Do Most Get Cancers & Tumors?

[Guest mimikay]

After reading so many posts on here, I'm terrified and sad that my Raina will for sure get sick as she ages. I luv her so much and as a new grey mommy I can't imagine life w/o her; she goes everywhere with either my hubby or me . Do the majority of these dogs get tumors and cancers? I'm not sure I will be able to afford treatment if that time comes. Did I do her an injustice by adopting her? What if I can't afford the best treatment? Is there any prevention, or should I just prepare myself for lots of heartache?

[Batmom]

Dogs, like people, get some lumps and bumps as they age. Most aren't cancer. Those that are most often occur in old age, as they do with people, and many good dog owners choose not to treat with surgeries, chemotherapy, etc.

 

Enjoy your houndie and don't worry about it .

[Guest greybookends]

I have 5 hounds now and 3 more at the bridge and none of them have had cancer. H&M is a place to come to when you have a sick hound so obviously all the hounds here are sick with something. I tell new adopters to avoid H&M as much as possible to start off with because it really will scare the crap out of you.

 

There are literally thousands and thousands of hounds because of racing so there are larger numbers than other breeds. When you take that into consideration the percentages really aren't that much higher than some other breeds. There are just more hounds to consider.

 

Do not get caught up in the shoulda, coulda, wouldas and what ifs. If you do it will suck the fun out of enjoying your hounds. Take it one day at a time and make the most out of all of them and then if the unspeakable happens you know where you can go to for help, advice and support.

[Guest Swifthounds]

Just about every living thing, human and hound included, will develop disease, growths, and even cancer. A hound may live to 5 as my first hound did (kidney failure) or be celebrating Christmas with the family a scant 10 days before his 14th birthday in remarkable health. Some hounds you'll have for a decade or more, and some for less. Enjoy the time and don't count the days or worry about the "what ifs."

 

The best advice I can give money-wise about care is to invest in good diet, lots of exercise, and supplements for joint health, etc. as your hound ages.

 

There's no one thing that is the "best treatment" should your dog become ill. There's only the best thing for you and your dog. I recently spent a decent amount of money having a toe amputated from my 13 year old because the tests showed he was in great health for his age and because it was causing him locomotion issues and pain. It turned out the growth that was causing him discomfort was not cancer. If it had come back as cancer, I would not have put him through chemo etc. If it hadn't been causing him pain, I might have elected to do nothing at all. It's not about the number of days, but about how you fill them.

 

Oh, and you should post a picture of Raina if you haven't already. We like pictures.

[DesiRayMom]

Everybody dies from something. If not cancer, then just getting old & arthritic, losing control of bladder/bowels, etc etc.

It's just as bad having to PTS a beloved friend who just can't get around, and has no quality of life anymore. Each hurts just

as bad.

 

Don't worry about it; enjoy what you have & let the future happen & deal with it then.

Better to have loved & lost than never to have loved at all.

[TheFullHouse]

I have had 12 hounds. I've lost 2 of them, one to a brain tumor and one to a stroke. The others that I have now are 12 1/2, 11, 4 who are almost 10, and almost 6 years of age. One of mine I adopted with seizures and he's still going strong. It all depends on the dog. Enjoy your baby now, you could have her a very long time.

[Pippin]

Listen to the wisdom already posted in this thread... Our dogs live as long as they're supposed to live. There have been greyhounds who made it to 19/20. My first grey was 6 weeks shy of 15 when she left for the bridge. My current two greys are 10 and 6.

 

I remember thinking the same thing before I adopted my first grey, because there are so many threads in H&M about cancer and other health problems. But I lost my first grey to old age, not cancer.

[JohnF]

It's hard to add anything meaningful to what has already been offered on this one.

Don't feel bad about having offered a foreverhome and not being able to cope. ALL of us find a way of coping when the time comes and even Greiving is a natural healing process.

One thing I always do is make sure there is money available for 'Plan B' which is euthanasia when the vet says the time is getting short. Plan A is to keep them insured for long-term illnesses, That way you can be sure they never have to suffer.

I've lost 3 over many years to Renal Failure -one at 5, one at 8 and a half and the other at 14 - but it doesn't stop me hoping for the best. Same with cancers and tumors, many of which can be lived with like any other illness. Try to build the kind of relationship with your vet so that you'll trust them when they say they've already gone that extra mile.

[Guest PhillyPups]

Welcome to GreyTalk and the wonderful world of greyyhounds.

 

I have 6 at the bridge and 5 with me. My first, Runner, was 4 when I adopted him. I then adopted a senior bounce, SugarBear, who was 9.5 when she joined us. I often thought when something happened to Sugs, Runner would need a buddy. Little did I know one perfect morning when I took Runner to a Meet & Greet (who was 2 weeks shy of his 8th birthday, and the picture of health) that he would have a massive heart attack at my side and not come home with me. Sugs lived to 14.5. Runner taught me to enjoy the moment. It did rip my heart out, and in his honor I brought Stepper home. Stepper lived to 13-3/4 and his back end gave out. Of the six I lost all but Runner were in double digits. A long time for large dogs.

