Canine Lymphoma

[Outtahere]

My little Lab was diagnosed with Canine Lymphoma yesterday. Tomorrow morning we have an appointment to go over our options with the vet. Has anyone here been in this situation? Costs of treatment? I already know the "cost" of not doing anything .

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Outtahere My little Lab was diagnosed with Canine Lymphoma yesterday. Tomorrow morning we have an appointment to go over our options with the vet. Has anyone here been in this situation? Costs of treatment? I already know the "cost" of not doing anything .

I'm so sorry for you and the pup. I do not have experience with canine lymphoma (but I do with the homo sapiens kind in my job, alas). I can say with confidence that the cost will be high both financially and in side-effects.

You are facing difficult decisions, but supportive care (to assure the dog is in no pain or distress) as long as it's reasonable and then a quiet, painless euthanasia with you at his side is always a caring and ethical option, IMHO. But it's so hard.

I have had many, many friends say, "I wish we ended it sooner" than the opposite.

Good luck with your decision. I feel your pain, having recently been in a similar predicament.

[shiny]

I am so sorry about this diagnosis - it is going to be hard deciding what to do. I wish I knew something about it to tell you, but instead I will just say that you are not alone. All of us dog-lovers are feeling your pain and wishing you well whatever you choose to do.

[simple girl]

Outtahere,

I'm so sorry you have to go through this. We had a kitty that was diagnosed with cancer 2 years ago. We we desperate to save him and went so far as to do chemo (each treatment was over $600). It was all for naught, didn't even buy him some extra time, and I think it made him sicker and more miserable.

This is not to say chemo isn't an option for your case. What I learned is that different cancers behave differently. Some animals do respond fairly well to treatment and live several more years with good quality of life.

Our kitty had a very aggressive type. Had we not been so emotional we would have asked for a more firm prognosis and what the actual reality regarding benefit or not of chemo would be. Instead we plodded again and did everything and anything possible to save him. In the end, I am one of those that Rich mentions - wishes we had ended his suffering sooner and avoided all the extra poking and prodding. But, hindsight is 20-20, and I know ultimately we made the best decisions we could at the time, given how emotional we were.

[haha]

Sorry Outtahere.

This is so hard because we love our dogs like family. I hope his path will be as smooth as it can be.

My dog Bingo is getting progressively weaker in his hind legs. Soon I fear he will go down and not be able to get up, even with assistance. I think it is time for him, but consensus is not yet there.

Mike

[Sundance Kid]

Our dog, was diagnosed with Auto Immune Hemolytic Anemia, in Oct 2003. It is usually fatal, in over 50% of cases diagnosed. We kept her alive, for 3 years, at the cost of an easy--$ 5,000. For two years, after diagnosis and treatment, she did pretty well. After that , it was a gradual decline. To the point, she couldn't walk, except on three legs and was never comfortable, didn't eat well, etc.

We had her put down, which was extremely hard. But, probably best for her!

We had made a decision, to make one effort, to do all we could for this little girl.
It worked,-- for three years! And, I Miss Her!!!

[Outtahere]

Thank everyone, this is a little long but I need to tell his story, it could go in the Happy Dog thread but I'll put it here.

Although my poor guy is having problems right now he is a happy story nonetheless. I had put my black lab buddy down and was still very depressed after 2 months, crying daily and just not able to deal with losing him. Dh finally caught on and gave in to my wanting another dog. He didn't want a puppy and all the comes with it so I agreed on a rescue dog. He wanted something smaller but after a week of researching breeds that are good with grandkids it all came back to the loveable Labradors.

The day we put down the black Lab the vet gave my dh the number of a breeder and the rescue number. I called the Lab Rescue League for an application and to schedule a home visit. I never knew what a process it was to adopt and was a little nervous about the home visit. Things worked out well, the volunteer showed up on a Saturday, checked us out, Tuesday they called saying they had a dog I could look at that next Saturday.

