Skin Cancer In Dogs

Question by Thomas: Golden retriever at end of life -I’m wonderingg where to call it off?
Our sweet old dog(11 years) is clearly fading. She has aged so visibly over the past few months, her whole nose and checks have gone grey – we knew it was coming – a number of tumors in the abdomen and chest, we didn’t have the heart to open her up, because they we so wide spread, and you can’t explain to an animal why they are being hurt -especially when there was no real chance at helping her we’d just know if it was cancer.

Anyway,the brain seems to be failing now, She is getting lost even inside the house and this weekend she had two seizures We started her on steroids and she seems good once more, not in pain and happy, although we know the drugs just brought us time – probably the tumors have spread to the brain.

I am struggling with whether I should wait for her to be acting in pain or have her put down when she is neurologically impaired. I lean towards having her put down when the mind fails, my wife want to wait until she is in pain, but I am not sure I want to wait until she is suffering.

I realize there is not a right or wrong option here as it is not an objective choice, but what do you folks think?

PS she is now having trouble maintaining a decent coat, lots of skins problems etc.
We are going to allow her to continue for now as she appears without pain and the steriods have ended the seizures – even though we know that they have only bought us some time by reducing the swelling on the brain and they will come back once the effect wears off.

It would be nice if she makes it till christmas, but that seems improbably long at this stage.

While the spector of death has retreated for the moment thanks to modern drugs we decided that is the seizures begin again or she acts in pain the time will have come.where she can no longer live comfortably, then we will put her down.

Thanks for all your thoughts.

Best answer:

Answer by Chihuahualove2
Sorry to hear this. Only you and your vet can determine when it’s time to end her life. If she is suffering please see your vet and do what you have to for her.

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Question by The Dude: PETA, wolf in sheep’s clothing?
I’ve got a bone to pick with members of the fascist group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, followed with some questions.

First of all the personal choice of not eating animals, or wearing animal skins is something I cannot argue with. If you feel this is the right thing to do, more power to you. You have my respect for sticking with your beliefs.

However, be a free thinking individual myself, I have the right to do as I please, and I choose to have a dog, eat meat, and wear leather shoes. What I want to know is, what gives you the right to personally attack (verbally) me on the streets for walking my dog with my family. Your using the same techniques many fascist special interest groups use to get your point across, and I don’t approve of you giving campy adds to my children to try to further your message. Is it really the pure and ethical treatment of animals you seek, or is it the 30 million dollars your thinking heads receive yearly from its members?

How can you support a hypocritical organization that does a worse job of saving animal lives than the state of Virgina? Thats right, you have failed to put 90% of your animals into loving homes and have been forced to execute them with the same methods your preach to be unethical. I think to date PETA has killed approximately 19000 animals by means of cardiac arrest inducing chemicals to date.

How can you support a group that fund 5 figure amounts to groups that knowingly commit felony’s such as arson and battery to get their point across?

How can you support a founder who claims she would rather see animals roam freely than use them to find a cure for AIDS and Cancer?

I understand you may think your doing something right…..but this group is not the answer. If your Nazi tactics continue, mainly using children to get your point in the spotlight, your going to upset the wrong person and this group is going to have a major lawsuit on their hands. Be a freethinker, you don’t need to be a member of a perverted organization to get your point across.

Best answer:

Answer by Laura/Renna
well first of all,I’d like to say PETA has nothing against owning dogs…
Whomever did this to you was ignorant,and wrong-and you shouldnt group all PETA as this type just because one person was.Its the same as being racist.Im not sure if i answered your question,but this is just what i think

I dont donate to PETA,purely because i have no idea where the moneys going-but i will use thier campainging amterial JUST to spread the word-im not about to force you into becomming vegan anytime soon though

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Question by avrdricochet: My mother is extremely prejudice, advice?
Any time we have a discussion about men, if the first thing out of her mouth isn’t “They’re all scumbags”, it’s a demand that I only date white men. The best example I can give is one evening when we were out shopping and a darker-skinned male walked by. I gave him an innocent second look, and she smacked me over the back of the head! “He’s not white” was her only excuse. She’s been training me like a dog not to take my eyes off the ground unless there’s a blonde, fair-skinned male in my wake.

I’m very close to my mother, as she is the only parent I have. My father died a few years ago from cancer, so I feel as if I have no male influence in my life. I’ve had to turn down so many guys just because I’m worried about how my mother will react. It feels so wrong, and there’s an Asian male in my life right now that I really care for, and am afraid to bring up to her. I’ve never even had a real male friend because of her, let alone a boyfriend! And it’s not just that, either. She’s downright homophobic, too. I can’t have any gay or bi friends, and whenever she sees a homosexual couple holding hands or something in public, she’ll make faces and call them names within earshot. It disgusts me. And even though I’m personally not, she tells me all the time if she ever had reason to think that I was, she would disown me.

