hello,
thank you for this website.
my 11-12yr old mixed lab is called lenny.she developed a large swelling under her throat so i took her to the vets who prescribed antibiotics and advised if things didn't improve to consider a biopsy.she gave her an antibiotic injection.
the swelling went down and lenny was fine,she hadn't seemed unwell before, still running around having fun.lenny also had what seemed like a wart on the side of her nose that she kept messing with and making it bleed, the vet said to keep an eye on this.
lately the swelling has come back.the wart like thing on her nose has come back.she seems to be getting lumps all over,they are hard like matted fur and then they apear more red and swollen.there is now a large red swelling on her chest,i took her to the vet today and she has prescribed more antibiotics and said we need to do a biopsy and maybe remove the lymph node! she also gave me a bath lotion to use.
please can anyone tell me what may/will/could happen.the vet seemed very stressed and behind time and i dont feel she explained everything to me.i know i ring them tomorrow but i wont sleep tonight.
thanks???

Hi sorry to hear that your dog is not well, i would not have the biopsy done as this will make it spread faster and at her age its not fair to put her through it have you looked at the other glands which are under her elbows/ around the neck/ inside the back legs at the top have a feel around you really need to talk to your vet but i would not touch the glands.

the other glands appear ok,even the vet said they were not affected.i asked her if it could just be a skin condition and she said she didnt think so.
i think i might take her to another vet for a second opinion.

you use the term "lymphoma" in the post title, but not the text,........has your vet actually told you that this is lymphoma?

thanks everyone....
the vet said she suspected lymphoma and thats why she wanted to do a biopsy??
the weird thing is a friend has just called round and i explained lennys situation to him-he said there was a condition going round called "cellulitis" or something like that,he said his brother dogs had been suffering with it-he lives down the road from us! could it be this?? i just dont know.
thanks for your advice guys.xx

Hi
one of mine had a fatty "limpoma", which the vet said just to keep an eye on.
It's still a lump, but benign. Did the vet say lymphoma or limpoma? (You said she was in a hurry...perhaps she didn't explain??)

Good luck anyway

Sami

taken lenny to a different vet yesterday who was much nicer and helpful.she sugested a "scrape?" to confirm suspicians of lymphosarcoma!! she said this may show a definate result or it may not and then a full biopsy under general anaesthetic would be needed.
she seemed to agree with us that we dont want to put her through a biopsy if its too late already.she prescribed prednisolone for seven days.we have to take lenny back to see her in a week and see how she is on the steroids.
today after work lenny and i went for a walk and she was totally normal-happy,running about, chasing stones.she left a bit of her tea which has worried me slightly.but apart from that she seems ok.
do i take each day as it comes now? i am treasuring our time together.
any advice will be greatly appreciated.
thanks.

Her apetitewill pick up once the steroids kick in Enjoy her love her {{{{hugs}}}}

thank you moonmaiden.xxx
lots of hugs to you from me and lenny.
xx

I went through this 4 months ago enjoy Lenny and please keep in touch ((((hugz to you both)))

thanks corso girl.
do you think i've done the right thing so far? by not letting the first vet do a biopsy? i hope i havent wasted time,if i'm honest with myself i dont think there is any point and this nice new vet didnt really seem to think so either-otherwise she wouldnt have prescribed the steroids.the first vet wouldnt prescribe steroids without any biopsy results.
my furry baby lenny is sleeping by my side-snoring her head off!
you say you have been through this too? i feel for you and thanks for sharing your thoughts with me.
i am so scared that she is in pain and just doesnt want to let me know.are things going to get a lot worse?
ginger the cat has been prescribed antibiotics for a skin infection-he seems to be improving now.
susie is my little yorkie 12yrd old, i inherited her when my nan went to the other side in may this year.
thanks everyone for reading my worried and confused ramblings!!
love to all.
xx tabaluga.

tabaluga, yes you have done alright so far if it is Lymphoma then there is not much more you can do other than spend as much time with her as you can and i would not have any more things done to her as this goes through the body you cant stop it,my boy was on steroids but i took him off after a week as he lst so much weight and yet was so hungry so i took him off them and he was happier until he told me it was time to say good bye, she will let you know when it is time just look at her eyes and she is not in pain and if at any time you think she is give her some herbs VIT.B is given to help the system where there is cancer/. i wish you and Lenny lots of luck, glad your cat is abit better i feel for you so much keep in touch love to both of you xxxxxx

