Elbow Hygroma...cancer...

[dogsbydoug]

In early February we noticed a 'bump' on the elbow of one of our fosters. Took her to the vet (not my regular vet), they aspirated 3cc's of somewhat thick amber colored fluid from the lump and diagnosed her with an elbow hygroma.

Within 3-4 weeks the hygroma had 'filled up' and appeared a little larger, so I took her to my regular vet who aspirated another 5 cc's of fluid and said the same thing - an elbow hygroma. Suggested aspirating again if it came back or could do a surgery to open it up and 'scrape out' the innards - least invasive of the surgical options for an elbow surgery.

Fast forward to about 6 weeks ago. Took her to the vet for a check up and to get a health certificate as she was potentially going to be adopted. Elbow was aspirated again, this time 15cc's. Vet commented it appeared to be calcifying and recommended surgery before it possibly interfered with elbow movement. He also was very concerned about what looked like scar tissue around the sites where fluid had been previously aspirated but also commented that he'd never heard of or seen a hygroma develop into cancer.

Arrangements were made to move her to another foster home closer to the vet where she would get the biopsy. Biopsy of elbow was done on Monday, results were carcinoma. X-rays will be done to determine how affected the leg is, as well as chest x-rays to determine if it has spread.

The rescue will do whatever they can to save her leg but if it needs to be amputated to save her life, it will be...damn I hate this disease!

Now for the questions -

Can anyone recommend a vet in the Southern NH area that they can recommend for a rescue girl needing a cancerous growth removed from her elbow?

What can anyone recommend we do for a high energy girl who has no clue she's sick? Frisbee, fetch and long walks are favorites, swimming is out...she hates water unless she's drinking it.

What is her prognosis? Other than the cancer, she's young (3 1/2 yrs old), healthy and strong.....

[Dugganmom]

I dont have any suggestions i will leave that to the pros...but i really am sorry to hear that. I hope everything turns out ok!!

[janinetj]

i really hope every thing goes well for her

[Bucky's Mom]

Originally Posted by dogsbydoug

The rescue will do whatever they can to save her leg but if it needs to be amputated to save her life, it will be...damn I hate this disease!

This wasn't your question - I hope I am not hijacking the thread by saying this - but amputating a rescue dog's leg seems to me to not be the way to go with this.

Healthy 4 legged dogs are hard enough to place - and require rescue funds for many Vet issues that are short term.

I am not understanding considering amputation here.

[dogsbydoug]

Originally Posted by Bucky's Mom

This wasn't your question - I hope I am not hijacking the thread by saying this - but amputating a rescue dog's leg seems to me to not be the way to go with this.

Healthy 4 legged dogs are hard enough to place - and require rescue funds for many Vet issues that are short term.

I am not understanding considering amputation here.

If amputating her leg will save her life, she will have the leg amputated, but every option will be explored to save the leg. If it turns out she won't be adopted as a tripod, she will no longer be on the rescue's site and will spend her remaining time here on earth with her foster family, with assistance from the rescue.

[moondog]

I would have serious reservations about amputating a leg due to cancer, rescue dog or not, especially a front leg.....for a couple of reasons:

First, by the time cancer is diagnosed, there are generally hundreds of cancerous "seeds" throughout the body that will grow in just a matter of time...and usually not enough of it considering what the dog has to go through (generally months, not years).

Second, before even considering amputating a front limb, her hips should be evaluated. Dogs carry most of their weight on their front and with a missing front limb have to shift much of that weight to the rear. That's tough enough for a dog with good hips, for a dog with mediocre or poor hips it's a recipe for pain and suffering.

Caring about a dog does not mean saving its life, no matter what. That's my two dollars on the subject.

[dogsbydoug]

Semi-good news. The cancer is NOT in her lungs or other organs nor is it attached to any bone. She will have surgery to remove the tumor.

Her quality of life is first and foremost. Every precaution has been and will continue to be taken to ensure the dog is able to safely function should it be necessary for her to have the limb amputated.

As for her 'adoptability' - not a factor. There is a previous adopter who is fully aware of her condition that had expressed an interest in adopting her before diagnosis and has experience dealing with cancer, and their desire to adopt her has not changed, regardless of how many legs she has now or may have when/if she is ready for adoption.

[BostonRott]

Amputating her leg will NOT save her life. You will cause a nasty recovery (losing a front leg is VERY hard on large dogs who are "front heavy") and perhaps add a few months. That in my opinion is cruel and I would never support such an action.

[spidey]

In addition to what moondog and Boston Rott have said, which I wholeheartedly agree with (if this is osteosarcoma), I'll also point out that the fact that there isn't any VISIBLE cancer anywhere else doesn't mean that there ISN'T any. I would not be considering amputating this dog's leg - I'd look into good pain meds to keep her comfortable for as long as possible, and then have her put to sleep, it's likely that amputation will merely extend her life for a bit, much of which will be taken up with the surgery, recovery and learning to live on three legs (which is very difficult for large dogs).

[damp]

Originally Posted by dogsbydoug

Other than the cancer, she's young (3 1/2 yrs old), healthy and strong.....

Originally Posted by dogsbydoug

If amputating her leg will save her life, she will have the leg amputated, but every option will be explored to save the leg. If it turns out she won't be adopted as a tripod, she will no longer be on the rescue's site and will spend her remaining time here on earth with her foster family, with assistance from the rescue.

I am sorry to hear about your dog, but a dog with cancer is not healthy!
Dogs don't count months or days… they live in the moment and they don't think about tomorrow!
Let her go when it's time.... with her dignity, pride and body... all intact!

[dogsbydoug]

Originally Posted by BostonRott

Amputating her leg will NOT save her life. You will cause a nasty recovery (losing a front leg is VERY hard on large dogs who are "front heavy") and perhaps add a few months. That in my opinion is cruel and I would never support such an action.

Well, unfortunately *I* don't have a say in what the rescue does for the dog. They have stated they'll do whatever it takes to save her, with amputation being the last option. I never said I agree with that.

It is not osteosarcoma. The x-rays showed no involvement of the bone in her leg. The vet was concerned about the involvement of the muscle surrounding the tumor, and obviously will know more when the surgery is done as to the extent of that involvement.

She is not a big dog, weighs 75 pounds and is very muscular and strong.

[dogsbydoug]

Update 10/9/06: The original chest xray was misread by the vet...nice eh? It was read by another vet who has had success with soft tissue tumors and he clearly saw 'spots' which he called 'questionable' but would not definitively say it had spread.

She has had another chest x-ray, and an ultrasound to rule out involvement of the liver and kidneys. The chest x-ay was not completely clear, nor did it show any significant involvement.

That said - she's been seen by three vets- all with the same recommendations: make her as comfortable as possible until she tells you it is time to go. All of them say anywhere from 3-6 months...maybe a year...she will stay where she is until her time comes.

She was vaccinated in July and 15cc's of fluid was aspirated from the elbow - I strongly feel that vaccinating her sent the cancer into overdrive. The vet that did the vaccinations told me that if he had even thought it was anything other than a hygroma he never would have vaccinated her...

[SaranBear]

oh I am so so sorry. I met this girl when we did our CGC with Bear and my husband and I were smitten. She was such a wonderful well behaved happy go lucky girl. She sure didn't look like she knew she was sick...

That is really horrible news. She is really a charming dog.