Squamous cell carcinoma

[mdillman]

Just giving everyone a heads up. My Rottie has had a bleeding gum, but only when she plays tug-o-war with my male Rottie. I looked at it several times and it looked like she may have had an infection at her gum line. I should have taken her to the vet immediately, but instead, I got her some anti-biotics and gave her a 10 day dose. A couple of weeks after that, she still had the infection, but it seemes to be getting better. I finally took her to the vet, the gum started to bleed again. She had a biopsy and was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma. Her lower half of her jaw will have to be removed. She will probably be cured with this procedure. It is not a cancer that is known to metastisize. I want everyone reading this to check out your pet's jaw, gumline etc. If you see a sore or mass, take he/she to the vet immediately. Don't wait like I did. I wonder if I would have taken her in sooner, less of her jaw would have to be removed.......

[Troodie's Mom]

Oh that is awful, your poor pup, and you- don't blame yourself for something you did not know! Thanks for the info, I will check Troodie out for this. Hope all goes well for your girl.

[Sharon Marples]

It is a sad situation but at the same time, she is so lucky to have the type of cancer than can be removed and (hopefully) not come back. Don't blame yourself, you did what 99% of us would have done at the time.

[frontierrots]

My Molly was diagnosed with this in the early part of the year 2004 and it was on the roof of her mouth next to a molar. We were given the same "treatment" option but neither I nor my vet wanted to do that. It is a HORRIBLE surgery, horribly invasive, horribly disfiguring and it makes it very very hard for the dog to eat

Personally I recommend doing what we did with full vet support. Make your dog's life as comfy as can be and when the time comes let her go.

Molly lived until 10/04 just 2 months shy of her 12th birthday when the cancer metastised to her brain and/or spine and she lost the use of her hind legs overnight.

We took her immediately and said goodbye. Dogs have The RIGHT TO DIE WELL (and I have a post here somewhere called that) Edited to say here it is http://www.rottweiler.net/forums/chi...ht+to+die+well

[spidey]

I am very sorry you are going through this, and we all have to make our own decisions about our pets, however:

Dogs have The RIGHT TO DIE WELL

I definitely agree. I personally would not put a dog through the removal of its entire lower jaw (or any large portion of either jaw) for any reason, I cannot think that the dog would have a good enough quality of life after that to make it worthwhile. Dogs care about quality of life, they care about eating, moving around, playing, being pain free, they do not care about quantity of life the way people do.

[mdillman]

I appreciate everyone's support and responses. Zoeigh (my Rottie) is 5.5 yrs. old. To cure this cancer, the lower portion of her jaw -from her canine teeth foreward (both sides) will need to be removed. Basically, she will look like she has a big overbite. I would like your opinion on this subject. Vet says she will eat, drink, and recover well and enjoy a "normal" life. I know some of you have expressed your opinion about this procedure, but I would like more input now that your have more facts to look at. Thanks, I'm torn between surgery and letting nature take it's course.

[frontierrots]

You know what I'd do

BUT I will say we had a client with a Standard poodle who had a hunk of upper jaw (right side canine and a couple incisors and a molar) removed. It is a VERY painful surgery. Very painful recovery and it was incredibly hard for him to learn to eat again. It was so painful that he refused to eat at all for 10 days