Dog diagnosed with bowel cancer - advice please

Rasputin87

Hi,

Our 10 year old Westie was today diagnosed with 2 tumors in his bowels. He had trouble going to the toilet recently and an ultrasound revealed this.

The vet said there is nothing they can do as the tumors are too big to operate on, and that he will have at most a month left.

He's been given tablets (steroids? I'm not sure) to try and reduce them for 14 days but if they don't work he'll have to be put to sleep.

Maybe pissing against the wind here, but has anyone ever been in a similar situation with a happier ending?

Would a second opinion be any good? The vet didn't give too detailed an explanation. Is there any specialist anywhere in the country that could maybe provide a second opinion? Cost is not an issue, whatever it takes.

Obviously his well-being will be the top priority and we won't watch him suffer, but just wondering if we have any options. Would appreciate any advice, in bits.

Thanks.

jomalone14

So sorry to hear this.

A second opinion is definitely the way I'd go if I was in your position.

Roughly where are you based so posters might be able to advise?

Rasputin87

jomalone14 wrote: »

So sorry to hear this.

A second opinion is definitely the way I'd go if I was in your position.

Roughly where are you based so posters might be able to advise?

Thanks for the reply. In the south-east, but location and cost not a barrier - will travel anywhere.

uck51js9zml2yt

Probably not what you want to hear but why would you want to prolong your pets life which will no doubt deteriorate further.

Rasputin87

Kylie Small Doctor wrote: »

Probably not what you want to hear but why would you want to prolong your pets life which will no doubt deteriorate further.

I don't. I can say with 100% certainty that if prolonging his life would result in a poor quality of life for him, then that won't happen. I would take the cancer off him myself if I could.

I just want to know for sure there is nothing we can do for him but continue to spoil him rotten. If that's the case, then so be it.

As an aside - does anyone know that if we get a referral for UCD, do we have to bring him up there or can we just send them the Ultrasound results for them to look at first?

aonb

I feel for you. So hard to get a cancer diagnosis for your beloved dog. You obviously know that you will have to have him put to sleep when/if the time comes that he is in pain/distress. Gear yourself up for that. But if you are considering the whole issue of a second opinion, I would say DEFINITELY do go and get that done - otherwise you will be wondering and wondering and tormenting yourself with "what ifs". I have luckily never had to bring any of my lot to UCD, so dont know the process - there are folks on here who will no doubt help you there - but worth giving them a call and discussing on the phone.

Your vet doesnt sound like he had a great 'bedside manner' - sorry if Im misaligning him/her - but with a diagnosis like this I would want to have very clear and understandable details of where you are at, and where you are, going forward. Would it be worth your while, now that the initial shock of hearing such news, giving him/her a call back, with a list of questions, and discussing the prognosis in more detail.

uck51js9zml2yt

Rasputin87 wrote: »

I don't. I can say with 100% certainty that if prolonging his life would result in a poor quality of life for him, then that won't happen. I would take the cancer off him myself if I could.

I just want to know for sure there is nothing we can do for him but continue to spoil him rotten. If that's the case, then so be it.

As an aside - does anyone know that if we get a referral for UCD, do we have to bring him up there or can we just send them the Ultrasound results for them to look at first?

A colleague has a dog waiting on an appointment for UCD. Its long.
A referral would be needed.

tk123

Rasputin87 wrote: »

As an aside - does anyone know that if we get a referral for UCD, do we have to bring him up there or can we just send them the Ultrasound results for them to look at first?

You can have your Vet send the results to them for interpretation. There’s plenty of other referral hospitals too who in my experience can be much better for certain things eg Gilabbey in Cork. My Vet sent Baileys X-rays to Gilabbey last year for a second opinion/confirmation on their own opinion before his surgery.

Hoboo

Sorry to hear about your dog. You say you'll go anywhere and cost is not an issue.......maybe a job for this guy?

https://www.fitzpatrickreferrals.co.uk/clinicians/noel-fitzpatrick/

Rasputin87

Thanks everyone for the advice.

Unfortunately things took a bad turn today, and Rocky was put to sleep this evening. He was the best dog you could ask for.

DBB

Oh no op... That's devastating news. So sorry to hear that.

jellybear

So sorry for your loss

em_cat

I’m so sorry for your loss OP.

doolox

Sorry to hear of your loss. Not easy to lose a valued family pet.

anewme

Rocky was clearly much loved. Look after yourselves.

az2wp0sye65487

Sorry to hear about your dog. We went through the same thing recently twice in 3 months with both of our yorkies (16 & 13).

As our vet said (in reference to not prolonging their suffering) "better to do it a day too early than an hour too late".

BabysCoffee

Sorry to hear about your dog. He sounds like he was a much loved pet and I'm sure you gave him a great life.
Be kind to yourself at this difficult time.

Bells21

Sorry to hear about your loss OP. Take care

Jimmy Bottlehead

So sorry OP. You clearly loved him. And I don't doubt he loved you with all he had. Take care.

Graces7

Rasputin87 wrote: »

Thanks everyone for the advice.

Unfortunately things took a bad turn today, and Rocky was put to sleep this evening. He was the best dog you could ask for.

((((((HUGS))))))

Lucyfur

Matthew Thoughtless Interpreter wrote: »

As our vet said (in reference to not prolonging their suffering) "better to do it a day too early than an hour too late".

This is what our vet said too. My gorgeous golden was diagnosed with cancer (bone and lymphoma) in September. We got to keep him til February. It's a whopper loss. Take a small bit of comfort from the fact that your pooch has no pain x

muddypaws

Sorry for your loss OP

cocker5

So so sorry to hear that OP

I hope your are doing ok

jomalone14

So sorry to hear about Rocky. Take comfort in the fact that it was quick in the end, no drawn out illness.
It's so hard when they leave us. Take care and look after yourself x