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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Blood tests indicating tumours

20 replies

squeezed · 22/05/2015 17:09

My beautiful 9 year old lab has been out of sorts for a couple of weeks so I took him to the vet yesterday. I've just been told that the blood tests indicate tumours in the spleen or liver or both. I'm devastated, especially because he has been so much more chirpy today. He's in for x-rays on Tuesday and I'm thinking the worst. Not sure what to do with myself, it's all just so sad.

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Bubble2bubble · 22/05/2015 18:08

So sorry, what awful news to get :(
I guess you can't make any decisions until they see the X-rays

villainousbroodmare · 22/05/2015 18:12

I'm very sad for you. If it's of any comfort, he can't read his blood results nor interpret his radiographs, so he's not burdened by worry. Do nice things with him in the meantime.

Original poster

squeezed · 22/05/2015 19:17

Thank you both. He doesn't appear to be in pain and I'm giving him lots of cuddles. It's going to be a long weekend.

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tabulahrasa · 22/05/2015 19:32

If he's insured get a referral to an oncologist, they're (obviously) much more up to date on possible treatment plans, there are some that are very non-invasive.

Original poster

squeezed · 22/05/2015 23:23

Thanks tabulahrasa. That's a really good piece of advice. Neither dog has been that poorly before so it's all quite new. We've put diy plans on hold until we have an idea on the insurance excess and to cover any more treatment.

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tabulahrasa · 22/05/2015 23:56

The excess shouldn't be a new one, it's usually per condition.

Referral and investigation and scans to find out what's what will probably be in the region of 2-3k, that's a guess based on my cat seeing the oncologist about 4 years ago and my dog seeing an ortho 2 years ago.

But your vet should give you a quote at referral and the specialist will quite before doing anything.

It's my cat that has cancer, so different protocols and outcomes for dogs, but, there are treatments for some cancers that don't have huge side effects and don't involve anything too intrusive, so if insurance will cover it, it's definitely worth at least seeing a specialist to go over options.

I say that, but my cat wasn't insured and I pay for her treatment anyway but it's definitely worth doing if there's insurance.

Original poster

squeezed · 23/05/2015 08:06

So sorry about you cat. How is she? The relatively minor ailments so far have been straightforward decisions so it's a very new experience. I'm going to call the insurance company for a chat about what may be included, they've been really good so far.

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tabulahrasa · 23/05/2015 10:19

She's ok, I mean, she has lymphoma so she's not ok ok...but she's had so far 3 and a 1/2 years more than she would have had without treatment, the treatment hasn't given her any side effects and hasn't been traumatic for her.

I know protocols are different depending on what they find, some are more than I personally would put a pet through, but I'd find out before deciding as I've been pleasantly surprised by how my cat has been.

She is starting to get a bit slower now and has lost a bit of weight (she's still stable at the moment though) so we may have to think about when the best time is to let get go soonish, but, she's nearly 12 rather than the 7 she was when she was diagnosed and that time has been of a good quality for her.

Original poster

squeezed · 26/05/2015 20:10

We saw the xrays and scans today and it was much worse than we thought. A large tumour in the spleen and bleeds. Also on the liver. It was much worse than we thought and operating would have given 3 months very optimistically, but likely that he would collapse much before then. It's all such a shock because there just haven't been symptoms to worry about.

We have him home tonight and tomorrow my beautiful boy will go to sleep for the last time. I've been through some difficult and traumatic times but nothing compares to this sadness. He's helped me through all of this and we are trying to just cuddle him and talk about the happy times.

Now we are preparing on how we support our younger dog. Fortunately my daughter doesn't understand but my other dog has barely been separated from our boy.

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Haggismcbaggis · 26/05/2015 20:26

Oh squeezed. I'm so so sorry. Your poor boy.

MuttonCadet · 26/05/2015 20:27

So, so sorry.

PippiLicious · 26/05/2015 20:41

Oh squeezed. We were in your position 14 months ago when my beautiful, wonderful girl (lab) had to be pts at 9. It all happened in a day. She had been a bit off for a few weeks but we took her to the vet on a number of occasions and it was all fine according to him. However, she had a massive tumour on her spleen.

On the last day she couldn't move so the vet came out and it happened so quickly after that (still can't type it out). I still miss her every day (she came to work with either dh or me and was part of all of our lives) but we all have wonderfully happy memories of her.

Please please pm me if you want to talk it through/chat.

I'm so so sorry for you and send you huge hugs.

xxx

Original poster

squeezed · 26/05/2015 21:30

Thank you all so much. We've had family over for goodbyes. We're so so lucky he isn't in much pain, it's hard to process though that he is just the same boy doing the same silly things. Apart from my DH and DD I have never cared so much for anyone. I keep reminding myself that it only hurts this much because he 's so special.

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tabulahrasa · 27/05/2015 08:33

So sorry...this is the shitty bit of owning pets.

Original poster

squeezed · 27/05/2015 17:31

Our boy has now gone. We feel some relief as he really was very poorly and didn't have long left. We know we absolutely made the right decision. We got to say thank you for all he did for our family. Haven't been at home longer than 5 minutes yet but spent time at his favourite spot with the younger dog. Thank you for you kind words, it really has meant a lot.

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PippiLicious · 27/05/2015 19:53

Hope you're ok Squeezed. Thinking of you.

cazzmags · 27/05/2015 20:15

So sad for you. Lost our precious boy in January and am still trying to come to terms with it. We, like you had to make the hardest decision of all to let him go but we know we did the right thing by him. Lavish love on your other dog, they grieve too.

Original poster

squeezed · 27/05/2015 22:09

So sorry cazz . I just can't imagine it getting easier even though in my head I know it will. Really odd thing happened earlier, my DD switched the radio on and his piece of music (his theme tune for running) came on. I couldn't believe it, and then burst into tears again. I hope to smile about this soon. It's just all so sad. The girl dog is doing ok at the moment but it will be only her second night in seven years without him, really hard and I just hope she's ok

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Tootyfilou · 28/05/2015 14:48

So very sorry for you and your family. We went through something very similar 15 months ago with our 8 yr old golden retrievet, we also had a younger dog.
Please be kind to yourself, I found the grief and shock unbelievable. Our boy had been seemingly very well until 4 days before PTS.
Its totally devastating, very early days for you all, I tried to find comfort in thinking that for him, he went quicklyand would never suffer the discomforts that old age brings.
We miss him every day though, feel as though we were robbed.
Unmumsnety hugs x

Original poster

squeezed · 30/05/2015 00:57

So sorry Tooty. Robbed is exactly how I feel. I miss him so much my heart is aching. I can only console myself that I told him everything I wanted and I could hold him in his last moments. The younger dog appears to be doing well. My DD has now realised he's not at home and just can't understand as she's so young. It's all very difficult.

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