Lymphoma diagnosis

[LabelleLabelle]

Hi all
My dog (10) has been diagnosed with lymphoma. We are not doing chemo for various factors - not the cost, more that the vet and I were honest it was probably going to make a vet phobic, anxious dog unhappy and not add to his life. So he's at home with me, where he loves, on steroids. It’s also seemingly aggressive, and pretty much become evident quickly he was not feeling at all well, so quite symptomatic.

We had a really good first 2 weeks on the steroids, so continuing and vet said we can increase the dose if needed, and I have noticed some of the previous symptoms coming back again and one of the lymph nodes has got massive again and giving him very noisy breathing and gagging/retching. I will call the vet tomorrow about the dose. The first 2 weeks he seemed almost back to ‘normal’ and they shrank so I am feeling sad he’s getting some of these back which I think aggravates him and them not working as well so fast.

This is my first time nursing a dog in this way, he’s my first dog and I suppose I am just looking for some support. Has anyone been through this? I find myself being anxious all the time about whether he’s happy or feeling unwell - being a dog they mask these things. The vet can’t really tell me what to expect, we don’t know where the cancer actually is and I get the impression from her she doesn’t think he is going to have very long. I’m coming to terms with that and that it’s my decision when it’s ‘time’, which feels like a huge responsibility to make such a decision although I know it’s kindest for him and I owe it to him.

I want to walk him but I’m anxious about whether it’s too much for him as he gets so puffed out, I feel guilty if he’s on his own if I have to go out (although he is fine and is a really good boy, he just sleeps), I feel guilty just all the time and end up just sitting with him for hours listening to his (very noisy now) breathing while he sleeps.

I don’t want him to go - he’s my best friend but I know he can’t stay forever. I’m also feeling really anxious and horrible about that when it’s ‘time’ I will have to take him into the vets and he bloody hates it in there and I don’t want him to be afraid, and I will feel so guilty that was the place he hates and I made him go there

sorry, very morbid and I am sorry if this upsets anyone.

Hello. Just posted about withdrawing steroids and noticed your post.

We're in the same predicament I think, although up to today dog seemed quite well.

I'm worried about the same things you are, and offering a hand hold x

My beautiful Sheltie was diagnosed with this and on steroids, he was only 3 years old. Vet said that chemo could buy him 6 months and we chose not to do this.

He got slower on walks and then one morning he did not get up when I picked up his lead and I knew that this was the time to let him go. It was the right decision but it hurt, still hurts to be honest. He had just turned 4 but he was so loved and had so much fun and I know we made the right decision.

I don't suppose I have helped, but you will know when it is time to let him go. I am so sorry for you.

We've just been through this with our 11 year old springer. She had lymphoma with secondaries in her liver. The vet reckoned around two months on steroids, she did very well for a while and we increased the steroids as needed. Ddog reached the two months looking great, but there was a sudden and obvious deterioration the next day. That's when we decided to let her go.

Our dog loved the vet so we took her there, but it's possible to let them go at home.

I'm really sorry you're going through this. I understand how hard it is.

I cried reading all your posts, I’m so sorry for you all too and your lovely dogs. Thank you so much for replying.

I was worried about his breathing and gagging when I first took him but she couldn’t hear anything of concern in his lungs, so we concluded it was the nodes partially obstructing his airway as they were so big and he’s only small. The noise and gagging have just come back overnight and he’s a bit lethargic again so I will call tomorrow and see if a higher dose might help him for a little while. I will know it’s time when he’s lost his love for life I think. He is still eating a lot which is a good sign?

@LabelleLabelle The steroids increase their appetite, at least for a while, so my vet told me. When I noticed that she was struggling to eat even though she was still interested in food treats that was a sign for me that we were near the end. That along with unwillingness to go for walks.

I hope it reassures you that the end, when it came, was extremely quick and very peaceful.

Thinking of you

Sending strength. It’s a horrific situation to navigate. My beautiful, gentle and loving old girl had deteriorated recently and I knew it was something sinister. Our vet recommended trying pain medication for a week to see if she improved before putting her through the risk of anaesthetic to x ray. The saying “better a week too early than a day too late” is so true, she deteriorated really quickly yesterday. I’ll never forgive myself for holding out hope of more time with her, her final day should have been more dignified and pain free than it was. If it helps the actual passing was much more peaceful than I feared, we held her as she went to sleep. My advice is don’t wait too long like I did.

I’m so sorry for your loss @Dryshampoofordays ❤️

Thanks for your advice, duly noted, it’s important not to leave it too late. I’ve asked my family to come see him before it’s his time, they can’t come till the weekend but I won’t wait for them if it’s not fair to.

Spent half the night awake listening to him sleeping, his breathing was v shallow and fast (60 resps a min which I think is not at all good) but then he fell into a deeper sleep and his breaths slowed a little. I was all prepared this morning to get him to the vet then at 6.30 am he got in my duvet to wake me up, sprang up, tail up, ran down the stairs, did a big wee in the garden and asked for breakfast, ate that and then flopped back down for a nap. I am worried about his heart/lungs but I don’t want to keep taking him to the vet I’m not sure if I am over worrying but I timed his breathing multiple times and google says it should be half of what it is

update Is I don’t think it’s a blip, he is lethargic and hard to motivate today. He’s still very interested in food but not any of his usual toys, games, cuddles or anything. He just keeps lying down.

