Putting older dog through an op

[Dippydinosaurus]

My working cocker spaniel is 10 years old. Still full of life albeit getting tireder and sleeps a bit more. During his last visit to the vet during lockdown for booster they recommended having two procedures done. Firstly a scale and polish and secondly a cyst drained from under his front leg. I'm in two minds whether to put him through it. He is very, very anxious about going to the vets despite trying calming tablets, different vets etc. He won't even let someone (except me) groom him. Has to wear a muzzle to the vets. So as I said very anxious dog - but fine at home, on walks around people he knows. I really can't decide whether to put him through it or not. The vets have messaged saying they will be doing non urgent procedures and to get him booked in. The cyst is getting a bit bigger but vets said it's nothing sinister. Teeth do need cleaning but there's no infection, gum disease. Any advice? Thanks

It's a tough one because I know how much vet admissions have affected my cocker spaniel.

And each time we really have to weigh up the cost benefit to him as it isn't just the initial fear as he always comes home and is afraid of more things.

Ideally mine would have an X-ray on his back as he is having stiffness but we have decided not to put him through it and just to manage symptoms.

No help really but just saying I understand your reticence.

I don't think the age is an issue here, my 13 year old JRT had a dental and no problems (I know every dog is different)
The anxiety is a worry, but after working at a vets for a a number of years the animals are much better when the owner has gone. This isn't to say that aren't still anxious and of course you will be worried.
I would say go ahead with the procedures, it sounds like the cyst needs sorting.
I took my 14 year old cat to the vet recently for a dental and he hadn't been in a cat carrier or car for 13 years, coped remarkably well and has been back for a check without too much stress. The car ride is the worst bit!

I'm no expert on cysts, although that sounds like it's in a place that might cause discomfort so I'd probably get that done, tbh.

For the teeth, have you tried using a supplement? I've used PlaqueOff in the past, and it does work, but it's about £30 for a 180g tub. I have 6 dogs (including a 10 yo working cocker!) so I was going through a lot of it.

However.... if you go in to ebay and search for Plaque off, scroll down until you see a listing that says "Get the PLAQUE OFF dog's teeth, 150g plain packaging", it's £8.50 with free postage, and it's the same stuff - organic dried ground seaweed. The seller is dogsareus17 by the way, in case there's a few the same.

Start off just sprinkling a tiny tiny bit on his food, and then it increases to 1g a day. You'll notice a difference within a couple of weeks, sometimes the plaque just comes off by itself, other times it'll come off if you brush his teeth. It's quite satisfying if that happens, it comes off like a bit of shell!

Definitely worth a try anyway.

It should go without saying but I have no connection whatsoever to the ebay seller.

@BiteyShark yes my dog was only anxious at the vets after an op when he was 2. He was fine before that. It's such a difficult decision to weigh up as neither option is great - risk making him more anxious or risk the cyst getting bigger. I think as a pp said, I may have to get the cyst drained. But as his age doesn't seem to be a problem that puts my mind at rest regarding that.

I'll definitely try the plaque remover - I have another cocker who had her teeth done last year so I'd rather avoid putting her through it again too although she is fine at the vets. It's not working trying to brush their teeth the vet makes it sound so easy but it's not!

10 isn’t old , he’s in his prime ! Have they done a needle biopsy of the cyst to check that’s what it actually is ?

He's a cocker so definitely still living life to the full!
When he had his check up and booster last year (18 months ago just pre-covid) they said the cyst/lump was small and not bothering him so they were happy to leave it. The same with his teeth. But at this year's check up 6 months ago, they recommended that it should be drained and teeth cleaned. Due to covid they haven't done anything with it at all as they were only dealing with emergencies at the time (January) but they thought that it wasn't anything serious. They haven't took a sample yet though I've only had a text asking me to book an appointment and I'm not sure what to do. He is still able to jump up, run etc

He's only 10. He could easily have 3-5 years left in him. I'd get the cyst sorted, personally. We had some awkwardly placed lipomas taken off one of our dogs at the same age and he recovered well and it was defo worth it.

I am going against the grain here but my response would be whether the surgery affects the outcome.

If the cyst is not bothering him then I would be asking myself if they removed it and it turned out it was cancerous (I know you said it wasn't anything serious) would I then put him through treatment? If the answer is no then I would leave it unless it was affecting his quality of life. I have seen other owners go through months of treatment and surgery which probably did not increase their dogs quality of life and since then I am more cautious.