 

I lost 3 of my 6 to cancer and I currently have a 12-3/4 year old with cancer, for which there is no treatment. She does not realize there is anything wrong, so I won't tell her.

 

But then, the youngest of the last 3 to join me was 10.

 

 

Take a deep breath and enjoy the moments. I would rather enjoy the journey and not think of the destination.

Edited December 25, 2010 by PhillyPups

[Hubcitypam]

Little Girl was my first grey. She died from Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia at 4.5. Oddly enough other breeds like cockers and poodles are much more prone to IMHA than greys but there is thinking that aged middle age bitches of any breed (like her) are most likely to die. It killed Girl fast and horribly.

 

Rex who went to the bridge at 6.5 had so many issues you'd have a hard time listing them but none of them were cancer or tumors. It was an inoperable ruptured disc that took him. A badly ruptured disc took Axel my first yorkie.

 

Buck did have a mast cell tumor in his foot but the edges were clean and it was not an issue. He died in his sleep at 9 from who knows what. I told Carolea who was keeping him for me to skip the neceropsy so we'll never know what took him.

 

 

 

[Hubcitypam]

What if I can't afford the best treatment?

With Axel my first yorkie we went to the speciality surgeon and he bluntly said "$1,200 for surgery. Might or might not work and if it does there is no promise the next disc down won't rupture-- leave your credit card at the desk and we will bill you $300 for the next four months". Talked to my vet and we let Axel go.

 

I took Rex to the speciality clinic here to see the orthos and neuros and paid the $110 office call two different times. The last day we were there the doc said "We think Rex has either a Smorles nodule that has ruptured into his spine or he has GME -- lucky for you we just had an MRI cancellation so we can get him RIGHT NOW for $1,200 to find out which it is but you have to decide in the next 5 minutes." I stepped outside and called my vet who said why spend $1,200 to find out which of the terrible prognosis it was. We let Rex go

 

I do the best with dogs that I possibly can. For a while I had a lot of money. For a while I had no money. Now I have some money. In both Rex and Axel's case I had the money but did not choose to throw it away to make myself feel better that I had provided the "best treatment" -- which is totally subjective.

 

Best treatment does not always mean most expensive although on forums like this owners are made to feel that is the case.

Edited December 26, 2010 by Hubcitypam

[NeylasMom]

If your pup is new, look into pet insurance options so the money can be less of a worry when the time comes. I'm not sure how I would have managed to pay Neyla's bills without mine and I don't feel I have the best insurance. I have VPI, but have since read in this forum of other insurances which are much simpler and pay more. You can probably find old threads by doing a search for "insurance" in this forum.

 

Other than that, I can't really add to what others have said. Our pups all have to die of something and like humans if it's not something else, that often means cancer. When the time comes, whatever the cause, you will find you have the strength to do what you need to do out of love for Raina. I had to let my baby girl go 2 days ago and I tell you, my ability to get through it and make the right decision for her surprised me, but the support I got on this forum also had a lot to do with it.

 

Anyway, you will have the strength to make the decisions you need to down the road. In the meantime, enjoy her, treat each day like it's the last simply because you love her and appreciate what she adds to your life, but don't worry about the future.

[Pippin]

What if I can't afford the best treatment?

 

(snipped)

 

I do the best with dogs that I possibly can. For a while I had a lot of money. For a while I had no money. Now I have some money. In both Rex and Axel's case I had the money but did not choose to throw it away to make myself feel better that I had provided the "best treatment" -- which is totally subjective.

 

Best treatment does not always mean most expensive although on forums like this owners are made to feel that is the case.

 

 

I've never felt like GT thought less of me if I didn't spend lots of money on my dogs, although I have seen some posts over the years that could be taken that way.

 

Bottom line is, it's YOUR life, YOUR heart, YOUR dog. Only you and your vet know what's best. My vet does not push me to spend money with her - it's one of the reasons she's my vet.

 

I have had occasions in the past where specialist consults were needed... that helped me define what MY limits are for my dogs. Given that I am not independently wealthy, I've learned that I'm comfortable spending a certain amount of $$ per dog, per incident. So far, none of my dogs have needed to exceed my comfort limit, dollar-wise. You have to take the age of the dog into account - I would make different decisions for my 15yr old IG than my 6yr old grey, for example.

 

You can only do what you can do...you can only afford what you can afford. A trustworthy vet who has the best interests of you and your pup is the best ally you could ever find. Someone like Pam's vet, or mine. When my Angie-girl was on her final decline, Doc said "we could take her for an MRI or ultrasound, but she's almost 15, and she would NOT enjoy the experience. If they put her under, she might not come out. Do you really want to spend the money to find out which untreatable thing it is, when we can pretty much figure it out by watching her for another day or so?"

 

I opted to not spend the money, and we realized with another day of observation that whatever it was, (stroke, brain tumor, who knows?), it was time to let her go.

[IndyandHollyluv]

We all just do the best we can in this imperfect world filled with imperfect people and sometimes less than optimal situations.

