Dogs and cancer  

Have you ever nursed a cancer patient? I have. I nursed my grandma before she died. Cancer has certain characteristics and a certain smell when it is outside the body. Nikki has that smell. I don't know if that makes sense, but it is the best I can explain it.

She has been to the vet, but without a biopsy they can't tell and we can't afford one. I just know that it has spread and rapidly. It started off just on her leg. Now it is on her side, her eye and down by her female parts. All of it bugs her.

They could still be just cysts at the other poster said, but I am pretty sure it is cancer. Once you have been around that smell... you just know.

My mother died of cancer and I was around her plenty when she was ill. I am sorry about your grandmother...my mom's cancer wasn't outside her body, and there was too much medicine and other hospitally-smelling things to tell if there was a distinct cancer odor.

Your initial post didn't implicate your dog having been to the vet, so the other poster and I had to assume she hadn't been yet. Whatever you choose to do, good luck, and I am sorry. It is very tough to have a sick pet.

She is doing ok for now, but it is hard to watch her. You can tell the days it bothers her. The one on her eye I worry about the most because you can tell it affects her vision. She is all the time smacking herself on walls and things because she can't see right out of it. It is tough to watch.

I just didn't know if there was anything sort of holistic we could do to make her more comfortable on the days she feels bad.

I am not stupid enough to home doctor anyone when they have this. At any rate extensive testing is expensive. Almost as bad as having kids they are.

Yes, I guess. It all comes down to taking her in. Now to convince the hubby that she needs to be seen whether we have the money or not.

The best thing to do is you can call around different vets asking for the cost of running the tests, it may very from vet to vet. If you are on good terms with your vet maybe you can talk about a payment plan.

I do know what it is like to have an unexpected vet bill. When my dog got into the trash and ate something she wasn't suppose the total cost for the visit, surgery, follow up visits, and meds was roughly $6,000. I can honestly say it wiped me out but I do not regret it at all.

6000 wow that is crazy money. I am glad your dog is ok.

My hubby wanted to give the dog something like that and I told him it wasn't a good idea until we know how it would affect her. Just because something works for us doesn't mean it will for them. Sort of like chocolate.

Do not give Tylanol to your dog. it is poison to them. Aspirin is safe for them. It is funny how it is the opposite for cats.

Don't worry, I won't give any animal stuff like that. Like I said, just because it works for us, doesn't mean it is ok for them.

Well, we aren't looking at that option just yet. Right now it is just certain days that she has problems. She is 10 years old though, so not a short lifespan by any means.