Chemo for dog?

Markfromflorida

Eight Pointer
Anybody have experience treating their dog with cancer? We just got the diagnosis today... Balling my eyes out still. We have meeting tomm with oncologist to discuss options..

Doubtful we will go this route, but not sure yet. Still can't believe it. 7yr old lab with gi tract issues... Sonogram showed cancer according to the vet.
This sucks big time!
 

g3trappernc

Twelve Pointer
Sorry to hear man. My Brittany had cancer which was causing seizures. MRI revealed it was all through his body. He wouldn't have made it through surgery. He was 14. Sucks.....That is for sure.... Just stay calm and listen to the vets. They won't tell you one way or the other, but they will give you some clues as to what they think you should do. Best of luck.....
 

Colekira

Ten Pointer
Contributor
I have a 7 year old lab and I feel for you brother. I don't think I would go through with it. What are the survival rates with/without treatment, but more important, what quality of life will the pup have. Its a tough call, I don't want to be in your shoes. Stay strong.
 

aya28ga

Old Mossy Horns
Contributor
With a 7 year old dog, that would be a really tough call. If it were me, I'd want to know two things: Has the cancer spread through the dog's body, and getting a more definitive test than a sonogram.

If the vet said that treatment would give little hope for success, I'd opt towards letting nature run it's course, giving the dog the best quality of life possible for whatever time is remaining, versus going through the misery of chemo treatment. Always remember that the dog doesn't know whats happening. It "lives in the moment", and it's harder for us to accept.

I feel for you, and wish you and your lab all the best.
 

Firefly

Old Mossy Horns
Sorry to hear about your Dog I know how tough a situation like this is. We had a Vet in SC that would tell us the truth and give us his opinion as what to do with our Dogs when they came down with serious health issues, then he left the final decision to us of course. Most Vets here I have found will refer you to Raleigh if a pet has life threatening issues such as Cancer. Good luck to you and your Lab..
 

Acorn1956

Six Pointer
With a 7 year old dog, that would be a really tough call. If it were me, I'd want to know two things: Has the cancer spread through the dog's body, and getting a more definitive test than a sonogram.

If the vet said that treatment would give little hope for success, I'd opt towards letting nature run it's course, giving the dog the best quality of life possible for whatever time is remaining, versus going through the misery of chemo treatment. Always remember that the dog doesn't know whats happening. It "lives in the moment", and it's harder for us to accept.

I feel for you, and wish you and your lab all the best.

Good advice here and good luck to you and your pooch!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Mr.Gadget

Old Mossy Horns
Lost mine a few years back to the same thing.
She started a bleed and there was nothing they could really do that would help.
They stated they could try but if it spread anyplace it would not be good.

Had to put mine down at 4 years.
That dog was a tank and very smart. She was 100% normal acting and all then bang over night it happened.
Carried her in and had to trust my vet and the ER vet.
All I can say is if you have a good vet, one you can trust.... Let them help you with what to do.

Still not over that dog. Lost a part of me with her.

Good luck I know how you feel.
 

Jlewis74

Old Mossy Horns
My 9 year old Boxer/Beagle mix is going through Chemo right now, he has Large Cell Lynphoma not any actual tumors but a blood cancer. He face swelled up is how we found it, he is due to go in for his 3rd treatment this week, its not cheap up to about 2K right now on vet visits on him but he is our 2nd child and my son and daughter would be lost without him. The vet told me it could give us 6 months, it could be 6 years just depends on how it goes. Last check up all of his labs were looking good!

So sorry for what you are going through, it is tough!
 

nchunt101

Ten Pointer
Dammit I hate this for you. Prayers. Back to your question I have no experience with giving a dog chemo. Just make sure she is comfortable.
 

UncleFester

Old Mossy Horns
We spent a bundle of money on our four dogs because they were family. If the chances of success were optimistic I would go that route, but I'd have to really look into those chances. Right now we don't have a dog. My wife is still very resistant to the thought of having one after losing the four we had to age. I do believe I'm going to just force one on her soon.

Either way well wishes in your choice.
 
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dpc

Old Mossy Horns
Contributor
Sorry to hear this, never good.

I have had several customers who have had pretty good success with chemo. Seems like they have come a long ways with cancer treatment for dogs. It certainly is not easy on the wallet though.
 

Markfromflorida

Eight Pointer
Thank you all very much for your kinds words and prayers.

Jlewis74: what vet is yours going to?

Our girl has lymphoma as well-stage 4. Our dr is telling us a year after Madison-chemo, there is a ~90% chance, and a 2nd year is 25% chance. But, I guess all cancers come back and mutates to resist treatment.
 

Firefly

Old Mossy Horns
Sorry to hear this, never good.

I have had several customers who have had pretty good success with chemo. Seems like they have come a long ways with cancer treatment for dogs. It certainly is not easy on the wallet though.

No it isn't easy on the wallet.. I know a man who spent 7 grand on his Dog and still lost him to Cancer..
 

