Im so at a crossroads on what to do. Back in July we took my 9 yr old dog to vet as she had this big mass type thing in her mouth, and very stinky breath LOL..They removed it, and it cost us 640$, 200$ was for teeth cleaning..Anyways, they thought it might be cancer before he removed it. They sent the tissue away to be examined. We were suppose to go back a week later for another visit and discuss it. Well this was exactly 2 weeks before Faith was born..And, the cheap part of me, just wanted the Vet to call us, because everytime you go in with your dog, they charge you 45$ for an office visit. We asked the vet to call us, and he never did. We didnt pursue it due to upcoming baby, and those 2 weeks before you know there is alot to get done. She did well with the surgery, didnt skip a meal, even with a sore mouth. We had never known she had anything wrong as she didnt act anydifferent. Well I was just happy after surgery she had no more smelly breath.
Well she turned 10 yrs old, still acts the same, lays around alot(but shes always laid around even in her younger days), eats well, goes out and plays in the backyard.
But, we have noticed, the bump growing back in her mouth , and the smelly breath is back, not as bad as before.
I love my dogs to pieces, and would do anything for them. She is 10 yrs old, and otherwise in good health, her daily living is good, she hasnt slowed down since this incident.
We are taking both dogs to the vet next week for their yrly shots, and we will discuss the results with the vet, 6 months later LOL..I know my husband doesnt want to get her anymore surgery, and part of me doesnt either as she is 10. But its more then the age thing, if its something that is going to keep coming back, then we cant afford to keep doing it. If it is cancer(which I think it is)We surely cant afford cancer treatment, yet shes got a wonderful quality of life. Meaning, she is in no pain, eats, plays, goes outside to do her business.I just hate that we have to think about this. I mean do we just let it continue to grow, get more stinky, and let her die that way. I would not put her to sleep now, as she otherwise does wonderful. I just dont know what to do. I guess the first thing is to talk to the vet..Ive never had a dog with this sort of problem.

By Vicki on Friday, February 4, 2005 - 01:24 pm:

I agree that you might be way ahead of yourself. She might just have bad teeth and it could be an absess or something. Do you do any teeth cleaning at home for the dog? If not, she might require regular cleanings at the vets office! Perhaps she needs a few teeth pulled?? I would really think that if the lump came back as something serious, your vet would have called you. I would just wait and see what happens at the visit next week. But at this point, like I said, I wouldn't worry too much. I have to think if it wold have been cancer, the vet would have called you.

By Ginny~moderator on Friday, February 4, 2005 - 06:33 pm:

Here's from my vet tech son:
For starters, the vet was supposed to get back to you on the biopsy. Follow it up. I sure can't tell you what it is... If it's somethig
malignant, then you have to talk long-term strategies with the vet. If it's something benign but recurrent, there's another route of approach. Without seeing the patient and the docket, there's not a lot I can say
here.

Chronic smelly breath could be indicative of a chronic infection or a hot abscess. Not to be overlooked. These things do not get better on
their own.

I would not let it "continue to grow and get stinky."
My advice: see the vet. Get an answer about that biopsy from before.
Work it up, talk it up, get answers, take care of it.

Finally, from Ginny. I do indeed understand the financial constraints. What Scott didn't say is that last year we spent nearly $5,000 on Keyla, only to have to have her put down; and just spent about $2,000 on Sascha for her arthroscopic surgery. But, I had it to spend (or, in Keyla's case), borrow. I don't have young children, I am single with a 37 year old son living with me, I have a good job and am collecting Social Security plus my full time salary.

And, as much as you love her, you are dealing with a 10 year old dog, which is a pretty good age for a dog.

If it were me, I'd talk to the vet, ask for a telephone consult, and find out what the biopsy said. You can't begin to make any decisions until you know that. I personally would not get into cancer treatments with a ten year old dog, but would talk about what to expect, what kinds of things you should watch for, what kinds of pain relief medications are available, and go from there.

Vicki is right, it could be teeth, even though the vet cleaned her teeth. Or, as Scott suggests, it could be an abscess (also tooth related) and that is an extraction and maybe mild surgery and antibiotics (and if you don't you risk blood poisoning in the dog - been there with a cat).

Back in 1996 we (my mom and I) adopted a 5 year old rescued Doberman, Duchess, who was a joy and delight. To my great dismay, while Mom was in the hospital recovering from knee surgery, Duchess was diagnosed with bone cancer in her shoulder (which is really inoperable). By careful use of pain meds, she was kept alive and happy until about 6 months after Mom came home from the hospital, and when she started having pain and yelping when she tried to stand up from a lying down position, I took her to the vet and hugged her while she went to sleep. I have, sadly, had to make this decision with two dogs (and participate in the decision about Keyla) and 7 cats in the past 12 years, and it is never easy. But there comes a time when you have to make that decision. The heart wrenching part of loving an animal is that they just don't live as long as we do, but they sure give us a lot of joy for the time we have them in our lives.