My dog has lymphosarcoma

Family, Education, Health and Pets
1
My loving Touka - a gentle giant of an Anatolain Shepherd Dog (10 years old) was just diagnosed with lymphosarcoma It's in her lymph nodes, spleen, possibly liver ... waiting to hear back on the exact cell type (B or T cell) which will tell me more clearly how long she has left ...

I'm just gutted. The vet suggested chemotherapy but I don't know if I can do that to my baby. Just being sedated for the testing (x rays, ultrasound and biopsies) made her so miserable ...

Won't know till Friday the results of the rest of the tests so ... I was going to say no point in struggling with the question of whether or not to do chemo ... but obviously I'm struggling with the question

My head tells me don't put her through that and just care for her until quality of life is diminished and then let her go peacefully

I'm just so sad ... and I don't want my baby to suffer

2
I am so sorry to hear your bad news. Our pets are a huge part of our family and I know how hard it is when they get sick.

My cat passed away last year. She was 16 years old and had kidney problems. She lived a long and full live full of love and had a great character. She was still a feisty mare until her last few weeks.

We still all miss her now and going back to my parents is weird as I still expect to see her. We chose not to opt for further treatment when offered as it was clear that she was in a lot of pain and we didn't want to prolong her suffering. It was a hard call to make but I think it was the right one as she couldn't eat and had lost 90% of her mobility.

I wish you all the luck in the world and whatever decision you make, I'm sure it will be the right one for your doggy. Go with your heart and give him lots of hugs.

Big hugs to you too in this difficult time.

3
I'm so sorry. It must be so hard to wait, and to have to make such a choice. I've had chemo but I don't know if I'd do it for my dog either....how would I make her understand it's to help? But once you have more details maybe the choice will be clearer. I hope you can make your pup comfortable for now and just give her lots of love, which she'll no doubt return.

Thinking of you both.....

4
I really feel for you, what a sad situation for you and your dog. No-one can tell you what is best for Touka, you know her better than anyone, you will make the right decision.

Sending you lots of love and strength at this sad time, cuddles to Touka. x

5
oooohhhhhhh I am so sad & am crying a bit to hear of your predicament! It is HORRIBLE when a pet gets sick & you know will die. She is your baby! All you can do is comfort yourself with the knowledge that you made her life the best you could have. Just be there for her... It is painful for her but it will be more so for you.

ALL the best!!!!!!!

6
I am so sorry for you too. What an awful time... We all know that we will have to deal with our pets death one day or another, but we are never ready, are we....

All my thoughts and strength for you two...

7
I am so sorry about your beloved Touka Suemck2. I have experienced having to make a decision about when to say goodbye to a beloved pet (she is shown in my avatar) so I know how hard it is. Only you can make the decision, but I do feel that quality of life should be an integral part of this decision process. Think of all the good times you and Touka have had. It can be argued that allowing your best friend to depart this world before his quality of life is compromised, is the greatest act of love that you can show him.

Take care - please give Touka a gentle hug from me.

8
Oh no - I'm so very sorry.

What course of treatment, how far to go, when to say 'enough' - these are decisions only you and Touka can make.

With one of my dogs I decided that chemo was indeed the right thing to do, with another I decided against it - it came down to understanding the diseases, the prognoses, listening to my heart and above all, listening to my dogs.

In both cases even in hindsight I can say that I made the right choice - as you will, too. A loving owner knows what is best for his or her dog.

Should you wish another opinion or more information, I can heartily recommend the Animal Imaging and Oncology Clinic, in Hünenberg, ZG:

http://www.aoicenter.ch/

They are extremely kind, very skilled, very understanding - and very supportive of my choices, including palliative care when I chose not to pursue treatment.

My muttleys faced different cancers, so I can't help with the specifics of your disease. But I can honestly say that the chemo was far, far easier on my dog than I had expected - all things considered she was bounced back quickly. But your vet can guide you better.

Two resources that might be helpful are the Dogpages Rescue Forum in the UK ( www.dogpages.co.uk ) There are quite a number of posters there who have experience with canine cancers. Another is the Tripawds Forum, based in the US ( http://tripawds.com/forums/ ) - this is mostly focused on dogs who have undergone amputation, but many have experience of canine cancers and chemo as well. I've found posters on both these forums to be very helpful.