Usually he’s plonked on my lap every 5 mins but he’s wanting to be separate. I got a small amount of excitement from him when I got home (I came home early from work as I was worried) but not like he usually is and he is walking quite slowly.

Ah OP. It's so hard isn't it. Your lovely pup is lucky to have you.. you sound like you're doing everything possible.

Sending you strength and a hug

@LabelleLabelle how are things today?

Well last night he had a real mad half hour which was so lovely! he was not 100% his old self but he was still in the mood for a short while.

he’s sleeping all day and night but sometimes he’s more responsive than others it’s up and down

He has always been a super playful fun dog, so to see him not in the mood is unusual. He is SUCH a character so I think I really miss all his little quirky ways lately ☹️.

When he wants something he will put his paw on me in a very important manner 🤣 he will nudge me with his wet nose on the back of the legs to make me go into the room he wants (usually kitchen) and he will bulldoze off all the pillows and blankets any sofa or bed. He will throw his soft toys at me to make me play with him.

I am just taking each day as it comes, I think if he’s consistently hard to motivate or not responsive I will know it’s time, but I am still getting some glimpse of his lovely little character now just less than usual ☹️

Ahh @LabelleLabelle that's a lovely update, albeit sad he's not himself. He sounds a brilliant dog.. they're such a big part of our families.

Hope he stays ok for a while longer x

@LabelleLabelle do you want to share a photo of your boy?

@LabelleLabelle , nothing to add about lymphoma but just wanted to say that you can always get them PTS at home when the time comes either by your own vet or in our case the pet crematorium that we use has end of life vets who will come out .

Here is a lovely shot of him after a groom. He likes going to the groomer as he plays with all the other dogs. If he’s with me, he gets all over protective and finds it hard to play with other dogs.

All the other times he looks like he lives with wild pigs in a middle of a field 😚
He only likes to lick one paw and really doesn’t like water so keeping him this clean and tidy is impossible!

he has this really soft section of hair on the back of his head between his ears, and I love to rub my face on it, he also loves this, and when I get home he smothers himself all over me like I am toast and he is butter

I found a shot of the soft tufty bit at the back of his head ❤️

@LabelleLabelle > How I feel for you. We had this when our boy was diagnosed with lymphoma. Like you, we were given the option of chemo, with vet saying this is a choice but more or less letting us know it's not a great idea in this case. In our boy's case he had a decent couple of weeks and then went downhill rapidly; this followed what the vet said was likely to happen. I knew when the day had come. Like your dog ours hated being at the vets. We were lucky enough to be able to afford the extra for somebody to come from the vets and PTS at his home. It was peaceful. I hope you have this option. Comfort yourself with the thought that you're putting what's right for him first. Paw holding😢

What a beautiful boy. You can see how loved he is.
I can only second what the previous posters have said. You will know when the time has come.
I was worried when l lost my boy recently as he was so attached to me and could get easily stressed but it was so peaceful. He went to sleep with me cuddling him, feeding him a double chocolate chip cookie. Please do not be afraid.

He's a beautiful dog

I am sorry you are going through this. We lost our beautiful girl to lymphoma in march, broke our hearts. You can search out my thread if you want to read about it, we did go down the chemo route and it did work for a time. She had a few months on steroids after we stopped chemo before she rapidly went downhill. They let you know when it's time but don't be afraid of asking the vets advice on when it's time too, it's easier if they can sometimes take the decision out of your hands and they are objective. Enjoy your lovely girl and spoil her rotten in the meantime.

Sorry enjoy your lovely boy in the meantime, silly me.

So DDog increased his steroids and has been plodding on but this evening he passed a lot of blood in his stools. My DD wants me to take him to the vet immediately but they can’t really do anything. I am worried about it but I feel like it’s simply a sign he’s getting sicker and what is a vet going to do? I am keeping an eye - he isn’t severely anaemic (checked gums) , still eating and drinking and tail wagging he’s just very tired and now this. I really don’t think he has long now. Is a good plan to take him for PTS if the blood gets worse as I obviously don’t want that for him - he doesn’t seem in pain

Can’t advise on the blood in stools but when the time comes it’s worth finding out if your vet does home visits. If not there’s sometimes a local independent vet service that will do euthanasia’s at home. Definitely worth looking into

I think with the blood in stools I would be cautious, lymphoma can spread to the gut & turn into an obstruction. Sadly I lost my girl on Monday. She started with bloody diarrhoea, then vomiting. She was still active & eating but couldn’t keep anything down. The vet felt a mass in her stomach, scan was inconclusive, so they opened her up & she had a tumour in her small intestine. The vet said her lymph nodes were angry looking, so clearly were affected. Sadly I had to pts.

Thanks I am so sorry about your lovely dog. Thanks for taking time to respond to me. He hasn’t had any further episodes and no vomiting so I am just so conflicted with the watch and wait vs do it now before it gets worse.
He is still often tail up, wagging, excited about food. I monitored his stools and no more blood yet strangely enough. He has had all his organs palpated and no masses found on exam, and nothing seems to hurt. His nodes are insanely swollen though, now it’s travelling up to his shoulder and round his neck so I am keeping an eye on if this starts to restrict his breathing again (the chin ones initially did). He has a squeaky little voice now ☹️