canine cancer

Parent Cafe
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<p>That’s interesting. I wonder if those wood chips that are in their cages have anything to do with it. Perhaps chemicals or pesticides used in the wood, etc. I mean otherwise a guinea pig’s environment is pretty controlled. How long does a healthy guinea pig live? I’ve never had one but we went through an alarming number of hamsters when my children were young. Only one lived longer than a year and that one was adopted from a neighbor. One of my “fondest” memories was driving a very sick hamster to a special vet in a snowstorm. When we got there, they put the tiny thing on an IV drip and I took my girls to McDonald’s while we waited to see if there was any hope. Poor ting succumbed anyway.</p>

<p>I think it was at that point, four hamsters later, that I decided we should just bite the bullet and get a dog. That has worked out better! Lol.</p>

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<p>Pet stores are very big on selling the cedar and pine type shavings; I know for rabbits, use of those products can be very dangerous for their health. There’s a poorly characterized cancer risk but also danger to their livers. Perhaps the same is true for other animals.</p>

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<p>I am very passionate about guinea pigs. I have two of my own.</p>

<p>Turbo, are you/your exotics vet sure that it was cancer and not cysts or something that may look similar? The reason I ask is that, overall, cancer seems to be pretty rare in piggies, but it may be on an upward trend :(</p>

<p>They ARE, however, EXTREMELY fragil. And they require a really good specialized vet.</p>

<p>Sabaray is 100% correct. Cedar and pine type shavings are not something that should ever be used for them, as it can lead to respiratory and all sorts of other problems. Kiln-dried pine is supposed to be OK, but from what I hear it’s getting harder and harder to find to the point where even when it says it’s kiln-dried, you can still smell the pine smell, which is an absolute no-no.</p>

<p>Pet stores in general sell garbage when it comes to guinea pigs. Except for Oxbow, all the food they sell is junk and not good for the piggies.</p>

<p>Fleece with an absorbent layer underneath is really the best bedding for them, but if you really want loose bedding, Carefresh or aspen are good options.</p>

<p>Here are links to information about guinea pig bedding: [Guinea</a> Lynx :: Housing<a href=“bedding%20is%20a%20little%20further%20down%20the%20page”>/url</a>.</p>

<p>They are VERY susceptible to URI’s or upper respiratory infections. They have to have plenty of air circulation (no aquariums, dusty bedding, enclosed spaces), and they need A LOT of room. The absolute minimum is 7 sq feet for one pig and 10 sq ft for two (personally, I find it to be way too little, and mine have 20 sq feet for the two of them).</p>

<p>They are very fragile, and the vet bills can get huge (in the thousands), and, unlike for dogs and cats, there is no good health insurance options. I have a dog and guinea pigs, and I believe guinea pigs are a lot harder to care for.</p>

<p>Their average lifespan is 5-7 years, but there are ones that have lived longer. The Guinness Book of World records lists the oldest guinea pig at 14 years and 9 months or so.</p>

<p>If anyone is interested in more information, these are the two best websites (a lot of books, etc. contain very old and out dated info). Or just ask me or PM me.</p>

<p>[url=&lt;a href=“http://www.guinealynx.info/]Guinea”&gt;http://www.guinealynx.info/]Guinea</a> Lynx :: A Medical and Care Guide for Your Guinea Pig](<a href=“http://www.guinealynx.info/housing.html]Guinea”>Guinea Lynx :: Housing)</p>

<p>[Guinea</a> Pig Cages, Your Cavy At Home](<a href=“http://www.guineapigcages.com/]Guinea”>http://www.guineapigcages.com/)</p>

<p>And remember, please don’t support piggy mills, which have conditions as horrible or worse as puppy mills or breeders - adopt your next piggy!</p>

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<p>It was cancer, I’m afraid - the two were lymphomas under the chin - hard to miss, one confirmed with biopsy - and two were reproductive with obvious symptoms (bleeding) verified by tests. Bedding was aspen in all cases.</p>

<p>I was for years on Guinea Lynx but ultimately the thing you learn is that they’re fragile…A few of them had other treatable diseases (cysts) that required surgery (my exotic vet is pretty good). But costs do mount up.</p>

