Should I Get Treatment for My Dog with Thyroid Cancer

Should I Get Treatment for My Dog with Thyroid Cancer

by Anne
(Milton Keynes)

My 11 and 1/2 year old labrador cross has just been diagnosed with thyroid cancer and has a large lump in her neck which the vet has said would be dangerous to operate on.

Blood tests and chest x-ray show that she is otherwise entirely well and healthy (apart from a bit of arthritis) but the lump is pressing on her windpipe.

She has always been the happiest of dogs and I'd hate her to go through painful treatments or any that make her feel ill.

My gut feeling is to let her live in blissful ignorance until she starts showing symptoms of difficulty breathing or eating but I'm not sure if this is just chickening out and I should do everything to save her.

Do other readers have experience of thyroid cancer treatments with their dogs and how long can I expect her to live happily without treatment? She is a much loved dog by everyone who meets her and apart from her snoring getting worse is showing no symptoms. Would love to hear other people's experiences of this with their dogs.

Thanks.

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Should I Get Treatment for My Dog with Thyroid Cancer

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Feb 27, 2012
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Thank you
by: Anonymous

Thanks every one who has commented. It seems every dog/illness is different.

The ironic, but lovely, thing is that Charlie seems to have a second puppyhood. Taking her off the arthritis medication (which we did before her blood tests and noticed the immediate improvement!) has obviously made her feel so much better. Her coat is glossier, she's got her appetite back and she bounces around like old times. Yes, the lump is getting bigger and her snoring has to be heard to be believed!!! But generally she is happy and well and can still run around without her breathing being laboured, nearly 3 months after diagnosis. Fingers crossed she carries on like this.

Thanks for all your wishes and support.

Feb 25, 2012
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Thyroid cancer treatments
by: Jenn

Anne: I am sorry to hear about your beloved pet.

My dog had a thyroid tumor in Aug. 2009. I felt a lump on his neck and took him to the vet the same day - I thought he got bitten by a spider or something and was swollen. The vet felt his neck and said I believe this is thyroid cancer. I was shocked. I thought how could he say it was the C word, before doing any tests. He said he was familiar with the placement and how it felt and recommended surgery right away to remove it.

My baby had surgery that weekend and then, when he was able, started chemo and did five rounds - once ever three weeks. He was just turning ten that September. He finished chemo in December 2009 and was put on thyroid replacement meds (thyroxine), and then went back for rechecks at first every month, for the first 6 months, and then after that every 3 months and then 6. I am happy to say he turned 12 this past September.

Apparently his tumor was fully encapsulated and had not attached to anything but the thyroid or wrapped around anything, so it was removable. The rechecks are to see if there is anything going on in his lungs or other organs. So far, he is o.k.

It sounds like your dog's tumor may be a bit more advanced, but I have read many things on this subject and it seems that tumors that are not ideal to operate on do usually respond well to radiation and dogs can live up to 24-28 months average after radiation. I would not give up just yet and would definitely look into radiation or surgery to remove as much as possible, followed by radiation.

I wish you and your baby the best.

Dec 11, 2011
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Treatment for Your Dog
by: Hazel, Site Editor

Hi, Anne,

Sorry about your dog.

You may be interested in this post: Essiac capsules and our labrador's thyroid cancer. The Lab was given Essiac capsules last year (2010) to treat her thyroid cancer and as at August this year she was still alive and well! Of course this is just one case and every dog is different but you may want to give it a try!

Good luck.

Dec 11, 2011
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Such a difficult decision
by: Sharon (aka shihtzu801)

I have not had any experience with thyroid cancer, but my beloved Princess Mighty Dog crossed over to Rainbow Bridge last Saturday, December 3, 2011. My post about her is on here also. When she was first diagnosed with malignant melanoma of the nail bed, we had surgery done to remove part of her foot. We were told at the time, they took wide margins, but could not say how long it would be before it returned, but return was almost a certainty because the blood results showed she had active metastasis.

We were given the name of a specialist about 200 miles from our home (this was during last year's winter with all of the snow fall and the office was 200 miles NW of our home so you can imagine the weather). The cost of the visit was to be reasonable about $125. We had a huge snow storm the night before we were to make the trip and had to cancel the appointment. The secretary was understanding and talked with us briefly about the vaccine they would propose. It was $475 per shot, every 2 weeks and I don't quite remember how many we would have to take, I want to say 8-10 and it would be at their office every 2 weeks. This would mean almost $5,000 plus the enormous travel, the side effects and no guarantees.

We discussed it as a family and decided since Princess did not show any other symptoms, we would take our chances and love her every moment we could. We had her since she was 6 weeks old and she was almost 11 at the time. We were sympton free for over 8 months and the cancer returned in the same area. The vet told us she probably would only last about 30 days at that point, that was in July. The tumor on her leg continued to grow and I know the only thing that kept her going was our mutual love. We finally laid her to rest last Saturday. She probably would have lasted even longer but we could no longer bear the thought of her deterioration any further. She had begun to lose weight and gangrene had set in.

I know this doesn't ease your heartache, I have cried every day for the last five mnonths until I have made myself sick. She was such a beautiful little soul. I hope to see her again at the rainbow bridge. I hope you know when it is time to make the right decision, regardless of how hard it is. They do hang on to us for as long as they can too the same way we would like to do with them.

My prayers are with all of you at this difficult time.

Sharon

Dec 11, 2011
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The remaining time
by: Scott L

I've been in the place you are. You are flooded with thoughts of "what can I do". There is a helplessness that goes with what is happening. When a dog gets to the age that Cross is, especially the larger breed dogs, you have reached their "end of life". You are feeling like you can "barter" for more time. Cross has given you all those years of joy, let him do this till the end - try to smile and keep cheerful, they know when YOU are sad.

I've had two dogs pass this year - their stories are on this blog. One surprised us with her cancer and her passing on the same day. With the other we found out early and tried to assist in getting him more time with us by surgery - he didn't survive his surgery recovery, and we lost him anyway.

If you deceide on surgery - remember he is not a young dog. Even if he acts it. But do yourself a favor and have someone take a portrait picture of you and Cross for your memories later.

Dec 11, 2011
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Thyroid Cancer
by: Shirley

My Sweetpea was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer 2 yrs ago. She was only five years old, so my husband and I went to a specialist to operate and remove it. She lasted only 3 months after the operation and died in our arms in our home. If I had to do it again I believe I would not do the operation. If your baby is happy and not in pain I would let it be. There are supplements you can give her to boost her immune system and keep her happy.

May God bless you and give you the strength in this difficult time.

Dec 11, 2011
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To Cross' Mom
by: J Weatherford

Being unfamiliar with thyroid cancer, I cannot give you advice. I only can suggest a possible second opinion whether to do surgery or not. Cost of vet surgeries is always a large factor as well as Cross' age.

We recently had to put our English Mastiff to sleep due to bone cancer. Within a week of him slipping, swollen leg, xrays we found ourselves at the vet's office doing what I thought I would never have to do.

I pray you will come to peace with your decision. It WILL be a difficult one. Just remember...you do not want for him to suffer. Unfortunately they cannot tell us how they feel.

My guess is, Maximus, was in a great deal of pain for a very long time and never once whined or wimpered even when we touched his leg. He simply could not walk anymore.

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