Back to the main site

Give a guy a break!

BulldogsCadillac

BulldogsCadillac

Just some guy
Messages
4,200
Reaction score
1,893
Location
Dauphin, Manitoba
I remember back when I used to just come on here and make jokes and be an all around smart-ass, now it seems like I just come on here with bad news and sob stories. So here is another!  My dog Lulu has had this lump on her lower leg(by her ankle I guess you'd say). It's been there for almost two years. We've had cell aspirations done on it numerous times, from the time it first appeared until now. It used to be fairly small and the advice from both our vet and breeder, and actually many things we read online were that it was more than likely a lypoma and the concensus was that a lot of the time if you cut it out, it will just come back. We had done the aspirations and they could never get any cells to be able to determine for sure what it was. 


So a year goes by and it is staying the same size and since it didn't hinder her movement or comfort in any way we were leaving it. Then all of a sudden it seems to have gotten bigger. So back we went for more tests and more vets. So far 4 different vets have looked at it and numerous times they have tried to get aspirations. Well this last time the one vet seems to have been able to get some cells and sent them off for a pathologist to review. He believes its cancer. So now next Saturday we have an appointment for a biopsy to be done and check it out. To say I'm stressed about it is an understatement. Having lost Gibson in February, then our cat Zeke a few weeks later, and now this??? The problem is that they can't really go in and cut it out because of where it is, there is no flesh/fat or even skin in that area. Meaning that even if they tried cutting it out it is very doubtful they could get it all, and because there is no loose/extra skin in the area they would have to do a skin graft to close it up. I guess the only other option is amputation , but on an 8-9 year old dog I'm not sure. Especially since if it is cancer, she has MANY other lumps (surprisingly most of which are all on her left side which is the same side as her leg lump) so am I going to put her through all of that only to find that it has already spread throughout? 


I guess I am getting ahead of myself, but after all the great luck I've had recently, my mind pretty much goes to worst case scenario instantly. I sure do miss when my only worries were IF the ice was going to come off my lake in summer!
 
:(  Keep your chin up. We're here if you need anything.
 
I'm so very sorry Bulldog!!  Being a dog "parent" I know what you are going through!  It's very hard, the waiting, wanting to hear something and bad news always seems to come in 3's in my experience.  Keep us updated!  
 
I'm so sorry to hear this. You've been through more with your "kids" this year than most could bear, but they've been so fortunate to have you there for them. Hoping for the best.
 
Sorry to hear Bulldog, you have had a tough last year.  Hang in there as it will turn around
 
Sorry to hear, hang in there Derrick.
 
It's gotta get better Derrick.
 
I understand what you are going through.  We just had a cancer scare with our oldest dog, she is almost 11. She had two surgeries in the last 2.5 months in the same spot.  After the first surgery and testing it was concluded that not all of it was removed.  We ended up putting for the second surgery and further testing.  Came back negative for us.  Hers was more or less in her rear "armpit."
 
Wow, so sorry to hear about your girl Derrick. Definitely been a test of strength for you this past year. Keep your chin up. You will get through this together! Keep us updated brother!
 
Keep your head up! I've been down this road twice with sibling labs. Take it one day at a time, I'm sure you'll make the best decisions you can. 
 
It'll be all right man! 


But to be honest with you.........that's why we never got another dog. Our beagle/shepherd went blind in one eye then deaf then blind in the other eye. Also had cancerous tumors. We watched as he struggled and eventually had to put him down. We didn't want to go through that again. The pain of losing him was too great...........so we never got another dog....
 
BigKahuna said:
It'll be all right man! 


But to be honest with you.........that's why we never got another dog. Our beagle/shepherd went blind in one eye then deaf then blind in the other eye. Also had cancerous tumors. We watched as he struggled and eventually had to put him down. We didn't want to go through that again. The pain of losing him was too great...........so we never got another dog....
Click to expand...

We said the same thing after our Sydney passed, we said that after every one of our past furbabies had passed.  It was so painful to watch him suffer in the hospital as he did for 6 days and we spent $10K trying to save him and he didn't make it.  Only 4 years old.  Then we saw all the dogs that needed a home and couldn't say no!  It's the remembering the WONDERFUL times you had with your furbabies and how they make you smile every day.  Losing out on that because of the fear of what will eventually happen, even though it's extremely hard, out weights it IMHO.


Currently we have a 14 year old, has his bad days and good days, but we know what is coming.  He also has a ton of lumps all over his body.  Full of arthritis and had both his knees surgically repaired and hip dysplasia.  We have had him since he was only 4 weeks old because the owners of the litter were taking them to the shelter and we had to save just one!!  After Sydney passed, we picked up a 7 week old Springer boy and he has given us the much needed laughter back in the house again!  Over Easter weekend we adopted a 2 1/2 year old Springer who's owner became homeless and couldn't take care of him anymore!  The 2 younger ones couldn't be more of best friends or brothers even if they were blood related!  So now we are making new memories with our new boys and smile everyday that we can give them a great home and they are so goofy we laugh each and every day!