What really worries me, however, is the equally feminist friend of hers, whom I must mention is bi! Now does that make any sense to you? She’s known this woman since high school and has no problem with her, yet she’s so preachy to me. The woman has two daughters by the age of 4 and 6, along with a few other children that don’t live with her because of some past rocky marriages. She tells them almost every day that they don’t need men and that “boys are stupid, throw rocks at them” in all seriousness. I am deeply concerned over the impact that kind of upbringing could have in their futures, and also what kind of severe psychological issues my mother is obviously going through. I really don’t know what to do anymore.

Best answer:

Answer by Broadway fanatic
Well to clear 1 thing up- her friend (and your mom) isn’t a feminist. They’re both sexists. Big difference.

But wow- I feel really bad for you. That must be really tough. For your mom’s friend’s kids too. I guess you can just hope that like you they can develop their own morals despite their mom’s preaching.

Sorry I couldn’t give you any real advice. Good luck!

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Question by Banana Bread: It feels like my mum likes my brother better than me. What should I do?
I don’t understand why my mum likes my brother better than me. I just wish she could like us both the same, because it really hurts me.

I think that my brother is a HORRIBLE person. Now, I know what you’re thinking. I’m his sister, so of course I think this. But read on, and you’ll see why I think he is so horrible.
He has serious anger issues. He TRIES (always fails) to bash up me, my mum, and my dad who has skin spotted in melanomas, two cancers in his lung, one in his ONLY kidney, one in his bowel, severe ongoing tension headaches, and a cough.
My brother always tells us all he wants us dead, threatening us, insulting all of us, etc. He is a PIG, he NEVER cleans up and makes our house dirty, never does homework or studies for school until the morning it’s due, eats like there is no tomorrow, and he has no manners whatsover, always farting at the dinner table and never letting old people sit down in the bus. He is racist (he laughs at starving children in Africa. LAUGHS!), and he only cares about himself and his reputation. He thinks he is so great, and he tries to be all “cool” and “gangster” but it just fails because at home he sucks up to my mum and talks like a four year old girl.
To make all of this worse, he expects my parents to buy him whatever he wants. After the way he acts and the damage he does, my mum buys him whatever he wants, whenever! Tonight, she is buying him a Pokemon game for his DS. If he doesn’t get what he wants, then trouble comes.

I am the complete opposite. All I do is studying, homework, and more studying. When I have free time, I clean. I’m an A student, and I always get awards at school. I volunteer at whatever I can (marine rescue, dog shelter, old people’s home, etc.), and when I grow up I want to be a doctor, writer, and humanitarian worker (my brother wants to be a WWE wrestler). I NEVER ask for anything, and when I clean I refuse money from my parents, when my brothers demands ten bucks for picking up a scrap of paper.

So I don’t understand why my mum likes my brother more. He’s two years younger than me. Do you think it could be that, or how I look? I’m no beauty queen, but I can’t exactly say my brother is.
What should I do? It’s so obvious that my mum likes him more, because I never do anything bad like my brother, but if I be mean to my mum or dad just a tiny bit, she’ll hit me and say horrible things to me. She never does anything to my brother, but hug him. And the way she talks to me. She snaps at me when she says something, and croons when she talks to my brother.

I’m sorry, this is more of a rant. I just want to let it all out, but I also want some help.
Sorry, it’s so long!

By the way, I’m 13 (turning 14), and my brother is 12.

Best answer:

Answer by Frozen Cow Juice
Tell your mom all of what you just typed.

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Question by allysonwright50: Darcy may have IBD?
I would like to thank everyone who replied to my last post about Darcy the Very Skinny Dobie Girl. I took Darcy back to the vets today she had some more blood taken as the last one was no good. The vet has told me it is one of 2 things Cancer, or IBD, i took a stool sample in as well get the results in seven days. The vet spoke about having to put Darcy on a very high dose of Steriods. I am so distrought, he did say steriods can cause faliure of the main organs and hair loss. I am so scared that i am going to lose her my companion and best friend. Can anyone give me any advice if your dog has this condition. I feed Darcy Wet Nature Diet, is this ok for her ? Will Darcy die from IBD, her poor body can,t lose anymore weight she only weighs 21 kg, poor baby is skin and bone. Please if anyone can give me some advice, i would be so grateful. Thank you.

Best answer:

Answer by notalonewithcancer
ask your vet about naltrexone, naltrexone given in low doses are making great strides in cancer treatments. Its inexpensive and will super boost her immune system.

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Question by love.cat: TICKS – more than one?
I just removed a disgusting grey tick from my dog….is it likely there are more? I feel so horrible as i was stroking the tick wondering what its body was i though it was a cancer lump or something! uh…so now im worried i touch another one. I felt around and couldnt feel more but is it likely ther are more?

Also how to a care for his wound now? There is a hole where the tick was as it was large and his skin is a bit bloody and saw…i bathed it in water and ensured all the brown stuff around the tick was cleaned up!
The head was removed i saw it to my horror!

