rascalsmom Posted September 16, 2011 Share Posted September 16, 2011 (edited) My oldest dog, Rascal, has hemangiopericytoma. She had surgery for it in May '09. In January '11 I noticed a lump reappearing, which the vet had warned me might very likely happen. The vet confirmed that indeed, it was a tumor. Since then the tumor has continued to grow. So far Rascal doesn't seem to be bothered by it, but it is really getting large. The vet told me it would either begin to give her pain in her leg, or it would basically 'outgrow' the skin, and begin to ulcerate. We know that when either of these happens, we will let Rascal go. Today I noticed an area on the tumor that 'looks' like a blister. Is this the beginning of ulceration?? Sorry for the yellow-y pictures...I turned the flash off to get a clearer picture. This is my beautiful old girl: Here is a close up...I put a box around the area I am concerned about. Edited September 16, 2011 by rascalsmom Quote Phoebe (Belle's Sweetpea) adopted 9/2/13. Jack (BTR Captain Jack) 9/28/05--11/2/12Always missing Buddy, Ruby, and Rascal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFullHouse Posted September 16, 2011 Share Posted September 16, 2011 (edited) It looks like it to me, but I have no personal experience with that particular kind of tumor. Keeping your sweetie in my thoughts and prayers. Edited September 16, 2011 by JillysFullHouse Quote Judy, mom to Darth Vader, Bandita, And Angel Forever in our hearts, DeeYoGee, Dani, Emmy, Andy, Heart, Saint, Valentino, Arrow, Gee, Bebe, Jilly Bean, Bullitt, Pistol, Junior, Sammie, Joey, Gizmo, Do Bee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4My2Greys Posted September 16, 2011 Share Posted September 16, 2011 I don't have any experience either, but I'm sending white light for Rascal and a warm to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remolacha Posted September 16, 2011 Share Posted September 16, 2011 I am afraid it looks like that to me, too, but I don't have any first hand experience. Can you send these pictures to your vet? beautiful Rascal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rascalsmom Posted September 16, 2011 Author Share Posted September 16, 2011 I called the vet's office. The tech said the vet would probably rather just look at Rascal, than see the picture. She did say that it sounds like the beginnings of ulceration, and that it will just get worse from here. Which I knew. And I knew this could happen, so I don't really see any point in taking her in right now. We will watch it closely...and whenever it gets worse, opens up, whatever...well, then we will only have one dog, Jack. Then again, Rascal won't have to be looking for her sister every evening. Quote Phoebe (Belle's Sweetpea) adopted 9/2/13. Jack (BTR Captain Jack) 9/28/05--11/2/12Always missing Buddy, Ruby, and Rascal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFullHouse Posted September 16, 2011 Share Posted September 16, 2011 Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers. Quote Judy, mom to Darth Vader, Bandita, And Angel Forever in our hearts, DeeYoGee, Dani, Emmy, Andy, Heart, Saint, Valentino, Arrow, Gee, Bebe, Jilly Bean, Bullitt, Pistol, Junior, Sammie, Joey, Gizmo, Do Bee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Swifthounds Posted September 16, 2011 Share Posted September 16, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinw Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 Quote Xavi the galgo and Peter the cat. Missing Iker the galgo ?-Feb.9/19, Treasure (USS Treasure) April 12/01-May 6/13, Phoenix (Hallo Top Son) Dec.14/99-June 4/11 and Loca (Reko Swahili) Oct.9/95 - June 1/09, Allen the boss cat, died late November, 2021, age 19. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 I would get a second surgical opinion before I accepted such a grim outcome. I do understand, however, if for personal reasons you choose not to do do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rascalsmom Posted September 19, 2011 Author Share Posted September 19, 2011 (edited) Rascal already had surgery on this--May 2009. At the time, the vet told me that a second surgery is usually NOT indicated, since it comes back more severely and surgery would be very hard--amputation was also mentioned in stuff I read online. I also read, online, exactly what our vet told us, that a second surgery is generally not an option. So we knew that, if/when the cancer reared its ugly head again, it would be a matter of time, and managing any pain she has. Fortunately, she does not seem to have pain with this. It is ugly, and I know it's just a matter of time for her, but I know that surgery is not an option. Edited September 19, 2011 by rascalsmom Quote Phoebe (Belle's Sweetpea) adopted 9/2/13. Jack (BTR Captain Jack) 9/28/05--11/2/12Always missing Buddy, Ruby, and Rascal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rascalsmom Posted