You are facing difficult decisions, I know. From my experience, the best advice I can offer is: listen to your heart and listen to your dog. Touka will tell you what she wants.

Wishing you all the very best - and keeping all our thumbs pressed and paws crossed for Touka.

9
Oh no, it can’t be true! I met suemck2 at Grumpy’s Ploughmans Lunch and I remember how lovingly she talked about her dog. I can’t begin to imagine how painful it must be. When my cat was only slightly ill, she supported me with PMs and I knew she really felt for me.

Be strong, Sue. Touka looks beautiful in your profile picture.

10
I would just like to send you my best wishes and my thoughts are with you during this hard time.

11
So sorry to hear this about your pup... We can gone through 2 bouts of mast cell tumors with our lab. One place that offers lots of help understanding the disease and treatments available is a Yahoo Group; [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

If you are familiar with Yahoo Groups you can go here: http://groups.yahoo.com/ and input "canine cancer" to find the specific group and request membership

You do need a Yahoo account to join, but you can create one free and anonymously.

There is a wealth of knowledge and knowledgeable people. Many are in the US and Canada, but not all. In any case, it doesn't really matter as they are all dog lovers.

Good luck and I wish you the best.

fduvall and Lili

12
Awww I am so sorry to hear this! This is a terrible situation. I know for some people their pets are just pets, but there are those of us that our pets are family! I have an Aunt that recently went through this with her German shepherd. She said she had to face the question, How will her quality of life be? She opted to go for it, as her dog is happy and strong, and end up having to have one leg amputated, but has now recovered, and is still happy. I guess just ask yourself this question to help you decide. My thoughts and prayers go out to you in this difficult time, and wish you and Touka the best of luck!

13
This is without question the hardest decision I ever had to make (having had one of my dogs put down)...... so I clearly understand how painful this is.

I guess you already know the answer though. Your dog will always love you no matter what...... but watching the pooch in pain is going to kill you as well.

I guess the timing to make the decision is a 'balance' of how much pain you see your dog in and the diminishing quality of life Vs, how much life your dog still has to show and knowing you can't stand to loose her.

Don't think too much about the inevitable....... you will know when that time is right, and until then, just make the most of the time you still both have together....... hence the expression "Quality time".

Tough times ahead, and I sincerely wish you the best of luck.

14
I sincerely feel your pain. 4 years ago we lost our beloved 2 year old Australian Shepherd to bone marrow cancer - in a period of about 2 weeks. It still hurts. Listen to your heart to make the right decision. Touka knows you love her and always will.

I just read about the use of Misteltoe (Mistel) for cancer. Maybe it can help.

Please keep us posted.

A big hug for you and Touka.

Gaebigirl

15
Thank you all from Touka and I for all your love and support. She has the worse possible form of this cancer and the outlook is very poor. She has gone downhill so fast in a matter of days. We are scheduled to put her to sleep tomorrow. A very tough decision and a very sad day it will be but she's had a wonderful life and been the best friend a girl could have. She laid in bed with me for two years while I recovered from spinal cord surgery - never leaving my side. A giant 48 kg dog tip toeing into my bed ever so gently careful not to disturb me - it was the damnedest thing She will be greatly missed. But for today we will cuddle!

Thanks again EF

Sue and Touka

16
Oh this is so sad and my heart goes out to you.

You're making the best decision for the welfare of you dog but I know it doesn't make it any easier.

Make the most of the time you have left with her.

17
My heart goes out to you as well... This type of cancer often affects ferrets as well, and I lost to of my beloved ferrets because of it. Both of them were put to sleep in my arms, and fell asleep cuddling with me.

You're making the right decision. For now, make the most of the time left together...

18
I'm so very sorry, Sue.

You and Touka will be in our thoughts tomorrow.

Wishing you strength at this difficult time - and may the memories of all the good times shared bring you comfort.

19
I feel the tears in my eyes as I remember when I had to do this to my beloved 14 yr old dalmation Banjo. It's tough. Now we have a beautiful lab Ben and he is already 5. Their lives are so short. It sucks. But better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all.

20
My heart goes out to you, Sue. I had to put my gorgeous, slobby Newf to sleep a few years ago and it almost tore me apart. But, he'd lived in dignity and I wanted him to die in dignity, so it was the only choice I had.

I'll be thinking of you both.