pet advice?

[Nixxxed]

I'm really sorry Homer. I agree more with your friends, but not completely. I understand what a hard decision this must be.

How has Cash handled all the treatments so far? The only thing I worry about with pet illnesses is that the treatment/cure causes more pain and suffering than the condition itself. It doesn't sound like that's the case, but it does sound like he's been through a great deal already.

If they take half of his jaw, would they replace it with some sort of internal prosthetic (minus teeth I assume) or series of rods? I'm having a hard time imagining how that would work while still allowing him to eat and play with toys.

[GypsySorcerer]

I'm really sorry. I don't know what I'd do in your position. I think the most important thing to consider is Cash's quality of life. I'll be thinking of you and Cash.

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by Nixxxed

I'm really sorry Homer. I agree more with your friends, but not completely. I understand what a hard decision this must be.

How has Cash handled all the treatments so far?

Like a trooper. He's exactly the same as he's always been. He was mad at me for awhile during the radiation treatments. But we play, every day still. In fact, he'll drive you crazy making you play for hours. He's the most playful dog I've ever seen. Never gets tired of chasing...

Originally Posted by Nixxxed

The only thing I worry about with pet illnesses is that the treatment/cure causes more pain and suffering than the condition itself. It doesn't sound like that's the case, but it does sound like he's been through a great deal already.

I know. Believe me, I start crying everytime I think about doing this to him. Basically, there's a price to be paid, if he wants to stay alive, and I want to keep him alive. I sure hope it's worth it.

Originally Posted by Nixxxed

If they take half of his jaw, would they replace it with some sort of internal prosthetic (minus teeth I assume) or series of rods? I'm having a hard time imagining how that would work while still allowing him to eat and play with toys.

No prosthesis. His tongue would most likely hang out one side of his mouth, and he'd have to learn to eat differently(most likely, just soft canned food from now on). BUT, like the vet said, it's no different than if he got hit by a car, and had to have a leg amputated. If it looks like he can have a reasonable quality of life, I guess you have to do what you have to do, in order to save him. It won't be a pretty face, but does that really matter?

I just got him home from the vet's. I had to wait until he come out of his anesthesia. He's beside me on the couch, completely out of it.
U of IL called my cell while I was waiting for him to "come to". I take Cash there again next Tuesday morning, along with his biopsy results(which should be back by Monday), for another bout of "cancer staging". THEN, the oncologist will decide (through CAT scans) if jaw removal will most likely save him or not. He said he might try something else(I can't remember what he said now), if it looked like jaw removal wouldn't get it.
Maybe I'm being selfish. I don't know. I'd do anything to keep him with me.

Lord, people and their pets!

[DavidMn]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

So, here's the history, for anyone who doesn't remember:
This past Feb, my dog Cash developed a mass in his mouth. It turned out to be oral melanoma. We did radiation treatments, through the U of IL, then chemo, through my vet, which ran into July. We've done monthly checkups since then, and everything was fine, until a couple weeks ago.

The vet thought she saw some growth in the area where the mass had previously been(I couldn't see any difference though). She took some cells, put em on a slide, and sent them to Purdue (big vet school) for analysis. They came back negative!, although they said they'd like to see a full biopsy. Well, since then, the mass has grown substantially. She removed it, a couple hours ago, and said it's bad, that it had spread around a tooth, and was likely spreading rapidly through his jaw.

So, about the only HOPE is removing one side of his lower jaw. This is a decision that U of IL will have to make(if it's a viable option). She said it takes about a month to recover, and the pet usually goes through a period of depression. Obviously, they have to relearn how to eat, also.
My aunt tells me that I shouldn't put him through all this, that it's too much for him(he's not even 8yo yet, btw). A friend told me last night that I shouldn't, also. The vet says if they can get all the cancer, that I should do it. I'm leaning towards doing it. What would you do?


I'm so sad. My dog is my child.

I totqlly feel you. My boyfriend and I have this minature Dachsund that we consider our child.

[wondergirl9847]

Sorry to hear about Cash's situation. We had to put my dog down this past May and it was THE hardest decision I've EVER made. I say, go ahead and take the jaw, he's not 8 quite yet and dogs are really good at adapting and I'm sure Cash would!

Good luck on your decision.

