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The doghouse

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

Original poster

Our 3 year old Ddog very likely has cancer. Beyond devastated.

141 replies

ItBurns · 13/09/2020 15:31

Hi,

So Friday afternoon I got the call that nobody wants. Our vet asked me to pull over, as I was driving with hands free and she wanted my full attention. Right away I knew it must be bad.

They've found what they strongly suspect is a tumour in her bladder. She said it could be something less sinister, but she's fairly certain it's bad news. She also said how incredibly rare this is in a dog of her age.

I basically haven't stopped crying since then. Feeling utterly drained and I just can't seem to get my head around it.

She's still a pup. Bouncy and full of life and of course, mischief.

We have already made the decision that if it is that, we won't go down the chemo route. We don't want to put her through all that for a few more painful months, but then I suddenly realised that with covid, we probably won't be allowed in with her when she's being PTS and I can't bear it, quite honestly.

If she was an old dog, I think I could accept it. I would still of course be mortified, but at least she'd have had a full life. This just seems so wrong. We also have another dog who will miss her to pieces. It breaks my heart.

I suppose I'm just posting for a bit of moral support. I need to find my strength from somewhere. This is likely going to be an incredibly difficult few months...or weeks Sad

OP posts:
BiteyShark · 13/09/2020 15:36

Thanks that must have been such a shock. So sorry Sad

I suddenly realised that with covid, we probably won't be allowed in with her when she's being PTS and I can't bear it, quite honestly

My vets have been doing this in your car at peak lockdown and I think they might be now allowing owners in but I am not certain but I just wanted to say you might want to ask so you know and can put that out of your mind as something more to worry about.

ThanksThanks

Original poster
ItBurns · 13/09/2020 15:47

Thanks @BiteyShark.

It really was a huge shock. We honestly weren't expecting them to find anything. Maybe a bladder stone. The vet who examined her initially, said that she could feel a bit of hardness around that area, but was still confident it was nothing sinister. I'm guessing because of her age.

I will call them tomorrow and ask them about that, thank you. I'm sure I'll turn into a blubbering mess again, but I guess they're used to it.

OP posts:
Posidonas · 13/09/2020 15:51

My cat was pts recently and one person was allowed into the vet’s to be with him when it happened.
Sorry to hear this, I hope it isn’t what you fear.

Sunnydaysstillhere · 13/09/2020 15:52

Our 9 yo ddog had a mammary tumour removed. She lived a great year before a brain tumour saw her luck run out.
Hopefully surgery will work for your ddog also op.

Original poster
ItBurns · 13/09/2020 15:57

@Posidonas, I'm sorry for your loss. I'm glad you were able to be with him. Hopefully this is standard practice now.

@Sunnydaysstillhere, lovely that your ddog had a good final year. Did they have chemo?

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Noted · 13/09/2020 16:05

OK firstly OP you most likely would be allowed to be with her should you choose euthanasia, I work in a vets and we absolutely are allowing clients to be with their pets at the end, we're also doing home euthanasia where necessary with precautions obviously.

I'm not sure what investigations your dog has had but it seems like surgery might be an option and one I'd likely go for myself. People often think a surgery is awful for animals but it's no different to getting them neutered. They get some nice drugs, go to sleep then wake up and get cuddles before going home. Even if they find the worst she can still be woken up to come home for more time with you. And don't be scared to ask questions no matter how silly they might seem. Flowers

VinylDetective · 13/09/2020 17:32

Terrible, terrible news @ItBurns. I so hope it turns out be benign. My heart goes out to you. 💐

LaurieFairyCake · 13/09/2020 17:50

I had 3 surgeries on a cat I regretted as he was so elderly

But I really would consider chemo for such a young dog (and surgery) - they have the best chance at it Thanks

GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 13/09/2020 17:58

Sorry, OP. Flowers

Original poster
ItBurns · 13/09/2020 18:02

@Noted, thank you. That's such a relief. I hope it's the same where we are. I think right now we're just preparing for the worst, but hoping for the best. We know what is most likely, so need to be realistic.

Thank you @VinylDetective. I can't tell you how much I'm hoping they're wrong.

She's having more tests on (hopefully) Wednesday and she will be under for that. They did say they didn't want to do a standard biopsy in case it spread the cells, so actually I'm not 100% sure what they're doing. She might not be seen at all, as there's such a big back log - they're just trying to squeeze her in. If they didn't, she'd be waiting a month at least and we don't have that time.

Should hear back tomorrow about some blood tests that she had done on Friday.

OP posts:
Cuddling57 · 13/09/2020 18:03

I'm so sorry.
Hoping there is better news to be had for you soon.
If eventually you have to pts find a vet that will let you be there if this one doesn't.
One of my cats was pts recently and after 16 years of loyal friendship she had me there with her at the end.

Suzi888 · 13/09/2020 19:14

I’m sorry.
I hope you get positive news, maybe it will be operable or benign.

tabulahrasa · 13/09/2020 20:00

“We have already made the decision that if it is that, we won't go down the chemo route. We don't want to put her through all that for a few more painful months,“

I wouldn’t make that decision till you’d discussed it with an oncologist tbh.

Chemo for pets isn’t done like chemo for humans - it’s not at that strength because animals don’t have the understanding of why, so it’s all about extending life without making their quality of life poor.