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<p>This is a textbook definition of a first world problem. I’m thinking about the 10 years during which I had no dental care at all, not even a cleaning, yet we spent $700 on gum surgery for our dog. :rolleyes: </p>

<p>I do not “get” guinea pigs. I had an apartment-mate who had one, and it was neither attractive nor engaging. I cannot imagine spending thousands on one.</p>

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<p>Well, first of all, a lot of people don’t get them because their personality does not show through when they are being mistreated. They are NOT supposed to live alone. I bet your roommate’s pig was in a tiny cage, probably with bad food. If someone stuck you in a bathroom (which is what those pet-store cages are - glorified littler boxes) with bad food and no companionship, you may seem really boring/depressed too. They have just as much personality as dogs or other animals. They are gentle, amazing, smart, and have very unique personalities. They are some of the most amazing creatures I ever had (and I also have a dog and a bird, who I love very much too). It takes a while to win their trust, but once you do, it’s really rewarding.</p>

<p>Secondly, how much you spend on an animal, in my opinion, should not depend on how much you like them. When you get a pet, whether it’s a fish, a dog, a cat, a pig, or a bird, you are responsible for their life. It’s your responsibility to get them any and all medical attention they require, and if you are not willing to pay what it costs, you shouldn’t get the pet (a piggy in this case). </p>

<p>Turbo, I am so sorry about your piggies. I know it can be agonizing.</p>

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<p>Consolation, believe me, guinea pigs are great pets. We lost our last pair within a month of each other after 5 years (they were sisters). They had distinct and different personalities, they loved interaction with each other and with us.</p>

<p>They were in my wife’s home office (she works from home most of the time) and she was truly impacted by their passing. The lower level kitchen is a few feet away and every time we open the fridge or crinkle a plastic bag we expect to hear their wheeks and screams for lettuce or carrots. </p>

<p>Attractive is in the eyes of the beholder. Some are truly stunning if you know what they’re supposed to look like (agouti’s or texels). My last two were long hair Peruvians and required haircuts every two months or so (DD1 got very good at it).</p>

<p>Cost wise they averaged about $100/month for both, incl. $30 for bedding, $40 for food, and their typical vet care. Every couple years they’d need some $125-150 vet care. But you do get attached to them emotionally, big time, and they look forward to see you every day or put up a show with their roommate for you (very common). With payroll tax resetting to plus 2% we decided to hold off on getting new ones for now and believe me the office looks different without them…</p>

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<p>I’m not denying that but it seemed like the right thing to do. The other option being to sit home with my two children while they watched their first pet die. My feeling is when you take on the responsibility of a pet, you do the best you can afford for that animal. </p>

<p>There are lots of animals that I wouldn’t want for pets and lots of people that I know who wouldn’t want my dog for a pet (although THAT is just incomprehensible to me! :)). To each his own. Some people need a guinea pig.</p>

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<p>Just want to update on my dog’s chemo, as I learned a bit yesterday. We took him for his weekly chemo, and expressed our concerns to the vet re side effects. What I learned from the resulting discussion, is that you don’t have to view chemo as a black-and-white decision - to either do chemo or not do it. We discussed more gentle options, to keep the cancer at bay, but tone down the side effects.</p>

<p>So, first, we are taking a 3 week break. The dog needs it and so do I. Then we will resume with a lower dose protocol, and spacing it out to every 2 or 3 weeks. The vet made no guarantees, but since our dog is in remission, this seemed like a good plan to me. Continue to treat the cancer, but also focus on quality of life and try to eliminate days where our dog is lethargic and unwilling to eat.</p>

<p>Hopefully this will go well.</p>

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<p>acollegestudent, you are exactly right about the way my roommate treated her guinea pig: small cage, didn’t clean it often enough, didn’t interact with him. I have chickens, who most of the time are free range. Most of them have very distinct personalities, and they are not at all the stupid creatures many people think they are. Obviously, environment and nurture makes a huge difference. Thanks to you and turbo for educating me about guinea pigs! :)</p>

<p>Don’t get me wrong re the first world problem thing. As I said, <em>I</em> had no dental care for a decade, but my dog had plenty! I agree that you shouldn’t get an animal unless you are prepared to pay what it costs to take care of it. And believe me, we have paid. :)</p>