 

I have adopted four greys since 2001 (and there are so many posters on GT with considerably more experience):

 

(1) Earlier this year, I lost my first boy, 12+, to nasal cancer. Not particularly common in dogs, but without a crystal ball - who could have predicted that?? Had thyroid issues.

 

(2) My girl, 11-3/4, is pretty healthy but her back / hind-end is giving out on her. Sadly, I suspect the day will come where euthansia is the only option. Has thyroid issues.

 

(3) Adopted a boy earlier this year who is pushing 10. Long story but we are pretty sure he has untreated thyroid issues which we are now addressing - taking it one step at a time. Also has back / hind-end weakness.

 

(4) Adopted another boy this summer who is now 12. Seems healthy. Also has back / hind-end weakness and stiffness.

 

With my hounds the recurring themes have been hind-end weakness (lumbosacral stenosis) and thyroid issues.

 

I would recommend being mindful of Raina's back. Jumping in and out of vehicles, up and down stairs -- anything you can do (using ramps, etc) to minimize the wear and tear on her back will help her in the long run. Chiropractic care and acupuncture help many hounds.

 

Preventative measures include (althought some seem obvious): feed her a nutritious diet, provide a comfortable bed, keep her bones warm with a coat when outside if you live in a cold climate, and cover her with a blanket at night if it's cold (mine LOVE their blankies).

 

Just do the best you can and hope she didn't get the short straw in life! Enjoy your girl.

Edited December 26, 2010 by IndyandHollyluv

[MP_the4pack]

It's a roll of the dice. 3 of my 4 bridgekids died of cancer. The 4th died of liver disease at age 5.

 

But, I do have a 15 yr old still with me.

[Guest Vers]

Everyone answering above me has made very good points. I just came in to reinforce getting pet insurance; I got policies on my hounds so that money will not make my health decisions for them. Embrace and Trupanion are both good companies.

 

Yes, if you are reading in H&M, the posts are always about dogs who are ill.

 

Yes, greyhounds are generally healthy and live a long time for a large breed.

 

I hope you have many healthy years with your grey.

[Guest Swifthounds]

Everyone answering above me has made very good points. I just came in to reinforce getting pet insurance; I got policies on my hounds so that money will not make my health decisions for them. Embrace and Trupanion are both good companies.

 

A good suggestion, and there have been a few good threads with info about the different options. Also, be sure to look into how much you'll have to put out of pocket first, and think about having a savings account with that amount, or an unused "emergency" credit card for that purpose.

 

I chose, because of the number and age of my hounds, to forgo the pet insurance in favor of a savings account. That has the downside of starting small, but the added benefit that it can be used to cover emergencies that would be just as disastrous for the hounds, but aren't covered by insurance.

[Guest suzye]

You just never know what's going to happen. I was terrified my first grey would get osteo after all the threads I read about it online (just like another poster here said would happen!) She lived to a ripe old age of 13.5 and I had to put her down due to a combination of kidney failure, which was caused by medication when she broke her toe, and back problems, which paralyzed her back legs. I don't know exactly what caused the paralysis or how much longer she could have gone with those kidneys. She was doing pretty well (though it was very tiring and costing me a fortune, it's a choice I made to do all those things for her).

 

However, my second grey got osteosarcoma at the young age of 8. We only had him 2 years.

 

As far as affording the best possible treatment, I probably spent $10K on Jazz her last year. I wasn't sure the kidney failure was chronic or acute and I thought I could nurse her through it and get a couple more years out of her. We had no other big expenses at the time, no children, etc. On the other hand, when Popo got osteo, all I did was treat with pain meds. It was just *too* terminal of a disease to fight, for me. We only got 6.5 weeks with him post-diagnosis.

 

It's a total cra*-shoot. That's how I feel about it. When I'm in a better position to get another hound, I definitely will, and I hope that I get him or her for longer. Odds are that I will.

Edited December 26, 2010 by suzye

[Guest Heehoo]

I have two 13 1/2 yr olds...Gabby has only had epilepsy & Banker has never had anything. Pipi-Francine had a thyroid tumor taken off a year & half ago, Jack just now had a hermangioma taken off his tail, she's 11 1/2 & he's 10 1/2. Smiley is 6 & only had heartworms (before I adopted him). My first greyhound was 14 when he died & she didn't have anything.

Out of 15 greyhounds, I've only lost 3 to cancer - 2 hermangio sarcoma & 1 to osteo.

Just to add, I don't thinking racing or the length of their racing career has anything to do with it. Gogh never raced but died of osteo sarcoma, Snowy, Pipi & Jack all ran over 100 races & Snowy was almost 14 when she died.

Edited December 27, 2010 by Heehoo

[Guest Heehoo]

Best treatment does not always mean most expensive although on forums like this owners are made to feel that is the case

Pammy I don't usually worry about what some people on here think of me, but that's why I don't post medical costs on here.

I still love ya & its no one's business on here or anywhere else what anyone spends on their dogs for medical reasons.

Now...back to our regular programming.

Edited December 27, 2010 by Heehoo