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Barnyard Buddies:  Dog Question  |
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Norskema
True Blue Farmgirl
98 Posts
Candace
Central Indiana Area
USA
98 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 10 2007 : 3:42:28 PM
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Okay, so this is sort of gross but I wanted to ask here since you gals have such a broad base of knowledge and experience. We have an Australian Shepherd who is 16 1/2 years old. He has always had problems with anal glands and so when our son mentioned that old Buddy was on the smelly side again (I hadn't noticed!) that is what I thought of first. Well, I was clipping our Newfoundland down for summer (I think it will be warm eventually!) so I thought I'd clip Buddy's backside for the sake of hygiene and so that we could take him in to the vet to get that taken care of.
Much to my surprise, when I started clipping down the underside of his tail I found what looks like a tumor about the size of a pecan! Anal glands are on either side of the rectum but this is on the very base of his tail. I think it might be cancer. I guess at his age he has every right to get sick but wondered if anyone has had a dog with this condition. We can't get in to see the vet until next Monday afternoon (my work schedule) and the dog seems to be doing okay except for not eating as much. I had some antibiotics that I'm giving him on the off chance it is some kind of infection.... darn.
This dog has always been sort of a 'special needs child' and some days more trouble than not but I hate to think that he has cancer.... darn it.
Every way of a man seems right to himself but the Lord is the tester of hearts. Proverbs 21:2 |
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KYgurlsrbest
True Blue Farmgirl
4853 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4853 Posts |
Posted - Apr 10 2007 : 4:46:34 PM
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Boy. I'm sorry that you had to find that sore like that...it could just be an abscess of some kind, a bit of a sore starting out, but dogs have a tendency to lick lick lick so there is an opportunity for infection for sure, which can also be real smelly. I would simply wait until you speak to the vet. If you have a cone, I'd put in on poor ol' Buddy's head until you see the vet--that will keep him from getting at it, anyway.
Good luck, and please keep us posted. Older dogs get all kinds of sores, so I'm hoping for the best!
"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt." Margaret Atwood
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Kim
True Blue Farmgirl
146 Posts
Kim
Pflugerville
Texas
USA
146 Posts |
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Vintage Redhead
True Blue Farmgirl
233 Posts
Kaylyn
Saint Charles
IL
USA
233 Posts |
Posted - Apr 10 2007 : 5:18:15 PM
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I'll keep my fingers crossed & prayers said for Buddy, too! I hope it's nothing, just a benign growth - another hazard of old age. Please let us know when you find out. Sorry that you're having to wait so long to find out...that's probably going to be the hard part. Hang in there! ~ K
~ Kaylyn ~ (Living in Suburbia with a FARMGIRL Heart!)
My Cause: http://nickspavilion.blogspot.com/
My Life: http://vintageredhead.blogspot.com |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Apr 11 2007 : 09:43:54 AM
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It's just personal opinion but sometimes I think tumors could be caused by the garbage found in commercial pet food.
If you decided to get the tumor removed, would you consider a swich to a wholistic or non-mainstream food?
I once read where cancers feed off carbohydrates. Some testimonials have reported pets doing better when they were fed a mostly protien diet.
Either way, I'm sorry for your troubles but happy for your dog's thus far long life with you!
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shelle
True Blue Farmgirl
404 Posts
Shelle
oklahoma
USA
404 Posts |
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susan kate
True Blue Farmgirl
109 Posts
susan
Western Washington
109 Posts |
Posted - Apr 12 2007 : 09:09:37 AM
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It might be also be a non-cancerous tumor. My 10 yo aussie, Jake (may he rest in peace) had a very slow growing anal tumor. The only reason I didn't have it removed was because he also had liver cancer and I was avoiding the further stress the surgery would cause on his health. The vet will do a biopsy and can tell what it is.
I would second the suggestion about diet. Do look into that if you are open to holistic or alternative dog foods. I have been feeding a homemade raw food diet for 12 years, and my dogs have done very well on it: kept allergies under control, fewer vet visits, etc. There are other feeding options as well.
Susan |
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Norskema
True Blue Farmgirl
98 Posts
Candace
Central Indiana Area
USA
98 Posts |
Posted - Apr 12 2007 : 11:33:54 AM
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Thanks for all the advice. The dogs eat a high-quality kibble supplemented with vegetables. I don't think I am up to something more complicated at this point and feel that, for us at least, this approach has done well. After all, Buddy is 16+ and our Newfoundland & Great Pyr lived to be 13+ and 11+ which is very good for giant breed dogs. I was just alarmed that this 'thingy' popped up so quickly. He seems to be feeling fine. I guess Susan Kate is right, we'll find out after a biopsy. Thanks again.
Every way of a man seems right to himself but the Lord is the tester of hearts. Proverbs 21:2 |
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Barnyard Buddies: Dog Question |
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Dog Question