Dh and I showed up at the kennel at the scheduled time, probably a little early if I know dh. We didn't plan on bringing him home, we were just going there to look. The owner brings out this little yellow, skinny, scared lab and both of us melted right then and there. Needless to say he went home with us that morning. We get him home and he's very nervous, so much so that his face is all wrinkled up with stress, dh kept asking me if he was one of those wrinkle dogs lol. It took about a week but eventually he relaxed and settled in and became our dog.

Fast-forward about 3 months, dh gets a call from the LRL, they are going to use our kid as the poster dog for the rescue league that year. His story was going to be printed in the newsletter and they wanted to share it with us prior to the newsletter arrival. I got home from work that night and could see dh was a little shaken, once he told me what happened I understood.

Our little guy had been in a pet shop, no one would buy him because his registration papers were messed up and they couldn't get them right. The pet shop left him in the back room, in a cage, they barely fed him and in fact were trying to kill him. Someone that worked there told a friend about him and talked that employee into letting him/her come in and get that poor puppy out of there. So one night after closing they did just that, two people went in and stole that puppy cage and all and took him to the rescue league.

This little puppy hadn't been out of his cage in 6 months, weighed only 29 lbs and was on deaths doorstep. The first 2 weeks at the foster home were touch and go, he could hardly eat and had to be fed little bits at a time. They thought they were going to lose him but his will to live was stronger than they thought. He gained weight, the gouge on his head (from hitting it on the top of the too small cage) healed and his toes started to uncurl from walking on the wire bottom of the cage. They said it was a week before he would come out of the cage on his own and that he had to learn how to be a dog. He stayed at the foster home for two months but needed more socialization and they were pampering him too much so he was sent to a kennel. They worked with him there to the point that they felt he could be adopted. This is where we come in.

He’s done very well with us, gained weight and has stayed right around 75lbs although you can tell from his paws that he never really grew into them. He probably should have been closer to 100lbs but being starved during his puppy years probably stunted his growth. He socialized as well as could be expected, loves people but is still shy until he gets to know you. It’s funny to watch him, he never really learned how to greet people so he wags his tail and the hair on his back comes up the same time. His personality blossomed and he’s a little character and very intelligent, learning things quickly. He lacks self confidence but once he realizes he can do something he doesn’t stop, for example, he refused to go down our cellar stairs, I tried coaxing but no way was he going down there. One afternoon I became frustrated, put the leash on him and made him go down with me. It was like a light bulb went off in his head, I took off the leash and he spent the next half hour running up and down those stairs, each time giving us that “look what I can do” look.

We didn’t have him 6 months before he started having seizures. On top of the seizures he also has allergies and a very sensitive stomach. We could deal with all of these things but the seizures were becoming very bad, sometimes lasting up to 2 hours. The problem with medicating him for them is they were very infrequent, he’d have one and not have another for 6 to 12 months, but when he had them they were bad. The vet didn’t want to treat him with Phenobarbital until we could find a pattern, until then we were to rush him in if it lasted longer than 30 minutes. We did that 3 or 4 times until the vet gave us Valium to treat him at home, that worked up until the last 2 he had, that’s when we decided to put him on Phenobarbital. That worked like a charm and he hasn’t had a seizure in a little over 3 years.


So you can probably see why he’s been a little pampered (to say the least) and has a special place in our hearts. One of my neighbors said the other day that this dog just can’t catch a break in life, I told him he did...a big one...dh and I. So that’s his story, a sad beginning but a very happy life.

[Outtahere]

Dh and I had the consultation with the vet this morning, we had a nice long chat with him, went over all the options and finally decided on going with Prednisone. If we did chemo it would be a 26 week treatment schedule, that's just not something I want to put him through. Prednisone can be given at home, the vet said that if he responds to it I'll know in a few days, if he doesn't then that's also a sign that he wouldn't have responded to chemo very well either. It will probably give us a few months with him, it's not a cure but neither is chemo.

Side affects of Presdnisone is mostly increased appetie and thirst which will also mean lot's of trips outside to pee. I guess for some that's a problem if the dog is in the house all day alone, with us there are enough people around between dh, my parents and my sister to take him out several times a day. Things might get tough at night but that's okay, we can deal with it.

