Vet update--need help!

LauraMax

LauraMax

Cathlete
I took good old Cosmo to the vet this morning. The good news is he said she was in better shape than any 16 YO dog he's ever seen. He did put her on some kind of arthritis meds--something that starts w/a D, can't remember the name.

The bad news is he said he thought he felt a mass around her liver. He said we could do an Xray, but if it's cancer there's pretty much nothing that can be done for her. I just don't know what to do. Should I get the Xray done so I'm not up all night worrying about it? Or do I not put her through that trauma & hope for the best?

I am just a basket case. I can't imagine losing my old friend.
 
Personally, I would leave her alone.
If she seems sick , this is horrible, but put her down.
My brother had a lab that had cancer.
6 months of vomiting from kemo and Bobo still died and suffered badly.
I could not put an animal through it.
If you feel better , get the x-ray and treat her with meds .
No animal needs to suffer.
Anne

http://www.picturetrail.com/acatalina
 
Laura,

I went through this exact situation with my dachshund (the little guy in my avatar). He was 14 and in very good health, then suddenly he couldn't eat and was unable to swallow. He became lethargic and we noticed his abdomen was distended. Mind you, this all happened suddenly, or it seemed sudden to us. I took him to the vet, they took an xray and sure enough, he had a huge mass in his belly. The cancer was extensive and nothing could be done. We actually put him down that day because it was apparent to us that he was suffering. I would get the xray. Your dog doesn't seem to be in pain so, if he does have cancer you still have some time to enjoy him and spoil him rotten. There's no right answer here so just go with your gut instinct. I'll keep your little fella in my prayers.
 
{{{Laura}}}

I would get the X-ray so you would know what your dealing with. Maybe the mass is something else. It doesn't sound like your old girl is in any kind of pain from it.

Maybe bestoutwest will see this post and chime in.
 
Laura -
I'm so sorry to hear about Cosmo! My dog is my "child," and I would flat out be devastated to learn something like this. If I were you, I would have the X-ray to determine what the problem is. If it is NOT cancer, you may be able to treat it without putting her through the torture of chemo, etc. If it is cancer, I'd suggest putting her to sleep. If she seems okay now, let her enjoy life, but when the cancer starts making her sick, put her to sleep. In all honesty, that is what I would do. I had to put my pony down several years ago for the same reason. I had him since I was 9 yrs old, and we were lifelong buddies. He developed some sort of tumor in his sinuses. We treated him palliatively for as long as possible, but then he just got too sick. He's buried on a hillside on my parents' property.
 
Laura,
I am so sorry about Cosmo-my animals are my children and I understand what your going through-I would get the x-ray, then you can see what your dealing with and go from there-dont make any other decisions or think about anything else until you see whats going on. I will keep you both in my prayers.
Lisa
 
Hey Laura - remember me - the "not so avid dog lover" with the horrendous kennel experience? I have a whole new appreciation for my dog after this last weekend and for the people who so love and care for them. Get the X-ray. You'll drive yourself - and Cosmo - nuts if you don't. Sending big, dogggie slobber ((((((HUGS))))) your way. I hope it all works out for you.

Lorrie
 
Laura, I'm glad to hear that so far all the found was arthritis. Maybe the mass is nothing but fatty deposits. But you should find out, I would suggest getting the x-ray. I'm so sorry that you have to go through this. I'm not looking forward to the day that I will have to deal with this either.
Take care.

Kathy
 
Your dog was probably given Deramaxx. I would highly recommend the the yahoogroups for canine cancer. I think their is one specifically for liver cancer. My friend's rescue Dobe had liver cancer and they have some terrific information that can keep you boy feeling better and possibly live longer.

I would xray to get a diagnosis.

Colleen
 
Hi Laura

Sorry to hear about your pup. Just because there is a mass around her liver doesn't mean that it is cancer! I just had my 10-year-old lab checked out because he had several "bumps" around his abdomen area a couple of months ago. The vet said it is pretty common for older dogs to develop some "fatty tissue" and he wasn't concerned, we didn't do an x-ray.
If you are concerned, I'd definately get the x-ray done, for your own peace of mind. If it is cancer, I guess then you need to decide what you want/need to do.
I personally wouldn't do any cancer treatment in an older dog. Chemo is pretty hard on them and I would not want to make my dog's last year or so miserable, I'd rather keep him as comfortable as possible until the point that I feel he is suffering. But I think it's the "not knowing" that would drive me insane.

I know how you feel, I was a basket case a few days ago because of my dogs. Good luck and big puppy hugs, I hope everything turns out well.

Carola
 
LauraMax,

You and I (and whoever else is in our situation) need to start a support group for people with older dogs (or animals). It is really tough worrying about them with all the things they start doing as they age!

Did your vet suggest that it was a good idea to have the x-rays done? I would probably do what he or she thought best.

