WWYD - Ulcerated tumor on anus... When is it "time?"

[OveroHunter]

This is long… Thank you for reading. This dog means a lot to me.

A little over a year ago we noticed what we thought was a hemorrhoid on my then 8 year old Catahoula. We had neutered him about a year prior when he was 7.5 years old a couple of months after we rescued him. We took him to the vet and they said it was cancer. Second and third opinions agreed on the cancer diagnosis likely from having his manly bits for so long prior to his life with us.

What they didn’t agree on was what to do next. One said absolutely do surgery, one was kind of like “well you could or you couldn’t,” and the third said that even if we did surgery we weren’t guaranteed it wouldn’t come back and if it did come back it would likely be way worse. Since it was going to be about $2,000 for the removal we decided to go with vet #3 and not remove and just keep an eye on it.

It’s been growing and it’s about fist sized now. Its right under his anus so we have to be very good about keeping it clean… Let’s just say he’s probably cleaner than most dogs out there because it gets our undivided attention several times a day…

This past Sunday (Jan 31) it “exploded” for lack of a better term. Blood everywhere… “Stuff” and “junk” coming out… I freak out and call my vet and they said it’s likely ulcerated and there’s not much we can do except what we’ve always done - keep him clean and keep him happy… Watch his gums to make sure they don’t get pale and make sure he seems to feel okay.

These are my questions:

1. Has anyone dealt with anything like this before? What happened and please be honest…

2. How do I know when my dog’s life is worth living? This dog was not only a diehard indoor dog, but he slept in my bed every night between DH and I. With all the blood (it’s like a slow drip on and off) and “stuff” (its not infected, it’s hard to describe but it’s tumor junk) we’ve had to keep him outside. We have a 2 or 3 acre dog yard with a barn to keep him out of the elements. We have two dogs already that stay outside the majority of the time (in for bad weather) and they’re happy as can be… But this dog isn’t. Sure, he’s fine… but he’s not happy… When do I put that ahead of my own selfish desire to not kill him? The vet is looking after him and medically we don’t have to put him down, yet… It’ll be soon though. Since the “explosion” there’s been a new growth about the size of a golf ball out one side… I can’t even imagine the pressure he was dealing with… We rubbed and wiped this thing every day. We are still doing that because we have to keep it clean. It looks like the most painful thing I have ever seen on a dog, but he is unfazed. Like he doesn’t even feel this giant bleeding mass on butt…

DH pointed out that in GA it’s only a matter of time until the flies come this spring. Once we have insects to deal with I don’t know what we can do… I don’t know that he’ll even make it that long…

Again, the vet has seen pics and is advising us on what to do (appointment later this week, but daily conversations/pics) and we haven’t really had the “it’s time” or “it will be time soon” conversation. It’s really just centered around, “is it clean, is it infected, is he in pain?” kind of stuff…

It’s just heavy on my mind and I’d like some unbiased opinions.

[cnigh]

I took care of a boarders horse that had a large sarcoma tumor on his chest. I found it by accident, thinking he had a lump of mud or something. He had Cushing too so he was a yak. The tumor kind of burst in my hand. As you said very bloody and painless. The horse lived for a few more years. The tumor healed up a bit, but was always there. Vets said it would just grow back if removed.

So the dog may live but you have to decide if his quality of life is worth it. My heart dog wouldn’t survive being put out of the house. She is used to being my baby.

[OveroHunter]

[QUOTE=cnigh;8511444]
I took care of a boarders horse that had a large sarcoma tumor on his chest. I found it by accident, thinking he had a lump of mud or something. He had Cushing too so he was a yak. The tumor kind of burst in my hand. As you said very bloody and painless. The horse lived for a few more years. The tumor healed up a bit, but was always there. Vets said it would just grow back if removed.

So the dog may live but you have to decide if his quality of life is worth it. My heart dog wouldn’t survive being put out of the house. She is used to being my baby.[/QUOTE]

He’s a big 90 lb manly looking dog that has the indoor desire of a Pomeranian. God if we don’t let him sleep in our bed he’ll whine for hours at our bedroom door. He’s rotten, he’s almost 10, and I don’t think he’ll ever be happy outside with the other dogs. It’s a great setup out there. Acres to run, a warm barn out of the elements… but this dog would sleep in our bed for an hour after we both got out in the morning because he’s a spoiled rotten princess that I swear appreciated it when we got a new pillow top mattress… He knows the finer things in life… and I love him for it.

I’m balling my eyes out. I don’t think I can put him down but I don’t want him to live the last few months of his life feeling put out. I don’t know that he can ever live a happy life again.

[JBD]

It just burst so hopefully it will dry up in the next day or so. Alushield is helpful for open wounds. And it might keep it dry enough you can keep him in the house. Some sort of doggie diaper could be an option too.

[cnigh]

It’s heartbreaking but I think it’s better to euth if he can’t live in the house where he is happy.

[OveroHunter]

[QUOTE=JBD;8511471]
It just burst so hopefully it will dry up in the next day or so. Alushield is helpful for open wounds. And it might keep it dry enough you can keep him in the house. Some sort of doggie diaper could be an option too.[/QUOTE]

Thank you for this suggestion. I’ve found some doggy diapers online. This seems so obvious that I’m kind of feeling crazy… I’m out of state onsite with a client and my husband sent me pictures and he’s been so doom and gloom about it that I majorly went off the deep end with this post.

