Dogs and cancer
By tanniebabe78
@tanniebabe78 (2934)
United States
July 22, 2008 5:30pm CST
We suspect our Sharpei Boxer mix has cancer. There are dark growths all over her body. I cant say we are surprised. That variety of dog is prone to it. So at what point should we consider options. We know she is in pain now and she sleeps almost all the time, yet she does have life and she is able to get around. Are there ways to get rid of the pain? Pet meds are too expensive for us at this time and we are really concerned about her.
4 responses
@markvv1 (25)
• United States
23 Jul 08
I would suggest going on line to see if there is any free advice on pets with this condition. (Like vets). Maybe give your dog some tylenol in small doses. I am not sure. I am so sorry to hear that you are going through this. This must be difficult. I know that it would be for me. Hope everything turns out ok for you.
@tanniebabe78 (2934)
• United States
31 Jul 08
Don't worry, I won't give any animal stuff like that. Like I said, just because it works for us, doesn't mean it is ok for them.
@tanniebabe78 (2934)
• United States
23 Jul 08
My hubby wanted to give the dog something like that and I told him it wasn't a good idea until we know how it would affect her. Just because something works for us doesn't mean it will for them. Sort of like chocolate.
@tanniebabe78 (2934)
• United States
23 Jul 08
She is doing ok for now, but it is hard to watch her. You can tell the days it bothers her. The one on her eye I worry about the most because you can tell it affects her vision. She is all the time smacking herself on walls and things because she can't see right out of it. It is tough to watch.
I just didn't know if there was anything sort of holistic we could do to make her more comfortable on the days she feels bad.
@1grnthmb (2055)
• United States
28 Jul 08
This is a real hard decision. If you are like me your pets are part of the family. But it is hard to see them suffer. The best thing to do is talk to the vet and find pout the choices. If she is in a lot of pain and the treatments are costly it might be time to have her put to sleep. I am sorry for this.
@tanniebabe78 (2934)
• United States
29 Jul 08
Well, we aren't looking at that option just yet. Right now it is just certain days that she has problems. She is 10 years old though, so not a short lifespan by any means.
@theproperator (2429)
• United States
22 Jul 08
I would take her to the vet before you start any "home doctoring." Those growths could be several things, like cysts, or a tratable infection. And you don't know how much the medicine is going to cost until you even know what you are treating.
Take her to the vet and explain that you can't afford much you may be able to work out a payment plan or something. The worst that can happen is that you will find out that it is cancer and that you can't afford to treat it, which is what you already expect, however you could also find out that it isn't as bad as you think, or that it is something else that is easily treated. You won't know until you take her in.
@tanniebabe78 (2934)
• United States
23 Jul 08
I am not stupid enough to home doctor anyone when they have this. At any rate extensive testing is expensive. Almost as bad as having kids they are.
