CockersOnline Forum

I am so sorry to read your update and the choices, however I feel the research you have done will clear up some question and the onccologist others.

We had a diffent dilema with my boy Oliver, he was thirten at the time, it was in his throat and in a place were removal wasn't an option. The vet suggested to let him go - while he was still with her after exploraty surgery, my husband said no he wanted to bring him home and see how it went.  He was with us over 2 years.  Happy years where he still enjoyed his walks and meals ( boy did he love his food) and we cherised the time.  We expected less so were blessed.

Whatever you decide the fact is that your boy is one lucky dog to be loved so much, sending positive thoughts to you.

J

Thank you all.

Recovery was difficult, but is getting better. He had some urinary incontinentence that seemed to have been caused by one of his medications but I think that is improving. He also had some weird poo habits (going frequently and in small amounts) but I believe that was due to the codeine and has stopped now since he's off it.

I received a call back from the vet this morning, and really don't have much of an answer I guess. The lymph nodes they removed were confirmed as spread of his anal gland cancer, but we already knew that. The spleen mass itself was largely consistent with a hematoma, which is good, but had some "suspicious" cells that they weren't sure about. I've done a lot of reading and it seems they could either be benign cells that reproduce and can mimic cancerous cells, or they could just be straight up cancer cells.

They are encouraging me to meet with the oncology department, which I may do. I'm not sure if I'd have him do chemo, as it seems like the prognosis isn't much longer with chemo if it really is a bad cancer. But I may get some more answers from them, so may meet with them for just that.

It's hard because either way you slice it, my dog does have cancer and will continue to, and eventually it is going to take him from me.  :'( I guess it's just a matter of when and how. Maybe the oncologist can provide some insight in that area.

Sending positive thoughts for Harry an hope that he is doing better now. 

Thinking of you are your boy.  Sending lots of love and positive thoughts from UK

Me and Harry

Thank you both. 

It's been a rough recovery so far, we barely slept last night. He acts like he needs to go to the bathroom but struggles with it, and can't move around very easily without being in pain. I'm waiting on a call from the vet to see if there is some other pain medication I can give him between the times when the one he is currently taking starts to wear off.

She said about a week before we'll have the results. My luck, I'll get them when I'm out of town and have to cope without dragging the whole trip down. But regardless, I'm hoping this was the best option for him I just really hope he starts feeling better because it is so hard to see him like this and not be able to explain to him what's going on.  :'(