[haha]

Outtahere, what a great story. The love you and DH have for this spunky guy really comes through in the way you treated him and the way you tell his story.

I hope he has real good luck on the prednisone.

Ha

[Calgary_Girl]

That is such a wonderful story Outtahere! I'm praying for your little guy and hope that he lives much longer than what the doctor thinks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundance Kid Our dog, was diagnosed with Auto Immune Hemolytic Anemia, in Oct 2003. It is usually fatal, in over 50% of cases diagnosed. We kept her alive, for 3 years, at the cost of an easy--$ 5,000. For two years, after diagnosis and treatment, she did pretty well. After that , it was a gradual decline. To the point, she couldn't walk, except on three legs and was never comfortable, didn't eat well, etc. We had her put down, which was extremely hard. But, probably best for her! We had made a decision, to make one effort, to do all we could for this little girl. It worked,-- for three years! And, I Miss Her!!!

Isn't it amazing what we'll do to keep our best friends with us longer, even if it is just for a little bit? We spent approximately $6,700 to keep our Timber alive. Although we were hoping he would make it up to a year, even the remaining 10 days we had with him were worth it. It gave us a chance to say goodbye and shower him with love

[Fireup2020]

My four legged furry child was dx with bone cancer in her jaw at the age of 9. I made the decision for her to have a hemi-mandibl-ectomy (removal of the cancerous half of her lower jaw). Her surgery, meds, and labs totalled a little over $1000 in 2003. I even borrowed $$$ from my bf at the time and charged whatever I could not pay cash for. I declined putting her through chemo or radiation treatment (not for money sake- her vet actually advised against it) and just made sure she was comfortable. I was AMAZED how she rebounded after the surgery - and since she was a basset/lab, you could not visibly tell until she yawned She was spoiled silly - salmon, fresh chopped beef, yogurt, all her favorites. It reached a point almost a year after her surgery that it was time to "put her to sleep" - This was by far the most difficult loss I have experienced (adopted her at 8 weeks) and I wish you the best and warm prayers in this time.

[Toejam]

Outtahere: I just read the heartwarming, bittersweet story/history of your little Lab. It got me a little teary-eyed when I read the part about how he was cruelly treated and neglected at the pet shop. Wishing the best for your little guy - he sounds like a sweetie. I wish all animal owners could be as kind and caring as you and your husband.

[Outtahere]

I'm sorry to say that yesteday we had to put down our sweet little lab. Despite my best efforts to keep him eating and body functions normal over the past week the lymphoma was taking it's toll. I'm just glad I was home the past 3 weeks to see him through the tough time. He loved to run in the woods not far from our house so that's where we'll scatter his ashes. We are both very sad but know we gave him a good life. I'm going to start back to work today, just for a few hours to get out of the house.

Winter was his favorite time of year, he loved the snow.

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Outtahere I'm sorry to say that yesteday we had to put down our sweet little lab.

I'm so sorry. You did a good job for your little guy.

The only thing that makes such a deep loss tolerable is knowing how valuable their brief lives are. I still have my very sad moments more than 6 months after losing our Sophie, and I know how difficult this is.

He's suffering no more.

[HFWR]

Outtahere, so sorry for you loss. Chin up, girl! I'm sure going back to w*rk sucks, but hopefully it means you're kicking some major A healthwise.

[brewer12345]

Poor pup. I'm sorry you had to let him go, but you did right by him.

[Martha]

I am so sorry. I do love the picture of your lab. He looks so expectant: Throw me a stick! Come on, let's run! As Dave Barry said, dogs are always ready.

[lazygood4nothinbum]

great face. he looks like a wonderful dog. like doc, it's been 2 years since i lost wolfpuppy and i still can't go into my garden (sandz helped me plant every plant) without feeling a little sad. hope you fare better but i know it's gonna be rough. hang in there.

[haha]

Outtahere, my heart goes out to you. I know how much Ben meant to you. You were a great dog Mommie.

Ha

[bbbamI]

I'm sorry...I know what it's like losing a pet to cancer. Time will help.