My senior dog has a colon growth. Can it be treated without surgery?

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If the mass is small and not causing any problems, one option would be to leave it alone and keep an eye on it. The other option is to remove it now while it is small and manageable for surgery so that it is not something that is much larger that must be removed in a couple of years when Baxter will be older. I hope this helps!

If your vet recommends removing the growth, it's likely a good idea. In a senior dog like Cookie, there is always a chance it could be cancer, which is why it's ideal to remove it to prevent it from spreading. If the growth is cut out with wide margins and the cancer hasn't already spread, it is possible that it can be cured completely without further treatment. The vet will do everything they can to remove the tumor fully, and I would imagine they would let you know if there was a concern that it couldn't be removed completely or if she wouldn't heal properly. I do advocate for removing growths in a senior dog especially if there is a concern it's cancer, but I highly recommend speaking to your vet about your concerns. Having an in-depth conversation with them may help allay your worries. I hope this helps!

Hello. I am sorry for your concerns about Petey. The distal colon is primarily responsible for adjusting the amount of water reabsorbed from the ingesta, so if a significant amount of the colon is removed, you can wind up with Petey constantly leaking diarrhea from his rectum. If there has not been a diagnosis as to whether this is cancer or IBD, it is imperative to do a biopsy first. If it turns out to be cancer, it really is no use the remove only 1 section of the bowels because of the possibility of spread or metastasis. In this case, you have to think about doing chemo too, & this may not buy Petey much more than 6months to a year. You really have to consider what is best for him without making him miserable for what time he has left. So I would definitely consider seeing the specialist. All the best to you & Petey. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I can see that Jake has a very large, round, well demarcated growth on his side. While it is impossible to tell exactly what type of tumor it is and give a prognosis following removal, it is likely that removing the tumor will make him more comfortable. Depending on the approach, the surgical site may be rather large and require some care and pain management at home. As long as Jake is otherwise healthy, surgery and anesthesia are relatively safe as well. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you have!

This growth needs to be checked and analysed as there are many conditions and types of tumors that could look like that. take Marshall to the vet, they will perform a fine needle aspiration on the growth and send it to the lab for analysis. when the result comes, the vet will advise what needs to be done according to the diagnosis.

You are very welcome and honestly, though we wish you weren't in this situation, we're very glad to here. The progression growth for this type of tumor varies greatly by pet. This could be something that has been going on for a while and may always be there without showing much symptom. You'll want to continue monitoring her for any discomfort and report any changes to your doctor. At that time, if it ever comes, you might discuss changes her diet to a softer food. Be sure any changes are made with approval of your treating physician though. With Kidney and Pancreatic concerns diet can be very important. Please let us know if you have any questions of concerns.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! These could be benign or malignant growths. There is no way of knowing for sure without an examination though this represents a reason to seek veterinary care. This is usually determined with an examination and a fine needle aspirate (FNA) or a biopsy. Treatment depends on the findings up to that point. I think it would be best to have her evaluated before considering euthanasia as this may be able to be treated. I recommend you have Savano evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a good night!