My Golden has Cancer

[HarryD]

My 6 1/2 yr old Golden Retreiver has been off her feed for a few weeks and not her usual exuberent self. At first we thought she just ate something that did not agree with ehr (as she has done inthe past) and we just needed to wiat for it to pass. The vet agreed and we started a bland diet. After a week nothing seemed to improve and she did an x-ray and blood tests. She saw a shawdow on her spleen and noted it was enlarged.

Maggie was then ultrasounded and they saw all kind of odd thing in her spleen. A bioposy was taked to confirm our worst fears! The Oncologist told us Maggie has Histocystic Sarcoma and depending on the treatment options we choose she will not last more than a year. We are evaluating treatment options but tommorrow we are having her Spleen removed to make her more comfortable. Depending on how that turns out, we are thinking of following with several rounds of chemo.

We are sad to see our dog have this happen at such a young age but it will be what it will be.

[Joe Bob]

You can spend thousands....I did. In retrospect....I still don't know if I did right or wrong.

My labs both died soon after diagnosis....good luck.

[Baz]

Very sorry to hear about Maggie, Harry....will keep Bentley's aglow here for her and her family.

Baz and the girls

[HarryD]

Thanks.

Joe Bob - you never know if you did hte right thing, I beleive you can only do what you think is right at the time and don't look back.

Bazza - Thanks. We are hopeful the time will be good.

[Steve@Rennsport]

Harry, I'm so sorry to hear that as I know good & well how our pets are "family".

I know you'll do the right thing and I'd simply confirm about having no regrets; you gotta do what you gotta do,....

I've done the same as Joe Bob without any reservations and same MO as for a child.

[nilknarf]

My golden Lois held out for just about 9 years- best dog I ever had (never had the heart to get another after her)... you're doing just what you should Harry- do what's needed and don't look back.

Curt

[RWebb]

I'm sorry to hear this, Harry. It is best to keep her as happy as possible for as long as possible. Then, you have to make a decision. That's what I had to do with my first Golden. My mom (lung cancer), was able to make her own decision to try Oregon's assisted suicide, but it took too long, so she had to suffer for several weeks. My 2nd Golden is now 13, so I will be facing this again.

Best, Randy

[emcon5]

I am really sorry to hear that.

I have been involved with Golden Retriever rescue for about 15 years, and I honestly don't think I can count the number of dogs that have been lost to cancer, typically hemangiosarcoma from the spleen. It is certainly in the teens, including two of my Goldens, and one foster dog.

Unfortunately, the dog usually doesn't show any symptoms until the tumor starts to bleed, and by then it is too late to do anything.

Here is a report from the Golden Retriever club of America that gives a good overview, and a rather alarming statistic, of almost 1 in 5 Goldens die from hemangiosarcoma at an average age of 10.3 years.

http://www.grca.org/pdf/health/hemangio.pdf

I just heard about this vet at Oregon State a few weeks ago, I don't want to get your hopes up, but he is evidently got some initially promising results.

Saving Orion « Terra Magazine

May be worth investigating.

Cancer sucks.

Tom

[chocolatelab]

Our Winston had bone cancer in the leg. We did all the treatments out there. In retrospect I think it would have been better to let her go in peace earlier. Thousands spent and I am not convinced it was for better quality of life in retrospect.

Difficult decision.

Love that dog. Ive got matching dog "Zoey" ( female) with many tennis ball pictures around somewhere.

Sucks, Sucks, Sucks

The great thing about those reddish goldens is they give you everything they have plus some.

Best wishes on treatment.

[Don Plumley]

Sorry to hear this. Same thing took down our beloved Bogey, also a golden. She was 10, her speen ruptured and she was gone.

Now our pit-mix Chip has jaw cancer. Every day is special.

Best to you and Maggie...

[widgeon13]

Sorry to hear this sad news, hoping for the best. Widgeon, our golden is 10 and going strong, don't know what I will do when and if that changes.

Don't give up on her. Good luck.

Widge sends good karma.

[widgeon13]

Originally Posted by Don Plumley

Sorry to hear this. Same thing took down our beloved Bogey, also a golden. She was 10, her speen ruptured and she was gone.

Now our pit-mix Chip has jaw cancer. Every day is special.

Best to you and Maggie...

One of our earlier goldens had jaw cancer and it restricted her jaw movement so she couldn't eat. We had it removed once and it came back, sad day when she went west.

[SiberianDVM]

She's a beautiful dog, and I feel for both of you.

One reason I don't regret leaving clinical work is the sadness I felt when I lost a patient, no matter their age.

Best of luck to your girl.

[Buckterrier]

Sorry to hear Harry. Maggie is in my prayers.

[cary]

[Jim Richards]

This is very sad news, Harry. Best wishes for your lovely companion, Maggie.

[Geronimo '74]

Sorry to hear this.
Best wishes.

[Rikao4]

sorry to hear this..
BTDT too many times & will again..
we all want that extra day,hour...

but I'm gonna disagree on the chemo..
it's not the $$$..
my guys live better than some folks..
humans can understand that the misery (chemo) MAY help...
your friend will just be miserable...

Rika

[GDNF2ET]

Ive been there too...Best of luck to you and Maggie..

[vash]

damn it!!

i hate this..i hope/pray for the best.. that dog has a wonderful face..so sweet.