Squamous cell carcinoma in 9yr old FlatCoat

[loiner45]

I've had Flatcoated Retrievers for 25 yrs (7 in all, some from pups some rescues) so am well aware of the issues around cancer in this breed and have faced it before - so was when my 9 yr old bitch started limping. It looked like a nail bed infection, nail was removed last monday, biopsy done at same time. On Weds bandages off - looking good - but friday morning it was swollen up worse than ever. Back to vet, new ABs and a different pain med. Lovely locum vet rang me at 7,15pm last night to say the biopsy result just back - its an aggressive carcinoma, probably flared up more due to the biopsy according to the vet.

So - has anyone any experience of Squamous cell carcinoma? The big decision will be either to amputate the toe and see if that gets us anywhere or try to manage her discomfort and have her pts sooner rather than later. I would rather lose her a month too soon than a day too late, I once made that mistake and it was a lesson learned. I don't want her to have to endure weeks of surgery / recovery / misery and then not have much time to enjoy life after that she's clearly in a lot of discomfort ATM but I will give the new meds a chance.... wondering if there is a stronger pain killer though...

will go back to the Vet on monday and have been googling like mad but any experiences anyone has to share would be appreciated

I have referred a dog to Cambridge vet school for squamous cell carcinoma of the nose, they do radiotherapy on extremities (toe would be really suitable). The dog I referred was cured and lived another 6 years to the ripe old age of 14.
In a toe I would be pushing really hard for a radiotherapy referral after a really good excision. My patient didn't even have complete excision due to the site.

thanks Lonecat, that's a valuable thing to throw in the mix.

The Animal Health Trust at Newmarket can now do radiotherapy anywhere for small animals (and soon they'll be able to do horses too), and as SCC is very radiosensitive it would seem to me that it would be an ideal thing to try.

Many thanks for your input - I saw my usual vet today and he had all the biopsy and other test results in front of him, it was clear that the best course of action for her was to have her PTS. At least I felt better informed during the discussion.