If I can get these diapers to work he can stay inside. Do you have any recommendations for large male dogs? They all seem to be geared towards females in heat, but I don’t think that would really matter…

[Simkie]

I’m so, so sorry

When facing stuff like this, I always really think hard on if it’s going to get better. Not just brief glimpses of good moments, but solid stretches of better. Once it’s all downhill slide, I make the call, even if the “now” is still okay. I’d so much rather let them go when “now” is good. I don’t want “now” to be miserable, especially when there is no reasonable chance of “better.”

[OveroHunter]

I bought some diapers online just now and they should ship by the 4th. If we can get these to work maybe he can at least live inside for awhile and hard decisions can be put off a few more months.

My heart dog died about 3 years ago and about 6 months after that this dog was dumped at our ranch by a guy who told us to find him a home or kill him… Something about him made me fall head over heels and while no dog could ever fill the hole that losing my heart dog caused, Patch was instrumental in the healing process… When he was diagnosed about a year ago I knew it would be an emotionally difficult end… I guess you’re just never ready for it.

I think it’s harder too because it opened just a couple of hours before I had to leave to go to the airport to go see my client on this huge project we’ve been working on for months. I’m seeing all this unfold through iPhone pictures… I’m also 3 months pregnant and I think I’m a raging ball of hormones.

[csaper58]

Until you are ready to let him go, there are under-pants for female dogs in heat that should fit him. You can put a maxi pad in it and may be he can come inside.

My dog had bone cancer. There were several things, that she LOVED to do, that made her who she was. When those were gone, that’s how we knew it was time to let go.

That said, if your pup is happy/content then enjoy your time together.

((( HUGS)))

[JBD]

We had a senior dog who very rarely would urinate in his sleep. Of course he slept on the bed and had slept with us all of his 18 years. So we bought a cheap, washable comforter and a leakproof mattress pad. We also tried to keep a towel under him. Eventually we did have to move him to his own bed.

[jetsmom]

I’m sorry you are dealing with this. Imo, to take an inside dog and then make him be an outside dog, probably would be better off euth ed based on the cancer, flies as soon as it warms up, and his quality of life if he really wants to be inside.

Would putting men’s boxers on him upside down (tail comesvout crotch opening)so stuff doesn’t get everywhere be an option so you could bring him in?

[GraceLikeRain]

I could never take an indoor dog and let him spend his last days living outside. If health problems made it such that it was not possible for the dog to lead a normal life (playing, healthy appetite, sleeping in the bed, etc.) then, personally, I would let him go.

[vxf111]

Is the tumor going to heal up so it’s not weeping?! Can it be cauterized or closed?! Does it hurt?! I would want to know more options before making a decision.

[Beckham03]

I’m sorry you are going through this. Get a referral to a surgeon to see if they think it can be removed.

[MsM]

When you are home, I would check with the vet about what can be done for “comfort care” It may be that they can cauterize or surgically debulk the tumor so that he can be more comfortable. I would try to find a middle ground between trying to cure, and facing immediate euthanasia. A frank talk about cost (money and comfort to the dog) versus benefits should help you make the best decision.

[Justmyluck]

Did they ever biopsy it to figure out exactly what it was. There are two types of anal tumors in dogs one is benign and the other is metastatic. Both can look awful. I would also run a CBC, Chemistry and look at Calcium levels. Elevated calcium can point towards metastatic disease and can be a prognostic indicator.

[StGermain]

I will say that I had a mare with a large rectal melanoma that ruptured. It seemed to give her no pain at all. I would be more concerned with trying to get him to the point were he can rejoin you in the house, or let him go. For him to be put out would break his heart.

StG

[OveroHunter]

I am a client trainer for a veterinary practice management software company so I have actually been on site with a clinic and was showing them pictures and getting ideas for comfort (yay, free consults from all my different clients).

The mass opinion is that it’s time to just keep him comfortable. I made it home last night with some sample diapers from the clinic I was at. They were too small, but we came up with this combination of vaseline, gauze, diaper, boxers, and an ace bandage that seems to be working: https://www.facebook.com/Megannigan/posts/10105207605992690?pnref=story

Let me know if you can’t see that… It didn’t work overnight. At some point it came off and he bled all over our spare bed so I’m not sure what we’ll do tonight… However, we redid it this morning and he’s hanging out with me today. I work from home so I’ll be able to adjust the bandage pants thing if necessary.

I can’t really tell if he’s happy or depressed or if I’m just reading too far into every little thing he does. Last night I fixed myself dinner and instead of being a bad dog and staying under my feet the entire time, he politely watched me cook from the dining room… Politeness has never been his strong suit.

He did want to jump into bed with us last night and we didn’t let him because we weren’t sure the bandage would work (and good thing because it didn’t) and he whined at the door for awhile. I know I’m being crazy for thinking I’m a horrible dog owner for not letting a 90 lb dog sleep with me at night… but it’s what he’s used to and I just feel bad… I didn’t know last Saturday night that when I fell asleep that it would be the last time I did so with Patch next to me.

Anyway, the XL diapers I ordered come in tomorrow. Hopefully they’ll work out better than what we’ve got going now.

[paintedpony]

Better a day too soon, than a day too late.

[csaper58]

A pair of child’s tights,(Good Will Store) with the legs cut off about 6-8 inches long and a hole cut for the tail, + maxi pad (or diaper) in an appropriate area often will work if boxers keep coming off. And right be for bed maybe a little Elasticon for security.

Measure his waist to get an idea of size. once tights are home cut legs off to about hock level and put them on him. put his tail in with one leg, feel around on his croup and find the right spot to cut a small hole for his tail.

Sounds like you are taking wonderful care of him.