Best answer:

Answer by Mel
You can’t just pull a tick out, you need to make sure the head is intact. I would clean the area with alcohol. Dog skin heals quickly, and it’s possible that an head would create infection. You can keep checking for ticks, and groom regularly. I recommend using Frontline.

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Question by Just me: Is this vet cost reasonable?
I took my dog yesterday to the vet for a check up. In the past, he has had fat cysts before under his skin and has had them removed. He now has 3 new lumps. This new vet suggested doing a needle aspiration of each mass (3 of them) and having the fluid checked by a lab. I assumed it would be simple and less costly than the removal surgery. It was simple, but the bill was 0. Most of this was “cytology” lab work to analyze the fluid and make sure it’s just fat and not cancer. Does this sound reasonable to anyone who has had this done before on their pet or who is a vet/assistant? Keep in mind there were 3 different masses. My husband thinks we ot taken to the cleaners. I have no idea. Thanks!

Best answer:

Answer by rescue member
Doesn’t sound out of line to me, especially if they sent the lab work out.

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Question by Contessa: Knots on my toy poodle’s abdomen?
My female toy poodle, Lady, is about 11 years old more or less. She’s always had skin problems and allergies. Not too recently, I noticed a lump forming on her upper abdomen. I didn’t make much of it at the time, but as time went by, the knot began to grow, and a second, smaller knot began to appear lower down from it. I love my dog very much. I’ve been her “pick” for her whole life, and I really don’t know how to handle this situation. I don’t really have much money for the vet, and she’s very old anyway, so I honestly wouldn’t want to put her through any surgeries if it turned out to be some sort of tumor or cancer. I also don’t want her to be in any pain. They don’t hurt her. I pushed on them to see if she would react to the touch, but she doesn’t seem to feel them at all. She doesn’t scratch at them. I haven’t noticed any side effects aside from fatigue, which I could chalk up to the age. The reason I posted this question, was in the hope that someone who knows something about poodles could tell me “it’s probably nothing”, or “poodles just get growths when they’re older”, but I need the truth, however scary. If it does turn out to be something worst, I’ll have to decide whether or not to just leave her to it, or put her down, which I would appreciate input on. Again, let me stress that at this current time, she doesn’t seem to be experiencing any pain. Where do I go from here?

Best answer:

Answer by Launi ~Thundering ~ Wild Angels~
To the vet. 11 years old is not that old for a Poodle. The lumps need to assessed by a vet.

My 10 year old Maltese/Poodle mix starting getting *lumps*. My vet checked them and they are nothing but fatty tumors.

I am not saying this is the case with your dog but if you want to KNOW, a vet needs to tell you.

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Question by melanie w: Anatolian Shepherd health problems?
My ASD, Honey, is nine years old. She was recently diagnosed with a bone tumor in her front left leg. My vet believes, after looking at xrays, that it’s already spread cancer to her lungs. He has her on arthritis meds for pain, but doesn’t want to do anything until the tumor breaks through the skin. Well, her leg is now huge, three times the size of her other front leg. I want it amputated, but I can’t afford it. I need advice on where to go, what to do. Should I see if they’ll do the surgery and let me pay it out? Should I just put her to sleep? This is terrible to have to decide and I really need some advice. My vet worries that a dog of her size couldn’t function with three legs, but she’s already hopping around that way – she can’t put any weight on the bad leg. It is very painful – you can see it in her eyes. Help me figure this out, please!

Best answer:

Answer by kawaiinatasha
In my opinion, I think it’s best to get get leg amputated before it gets even worse.

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Question by r c: please, this is a cry for help, my dad……?
My dad thinks he has colon cancer.He took the test where they take his stool and they examine it, they found blood and he tested positive. he’s going in for a colonoscopy tomorrow.the thing is, he always seems to be going through stuff like this. He’s afraid of everything, he won’t drink normal water, it has to be bottled, because he thinks that there are bad chemicals and sediment in the water.He also wont eat any food with salt in it, absolutley no packaged foods, he makes all his own food.he boils his meat to rid it of every pesticide or hormone that he thinks is in it, then he eats it plain, no salt, nada.He also washes the meat before he boils it, not with regular water, he takes bottled water and does this.Its the same with showers, He buys gallons and gallons of bottled water and showers with it.
He feels he’s going bald so he boils potatoe skins and rubs the juice on his scalp because he thinks it is good for him.We used to have two dogs and he made us get rid of em’ cause
he thought that he was going to get asthma. He’ll never turn on the air conditioner because he thinks he’ll catch a cold. If he ever eats anything with even just one gram of salt in it he calims to “feel his blood pressure going up”, and he complains and says he might die of a stroke or high blood pressure.
He’s scared of everything. He makes his own bread from scratch bcause the one you buy from stores has sodium in it.

me and my family don’t know what to do. is there a name for this type of acting? Could it be he’s feeling the way he feels because of all of the phobias he has?

Best answer:

Answer by pitbull1969
You may want to talk with his doctor about all of these phobias. The doctor may recommend counseling to help him get through these phobias.

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