficult/more painful than was fair. Some surgery may be more complicated due to anesthesia risk etc. Otherwise, I agree with you. But if age is a complication of the surgery itself or the recovery, that’s a fair consideration I think.

[PintoPony]

Given this situation, the owner also needs to consider their ability to care for the dog post surgery. Is the OWNER in good enough health to care for the dog, especially if complications arise? How able are they to pay a very large vet bill if they’re on a fixed income? Would they be able to earn extra money if it came right down to the nitty and the gritty?

There’s a lot more to this scenario than just the dog. If this was my dog and I was in my current situation, I probably would, assuming the dog is good otherwise.

[Beethoven]

As said above, age is not a disease. I do feel like that quote is high and the leg “ulcer” is likely a lick granuloma and I would treat as such before ever offering to remove.

[Horsegal984]

I was asking because I suspect it’s a lick granuloma as well. I think treatment should be attempted before jumping to a 2k surgery. The cells would look unusual as they are reactive and inflammatory, but that doesn’t mean you cut it off, since chances are the dog will just lick the incision open and continue the behavior.

[StGermain]

Yeah, sounds like a lick granuloma to me, too. I had an English setter who had a problem with lick granuloma.

StG

[Beckham03]

No this case I would do it. That price sounds like a specialty clinic with top anesthesia and an overnight stay? I would go that route.