My 12 and half year old dog has been having trouble going for a poo for a couple of weeks, I took her to the vets yesterday and he did a rectal examination and found a growth there, he also found a growth in her anal sac.  Without doing a scan and blood tests he could not tell the exact size of the growths, she would have to be referred to a specialist for any form or treatment or surgery so he didnt do a scan as if I decided to go down the surgery route the specialist would be scanning her again, therefore I would be paying twice.  3 years ago the same dog had a cancerous growth in her other anal sac and I had it removed and followed up with several lots of chemotherapy which she sailed through no problems. 

My vet said that although there is no telling if the growth in the rectum is cancerous or not, there is a very high chance that the one in her anal sac is, there is also no saying at the moment if the two growths are related. My decision now is weather I go down the surgery and chemo route again or just manage the situation until such time as I need to make a decision on her life.  Managing the situation means giving her laxatives daily to help her go to the toilet.

Obviously with regard to surgery and chemo, age is not on her side now and I am not sure it is fair to put her through it all again.

My question is, have any of you had experience of this and not had the tumours removed, if so how did you Manage and keep your dog comfortable. 

At 12 years plus and her history laxatives are to me the best way forward rather than anything evasive.

So long as she can go without pain and can eat as seems happy that to me is the best option.