<p>Good luck, rockvillemom.</p>

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<p>I know, Consolation, that you didn’t mean that in judgmental way on your post. I have had people judge that event though and think I was ridiculous for taking the hamster to the vet. I knew it was a gonner but I had to have my kids know that we tried to help it. I know people who don’t have the money to get their dog a dental cleaning or chemo if it’s needed and, well, what can you do?! I have always felt that a pet counts on us to do the best we can. That looks different in every household.</p>

<p>My vet told me that good dental health is the best preventative medical investment you can make with your pet. Just like in people, healthy gums and teeth help to keep the whole body healthy. My dog is 12 and still has all her teeth and is very healthy. The vets office was amazed the last time she had a cleaning, that her mouth was in such good shape. Dry dog food helps, too. And no table scraps.</p>

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<p>rockvillemom, I’m really glad your oncologist listened and is working with you. I hope everyday is a good one for your pup and holding good thoughts for him and for you. :)</p>

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<p>if i had a 6 year old dog, and budget allows, i would do anything i can to treat it if the prognosis is favorable. with that said, i lost my 15 year old Shih Tzu two years ago to cancer. she was 15 years old when cancer was diagnosed. due to her age, i decided to forgo treatment. it was the right decision. i stand by it.</p>

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<p>W would not do chemo, but we have paid to have a hard back book removed from his stomach, to the tune of 4K, and another overnight that was 1500/ plus the special dog food, glucosamine, claritin, fish oil, steroids antibiotics etc… Its just how we view things. owever we know he is 10 and may not live many moreyears, and its tough to think about.</p>

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<p>Rockvillemom, thanks for the update. It sounds like you and your vet have chosen a course that is best for your dog and for you too. Will be thinking about how things are going over the next weeks, keep us updated if you feel like it. Sending lots of hugs for both you and your dog.</p>

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<p>Thank you for this timely thread as some of the comments here helped DH and I make that horrible decision when we learned earlier today that our sweet Sadie has inoperable cancer. We’re devastated.</p>

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<p>SplashMom, I am so sorry. It is a horrible feeling. Big hugs to you.</p>

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<p>So sorry, SplashMom. That’s tough. :(</p>

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<p>I’m so sorry SplashMom. What type of cancer does your Sadie have? This must be just heartbreaking for you and your family.</p>

<p>I’m waiting to find out about the pathology of a growth the vet removed yesterday from my Lab’s muzzle. I’m really hoping it’s not a mast cell tumor. I’ll find out on Thursday or Friday.
I’m not sure we would put our dog through chemo for a high grade mast cell, but I’d have to consult a vet. Our boy will be 11 in April.</p>

<p>It was good to read that your dog is doing much better, RVM. It’s great that you and your vet have such good communication.</p>

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<p>Thank you, moonchild, Nrdsb4, and sabaray. We were very surprised that it was cancer because her senior wellness blood work for her physical and teeth cleaning last month was perfect. I talked to a couple of vets yesterday at the practice where Sadie is seen. They were very kind and explained a lot to me. Sadly, the surgeon told me that he would need to get very clean margins to fully excise the mast cell tumor in her neck and, unfortunately, due to the location, he said it’s just not possible. He also said he fears that area is actually secondary to where it likely originally started which he believes may be the nose or skull. She is very lethargic and we carry her up and down stairs but, except for Sunday, her appetite is still pretty good. We were told we could take her for a CT ($800) and abdominal ultrasound ($300) to see if it had spread more, but were also told if we started chemo, it might only buy us a few months. Having read the timely thread here, and having seen my MIL’s Corgi go through chemo a few years ago, we don’t believe it’s right for Sadie. We’ll continue her Prednisone and the doctor suggested Benadryl three times daily, too. We want her to be comfortable, but we don’t want to be selfish. If she appears to be in pain, we won’t let that continue. DD, who works out of state, is also devastated. She will be home at the end of February for some meetings at the corporate office and we hope Sadie can make it till then to at least have a last goodbye with her girl.</p>

<p>I hope your dog’s results come back in a good way, moonchild. I’ll keep positive thoughts for you. Please update us.</p>