Dear Tabaluga,

I read your post and was wondering how you had got on. I read it with in interest.
My 9 year old staffie 'charlie' was diagonosed with Lymphoma 5 months ago tomorrow. I at the time woluld of done anything for charlie. I went through a phase of everytime i looked at 'my best friend' i was crying. The worst thing was he knew i was upset and often tried to kiss my tears away. Charlie had a tumour removed, which was sent away for a biopsy.
This in turn was lymphoma at its worst!!
I wouldnt wish what i went through in those inital weeks on my worst enemy. I was devestated.
I was or charlie was given a life expectancy of 2 to 4 months .... and as i said charlie that was 5 months ago. And my boys still with us! I count every day as a blessing and i make everyday special. I tell him everyday i love him. he's spoilt and pampered immensley.
Charlie is also on pred ... he's now on 3 every other day... he's chemo tablets are now down to 2 every other week. So you see there's a light at the end of a tunell.
I also believe in anything that can help him! we go to a spiritualist church every week where he has healing.. (u might want to call it faith healing) and it works for us :)
Im not mad or lost the plot... id just do anything for him.
Tabaluga... whatever your poor dogs results are only you can make that decision... i know that if i had my time again id not change a thing. I wish you luck... and mountains of hugs.
I just wanted to share 'our story ' with you....
Take care
Donna and charlie x

Hi Tabaluga

Glad to hear Lenny is feeling better. My oldie (13.5) has leukaemia, and I do know what you're going through. We just take each day as it comes,...she has just had a 2 monthly blood work done to check how she's doing, and the result is "no change from June". She isn't having any treatment, but having lots of treats!!

Good luck to you both
Sami

PS for Donna and Charlie.......glad Charlie is holding his own too.

dear corso girl,donna,charlie and sami.....
thank you so much for your kind words of advice.
lenny is just like her happy normal self to work, she ran to meet me after work and i gave her a nice juicy bone, followed by chews, biscuits-i've spent a fortune on treats today, but i dont care-as shes worth every penny.
**corso girl- you mentioned vitamin b? is it the same as what we buy for ourselves? please let me know so i can get some-do you think i should give it to her now or wait to see if there is any change.
i'd like to thank you all once again for supporting lenny and i.people at work think im mad spending money and worrying so much about her-they dont understand its only the same as what they would do for their kids!!
well, going to spend some time with my furkids now......
love to you all and lots of hugs, going to go and tell lenny your all thinking of her.
xx
tabaluga.

Tabaluga,

Its normal to pamper your Lenny. He's yours sod what other people think! One of my friends think im mad because of the extremes i go to for charlie i.e taking him to a healer.
I just thought id drop back by and see how you was getting on :)

Donna and charliex

Ps sami thank-you :)

Hi tabalugs, VIT.B.sustained Release (B-Complex 100) give one aday. Selenium 200 vits c.e. one aday and any of the Omega-3 salmon oil/ fish oils you will find them in the health shop as well. there are some very good web sites for dogs with cancer have a look at some of them.start her on them now BUT please ask your vet first as she is on meds.

thanks corso girl.
bought some vitamin b complex today and some flax seed oil, lady in the temperance bar said lots of people used them for their dogs but i forget to check with vet-will ring her tomorrow and check if its ok to give her.
thank you.
love and peace to you.
xx
hi from lenny who is sat at the top of the stairs waiting for the rest of my cheese pie!!
sorry-cant forget to say hi to donna and charlie-been thinking of charlie today-hope he's ok.
x

Hiya Tabaluga,
Many thanks for your kind words. I was also thinking of Lenny today and was wondering how he is.
I hope things are good :)

Take care
love to lenny

Donna and charliex

hi everyone, thought update you.......
first of all hope you are all ok ,special love to charlie!
bought lenny some vitamin b and some flax seed oil.started her on them.going to buy some cottage cheese tomorrow to mix with the flax seed oil.also ordered some essiac tea-been reading alot about it an di like the positive feedback its been getting.
lenny has been happily eating her bone, she is just having a sleep by my feet.
love and peace to you all
tabaluga.x

Hi Tabaluga

Hows everything with lenny? I have just posted a message on the board as my dog has lymphoma and I jsut wondered how you were getting on? We are not doing too well here.

Cheryl