Senior boxer with spinal tumor: What are treatment options and costs?

I am so very sorry to hear your baby has a tumor! That is devastating! Depending on what type of tumor it is and it's location (if it is in the bone vs in the spinal cord) can vary the average life expectancy of the animal, so it is really difficult to say without knowing these things. There are definitely treatments/medications that can help improve Caesar's quality of life for as long as possible. Additionally, some tumors respond favorably to radiation treatment or potentially chemotherapy as well, so that may or may not be an option for Caesar. If you aren't doing further treatments, then often adding in steroids to reduce swelling and inflammation can potentially make Caesar's quality of life as good as possible. I would discuss medication and expectations with your vet, as they will hopefully be able to give you more information based on what they are seeing in the x-ray. I would also focus on how he is doing day to day and how comfortable he is. Not every dog "reads the book" on how cancer progression is suppose to go and we always hope for longer time than the average. I would consider getting area rugs or carpet runners to give Caesar more grip when he is walking. Hard wood floors and tile can be difficult for any older dog to walk around on, so giving him more traction may help. I would also discuss pain management with your vet. Sometimes if they are more painful, we can adjust their medication for the "bad" days. Ultimately we look for good quality of life. If Caesar quality of life is starting to decline ("bad" days outnumber the "good" days), then I would consider humane euthanasia. It's never an easy decision for any owner (vets included!) but ultimately it is the last kind thing you can do when there is nothing else you can do for him. Again, I am so very sorry for you and your boy!

I'm so sorry to hear this. Whether or not to do chemotherapy/radiation is a personal choice. It is completely up to you. If you have the financial means to do so and the dog is in good health otherwise then I see no reason no to do so. If the dog is very ill and/or you do not have the finances then you may elect not to pursue this treatment. Again, it is a personal choice. I suggest you consult a veterinary oncologist to get more information on the specific type of cancer he has and what the prognosis is. Even with chemotherapy and radiation sometimes the survival rate is still very low. Answers to those questions are best done by an oncologist. I hope this helps. Best wishes.

I"m so sorry this is happening to Kayden. This actually happened to my dog, who was also a Boxer. He had a splenic tumor that ruptured. I opted not to do surgery because there was no guarantee he would live through the surgery, and even if he did, it was only a three month prognosis. I chose to put him to sleep. You can get a second opinion, but letting him go peacefully may be the best option. Again, I'm sorry.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concerns. I am sorry to hear that Tara is not doing well. With her history of mast cell tumors, I am concerned that some, if not all, of the tumors you are seeing are mast cell tumors. If the veterinarian is advising euthanasia, it may be the most humane decision to make if she is suffering. If she is no longer eating, is getting sick and if the mass in the throat is causing complications I would take the veterinarian's recommendation into consideration. If she is still eating / drinking and seems to have a good quality of life, then I would maybe consider having the lumps removed and having her blood tested to see if there are any other abnormalities. I would also have chest x-rays taken to see if there is any spread of cancer into the lungs. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

I am sorry Gizmo was diagnosed with cancer. The treatment will depend on: the type of cancer, the stage it is in, the size of the tumor and the location. It would be best to schedule a consultation with a veterinary oncologist to discuss any treatment options. You can find a specialist at the link below. http://vetcancersociety.org/pet-owners/find-a-vcs-member/

I'm sorry Cody had a seizure and he possibly has a brain tumor. If he does have one, it is likely he may have more seizures, so I would discuss with your vet putting him on an anti seizure medication. There are drugs that can be used such as steroids to help reduce swelling in the brain or chemotherapy and radiation, but this depends on how much money you want to spend to treat him. Euthanasia is another option depending on the severity of his symptoms. To confirm he has a brain tumor, you can speak to his vet about having a CT or MRI done as well as x-rays to see if there is any cancer spread to places like his lungs. Having these tests done may guide your treatment choices for him. I hope this helps, again I'm sorry he possibly has a brain tumor.

Radiation is not necessarily invasive, but there are potential side effects. I'm assuming she would be having a definitive radiation treatment protocol due to incomplete margins (cancer cells left behind). With this type of radiation the side effects are dependent on where the radiation will be focused - hair loss and irritated skin are most common but there can be side effects with the mouth and eyes if they are in the field. Later effects can include secondary tumors but these are very rare in dogs and it would be very unusual for Ladybug to develop a new tumor in her lifetime from the radiation. One thing to keep in mind is that dogs do need to be under anesthesia for a short period of time for each radiation treatment. As far as cost goes it is highly variable on your area, but you or your veterinarian should be able to call the facility and get a cost estimate.