Teresa
 
Q

My vet didn't say anything other than it was my decision. I'm really leaning toward not getting the Xrays done. He said if it was cancer there was nothing I could do, & he also said it could be nothing at all. I'd have to leave her at the vet's at least for a morning to get the Xrays, & I just do not want to put her through that kind of stress. She's a pretty nervous dog b/c she's toothless & she's not comfortable outside her own territory.

She's lived longer than most dogs her size. She wasn't even supposed to survive puppyhood--she had a wicked case of distemper that left her without teeth. Nothing that happens at this point will be a surprise, & after thinking about it all morning I can't think of a single reason why I should put her through any kind of testing.

She seems happy & peppy for a dog her age. From here on out everything will be about Cosmo, & I'm just gonna be optomistic that the vet was wrong, just like the vet who told me she wouldn't live beyond 3 months, & the vet who told me she had cancer when she was 8 & only had 6 weeks to live.

Nothing against any vets out there, but after all this I'm convinced it's really just a guessing game & I feel like I have to go with my instincts. She's been with me for almost half my life & I know what she's thinking when she looks at me (I'm thirsty, I'm hungry, I have to pee, I want some attention). I really believe if there was something wrong I'd know it, & I'm just not sensing it here.

I'm hoping she'll be around for another couple years. Send my buddy Cosmo some good, healthy vibes!
 
RE: Q

Laura, you have to do what's best for you and Cosmo. And since you know Cosmo, better than anyone, you are probably the best person for that decision. I like the way you think. Taking in opinions, listening to the vet but still able to make your own decision. Cosmo sounds like she's had a pretty good life with all your love for all these years and you're still watching out for her best interest, so just keep it up. I know this is a hard time for you and I am sending you and Cosmo well wishes for a long, healthy future together.

Jean
 
RE: Q

LauraMax,

I am in somewhat of the same situation as you are with my dear doggie. The difference is my DH is the Vet! :)

My dog has osteosarcoma, which is bone cancer. He has a mass that is located on his ribs, right behind his front leg. We've got him on some seriously good doggie drugs, and he is pain free and happy. He's taking Deramaxx, which is probably what your Cosmo is on for the arthritis. Another drug my dog is on is Tramadol. You might look into it as well.

The kind of cancer my dog has is supposed to be fatal within a year at most. So far, he's lived with it just over a year and right now is doing good. My DH said he would not operate on it because once you start messing with something like that, it starts to spread. That's why my instinct would be the same as yours... don't x-ray your Cosmo's mass and don't fool with it. As long as he's pain free and mobile, all is good. It's not worth the trauma they go through when you try to treat.

Good luck. I hope Cosmo lives a long, happy, active life. :)
 
RE: Q

Just sending some more good vibes for Cosmo! I know how hard it is, my almost 16 year old suffers epileptic seizures and has new bumps and lumps it seems all the time. She's been through so much with vet visits, checking those out, trying to regulate meds etc. and that's just so traumatic for her...so if she's happy, I'm happy.
 
RE: Q

>My vet didn't say anything other than it was my decision.
>I'm really leaning toward not getting the Xrays done. He said
>if it was cancer there was nothing I could do, & he also said
>it could be nothing at all. I'd have to leave her at the
>vet's at least for a morning to get the Xrays, & I just do not
>want to put her through that kind of stress. She's a pretty
>nervous dog b/c she's toothless & she's not comfortable
>outside her own territory.
>

Then I probably would not xray her. BUT there are things you can do if it is liver cancer. Holistic, etc. that can keep her pain free and living longer.

I feel your pain. We just took our 14 yr old lab mix, Bear, to the ER vet twice this weekend. It's just so hard as they age.

Colleen
 
RE: Q

First, a big hug for you and your buddy!! My Abby is now 12 and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't sometimes think about the what if.......I would go with your gut, I truly think you would sense something wrong. I would just let Cosmo be Cosmo and not expose her to anymore stress than necessary. She's 16, right?? She deserves to be stress free and happy, and if she seems okay to you.....I would just leave it at that. And Colleen, here's a hug for you and your Bear....

Donna
 
RE: Q

Hey Laura :)

If you want my opinion (b/c you are gettin' it ;) ), I say to leave it alone. If there is nothing that you can do for Cosmo, what is the point in putting her through that just for the sake of confirming or discounting cancer? OK, so you can breathe a sigh of relief if she doesn't have it. If she does, then you can't do anything but worry anyway and in the process, you've trauamatized the poor girl.

Also chimed in to agree 100% on your "experiment theory!" Like you said, nothing against vets of the medical profession, but I am convinced that it is all experimentation. Every persona dn every dog is different and a doctor/vet can only tell us probability amongst the many.

Big Puppy Hugs to Cosmo :) :) :) :)
 
RE: Q

Laura, you do what you feel is right. It's true that all medicine, be it medical or veternarian is all a practice. They are all learning as they go. They know quite a bit, but not everything, and some of it is a guess.
Give Cosmo lots of hugs.

Kathy
 
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