What's the cancer risk for young Golden Retrievers with lung issues?

I’m so sorry you lost both parents - cancer sucks! Golden Retrievers do seem to be a little more likely to develop certain types of cancers than other dogs (particularly lymphoma and hemangiosarcoma), but keep in mind any dog can develop cancer at any time. If you love Golden Retrievers, get one! Otherwise I think a mixed breed might be your best bet to avoid hereditary cancers.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Lung tumors are uncommon in the dog. The most common tumors are adenocarcinoma and histiocytic sarcoma though other tumor types are possible. This can be determined in most cases by performing a FNA (fine needle aspirate) of the mass. The treatment for it will depend on the exact type and also the extent of disease. If this is solitary and has not spread then surgery would be the treatment of choice which may be followed by chemotherapy. The prognosis will depend on many factors like the type of tumor, size, spread of the tumor and treatment selection though cures are rare for any of these tumors. Good luck and best wishes for Cassie!

Hi. There is an abnormality in the cores of the bone near shoulder. Cancer is a possibility, along with bone infections (bacterial or fungal), or inflammatory diseases. Unfortunately with her being older, cancer is higher on the list then younger pets. Based on this xray, we can't say for sure. I would recommend sending these x-rays to a radiology specialist, which your veterinarian can do. A bone biopsy can be done as well to determine if the changes are consistent w cancer. Good luck.

I'm sorry to hear this is happening. I recommend to call your vet. This could be a side effect from the medication or it could indicate his lungs are filling with fluid from the cancer. I hope they figure out a solution quickly.

Poor Rosie! Yes, based on your description I agree that biopsies of the suspicious area would be the logical next step. Bone cancer is unfortunately common in Golden Retrievers, so I definitely recommend trying to get a diagnosis ASAP for the best chance of a positive outcome. Referral to a specialist for additional imaging studies could also be considered, if you would rather exhaust all non-invasive options first. If the biopsy does not show evidence of cancer, it may still provide some insight into what is causing her lameness issues so that she can be effectively treated.

Poor girl. : ( Tumor can develop at any rate in pets so yes 6 months is plenty of time for a tumor to develop and show up. However, if there is a lot of fluid there, a tumor may not be readily visible on an x-ray. A CT or MRI scan is more sensitive to picking up small tumors or tumors that are obscured by fluid. A lung tumor or advancement of her heart condition are two likely possibilities to these symptoms. We have to keep in mind that heart disease can't be cured but only managed to a certain point with medication. It is possible that these symptoms are simply an indication that the heart condition may have surpassed medical management capabilities. If you are however still looking for options and cannot commit to advanced imaging (CT, MRI scan), then you can inquire with your vet about possibly increaseing China's medications. Lasix has a wide range of therapeutic index so it may be able to be increased. Another heart medication called Pimobendan also can be added to her treatment regimen. I am not sure if you meant to include this with your list of medications, b/c one of the medications seems to have been autocorrected to say "veterinary". Best of luck with your pet China and I hope that you can get her stabilized soon! Take care.

I would be concerned that Baby might be ill - it’s possible that her liver tumor is the problem or that something different is going on. Unfortunately I don’t think there is anything specific you can do at home without seeing a vet. You should make sure she gets plenty of water and let her rest. If she seems to be distressed you should do your best to see a vet.