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by DavidMn

I totqlly feel you. My boyfriend and I have this minature Dachsund that we consider our child.

A mini dachshund was my last dog. She died a few days shy of her 17th birthday. I swore I'd never have another dog. I get WAAAAAAAAAAY too attached to them. They're better than people, IMO. I kind of got this dog by default. I took in a friend, who's roommate was making him move because she didn't want him to have this dog. He found a place in about a month, but saw that I loved the dog more than he, so he gave him to me when he left. We've been inseparable since.

[DavidMn]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

A mini dachshund was my last dog. She died a few days shy of her 17th birthday. I swore I'd never have another dog. I get WAAAAAAAAAAY too attached to them. They're better than people, IMO. I kind of got this dog by default. I took in a friend, who's roommate was making him move because she didn't want him to have this dog. He found a place in about a month, but saw that I loved the dog more than he, so he gave him to me when he left. We've been inseparable since.

That's s nice!!! You obviously care alot about animals! good for you. Your kindness will be repaid for sure.

[crylove77]

I have to agree that you should go with your gut, but if it were my cat (my child) I would do it in a second, as long as the quality of life would be good. animals are very smart and can learn new things quickly. It'll probably take him no time at all to learn a different way to eat.

It won't be a pretty face, but does that really matter?

When all is said and done, Cash will have just as beautiful a face as he always has.

[UnwindedDreams]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

So, here's the history, for anyone who doesn't remember:
This past Feb, my dog Cash developed a mass in his mouth. It turned out to be oral melanoma. We did radiation treatments, through the U of IL, then chemo, through my vet, which ran into July. We've done monthly checkups since then, and everything was fine, until a couple weeks ago.

The vet thought she saw some growth in the area where the mass had previously been(I couldn't see any difference though). She took some cells, put em on a slide, and sent them to Purdue (big vet school) for analysis. They came back negative!, although they said they'd like to see a full biopsy. Well, since then, the mass has grown substantially. She removed it, a couple hours ago, and said it's bad, that it had spread around a tooth, and was likely spreading rapidly through his jaw.

So, about the only HOPE is removing one side of his lower jaw. This is a decision that U of IL will have to make(if it's a viable option). She said it takes about a month to recover, and the pet usually goes through a period of depression. Obviously, they have to relearn how to eat, also.
My aunt tells me that I shouldn't put him through all this, that it's too much for him(he's not even 8yo yet, btw). A friend told me last night that I shouldn't, also. The vet says if they can get all the cancer, that I should do it. I'm leaning towards doing it. What would you do?


I'm so sad. My dog is my child.

HM, you put me in to tears, honestly, I 've gone through this many times, do the operation.

[David]

Originally Posted by GypsySorcerer

I'm really sorry. I don't know what I'd do in your position. I think the most important thing to consider is Cash's quality of life. I'll be thinking of you and Cash.

I agree (first time ever) with Krista, dave. If you think Cash will still have a good time post-surgery, go for the surgery. But I know you'd hate to see the little guy miserable constantly.

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by crylove77

I have to agree that you should go with your gut, but if it were my cat (my child) I would do it in a second, as long as the quality of life would be good. animals are very smart and can learn new things quickly. It'll probably take him no time at all to learn a different way to eat.


When all is said and done, Cash will have just as beautiful a face as he always has.

I know. It makes me feel like I'm mauling, and deforming him. But you know, it really doesn't matter what your best friend looks like, does it? I just hope it's worth it to him, that the pain isn't too great.
Who knows, the CAT scans may show that it's too late for jaw removal. More than anything, I just don't want him to suffer.

[michelle2677]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

I know. It makes me feel like I'm mauling, and deforming him. But you know, it really doesn't matter what your best friend looks like, does it? I just hope it's worth it to him, that the pain isn't too great.
Who knows, the CAT scans may show that it's too late for jaw removal. More than anything, I just don't want him to suffer.

Of course it doesnt' matter!! He's still going to be beautiful inside and out. I just got to skim thru this thread and I'm in tears. I truly hope Cash does fine and the Dr's are able to perform the surgery if that is what you want to do. I know it may be selfish, but I would do whatever it took to keep my babies alive also....so long as they are able to be healthy and happy. And hey...dogs like soft food more than hard anyway I will be praying for you, and just be thankful that there is still hope at this point that he will be o.k.!! *hugs to Homie and cash*

[reebokandlace]

You have a very tough decision to make and only you and Cash can make that decision together. If you know that he doesn't want to die, then you know his stance on going forward with treatment.

