Some may remember that only a month ago attempts to remove a cyst from her shoulder were thwarted by Jet's not getting sleepy enough with the sedative to allow the Vet to work on her.  The cyst has continued to grow and is now at least the size of a golf ball.  A yucky lumpy golf ball.  Tonight I noticed it was bleeding and upon cleaning it up discovered that she has an abrasion wound that is bleeding and in another spot the skin has actually split open.  Off to the Vet who says there is definitely cyst material in there but other places look uncyst-like and cysts are not typically as miss shaped as Jet's is.  He suspects it is now a tumour of some kind, whether benign or not we won't know without further investigation.

I have a choice.  Leave it alone, keep it clean and bandaged and keep Jet from moving around.  No fun for Jet and the possibility of it splitting open even more is likely and that means the possibility of infection.  Perhaps it will keep growing too.  Whether it is painful is not obvious but I would think splitting skin would hurt.

Or, attempt to remove it with the understanding that a general anaesthetic will most likely be needed and at Jet's age and with her other health issues that will be risky.  The Vet thinks the skin on the outside of this lump is getting thin and dying and there may not be enough skin to close up the incision so if the operation is successful Jet may still have to have her movement restricted.  He says she may have an open wound of less than a square inch that will hopefully heal by second intention.  And she will certainly be restricted for at least two weeks while it heals no matter what.

ARRRRGH.  What to do?  The poor OH is away so I will hit him with this when he gets home. 

If anyone has success stories of older dogs undergoing anaesthetic I'd sure like to hear about them now.  On Sept. 24 Jet will be exactly 14 and a half.

Oh how awful to have to face such a dilemma with an oldie. Generally at Jets age I would say just leave any lumps and bumps...but if the skin is splitting it will presumably be sore, at least after an op it will get better - even if it takes a couple of weeks? I'm of no help at all but just wanted to sympathise.

Poor Jet :(

Min my oldie had her last GA when she was around 14 as it was the only way we could get her claws clipped :rolleyes::rolleyes: It really affected her walking so it had to be done. (We had tried all other options including too big men trying to hold her down and even then she managed to get free :) )

I also had a probelm with Mars my other oldie as she had a very bad infected cyst when we had to have cleaned up. She also at the same time had a load of warts removed at the same time as they said whilst she was under GA they might as well do them. She was about the same age.

With the improvement now on GA's and the statistics my vet produces I decided that I would take the risk :)
http://www.caringinpractice.com/news.html

Lucy
xx

Thanks Jane and Lucy.  When I broke my leg once it was only a hairline fracture so the skin did not open but my leg swelled up to about twice it's normal diameter and it hurt like the dickens.  I can't imagine how Jet's lump does not hurt just from the skin stretching.

Jet also has some warts we will have removed at the same time.  And like Min, Jet will not want to be handled.  Once before it took the big male Vet and three female technicians to wrestle her down to get a hip xray.  There's no way they'd do that again, even if there wasn't the problem of hurting her back.  So it's got to be GA.   The cyst is too big now anyway, to do it with only a local freezing.

Umm, Lucy?  You didn't actually say what the outcome was with Mars.  Successful surgery, recovery and years more of happy trails?

OH and I talked and we have decided that, yes, techniques, products etc. (I read the link, thanks) make an operation under GA much more likely to have a happy out come these days, even on very old dogs and cats.  People too, and my Mum, at age 89, just had a serious procedure done which took 5 hours under GA.  Jet is not looking very happy this morning.  She doesn't like the big bandage which restricts some movement in her leg and doesn't even seem to want to go for her morning stroll.

Both Mars and Min came out of the GA without any problems and all of Mar's wounds cleared up without any issues :)

They both went on to just before their 15th Birthdays whihc is not bad for Labs :)

Good luck and hope Jet is ok :)

Lucy
x

GREAT.  Jet is a Lab too.

Just to add I had blood test done before each GA to make sure there were no under lying issues on their general health :)

I have no experience but just wanted to say I'm thinking of you and hope all will be well with Jet. These days of course vets are so good at anesthetics -best story I ever heard was about the vet who castrated a Russian Hamster! They weigh all of 1 ½ oz.....

I have no advice or experience either but just want to wish you all the best with Jet and I'm keeping everything crossed for her x

Really.  I wonder why?  Makes me think of the mothball joke.  ;)

so sorry to hear about jet, all I can say is my lab has had two different ops this  year  both cancer both different cancers and anaesthetic proved to be no problem, and she will be 15 in October, I waffled on to the onclologist that I was worried about anaesthetic, she replied that she wasn't worried about that in the slightest although obviously it always involves some risk, but there are different sorts, some the dogs can come out of quicker and she tended to go with these. Anyhooooooo she came through both ops fine and was back to herself almost immediately so I guess the oncologist was right, well in our case anyway. Talk to your vet about your fears, he may be able to help put your mind at rest.  Hope all goes well.