September 20, 2011 Author Share Posted September 20, 2011 I'm taking Rascal to the vet Thursday to get this looked at. She was there two months ago, but it has gotten a lot larger since then. I need the vet to tell me if she thinks it may be 'time'. Quote Phoebe (Belle's Sweetpea) adopted 9/2/13. Jack (BTR Captain Jack) 9/28/05--11/2/12Always missing Buddy, Ruby, and Rascal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greypuppyluv Posted September 20, 2011 Share Posted September 20, 2011 Big to you and Rascal. Quote Paula & her pups--Paneer (WW Outlook Ladd), Kira & Rhett (the whippets)Forever in my heart...Tinsel (Born's Bounder - 11/9/90-12/18/01), Piper, Chevy, Keno, Zuma, Little One, Phaelin & WinnieGreyhound Adoption Center ~ So Cal rep for Whippet Rescue And Placement For beautiful beaded collars, check out my Facebook page: The Swanky Hound Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
queenwinniesmom Posted September 20, 2011 Share Posted September 20, 2011 I told Doug about Rascal, and we both cried. I know that this decision is going to be so very difficult, but I also know that it has been on your mind for some time now, so it will be the right decision for Rascal if indeed the time has come to let her go. How is she acting? Is she eating? You know your precious girl so well. We'll be waiting to hear what happens on Thursday. Remember that you and Rascal will be in so many prayers. Hugs to you and your sweet little lady. Quote Nancy, Mom to Evangelina and Kiva Missing Lacey, Patsy, Buster, my heart dog Nick, Winnie, Pollyanna, Tess, my precious Lydia, Calvin Lee, my angel butterfly Laila, and kitties Lily, Sam and Simon My Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Catsburgandhoundtown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rascalsmom Posted September 21, 2011 Author Share Posted September 21, 2011 Thank you, Nancy. The worst part is, Rascal still seems to feel pretty good. It doesn't seem to give her pain, and she is really more playful than Jack, who is half her age! She is eating about the same as always (which means not much breakfast but a pretty good dinner). This will be the hardest part, whether it's tomorrow or later on--putting a dog down who 'feels' pretty good. At least with Ruby, I knew she was having pain so I had NO doubts. Quote Phoebe (Belle's Sweetpea) adopted 9/2/13. Jack (BTR Captain Jack) 9/28/05--11/2/12Always missing Buddy, Ruby, and Rascal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeofNE Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 Thank you, Nancy. The worst part is, Rascal still seems to feel pretty good. It doesn't seem to give her pain, and she is really more playful than Jack, who is half her age! She is eating about the same as always (which means not much breakfast but a pretty good dinner). This will be the hardest part, whether it's tomorrow or later on--putting a dog down who 'feels' pretty good. At least with Ruby, I knew she was having pain so I had NO doubts. I know it's almost impossible not to, but try not to second guess your plan of action. I went through almost the same thing--but my dog never had surgery at all because he was 12 and they would have had to remove a large portion of his side (that's where his tumor was)--and they told me it would just come back anyway. I didn't see any point in putting him through all that for a few extra months. We went along, business as usual, until one day he just laid down in front of his food and looked at me, and I knew he was just done. So off we went, and the vet and I sat on the floor and cried while my dog suddenly acted totally normal. She said it happens--adreneline or something--but that in all her years of being a veet she had never had a client call after a euthanasia and say, "Why did I do it so soon?" but she'd had many clients call and say, "Why did I wait so long?" Quote Susan, Hamish, Mister Bigglesworth and Nikita Stanislav. Missing Ming, George, and Buck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rascalsmom Posted September 21, 2011 Author Share Posted September 21, 2011 You are right, Susan. I always have the thought of "better a day too soon than a minute too late" in my head. And I know that, for the dog, they are asleep when they pass anyway. I have a cousin who put her Golden through nearly 9 months of agony--daily subcutaneous fluids, having to carry it outside, among other things; the dog was NOT going to get better--and she is a NURSE. Actually a nurse practitioner. When I saw her a few weeks ago, they had finally had the dog put down, and she said, "we waited too long." Everyone knew it, but she only saw it in hindsight. I don't want to do that. Quote Phoebe (Belle's Sweetpea) adopted 9/2/13. Jack (BTR Captain Jack) 9/28/05--11/2/12Always missing Buddy, Ruby, and Rascal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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