For example, last weekend was the 2 younger ones first time on the boat (Jake and Henry) and they loved it, the second time out (Sunday) Jake was testing us by crawling under the trolling gate to get closer to the water.  We had just left the dock and still in no wake zone.  I was just about to tell hubby to get Jake away from there and the last thing I saw was Jakes back paws as he went head first into the water!!  I hit the kill switch, we ran to the back of the boat and Jake popped up and when Henry saw he was in trouble, he LEAPED off the back deck to save his "brother"!  We pulled them back into the boat, wiped them down with towels looked at Snickers (The 14 year old) who hadn't even woken up through all the excitement and we just had to laugh!!  Everyone was fine and not hurt and Henry and Jake had their first crash course in swimming!!  Needless to say Jake never goes near the front gate anymore!  Hoping this might put a smile on the faces of everyone that has endured the loss of wonderful friend!  Also to show there is so much more life out there that would love to share their lives with you!  :)


As you can see, Henry wasn't too happy!


/monthly_2016_05/5745aa65ba67b_large.JakeHenrywet.jpg.3d7c0b50c40e9aaab2a6a24d75041441.jpg
 
Jake is saying "Where is my treat?"
 
Hang in there Derrick. There is always light at the end of the tunnel.
 
Crummy luck worked its way south Bulldog.


Weekend started off with major excitement. My sister in law offered to take the kids for the weekend..   Yes no kids for a weekend... Party......  


Get to our camp late Friday night.  Head out for an evening cruise around on the golf cart.  Poof 2 of batteries fry.. They were at the end of there life so be it. 800.00 dollars later on Saturday good to go. Again- they were do.


Get our boats 2016 safety inspection done: head out for quick peak on the lake: get to end of our channel- a freak storm and micro burst hits us dead on.


shit you not- a tree starts falling on us- I gun the boat- tree misses us but the wind sheer ripped the awning loose bending one of the legs.  Who knows what the front awning hoop will cost us from Bennington. I'm guessing 300-500


we forgot that our camp awning was out as we just went for a 20 minute cruise: wind got that one too tearing the awning and bending the frame on our new 5th wheel..  Probably another 2000 in damage.


Here comes today.  Put the past 2 days of shit behind us: head out for a nice leisurely cruise around indian lake. Music stops playing but subs still working.


then----- smoke and burning smell coming from the console.


Freaking wet sounds amp goes up in flames. Of course it's out of warranty- new ones have 2 years in 15 they had 1 year. So a 1000.00 amp is shot.


we packed up and headed home.


4000 to 5000 dollar weekend.


to add insult to injury. Get the mail a few minutes ago and of course our property tax bill is here and it went up too
 
Sorry to hear your news Derick. Keep us posted.  


Sorry to hear Will's story too.  Somedays it's just best to not get out of bed. That tree could have made this a much worse story.  
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Well, here the latest edition of the saga. It is definitely cancer. It is a Grade 1 perivascular wall tumor/hemangiopericytoma whatever that is. So my options are 3-4 weeks of radiation , cut it and skin graft, amputation, and something called stereotactic radiation. Not going to amputate as there are other options. Can't do 3-4 weeks of radiation since it is about 5.5 hour drive one way. The stereotactic radiation is actually only 3 days of radiation and the results so far are comparable to doing the 3-4 weeks, but it's  $6500 and with everything that's happened in the past while, I just don't have the funds. I can't leave it until I can afford it as the Dr said that it can become ulcerated and then it is no longer an option. Plus it may begin to grow more rapidly which would then take the surgery off the table and only leave amputation. The thing that socks about the surgery is that it will probably take 1.5-2 months to heal enough that it doesn't need to be bandaged IF the skin graft takes. If it doesn't, probably 3 months. And looking probably around $3000. Not sure if I'll be able to afford to put the boat in the water this year. It's been a battle to convince the wife not to sell it. 


One thing that is good/scary is the Vet college (need specialists to do because of the delicate area) is trying to "open a spot" to be able to get the surgery done next week. Good because we don't have to wait very long, bad because they think it is important to get it out right away.


Just thought I would fill in those on here that were interested and asked to keep updated. Thanks again for all your kind words and thoughts.
 
:-(
 
BulldogsCadillac said:
Well, here the latest edition of the saga. It is definitely cancer. It is a Grade 1 perivascular wall tumor/hemangiopericytoma whatever that is. So my options are 3-4 weeks of radiation , cut it and skin graft, amputation, and something called stereotactic radiation. Not going to amputate as there are other options. Can't do 3-4 weeks of radiation since it is about 5.5 hour drive one way. The stereotactic radiation is actually only 3 days of radiation and the results so far are comparable to doing the 3-4 weeks, but it's  $6500 and with everything that's happened in the past while, I just don't have the funds. I can't leave it until I can afford it as the Dr said that it can become ulcerated and then it is no longer an option. Plus it may begin to grow more rapidly which would then take the surgery off the table and only leave amputation. The thing that socks about the surgery is that it will probably take 1.5-2 months to heal enough that it doesn't need to be bandaged IF the skin graft takes. If it doesn't, probably 3 months. And looking probably around $3000. Not sure if I'll be able to afford to put the boat in the water this year. It's been a battle to convince the wife not to sell it. 


One thing that is good/scary is the Vet college (need specialists to do because of the delicate area) is trying to "open a spot" to be able to get the surgery done next week. Good because we don't have to wait very long, bad because they think it is important to get it out right away.


Just thought I would fill in those on here that were interested and asked to keep updated. Thanks again for all your kind words and thoughts.
Click to expand...

Wow this sounds like the bad spell we had a several years ago that went on for about 4 years straight.  I feel your pain, just go with it and eventually you can look back and see how you survived and overcome it.
 
Sorry to hear that Derrick. Hang in there and things will get better
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top