[nguard]

My 6 year old boxer has developed his second oral tumor in the past 12 months. The first was located under his tongue in the front of jaw, it was not cancerous. This needed to be surgically removed and the bone needed to be replace with a metal plate and 2 screws….Now, 12 months later he has another one, this is just off to the left of the original one. Now the vet wants to put him under to take x-rays of the jaw and evaluate the tumor to find out if it is cancerous. Well, they want to hospitalize him for the x-rays and have estimated a total cost of approx $800.00 for the x-rays. They claim that should we decide to go forth with the surgery it cost upwards of $3,000.00. Does this sound right? With a life expectancy of approx 4 years, a $4,000.00 procedure does not appear to make much sense at this time in his life. I love this dog to death and I’d be lucky to ever have another dog that’s as well mannered and behaved as my buddy, however trying to take the emotion out of the equation and simply try and make sense of the vet’s recent option. Has anyone had to experience this?. I have seen that the tumor has come back after the surgery and that would simply be a huge kick to the groin. I do not know why they cannot remove this one like they did the last, the procedure cost me $500.00 last year, and though that’s a large chunk of cash, I wouldn’t hesitate having to do it again this year, and maybe next etc…. A $500.00 / yr dog tax for the next 4-5 yrs is OK with me, he’s worth that to me…any thoughts?

[JudyKayTee]

I have two incredibly painful stories. I had a very large GSD that developed tortion bloat. The first two times the Vet was able to flip his stomach back (in layman's terms). The third time he needed surgery which at that time was $2,500. I agonized. He was 4. I went with the surgery, he lived (and afterward I found out how slim his chances were), never boated again and lived to be 12.

I had a Rott. She torn her rear ligament. Had it surgically repaired - this side of $2,000 because the ligament was really in bad shape. A week later she slid on the kitchen floor and tore the other ligament. Another $2,000. She was dead within a year because of a spinal cord problem.

I feel so much guilt over the Rott because she went through two lengthy procedures, a rough time healing, she was in pain for a long time - and in the end it was all a waste of time.

What is the chance there will be other tumors?

I agree - the procedure is pricely. I admire the way you are looking at it. Have you consulted with another Vet, perhaps a Vet college?

I don't know what I would do - these are rough economic times for everyone.

I made the decision twice, one wrong and once right.

I wish you well.

[nguard]

After speaking directly with our vet, instead of through my wife, this new vet is not comfortable with performing any surgery and therefore the quote for a specialist to perform the procedure... They will not consider the removal without numerous diag's prior to... needless to say, we are either going back to the original vet and or seeing another doctor... big relief for right now...

[Aurora_Bell]

Wow my deepest sympathies for you in your situation. We had a beautiful GSD, he was an amazing dog, he was 8 when he developed tumors in his stomach. We went through 2 surgeries, both extremely costly, both extremely painful for the dog. A few years after his second surgery, he developed more, but this time cancerous.

There was nothing any vet could do, and we ended up having to put him down. So basically from the time he was 8 until he was 11 when we finally had to put him down, he lived in agony. He spent more time in recovery and being sedated, his life was miserable.

My father said that if there was even a chance he would have survived another surgery he would have done it again in a heart beat, my mother thought it wasn't much of a life for a very active dog. It's a terrible situation.

I wish you the best of luck.