Decision time?

DogsforMe

My son's dog Sooty a 6 1/2 yr lab/staffy has had anal gland trouble since 2004 when she had an absess drained. The glands have been expressed bi-yearly since. On Thurs. we noticed a large red swelling on her bottom. The vet examined her & discovered a large hard mass on one side. He lanced it & put her on antibiotics & painkillers for the weekend. He suspects cancer & wants to do a biopsy tomorrow.
It will be expensive to do & more so on the results & further surgery options. My husband & son don't want to put her through all this, as well as the high cost which we can't afford.
Other than this she looks healthy, her coat shines & her eyes are bright & she eats well, although she lays around a lot as it been too hot here to walk her.
I'm hoping to hear from you guys with your thoughts on what you would do.

MagicToller

Firstly, welcome to the forum! - I would have posted it on your other thread, but I thought it silly and decided to kill two birds with one stone.

In any case, what is Sooty eating? Some commercial diets can contribute to the build up of anal fluids in the sacs as well as infection. You may also want to investigate other ways to exercise Sooty since it is too hot for walk. Any possiblities of a treadmill or swims in the poor or lake? Or maybe buy re-usable icepacks to give to Sooty while you're on your walks?

DogsforMe

Thankyou MagicToller for replying.
Sooty eats 1/2 can Natures Gift (Oz brand) with 1 tsp psyllium husks at vets recommendation, most of her life Purina One large breed until they took if off the market so I switched to Supercoat (Oz brand) www.supercoat.com.au adult large breed which is 20% protein 10% fat. Both these products have meat/meat by-products as 1st ingredient then cereal. Sometimes I would get Purina One adult if on special. She also gets bones 2-3 times p/w - 2 chicken wings, 1-2 chicken legs, chicken frame, lamb neck very occasionally plus a few scraps.
When we 1st got Sooty I put her on a natural diet by Dr Ian Billinghurst (Oz vet who's written 3 books on feeding dogs bones) which is crushed veggies with yoghurt, brewers yeast, raw egg, vit C, flax seed oil & chicken livers. They are meant to have 40% crushed veg & 60% raw meaty bones. Sooty is a lean dog & vet said she was too thin on this diet & needed calcium from dog dry food & if the RSPCA saw her we'd be in trouble for under feeding her. So I started her on Purina One puppy food, pal puppy tin & puppy porridge. She still got bones & used to swallow them whole (chicken necks & lamb flaps).
My mother said she'd help pay for it but if it's cancer we wouldn't be able to go any further as it runs into the thousands$ & we would have wasted $A600 for the biopsy. If its just anal gland trouble it would cost another $A800. I'm going to ask the vet if he would just remove the gland & if it looks like cancer to put her down. I don't think he would as he said you have to be careful not to cut into a cancer as it could spread further. Mum said she looks healthy & to just let her go & see what happens as she's such a lovely dog & she'd miss her as we all would.
We are off to the vets this afternoon for a check-up to see if the antibiotics have helped her. I'm not very optimistic!

cshellenberger

Honestly, I would go back to the raw diet, It realy is best. But as far as the issue, I know it is expensive, but at least do the biopsy and see where it goes from there. If it is cancer, and you don't want to put her throughthe pain and illness associated with Chemo, you may be able to manage her for a little while with pain meds until you feel comfortable saying goodbye.

DogsforMe

Thanks Carla.
After vet exam yesterday afternoon, vet said it had considerably reduced in size. He could feel a hazelnut sized hard lump. We came home with more pain relief & antibiotics. She goes back to vet again next Monday. If no change we go from there.

cshellenberger

I'll keep Sooty in my prayers.

shiba

I will say a prayer for you and Sooty.


Shiba.

DogsforMe

We took Sooty for another check up yesterday & got good news. The lump on her anal gland has reduced 60% on last week. She no longer needs antibiotics. We have to take her back in 4 weeks. The vet thinks the lump thats left may be scar tissue. He suggests we have the anal gland removed when its no longer enlarged & hopefully that will end the problem.

shiba

So pleased to hear that you got some good new's, lets hope it's all ok for Sooty now.


Shiba.

sobreeze

Good News Glad To Hear Your Dog Is Getting Better

DogsforMe

Sooty had her anal gland removed on Tuesday & all went well. She goes back on Monday for a check-up & Friday week to have stitches out.