LilMsNomad
Boxer Pal
*** love and best wishes ***
Best of luck!!! I've got everything crossed for you and your lil one!!!
Best of luck!!! I've got everything crossed for you and your lil one!!!
Not treating cancer?
- Thread starter EAO76
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EAO76
Boxer Insane
The ultrasound results are not what I hoped for but I am glad to have all the info and now feel at peace with my decision. Fluffy's cancer has spread to her lymph nodes. So if we were to do surgery it would be very invasive. They would need to cut out a very large section of her colon/ anal gland and also remove at least two lymph nodes. I just don't feel like that is the right thing to do. Recovering from such a surgery would be difficult and there is no telling how much time it would even buy her. Right now she is still happy and I don't want to take that away from her. The vet said once the cancer is in the lymph nodes its really just a matter of time before it spreads elsewhere. You cannot cut it all out because its basically like sand running through her.
In addition to the cancer her liver is damaged & inflamed which is also causing her gallbladder to back up slightly. They don't think this is from the cancer. Its more likely age related. And lastly both her adrenal glands are enlarged indicating she does have cushings disease (which we suspected). The cushings could also be causing the issues with her liver.
So we are going to use some meds and supplements that will help repair and support her liver. And we are going to give her a drug called Piroxicam which will (hopefully) slow the growth in her rectum. It will not do anything for the lymph nodes but (hopefully) it will help the original tumor & give her some comfort while she is here. I cant imagine having a good quality of life if she is having difficultly going potty (right now she seems fine) so the goal is to have as little trouble with her bum/ pooping as possible. If I were in her paws that is what I would want. The vet said that her liver is only moderately damaged but since the Piroxicam is in the NSAID family (which are hard on the liver) its best to support & treat the liver as much as possible.
We aren't going to treat the cushings for now. Cushings is a very complicated disease and treating it would involved several more tests to learn her levels and then a few weeks to months of adjusting her meds & rechecking the hormone levels to get her stabilized & just right. The vet thinks that the disease is not that advanced and that with everything else that's going on its not worth it to get into all that. I do feel bad though about the cushings because it makes her so hungry. She is constantly begging and searching for food (much more than normal dog behavior).
So right now my hope is that Fluffy can tolerate the Piroxicam (she had trouble with another NSAID in the past) and that she is happy for whatever time she is here. Please think positive thoughts for no bad side effects.
In addition to the cancer her liver is damaged & inflamed which is also causing her gallbladder to back up slightly. They don't think this is from the cancer. Its more likely age related. And lastly both her adrenal glands are enlarged indicating she does have cushings disease (which we suspected). The cushings could also be causing the issues with her liver.
So we are going to use some meds and supplements that will help repair and support her liver. And we are going to give her a drug called Piroxicam which will (hopefully) slow the growth in her rectum. It will not do anything for the lymph nodes but (hopefully) it will help the original tumor & give her some comfort while she is here. I cant imagine having a good quality of life if she is having difficultly going potty (right now she seems fine) so the goal is to have as little trouble with her bum/ pooping as possible. If I were in her paws that is what I would want. The vet said that her liver is only moderately damaged but since the Piroxicam is in the NSAID family (which are hard on the liver) its best to support & treat the liver as much as possible.
We aren't going to treat the cushings for now. Cushings is a very complicated disease and treating it would involved several more tests to learn her levels and then a few weeks to months of adjusting her meds & rechecking the hormone levels to get her stabilized & just right. The vet thinks that the disease is not that advanced and that with everything else that's going on its not worth it to get into all that. I do feel bad though about the cushings because it makes her so hungry. She is constantly begging and searching for food (much more than normal dog behavior).
So right now my hope is that Fluffy can tolerate the Piroxicam (she had trouble with another NSAID in the past) and that she is happy for whatever time she is here. Please think positive thoughts for no bad side effects.
prittiegirl
Super Boxer
I'm sorry that the results are not what you hoped for, but am glad that they have given you some peace of mine.
Thinking of you and sending loving vibes to you and Fluffy...
Thinking of you and sending loving vibes to you and Fluffy...
Cami
Boxer Insane
Wishing Fluffy the happiest of days. I wish the news was better but I think you are making the right decision. On some odd level perhaps the cushings and increased craving for food it can help to keep her caloric intake up and strength up as well as the cancer progresses. I know that isn't much consolation but that is just where my mind goes during times like these.
Thinking of you both today. group
Thinking of you both today. group
hurleygirl
Boxer Booster
Spoil the heck out of her!!!!
entelekia
Super Boxer
Poor ol' lady, at least she's happy now. I also think you're making the right decision. If it wasn't for you her life would have probably ended way earlier anyway (if I remember correctly you had trouble placing her because of aggression issues?). She's lucky to have found you guys.
*Hugs*
--W
*Hugs*
--W
EAO76
Boxer Insane
Yes Fluffy was a foster that we placed a couple of times but came back to us and ended up staying. She really is a nice dog though. But she is a fear biter. If something spooks her she will bite. She is very fearful of being restrained and poked at. Years ago when we were still trying to place her she worked with a behavior specialist that was convinced that the children in her last home may have basically tortured her. Or at the very least were allowed to use her as their personal toy to mess with however they saw fit. She probably learned at some point that if she snapped at them they would go away. The trainer also believes that is how she got such a ridiculous name. The family most likely let the small children name her. Anyway it’s all speculation but it makes sense. But with that being said hasn’t acted out in more than two years however we also know her limitations very well and when in doubt we will use a muzzle. For the most part she is just a sweet old boxer lady.
Sorry that the news wasn't what you hoped for, but I am glad that you know what you're dealing with. Sounds like she still has a good quality of life and is getting the best care where she is. If it was me, I would be doing exactly what you are doing as surgery does sound like it would be incredibly invasive. Good luck and keep us updated on how Fluffy is doing group
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