thanks dude. I'm fearing for the worst. He's being weird. Keeps swallowing and smacking his lips, which now that I think of it I have been noticing for a couple weeks now. He's also being very clingy. This is not like him at all. But his appetite is normal as is his water intake and his nose feels cold and wet per normal.
dude, thank you for asking. Vets around here are a giant PITA. We've gone to...I think 6 different vets in 9 years with him? Anyway... Since he isn't obviously in pain or bleeding or any obvious distress, vet wouldn't get him in until tomorrow AM. The masses are more concentrated around his nodes near his jaw than just loose skin and fat down in his neck. At the very least they are pressing on his trachea a bit and causing some discomfort. Even though he's still active, playful, and alert, I know he's not 100% and I am not having a good feeling about this. Last time we took him in about a year ago) he had lost about 10lbs and they asked if there was any obvious causes which we couldn't think of other than it was summer, we have just shaved him down and he was really active. Benign or malignant we will have them removed. But if they're malignant?...I am going to feed him venison every day until he won't eat anymore.
Keeping good thoughts for you and him bub! If you end up needing any extra venison let me know! I'd be happy to ship you some. Hoping for good news for you and the noodles clan!
Won't know for sure until labs come back., but looks like probably lymphoma. His other lymph nodes in his back legs are also swollen and hard. I didn't realize a dog had those back there. Vet says if they're malignant, and she thinks it likely, then he's got possibly as few as 3 months untreated, up to a year if treated with meds/holistics, poss. 2 or more years with chemo (although his 9th birthday is in a week so that's almost a stretch even without cancer.) Right now he is presenting as Stage III, although his bloodwork could show advanced systemic issues. https://caninelymphoma.com/canine-lymphoma-stages/ The 5 primary stages designated to represent Canine Lymphoma progression are: Stage I: Involvement of a single lymph node (or lymphoid tissue in a single organ) only; Stage II: Regional involvement of multiple lymph nodes (either in the front half or back half of the body); Stage III: Generalized lymph node enlargement (this typically refers to enlargement of lymph nodes in BOTH the front half and back half of the body); Stage IV: Involvement of the liver and/or spleen; and Stage V: Involvement of blood, bone marrow, central nervous system, or other organs With respect to Canine Lymphoma, the most common stage by far is “Stage III.” Stage I and Stage II diagnoses are much more rare. And dogs that start at one stage can progress to other (usually more advanced) stages of the disease over time. As I am reading, looks like anywhere from $2-500 per month for chemo but if he's going to respond to it we should the tumors shrinking almost immediately. So, assuming he's Stage III, I figure a couple months of chemo to see the effects and then if he's improving and not showing any real pain we will continue until he does. Guess surgery isn't really an option.
That's too bad, dnoodles. I hope the chemo treatments go smoothly and comfortably for him. Best wishes for you also.
Hoping for better news on the test... either way it sucks. No words can make it better A wise man once said good dags are in our care be loved and spoiled from their first day to their last!
I am sorry to read that about your pup. I have heard good things about dogs responding to treatment, though. So hopefully that is the case for yours, too. My silver has a spot on his testicle. It has grown this summer. He will be getting it checked out too, just to be safe (because it looks like it may not be something major). Still makes you nervous regardless.
Tough day today, we made the difficult decision to put down our dog. Ginger was an anniversary present from my wife on our first anniversary. She was a great dog for 13 years, my first dog since I didn’t have one as a kid. Losing her is harder than I thought it would be.
That sucks, sorry to hear that. I'm in a similar, yet different position. I have always grown up with pets, but with a lot of moving and living with different relatives I never had to deal with the death of one as they were not my pets and didn't move with me. My dog is almost 14 1/2 now and I'm not sure how I'm going to deal with it when the time comes. I honestly do not think I'll be able to get another one just to go through it all again. Not looking forward to it.
They are our best friends, they cant be replaced, they will always be a special memory that will bring you too tears... Put Molson down 1 1/2 years ago..still cant talk about it...Please dont be selfish.. if they are not healthy , do not prolong their suffering, they will get up when it pains them ,only to please you.. Cantexian sorry for your familys loss. Noodles I pray for the best.
not prolonging her suffering is why we did it. Her hip dysplasia was to the point where she could barely walk on our floors, wasn’t about to take the chance that she would fall down the stairs and have a serious injury.
Sorry to hear cantexian. That is an awfully hard decision to make. Sent from my SM-G981U using Tapatalk
wanted to give @cantexian the respect he deserves in his own post. Got call from the vet today, OTTO's (that's how it's spelled, not Otto) bloodwork came back completely normal today which is actually a double edged sword inasmuch as cancer goes. Bad news, it's not a bacterial or viral infection; which means it's almost assuredly lymphoma. Good news is it's not in his bone marrow yet so chemo should be an option. Just waiting for the biopsy for typing which will come in Monday or Tuesday. He's been pretty much himself. First day after I was at the vet he was really lethargic which had me freaking out, but then my wife reminded me he's always like that after he gets a rabies shot (which he got same day.) But he woke up today pretty much normal. Aside from that, this a*hole has eaten like a king the past 3 nights. He got about 8ozs of seared rare ahi tuna with ginger and sesame crust tonight and several sauteed shrimp. Last night he got about 6ozs of the loin side of a porterhouse. Night before his vet visit he got bacon and venison tenderloin. His farts have been atrocious and may linger longer than he does, but it's the least we can do for him.
it's official - lymphoma. Taking him to a canine oncologist.. Bought him a really nice dog bed tonight. He's currently on it sawing logs. Goddamn it, he's a great dog.