Mr.Gadget

Old Mossy Horns
Starting to see more and more dog insurance.
With the skyrocketing cost of vet care I wonder if I should look at it.
 

Avery Creek

Twelve Pointer
Starting to see more and more dog insurance.
With the skyrocketing cost of vet care I wonder if I should look at it.

Yes you should, every dog owner should seriously consider it.

To the OP, get a second opinion, it's hard to diagnose cancer from a sonogram, have another vet, a specialist if you can find one, and have a biopsy done just to be sure before starting any treatment.
 

Avery Creek

Twelve Pointer
Does it still work like dental insurance where you have to pay up front to vet and they will reimburse you later?

It depends on who (which company) you go with and how they structure their policies. It also depends on your vet and your relationship with your vet. I do not have individual insurance policies on my personal dogs because I have kennel liability insurance.

I have made two claims in 10 years; the first was a Mastiff I was boarding, he was bitten by a copperhead out of the kennelbutinsidethe fenced airing yard. He had a terrible reaction to the venom in his leg, long story short it was about $1500 with meds, IV's and two nights in the clinic. Insurance covered 100% and because it was my normal vet she didn't ask me to front the money because she knew of the insurance I had.

The second instance was a dog I was training had a heat stroke which led to DIC. That was 7 nights in an emergency vet, 4 blood transfusions and enough meds to choke a horse, total bill was a little over $7000. The emergency vet office did make me pay $1500 up front to start treatment and then on the third or fourth day they wanted another $1500. (Emergency vets are around $1000 a day). They spoke with the insurance company and didn't make me pay the remaining balance, and I got a check for the $3000 I had out of pocket in a few days.

You really just need to do a search on pet insurance and read over their policies. I encourage all my clients get a policy on their dogs, you never know when these working dogs may blow an ACL and require a TPLO surgery or any other costly incident.
 

aya28ga

Old Mossy Horns
Contributor
Markfromflorida, I don't know exactly where you are located in NC, but you might want to check out NC State's School of Vetinary Medicine, they have a pretty extensive small - animal oncology program.
 

Markfromflorida

Eight Pointer
Markfromflorida, I don't know exactly where you are located in NC, but you might want to check out NC State's School of Vetinary Medicine, they have a pretty extensive small - animal oncology program.

I appreciate the advice. My wife knows someone going to vet school there and will discuss soon.
We appreciate our current specialist so far. (My wife is very picky!). But, a second opinion is not a bad idea. At this point; it's us debating whether the $/time/discomfort is worth it for a short time longer...
 

Markfromflorida

Eight Pointer
Update:
Unfortunately we had to put our dog down today.

After I originally posted this topic; the oncologist had us give her daily steroids and a beginner shot of chemo(lspar I think). She responded well to the roids and started eating again. We then took her in for the first round of IV chemo. She slowed down a bit for a few days, but appeared to gain strength again. We took her on walks and hikes. She loved Arby's sandwiches!
We had to skip a week of chemo due to her white blood cells being too low. But, last week she started 3 days of chemo pills. She slowed eating, which is somewhat expected after the drugs as its hell on their body. But, this time she did not get better.

This AM she had enough energy to take one last hike down the Eno river and enjoyed walking in the water. She had not eaten or drank in a few days...but, was still happy. After the hike we took her in and I held onto her as she took her last breath.
Hardest thing I've done in my life. They say the good die young; and she did. She was only 7.5 yrs old and was the smartest dog I've ever been around. RIP Dana.
 

EMB

Ten Pointer
Mark, I feel for you, as I just did the same with my 13 year old German Shorthair. I cried like a baby, but never once felt embarrassed about it. Being with him through that last breath, I wanted him to know I never gave up hope, and wanted to be with him the whole way. I too am having second thoughts now on if I want to go through this again. I did the same thing 15 years ago with another great dog I had, a Brittany Spaniel, it hurt just as bad. Once they are with you they do become a family member and it is tough to see them leave, but I also realized that their quality of life became critically important to me, and when they were suffering, I knew it was time.

I wish one day that humans can also have euthanasia performed, as I see too many who spend their lifes savings going to hospitals and doctors for a little more than 2 -3 months of life that isn't enjoyable anymore. I hope when I get that way, this is legal and understood, everyone has a time and it should be their choice.
 

aya28ga

Old Mossy Horns
Contributor
I'm sorry to hear about you dog, but it's for the best. You gave your dog a good life, and I'm sure you'll have many fond memories of time spent together.
 

Colekira

Ten Pointer
Contributor
I understand your pain. I had to put down a very healthy 4 year old. It hurts. It does get better. There are lots of dogs out there that need a kind and loving owner like you.
 

Soilman

Old Mossy Horns
Contributor
Been there, done that and I agree...hardest thing I've ever had to do. But it was the right thing. Prayers for you and your family. I also agree 100% with Colekira. There are far to many dog out there that need a good home like yours.
 
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