Hi All,

I've been in and out of the vets this week with Fern. She has developed an egg sized tumor on the inside of her leg and lost condition hugely while bloating around the abdomen.

The vet would not address the tumor issue until the dog had a full scan and oncology consultation which was priced at £500, after the already £100 cost of the blood tests (they came back normal)

At the risk of sounding insensitive but it seemed a lot of money to me to just "ask the question" in a scan, especially as they were preparing me for an additional £1000 if surgery was required!!

With a conflicting conscience I rang up Tony Price of Tawnyhill Gundogs, and asked his view as a suggestion. His wife immediately got onto their vet who told me that a full investigative scan would be £120 and a simple pregnancy scan was £70.

That's a big difference especially when the decision impact on the life of the dog.

K

Hope everything turns out okay.

FB.

"Ouch!!" Both for your dog and your wallet.

I've just spoken to the Ratwife (Who works for a local vets) and have been informed that you may be being taken for a little ride. If the bloods came back normal the two items may not be connected, and an abdominal ultra sound should show up issues quickly and cheaply.
Did you go through your/any insurance for the dog's consult as this may have been why they wanted to take such drastic and expensive action.

Anyway, the best of luck and I hope the outcome is favourable when allis known.

Regards.

Ratty. (I used to post as Dave2431 but not posted for years)

RW,

The consultation was for an abdominal Ultrasound. Normal price £450 for a nurse to conduct it and £500 for a specialist with all the whistles and bells....

When I spoke to Tony's guys it was less than a quarter of that price. I had not used insurance although it did cross my mind that dealing with insurance cases surgeries must be less inclined to price competitively.

I'm going to book her in for Monday and see how it goes with Tony's guy.

K

Kiri,

We used to have a fantastic black lab at 18months old she developed an egg sized tumour on her hock. We took her to the vets and didn’t see the vet we normally saw. The younger vey we saw thought it was mast cell tumour and suggested blood tests.

We went along and ended up going to a specialist at the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket the prognosis was not good and radio therapy would not work on this kind of tumour. So they would have to operate.
To cut a long story short she had the ops but would need radio therapy and maybe more ops without these she had only about 6 months to live. We had already spent over £2000 and didn’t have any insurance we could not afford to spend anymore. Teal continued to be a great all-round dog where it be Deer, Wildfowling or on the peg. She lived to be 10 years old before the cancer returned and had to be put to sleep.
On speaking to the old vet he said if we had seen him he would have suggested just removing the tumour or her hock and seeing how it went.

Well,

I got a call this mng saying that I should bring her down straight away for the scan in Faversham. Their rates were much more reasonable so I took her down to see what we would find.

Half an hour later it seems she is riddled with tumors that are causing the distension in her abdomen. They also are fairly sure there are malignant secondary tumors too.

Basically they expect her to have another week or so before it gets uncomfortable and at that point there aren't many choices but to put her to sleep.

To say it is a kick in the nuts is to put it mildly.

K

Mate I don't know what to say, I'm so sorry.

Regards,

Amir

Very sorry to hear that.It is never easy to face the prospect of losing a canine companion.

Best-
Locksley,R.

Kiri, that is really bad news. I know how you feel about that little dog.

I went through this 18 months ago with my old GSP. You know how badly I took that. I swore I would not have another dog after that. Anyway, I have a new one in training now.

Kiri,

From Winkelmeister (Ms. Finn the Black Lab Bitch) & I we'd like to send you & Fern our best.

Deal with it as best you can Buddy.

As paid up members of the 'Puppy' fan-club. Jo & I want you to know how much this upsets us to hear.

Bud, a really sad thing to happen to a lovely lady. Our thoughts are with you & I know how much this must hurt.

Be strong & make her remaining time happy.

Rgds

Ian & Jo

FB.

My apologies for the late reply, and my sadness for you at this time.

Regards.

Dave.
....

Really sorry to hear the sad news.
Be strong for her sake when the decision time comes.

Someone once told me that you only get four dogs in a lifetime.
It took me some time to realise that there was more to that comment than the simple maths of ageing.

Heartfelt sympathy. My own much loved gun/deer dog and family pet black lab bitch went the same way six years ago. From fit to riddled with cancer and gone in a week.

Very sad to hear. Remember the good times.

So sorry to hear this, Kiri.
I was fortunate to meet Fern when I visited you last time, and she's a beautiful little dog. Very sad news. Will be thinking of you.