Thanks to all, your replies have really helped and we made an appointment for surgery for lump removal for the coming Tuesday.  Unfortunately new developments may change that.  Jet's back legs are worsening.  It is now very, very difficult for her to get up from a prone position and climb up stairs.  Well, it's impossible, I lift her.  And I think she is in pain.  Last night she wanted to go for a walk but we got no further than a bit of bush between our back yard and the park and she just did not want to go on.  When she stands she very quickly sinks to her hocks.  Either the depo-medrol is wearing off (and a new Vet at the clinic says the anti-inflammatory properties only last two weeks, while the first two Vets said it should last 4 to 6 weeks) or she hurt her back more on a walk on Sunday.  On Sunday she was so happy, walking down the trail ahead of me, something I use as an indicator of how she feels.  She wanted to play, found a stick, threw it up in the air and I knew it hurt her, that look just passed over her face, and she stopped playing. 

Unrelated but of equal concern is one of the cats who is not eating, acting very lethargic and has a rectal temperature of 104.  I am trying to get both Jet and Blondie into the Vet sometime today.

Oh dear :(

Let us know how you get on.

Lucy
xx

:(  so sorry to hear this, hope you get some positive news at the vets
Maria x

Jet was PTS at 12 noon today.  The prognosis for her back was stronger painkillers that would take at least a day to be effective and would only give her another week, two at the most, of painfree days.  The bandage on her lump came off with the moving around and the lump/cyst is markedly bigger than it was two days ago.  Euthanasia seemed the kindest thing to spare her from more pain and the stress of ever more aggressive treatments. 

I am only posting now while I summon the strength to prepare for her burial in our backyard, with many other well loved pets. 

Blondie, the cat, came home with antibiotics to help him fight his fever.  I guess I will take all the cats out with me so they know Jet is gone.  The cats all love Jet.

So very very sorry.
Run free from Pain at the Bridge Jet

So sorry to hear about Jet :( :( :(

Daisy

So sorry to hear this.
You did the best you could for Jet.
Run free Jet at the bridge.
Aileen, Pepsi, Merlot and Treacle

Oh I am so sorry :( At least now she is free of pain.

Run free Jet

Lucy
xx

So sorry to read that Jet has gone.
You did the best thing for her.
Run Free Jet :)
Lea :)

Oh I am so sorry. :( HUGS. I think we all know how hard it is.

I am so very sorry. She will be running free at The Bridge now, fit & well & free from pain.

Mega cyber{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}} to you, take comfort in that you cared enough to put your feelings aside & did the best for her.

She hasn't left you as she will be safe in your heart forever

Its so hard - but you've done the bravest, kindest thing for Jet - she will live forever in your heart.

{{hugs}}

Margot x

I'm so sorry to hear about Jet. :( :(

So sorry to hear this, Jet will be greatly missed by you all, God Bless you and may your pain ease soon Hun, love Dawn xx

Oh I'm so very sorry to hear this. You've done the best you possibly could for her, including making the difficult decision to let her go and run painfree at the rainbow bridge. Your pain will ease and eventually you'll be able to look back at the years spent together and all the good times you've shared and smile.

I'm so very very sorry to hear this, you must be feeling so heartbroken :( but please believe you did the kindest thing for your Jet, it is the hardest and kindest last thing we have to do for our beautiful furry friends, we are able to end their suffering and she will be in your heart forever.
sending lots of hugs xx
run free at the bridge Jet xxx

I am so very sorry.  You loved Jet enough to do the right thing.  I'm glad that you brought her back home where she belongs.  Thinking of you.

Run free and fast Jet.

Have very sad :( (((hugs))))  xx

So sorry to read the outcome of the health problems with your lovely dog. Thinking of you tonight XX

I am so sorry. I am thinking about you. Run free Jet.
jane

So very, very sorry
{{hugs}} to you
Run Free Jet xx

Dee

Just seen this, so sorry for you all.

So sorry to hear this :(

Sending you (((hugs)))

So sorry :(

sleep well Jet

Ahhh so sorry only just read this.  Thinking of you. It's so old when our guys get to this age.

Just read this too. So sorry to hear this - you did everything you could for Jet. Sending hugs
Marion

So sorry, you did what you had to do and it is so hard.
my love to you,
Karen.

So sorry to read about Jet, it's so hard to let them go :(

Thinking of you

Dill

so sorry.she sounds like such a great dog. happy memories.