However there is no wrong answer. You know your dog best.

The location of the cyst would be the deal breaker for me. If it is in his arm pit or affecting the movement of his front leg then yes I would operate. If it is getting bigger it would be better to do when small as less of an issue.

An elderly dog may not have the strength to compensate in his other legs if the cyst is affecting the front leg movement or alignment.

Most of my dogs are rescues, and some of them came to me with really stained teeth. I found that solely cleaning them didn't shift the plaque, it just made it shinier!

I do still clean their teeth too, because I kiss my dogs - I'm not kissing anyone who's not cleaned their teeth!

If he’s out for the count for the cyst hadn’t you may as well he the teeth done too?
I agree, he’s still in his prime. I’ve never had an anxious dog though, I can understand him getting worked up when he’s admitted, but does he get scared at home afterwards too . (Why would that be).
Could you have the cyst removed rather than just drained? -so he doesn’t have to go back if it fills up.
My dog has a lump in his armpit and the vet measures it, if it gets bigger he will have to get it removed. He’s a bit tubby though

I'm with @GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman here. I've had lipomas removed from an elderly spaniel with good results.

I've also had an elderly cat (not a dog) go through a dental and it was worth it for quality of life.

If he's 10 he could live for another 5 years.

In that time the cyst could get large/painful and it's very likely he'll have painful dental infection (he'll likely have gingivitis already) by doing the procedures now whilst he's healthy, you'll be safeguarding his comfort into old age.

If he's v nervous with the vet, as them to prescribe sileo gel or Xanax for you to use on the morning of the procedure to reduce his anxiety.

If the dog has no underlying health issues I would go ahead. Bad and dirty teeth can have a bad impact on the organs.

It's not ideal practice to do a separate surgery at the same time as dental work as a bacteraemia is set up in the body but it is regularly done.

I would not think twice about anaesthetising and operating on a ten year old healthy spaniel. The benefits far outweigh the downsides.

but does he get scared at home afterwards too . (Why would that be).

Mine comes back each time with more issues.

The first was separation problems which was understandable.

Other times we have had problems afterwards going to the groomers because of the grooming table and noises despite having gone there since a puppy. It took months and even now he can't be dried. Clearly he associates it with vet procedures and examinations.

The last time from a scale and polish he developed a severe reaction to old fashioned phone rings. He is terrified and even though it was in January he is still spooked every time an old phone ring goes on the tv (was fine before). That is very hard on him given how many tv shows suddenly have a phone ringing.

When you see the long term behavioural effects then you do have to weigh up any procedure as to whether it really is in their best interest.

We had a similar issue with our ddog. He had a cyst from about that age until he died earlier this week aged 15. It was on his shoulder though and vet advised if it wasn't affecting him they why remove so we left it. It did het quite bug and unsightly but it was purely cosmetic, he never knew he had it. So my advice would be if it's not affecting him then why out him through it? If there's a chance it is or it will then that's a different story.

Sorry for typos I've a broken finger!

My 10 yo rottweiler had mammary cancer. Never occurred to me not to arrange surgery.

We had a similar dilemma with our dog re: getting her teeth done but we decided to go for it because it’s the sort of thing that will only get worse with time and we hope by doing it now, we can avoid doing it when she’s even older.
In the end teeth were a lot worse than they first appeared and she had to have 9 rotten ones out so it was the right decision!

Thanks everyone. I think most of you seem to be going with getting him to the vets. I'll phone the vets and just remind them of how anxious he is and get a second opinion (it's a large vets so don't tend to see the same person).

If he's v nervous with the vet, as them to prescribe sileo gel or Xanax for you to use on the morning of the procedure to reduce his anxiety.
Very helpful thank you!

The teeth would be my concern. As PPs have said, they might be in a worse state than they appear to be and may get worse very quickly. Bad dental health affects all sorts of things. A side issue is that if he is insured and the vet has advised his teeth to be cleaned, then if you don't go ahead the insurers may not pay out for anything else (they won't pay for teeth cleaning).

they won't pay for teeth cleaning

Actually some do. Pet plan paid for teeth cleaning for mine but I did follow their T&Cs which state that you must have had a vet check them each year because we have twice yearly health checkups.

I paid £800 for my 11 yo lurcher to have 10 teeth out a couple of years ago. They all have plaque off on their food twice a day now!