A FRIEND OF MINE HAS A GERMAN SHEPPARD OR ALSATION. DONT KNOW IF THERE BOTH THE SAME DOG. ANYWAY HIS DILEMA IS THAT THE DOG IS FIFTEEN AND DEVELOPED CANCER RATHER LARGE LUMPS. IT IS RISKY ESPECIALLY AT THE DOGS AGE TO OPERATE AND DOES,NT KNOW WHAT TO DO. HE HAS BEEN GOING TO DIFFERENT VETS TO GET DIFFERENT OPINIONS. I DONT THINK HE WANTS TO BE THE ONE TO END THE DOGS LIFE. SOME VETS ARE WILLING TO OPERATE AND OTHERS SAY THE CHOICE IS HIS. THE FACT IS AS YET FORTUNATELY THE DOG ISNT IN ANY PAIN AND HAS NO OTHER SYMPTONS APART FROM LUMPS. I REMEMBER MY DADS DOG HAD CANCER AT THIS AGE WITH NO PAIN AND HE LEFT IT AND TRIXIE LIVED UNTIL SEVENTEEN AND MY DAD DID THE KIND THING WHEN HER LEGS WENT WICH I THINK WAS MORE DUE TO OLD AGE. ANY ADVICE I CAN GIVE HIM AS MY FRIEND IS IN SUCH A STATE.

What does the Vet say will happen without the op, are they benign or will it spread ?
Many years ago my father-in-law's 12yo dog developed pyrometra and we were told by the vet the only option was to operate, but at her age and because she was already run down by the illness she may not survive the operation, she did and lived for a further two healthy years. On the other side a friend's 12yo GSD had a growth on her spleen, same problem, they decided to take a chance and operate, she survived the op but died 2 hours later from a heart attack.
Sorry, but it is up to the owner and there is always a risk with an older dog, if the lumps are benign and not causing the dog any pain then I would be inclined to leave them. Ingrid

Hi,

No one can tell your friend what to do - unfortunately they must make this decision themselves - and do whatever is best for their dog. Their vets can see what is there (have they taken a biopsy?) and are best people to advise in this instance, especially if they have know the dog thoughout its life

Kerioak

I had a friend who had her 13 year old operated on to remove a largish cancerous lump from her side. All went well at first, but 2 weeks later she was dead.

Don't mean to put a dampner on things but it's a lot to go through for 2 weeks of life!!

Send all my wishes to your friend, I know it's a hard decision.

Mars my eldest Lab (she was 14yr and 2 months old then )had an Op the week before Christmas for removal of various lumps. I took the advice from my vet and had various tests done before to make sure that all bodily functions were working well! She had a clean bill of health and so went a head with it. Five months later she is going strong and was so much better in having it done as they were an irritation to her and so it has given her a better quality of life. I would not have had it done if I thought it would not have given her any benefit.I think giving an old dog some pain free dignity and lots of love in the last part of their lives is so important.

Lucy