My poor pup. WW3TD

WhenInRome11

I found out a couple of weeks ago that my dog has malignant melanoma. He had a small mass in his mouth that we had removed and tested. 

This week we saw the veterinary oncologist to find out what our options are for treatment. We can do more surgery to remove more of his gum tissue and perhaps some bone from his jaw to ensure really clean margins. There is a melanoma vaccine for dogs that we could get once he has clean margins. It won't keep it from growing back if there are still cancer sells left, but it will keep new cells from forming...I think. This type of cancer doesn't respond well to chemo or radiation. We also need to test do a chest x ray and test his lymph nodes to make sure this hasn't spread yet.

I'm at a loss. The vaccine costs nearly $600 per shot and he would need it every 6 months with a chest x ray. The surgery could be upwards of $2000. I really want to do what is best for my boy without sacrificing too much of his quality of life, he's almost 13. I am kind of heart broken and DH won't even talk about making a decision yet, he's too upset. Our dog is DH's first pet ever.  

Any thoughts or ideas would be very much appreciated.

 

Ruger04

Ticker Warning!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm a vet tech and have been in the field for 6 years. First I am so sorry for what you are facing it is never easy to make these types of decisions. I am a believer in quality vs. quantity. I would get the chest films and look at lymph nodes before I made any other decisions. If it has metastasis to other parts I personally would not put my dog through surgery the chances of a long survival rate when metastasis has taken place is very limited. I would ask for pain medications to keep my pet as comfortable as possible and as long as they are eating drinking and acting as normal as can be I would enjoy every moment you have! I am truly sorry for what you are facing and my Thoughts and prayers are with you and your DH. My guy is my world and I can't imagine the road a head for you two.  I hope this helps! Don't be afraid to get a second opinion I would if it was me! 

 

Here is a website that is from a vet school its worth looking at GL

https://www.cvm.ncsu.edu/vhc/tc/clinical_services/onco/dog_omm.html 

Twinkie0612

I'm so sorry.

I would wait until you get the results from the chest x ray and lymph node tests to make any decisions. 

I honestly don't know what I would do. With us being OOP for IF treatments and not knowing how far we will have to go with treatments, I would have a hard time paying $2000 for surgery plus $1200 a year for the vacines.  I just don't think we could afford it along with our IF treatments.  That being said our pets are part of our family and I would have a hard time not trying treatment.

WhenInRome11

Ruger04:

I'm a vet tech and have been in the field for 6 years. First I am so sorry for what you are facing it is never easy to make these types of decisions. I am a believer in quality vs. quantity. I would get the chest films and look at lymph nodes before I made any other decisions. If it has metastasis to other parts I personally would not put my dog through surgery the chances of a long survival rate when metastasis has taken place is very limited. I would ask for pain medications to keep my pet as comfortable as possible and as long as they are eating drinking and acting as normal as can be I would enjoy every moment you have! I am truly sorry for what you are facing and my Thoughts and prayers are with you and your DH. My guy is my world and I can't imagine the road a head for you two.  I hope this helps! Don't be afraid to get a second opinion I would if it was me! 

 

Here is a website that is from a vet school its worth looking at GL

https://www.cvm.ncsu.edu/vhc/tc/clinical_services/onco/dog_omm.html 

Thanks so much for your response. Your suggestion is just what I was thinking we should do. It's just so hard to think of losing him. We adopted him when he was 7 and this just does't seem like enough time...

Ruger04

WhenInRome11:

Ruger04:

I'm a vet tech and have been in the field for 6 years. First I am so sorry for what you are facing it is never easy to make these types of decisions. I am a believer in quality vs. quantity. I would get the chest films and look at lymph nodes before I made any other decisions. If it has metastasis to other parts I personally would not put my dog through surgery the chances of a long survival rate when metastasis has taken place is very limited. I would ask for pain medications to keep my pet as comfortable as possible and as long as they are eating drinking and acting as normal as can be I would enjoy every moment you have! I am truly sorry for what you are facing and my Thoughts and prayers are with you and your DH. My guy is my world and I can't imagine the road a head for you two.  I hope this helps! Don't be afraid to get a second opinion I would if it was me! 

 

Here is a website that is from a vet school its worth looking at GL

https://www.cvm.ncsu.edu/vhc/tc/clinical_services/onco/dog_omm.html 

Thanks so much for your response. Your suggestion is just what I was thinking we should do. It's just so hard to think of losing him. We adopted him when he was 7 and this just does't seem like enough time...

 

Its always hard and no matter how long you have them its never enough time. It's awful and that's what makes you such a good and loving pet owner is that you love him so much! Remember through it all that he has had the best 6 years a dog could ever ask for and you made his life very special! 

htn1763

For me, the cost would not be a consideration but quality of life would. If I could prolong my dogs life and he wouldn't be in pain I would do it for as long as I could. 

I would eat ramen for months if it meant more time with my dog.

I'm so sorry you have to go through this. However, your dog sounds like it has lived a long and loved life! Good for you for adopting an older dog and giving him his best years later in life.