I had a cat on chemo for 5 years, not invasive, didn’t make her unwell - it also didn’t cure the cancer, just put it in a partial remission so she got those extra years perfectly happily.

That might not be possible with your dog’s particular cancer, or your dog in fact - but it’s definitely worth a discussion.

Sunnydaysstillhere · 13/09/2020 20:02

Ddog had the tumour and so many mm of tissue around it removed. No need for further treatment.. Cost 2k and not insured - !!
Shock

MJMG2015 · 13/09/2020 20:08

Oh I'm so sorry x

A friends young rescue dog broke her leg on a short walk from home (ironically) to the vets (just routine visit) turned out she had cancer in her leg 😢 she had to have the leg amputated, she's adapted to it really well. She hadn't got the cancer all clear yet, but they're hopeful!

I hope they can help your wee girl 🌷

Veterinari · 13/09/2020 20:42

@ItBurns what tests have they done and what breed is she?
That does sound quite unusual Thanks

Original poster
ItBurns · 14/09/2020 09:43

@Noted, thank you.

@tabulahrasa, I've just seen so many pets suffering over the years on treatment, just hanging on in there. Existing, not living. We aren't ruling out anything though and nothing is 100% official yet, although I'm expecting them to say that it is.

@Sunnydaysstillhere, a malignant tumour?

@MJMG2015, keeping everything crossed for your friends ddog. I think this kind of cancer though has a particularly bleak prognosis.

@Veterinari, she has had a scan and blood tests. I should have those results today, but the vet did say that regardless of those results, further testing would need to be done. It is incredibly rare in ddogs of this age, yes. The vet kept asking if I was sure she was this age, because she was so shocked. She's a lab x cocker. She's a beauty Sad

OP posts:
bodgeitandscarper · 14/09/2020 10:00

I lost a dog to this age 9. I'm so sorry to see such a young dog affected. I was told that there was little hope of any treatment and I didn't want extensive invasive treatment anyway. Mine was a lab x and a wonderful dog too. Flowers

Original poster
ItBurns · 14/09/2020 10:05

I'm so sorry @bodgeitandscarper. How long did you have your ddog after diagnosis?

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 14/09/2020 10:07

“I've just seen so many pets suffering over the years on treatment, just hanging on in there. Existing, not living.”

Yep, I know what you mean... I wasn’t saying, you should do chemo btw, lol

Just... I’d never now decide what I was doing with treatment before going over it with the specialist - my vet is great, but, didn’t know anything about the protocol my cat got till the oncologist gave her it, as in, the ones she knew of wouldn’t have been realistically do-able with any decent quality of life.

clareykb · 14/09/2020 10:12

Our dog got oral cancer aged 8, was a big shock as he was very bouncy and young for his years. He had surgery but not chemo and lived a happy life until he was 10 and got a secondary on his spine and had to be PTS. This was in July and done outside but we were both allowed to be with him. Huge hugs it is very hard x

Sunnydaysstillhere · 14/09/2020 11:27

Yes it was malignant...

Veterinari · 14/09/2020 12:05

Ok fingers crossed for your ddog @ItBurns
The scan will show if there are abnormalities in the bladder but if there's a lump, won't show if it's malignant or benign. Lumps in the bladder can occur for many reasons.

I assume they've also done urine tests?
Are they planning to biopsy?

AlternativePerspective · 14/09/2020 12:16

I’m guessing that if they’re saying what kind of tumour they think it is with a bleak prospect they’re talking about a sarcoma.

I know someone whose working guide dog recently had to be put to sleep because of this. He was well one day and then completely knot the next and had been put to sleep by the evening. Sad he had had some kind of internal rupture, but the vet said that with these cancers there is usually only a three/six months time frame and they are very aggressive.

In this dog’s case the surgery to even stabilise him would have been difficult, and that’s before he would have had to potentially suffer for the next three/six months so the decision was made to let him go, even though it was hard for the owner...

Tbh I am not in favour of treatment at all costs which is essentially just delaying the inevitable. But am keeping fingers crossed that this isn’t what she’s saying she thinks it is.

How did this all come about? Was she ill?

Original poster
ItBurns · 14/09/2020 12:45

@clareykb Flowers

@Sunnydaysstillhere, oh I'm sorry. What is the prognosis?

@Veterinari, I think it must have had the typical characteristics of malignant tumour on the scan, as she really didn't want to get my hopes up and said that she would be very surprised if it wasn't that. I suppose they're so used to seeing these scans and can at least make very accurate predictions.

Yes, urine tests for repeat infections. This is how it started. However, the last time that all came back clear. No infection, no blood.

She did mention biopsies and something about being reluctant to do a standard one for risk of spreading the potentially cancerous cells elsewhere. Tbh though, a lot of what she said didn't go in, as I was in total shock.

@AlternativePerspective, I can't remember exactly. I thought she said something about a carcinoma, but I suppose that just means cancerous. I really don't know tbh.

She had reoccurring urine infections. Maybe 3 or 4 in the last 18 months or so. All treated with anti biotic successfully. However this last time, her symptoms were the same, lots of accidents on the sofa, lots of licking that area, but that test came back clear.

OP posts: