My 10.5 year old Cavalier has just been diagnosed with this, no obvious signs of spread on the CT scan so she's being operated on next week. It's quite hard to discuss things with vets at the moment, and in case I forget, I wonder if anyone on here can help. For one thing I'm assuming the poor girl will be pretty sore after and I don't know if I should change her food or add anything to make her poos a bit softer - she currently eats kibble and her poo is pretty normal for that, not the hard pellets you get with raw fed and not the horrible smelly piles you get with bad quality tinned food lol, but pretty normal. But I want to make sure she doesn't have any strain to pass them as she heals.
Secondly, they've not really mentioned chemo since the first diagnosis - my initial thought was not to have any as my mother was horrible ill with hers. But I've got some friends who have had dogs that have had chemo and I get the impression mostly that dogs seem to react pretty well to chemo and don't have major problems. However I'm hoping the vet will have some information, but perhaps people on here might have more, as to whether it's likely to be worth putting her through it or whether just removing the mass and watching for any recurrence is the best option. Realistically at her age and with a heart murmur, I'm sadly unlikely to have her more than 2 more years in any case I suppose. Cost is another consideration, any necessary expense for her health and comfort is not an issue, but unnecessary spending might be haha! Hard to know which is which sometimes though.
And although she seemed fine in herself before I found out, only took her as I thought she had an abscess or some anal gland material that needed expressing internally, she has seemed a little subdued and reluctant to jump on and off the sofa since she was scanned 2 days ago. I could just be imagining this or she might be milking it for sympathy, and the specialist can't come sooner to perform the operation than next Thursday, so there's probably nothing I can do but keep an eye on her.

I had a dog which was PTS after diagnosis with this. After reading about the surgery and recovery process and the absolute torture it involved, there was no way I could put her through that at 12yo. Quality of life is IMO more important than quantity. We didn't even scan to see if it had spread, we just opted for PTS a few months later - especially after reading research which indicated that the vast majority of time, the cancer returns if you opt for surgery in this location. Like you we thought it was an anal gland abscess at first.

The vet will probably give you lactulose to keep the poo soft, which we had. Chemo, dogs tolerate much better than people but whether it's needed depends on any risk of it having spread.

Frankly and honestly, do ask yourself if this surgery is the best choice for the dog and do research into the prognosis and risk of recurrence before going ahead. You can expect many sleepless nights, howling in pain, painkillers not really taking the edge off it and ongoing faecal incontinence for weeks... if not to some degree, permanently.

So very sorry .

I think you are in a dreadful position .  I do feel for you but I too would be hesitant to put a dog through this surgery . It is very likely she would be incontinent after the opp and even if you do not mind your dog will and will be distressed at being so. 

I think if she were mine I would be more in favour of palliative care,ie painkillers,  keep her comfortable , spoil her and watch her like a hawk for any sign life is becoming less happy.

So very sorry. This is a horrible disease with some heartbreaking decisions to be made. Best wishes to you and to your girl.

> This is a horrible disease with some heartbreaking decisions to be made.

Indeed it is and one that anybody would find a tidal wave of emotions.  In a different post just recently I shared the issues I have with my old Lab girl.  She is on daily medication which means she is pain free but further surgery is something I have decided against. Please don't think 'she's being a marter'. When that horrible day comes, it will be horrendous but I know she will be free. X  Wishing you the best to keep strong

Thanks for your responses. I've done a fair bit of googling and other research, and a friend found me a live Q&A from a vet the other night. It suggests permanent incontinence is unlikely tbh. And I don't think either my vet or the referral vet where the scan was done would be suggesting the op if it was hopeless, likely timescale with the mass but no visible spread is 1 to 2 years, so it feels worth trying. She will certainly let me know if she isn't happy. Thanks for the info about the lactulose, that's useful to know.

My vet didn't even mention surgery to me except very briefly and only to tell me that it was there as an option but they really didn't recommend it.

The only symptoms my dog had, was leaking occasional blood and pus from her anus. This was distressing her as far as keeping things clean went. But out and about she was running about all over the place and leaping into the car at 12yo and she wasn't noticeably in any pain. We had her PTS after her need to clean herself was getting distressing for her (not to mention for us as well, when it leaked from her overnight).

I think, if she had been a younger dog with her life ahead of her, I'd have wanted to give her a chance with the surgery. But at 12yo, I just didn't want her final years to be pain from the long recovery and then deterioration into old age anyway.

Hello Lucy

I am so very sorry to hear this sad news.  I think this little dog may be the one I looked after for you one day -she hadn't long been born.  I know that you will do the best you can for her and hopefully she will enjoy the rest of her days.

Thinking of you bothxx

Snowflakexx

So very sorry that you have lost her. xx

LucyDogs: We love, we lose, we hurt but we also remember.  Tears cry out that pain and then slowly the warmth of loving thoughts fill that void.  Stay strong X

>So very sorry that you have lost her. xx

Thanks but she is still here and full of life. In spite of the doomsayers on here, as the scans have shown no visible spread and the vets both recommended it, we had the mass removed yesterday, she came through the op with flying colours, has been out to wee and poo, no sign of incontinence, ate her dinner, and was most annoyed this morning not to be allowed her normal walk! Of course it may have spread microscopically and there's always the chance of recurrence, but if she continues to heal well we will hopefully have her happy and healthy for a while yet.

>I think this little dog may be the one I looked after for you one day

Yes that's her, hard to believe she is 10.5 years old now, specially as she doesn't act it when there's rally or agility to do! The mass has now been removed and although there's always the chance of recurrence, she is recovering well and we hope to keep her happy and healthy for a while yet. <3

I am so sorry that I have misinterpreted and wish you all the best with her treatment.
My almost 13 year old Beagle boy has been growing crops of non-malignant bowel tumours since 2015. He had his fourth bowel op in December, but now has so much scar tissue now that all our vet could do was remove the growths that were causing him to block. Each time he has bounced back quickly and shown very little pain. He does lose a little blood and mucous when he passes a motion, which can be embarrassing if it's on a walk - but we can live with that. He still has all his cheeky ways and he gallops cross-country like a hunter. I hope things go as well for you. xx

That's such good news.i hope she continues to recover well

Lucy

So pleased and relieved for you both - hope she has lots more living to do now,  bless herxx

CaroleC lovely to hear, hope your boy keeps going for a long time yet!

LucyDogs I'm so very pleased to hear your news.  If you get the right surgeon, and they are positive that they can help, I always think that you have to go for it.

I know my experience isn't the same, because it wasn't an old dog.  I had a really stunning Long Coat Chihuahua bitch.  She had a lump growing under her right eye.  It turned out to be a malignant cancer.  She was only 5 years old and I decided to go for surgery.  As she is so small, it was horrible to see her when she came back home.  Half her face removed, and half way down her chest.  The vet told me that he wanted to take as deep a margin as he could.  I was doubtful, because just how large a margin can you take on a dog so small?

She will be 11 years old in June.  All her coat grew back and she looks just as beautiful as she did before.  Although the vet couldn't promise me that there would be no spread, my decision turned out to be the right one.

I'm glad that your dog is running round like my little one.  {{{{  HUGS  }}}}

What an uplifting tale,and  that should help Lucy and her little dogxx

Lovely story Jean, thank you so much!