Think my dog is dying from lymphoma - am in bits!

[Goldenphoenix]

Could do with a handhold from you dog lovers please and any words of wisdom from those who have experienced similar.

Since that awful heatwave my dog has been breathing rapidly so took her to the vets thinking she had heat exhaustion or something. Vet found raised glands in her throat and under her front legs so suspects lymphoma. She took a sample and said results will be back probs Monday or Tuesday. She also found dog has a fever.

As her ears have been bad too and home treatment hasn't worked the vet gave me antibiotic ear drops and antibiotics in case dog is fighting an infection of another kind. It's now day two of taking them and she hasn't got better.

Unfortunately in the meantime my dog has gone off food, become more lethargic and the breathing is becoming more laboured. I don't know what to do really. It seems very cruel to just watch her struggle for another day or two while we wait for the results to say if it lymphoma or not. I am guessing that the antibiotics aren't going to help.

I just called the vets to ask if she can have a steroid injection or anything in the meantime to try and help her breathing. I don't know if she is struggling to breath because the swollen glands are restricting her airway or if it's because the cancer has reached her lungs. Am just clueless and just waiting a few more days doesn't seem like a good option for me. No vets were available so someone will call me back so not sure what they will say.

Have two young children who adore the dog (as do I) and so unsure what to do for the best.

Anyone experience lymphoma in their dog and have some advice please.

No experience of lymphoma but big hand hold. It is awful when our dogs are ill and harder still when unsure what to do.

I really hope the vet has got back to you and is helping you make the right decisions to help your dog.

Thank you for your reply. Unfortunately the vet hasn't got back to us today so will call them tomorrow morning. Been a really heartbreaking few days.

Oh you poor things. Be that owner and get back to your vet today. You do need to have some support and advice on this.

If you have insurance they may have a medical advice phone line you can call.

Thanks, was on the phone when they opened! They took her in for an x-ray and staging today, the good news was no big tumours, the chest glands are swollen so that seems to confirm lymphoma but that is treatable. They gave her a steroid injection which will hopefully help reduce the swelling and ease breathing before starting chemo. So we might get some good time with her yet!

www.mumsnet.com/talk/the_doghouse/4563556-lymphoma-diagnosis

This is my thread.

Feel free to ask me any specifics

Oh I am so sorry @Theworldsgonemad it's such a crap illness. Thanks for the thread, so sorry you have been through it yourself.

We are going to try chemo for my dog and it starts this Friday. The vet said it's worth a try and it becomes clear very quickly if it's going to be effective and if it suits that dog. I feel we should try it and see how she gets on.

It's been an awful week, I can't wrap my head around life without her really. I really worry for my children too, they have had her with them for their entire lives and will be absolutely devastated when she has gone

Am back to update the thread for any future dog owners struggling with lymphoma.

We went down the chemo route and it was generally ok and definitely worth it for the eight extra months we have had with our beautiful girl. We had to stop the chemo earlier than the course programme (after about four/five months) as she was starting to suffer some side effects that we judged weren't worth it - some sickness, diarrhea and lack of appetite. So we knew her remission wouldn't be super long but given we would have had to put her down when she was diagnosed in July we do think it has been worth it and her quality of life has remained good throughout. It's been so great spending time with her and we have spoiled her rotten.

Unfortunately out of the blue today she's taken a real turn for the worse, sleeping all the time, not eating at all and just out of sorts so I think we have perhaps reached the end of her story. Really heartbreaking and so worried about our children's reactions and how to handle all of our grief. Will see what the vet advises tomorrow but think the end is imminent and am really gutted but happy with the choices we have made for her and our family.