I do not feel comfortable giving you advice. I have been where you are at. So any advice I give would be biased based on past experience. It is a very personal choice between a man and his dog.

Just ask yourself, if this was your diagnosis, what would you choose...try to stay alive or choose to die?

Good luck and I will keep Cash in my thoughts and prayers. Please keep us all posted.

[Nixxxed]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

No prosthesis. His tongue would most likely hang out one side of his mouth, and he'd have to learn to eat differently(most likely, just soft canned food from now on). BUT, like the vet said, it's no different than if he got hit by a car, and had to have a leg amputated. If it looks like he can have a reasonable quality of life, I guess you have to do what you have to do, in order to save him. It won't be a pretty face, but does that really matter?

No, you're right - "pretty face" doesn't matter. I just can't conceive how a jaw (a dog's especially) can work with only one side attached. They're such orally-oriented animals. But if his quality of life (and play) will still be good after some rehab, I'm sure it's worth the trouble and trauma to both of you.

Originally Posted by HomerMcVie

THEN, the oncologist will decide (through CAT scans) if jaw removal will most likely save him or not. He said he might try something else(I can't remember what he said now), if it looked like jaw removal wouldn't get it.
Maybe I'm being selfish. I don't know. I'd do anything to keep him with me.

Lord, people and their pets!

I wish you both good luck. Keep us posted.

And believe me, I completely understand. I lost a lovebird 18 months ago - she got stuck in an egg-laying cycle and basically laid eggs to the point her body was so run down she had a heart attack one afternoon. But the 9 months before that, we were at the vet weekly trying everything we could think of to get her reproductive organs to switch off for a while - including injections of hormones and even human birth control serum. That especially was traumatic for me - this tiny sweet bird subjected to a needle that was nearly as big as she was. But I wasn't about to give up on her, and she knew that. And I'm sure Cash knows the same thing.

[stargazer99]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

So, here's the history, for anyone who doesn't remember:
This past Feb, my dog Cash developed a mass in his mouth. It turned out to be oral melanoma. We did radiation treatments, through the U of IL, then chemo, through my vet, which ran into July. We've done monthly checkups since then, and everything was fine, until a couple weeks ago.

The vet thought she saw some growth in the area where the mass had previously been(I couldn't see any difference though). She took some cells, put em on a slide, and sent them to Purdue (big vet school) for analysis. They came back negative!, although they said they'd like to see a full biopsy. Well, since then, the mass has grown substantially. She removed it, a couple hours ago, and said it's bad, that it had spread around a tooth, and was likely spreading rapidly through his jaw.

So, about the only HOPE is removing one side of his lower jaw. This is a decision that U of IL will have to make(if it's a viable option). She said it takes about a month to recover, and the pet usually goes through a period of depression. Obviously, they have to relearn how to eat, also.
My aunt tells me that I shouldn't put him through all this, that it's too much for him(he's not even 8yo yet, btw). A friend told me last night that I shouldn't, also. The vet says if they can get all the cancer, that I should do it. I'm leaning towards doing it. What would you do?


I'm so sad. My dog is my child.

I'm so sorry! I lost my first pet to cancer when I was 29 years old. She was my baby at the time, so I totally understand what you're going through.

All I can tell you is to be as informed as you can about the pros and cons. If the vets think he'll be okay and won't suffer too much, then I'd say do it. But if it will only prolong his suffering, then, as difficult a decision as it would be, you may not want to put him through it.

I didn't have to make any decisions about surgeries or anything for my cat. But the last week or so of her life, she went downhill fast, and was probably suffering for at least the last several days. I finally made the call to the vet, and scheduled an appt to have her put to sleep. The day before I was supposed to take her in, she was in really bad shape. I tried to pick her up, and she made the most anguished sounds like she was in incredible pain. I put her back down and went to work. When I got home from work, I found her dead in my bathroom. My biggest regret was that I hadn't put her out of her misery before it got to that point.