Dakota had a spindle cell cancer. He lost his left front leg 6 weeks ago. Dakota just turned 9, and he has some arthritis in his shoulders. That was something I worried about. How would he get around with one front leg if he has arthritis in his shoulders? We put him on Deramaxx daily to try to deal with that, and he's really doing well in that regard. Does Jingo have any issues like this?

Dakota had chest films before surgery, which were clear. He only had an aspiration and not a biopsy. It was mentioned and kind of encouraged, but I was also told that there was no choice. I figured that if there was no choice, why put him through the biopsy? Cut the sucker off and be done with it! So that's what we did. It may help you make up your mind if you do the chest films. I was told that this cancer rarely metastasizes and that Dakota should not die of anything related to this cancer since his chest is clear. No guarantees, of course, but based on lots of experience.

Several years ago, I had a dog with a soft tissue cancer on her shoulder. She had a biopsy because the aspiraton came back with weird results. That biopsy was way worse than removing the mass. That's one reason I decided not to put Dakota through that.

Others mention very valid things to consider. I think the biggest is whether or not the vet thinks he can get clean margins if he only debulks the mass. Dakota had no choice. His tumor was quite large, between elbow and within 2 inches of his wrist. That leg was fully one inch larger in diameter than the other leg. They could not get clean margins, and they couldn't even close the surgical site if they tried. That's how big it was. It also grew quickly.

This is what I was told would happen if we didn't do any surgery at all and just left the mass, just so you know: The tumor would grow until the skin couldn't stretch anymore, and it would burst the skin. It would ulcerate and ooze and be a huge, nasty, painful mess. It would likely get infected, and it would hurt like hell. But again, they couldn't even attempt to debulk this thing.

I don't really know what the life expectancy is for Aussies. I googled it and came up with 12-15 years. My dog I mentioned with the cancer and biopsy was a big shepherd mix, and she died at 15 1/2. So don't write Jingo off just because she's 12. Tell the 105-year-old grandma that her life expectancy is 80 and see what she says!

Good luck with your decision. If they can debulk that thing and if they think they can get clean margins, I would probably let them do that, if Jingo were mine. But if they can't, you may want to give it a shot with amputation. She may have a few years left and live a good, long life and die of old age. Just like we all want.

Shari

Hi Jingo and family

I can totally understand wanting to make the surgery a one-stop deal. It is not fun for any dog to go through more than one surgery and anesthesia, let alone a senior. Good luck tomorrow. It sounds as though Jingo will do just fine on three legs, if it comes to that.

So you have caused quite a bit of confusion. I assume Binky was your shepherd - is that right? Or is Binky a pet name for Jingo?

admin said:

Best wishes for a perfect procedure! We'd hate to hear of Jingo going through multiple surgeries.

jerry said:

P.S. Silly Tazzy, I think she's confused  over your user name, "Binky" and Jingo's name.

No fair - Jerry and Admin just ganged up on me! I was being polite to not point out exactly WHO was confused about Binky - in fact I had edited that one out of my prior post before posting. And now I see that particular person edited his (hint it is a 'his', hmm and it does not look as though many 'his' are capable of such editing) own post to say Jingo and not Binky! yes I did not know who Binky was, but I knew who Jingo was, even then. Or maybe Jerry edited the post on his behalf.

Well I hope things go well for both of you - Jingo and Binky - today.

Thank you for that link...I hadn't seen it before...have printed it for reading tonight...my dog has STS but never figured out which one.

Congratulations on what sounds like a good turnout on your dog's surgery!  Here's to hoping this is all that needs to be done and hoping her recovery goes well! 

Tracy, Maggie's Mom

Great news!