Our beautiful, sweet, loving 10yo GSD has a tumor in his anal gland. He had a malignant tumor on his side removed last year, and was ok afterwards and bloodwork was/is ok. No other treatment was required.
Vet says this new cancer is not the same as the tumor we had removed.
Somewhat typical for a 10yo GSD, his back is filled with arthritis, so his legs don't work very well. He has to sit or lay down after standing for a minute or so. He still walks up the stairs (with difficulty), can't really run, limps, but still walks in the yard to go to the bathroom and wants to play, chew a ball, have me throw him the ball (right to him since I don't want him chasing it), barks at squirrels and the air (sigh...). He eats well and everything else is ok. He moves around the house fine, from room to room following me all day. He's my boyfriend
Our regular vet had us bring him to Oradell Animal Hospital (for any NY/NJ dissers), where they specialize in everything. Surgery alone usually provides 6 months to a year of life, adding in chemo maybe another 6 months, radiation maybe another year.
Radiation is out in my mind - too much pain, recovery, he's too old.
At first I was like "definitely surgery". But after dh and I discussing it, we've been saying for the past year or 2 that he probably only has a few years left because of his legs and back. We just put him on Rimadyl the other day, and he has a bit more of a spring in his step and is acting a bit happier. He was in a lot of pain.
I wish we knew how fast this grows. It says on-line it's fast growing and metastasizes (sp?). I don't know how fast is fast, and the vet won't/can't say. The tumor is about the size of a grape. We only know he has it because there was some blood on his hair by his rear, so I took him in. The gland was infected, put him on antibiotics a few weeks ago. At that time, the vet didnt think it was cancer. But the infection has cleared up, and now that she can feel it better she thinks it's cancer. Vet at the speciality hospital says same thing. There are no other symptoms yet.
If he has 6 good months left because of the cancer, and would have only had that anyway because of his legs, we don't want to put him through surgery, recovery and chemo, and he's not enjoying his life anymore.
Does anyone have any experience with this type of canine cancer?
Vet says this new cancer is not the same as the tumor we had removed.
Somewhat typical for a 10yo GSD, his back is filled with arthritis, so his legs don't work very well. He has to sit or lay down after standing for a minute or so. He still walks up the stairs (with difficulty), can't really run, limps, but still walks in the yard to go to the bathroom and wants to play, chew a ball, have me throw him the ball (right to him since I don't want him chasing it), barks at squirrels and the air (sigh...). He eats well and everything else is ok. He moves around the house fine, from room to room following me all day. He's my boyfriend
Our regular vet had us bring him to Oradell Animal Hospital (for any NY/NJ dissers), where they specialize in everything. Surgery alone usually provides 6 months to a year of life, adding in chemo maybe another 6 months, radiation maybe another year.
Radiation is out in my mind - too much pain, recovery, he's too old.
At first I was like "definitely surgery". But after dh and I discussing it, we've been saying for the past year or 2 that he probably only has a few years left because of his legs and back. We just put him on Rimadyl the other day, and he has a bit more of a spring in his step and is acting a bit happier. He was in a lot of pain.
I wish we knew how fast this grows. It says on-line it's fast growing and metastasizes (sp?). I don't know how fast is fast, and the vet won't/can't say. The tumor is about the size of a grape. We only know he has it because there was some blood on his hair by his rear, so I took him in. The gland was infected, put him on antibiotics a few weeks ago. At that time, the vet didnt think it was cancer. But the infection has cleared up, and now that she can feel it better she thinks it's cancer. Vet at the speciality hospital says same thing. There are no other symptoms yet.
If he has 6 good months left because of the cancer, and would have only had that anyway because of his legs, we don't want to put him through surgery, recovery and chemo, and he's not enjoying his life anymore.
Does anyone have any experience with this type of canine cancer?