If Helga survives until December, she will reach eight years old. She is an Olde English Bulldog.
The breed is different from a regular English Bulldog, considerably larger, and bred to be what an English Bulldog was 250 years ago, a working dog.

Recently, my stepdaughter found an enlarged lump below her jaw on one side.
We followed up at the Vet's office, and Helga had many enlarged lymph glands.
The Vet did multiple small needle biopsy sites, at/in the lymph glands.
The Vet sent them out to a pathology lab, the lab result is canine lymphoma.

Apparently, in canines, any treatment for lymphoma is only a "delay" tactic, and not considered a "cure" and her time is limited.
We won't do the chemo/radiation since it will cause her to suffer.

When Helga was young/small, she had a severe reaction to a common flea/tick collar. You all know which "brand" I'm talking about.
She spent many days with/at the Vet, and they had no clue what was wrong with her.
She almost died, severe gastro/intestinal issues, rectal bleeding.

We happened to be visiting a neighbor at the recreational property, and he told us about a German Shepherd dog he had owned that had the same flea/tick collar "brand" reaction.
He told us to cut the flea/tick collar off her neck, throw it out, and to give her two baths with Dawn detergent dish soap and see what happened.

The next day, Helga was like new again. But her long duration sickness from the flea/tick collar came with a cost. Within a few weeks of cutting off the flea/tick collar, she started having skin problems. Helga has spent enough time at the Cornell University Small Animal Clinic, Dermatology Unit, in Ithaca, NY that she should be a Cornell Graduate!
I guess we were fortunate that Cornell is close enough to drive to.

Further research on flea/tick collars showed they are considered an insecticide, not a medication, and as external, regulated by the EPA, not the FDA. Duh... What's wrong with that?

We will miss her when she is gone, but we aren't going to cause her any more suffering. The Vet has prescribed Prednisone to make her feel better, and the Vet also told us we will know when it is time.

Helga, with her white fur, one blue eye, is genetically predisposed for partial blindness and hearing loss/deaf.
She never has been a "normal" dog. She is VERY mellow, doesn't run, chase balls, play with dog toys. She's a 70 pound lap dog, at one time when younger, she got close to 90 pounds.
But if you took her to Lowe's or Tractor Supply, and there was a customer in one of those stores that had a child with Downs Syndrome, Helga would drag you over to where the Downs Syndrome child was.
I don't know how she knew, but over Helga's lifespan, it has happened multiple times.

**One edit for spelling**

4223 by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

4099 by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

IMG_20211209_201351395 by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

This message has been edited. Last edited by: cee_Kamp,

quote:

Originally posted by cee_Kamp:

...We won't do the chemo/radiation since it will cause her to suffer...

Sadly, I have to concur. We had a cat who got chemo after cancer surgery, and she suffered from it a lot, and she died anyway. A year or two later another of our cats (ironically, her niece) had the same cancer, we decided to make her comfortable until it was time, no surgery, no chemo. It was the right decision.

As tough as it is, you made the right choice for Helga. I know you did.

What a sweet, beautiful girl. Wish you guys the best.
Went through something similar with a younger dog a few years ago . It was a very difficult time and experience.

Prayers sent for you all cee_Kamp.

I’m sorry to hear this.

We did chemo treatments for our first dog and it was not good. We will never do it again. Lessons learned.

It was nothing but a money grab by the vet and not a good quality of life for our baby.

I think all the shots our pets get are adding to the cancers.

My condolences.

I’m very sorry, I wish I had something better to pass on to you.

I am rooting for her to hit that birthday! And I personally agree with her age and what I’ve seen, particularly if your vet says it’s a delay and not a cure.
I discreetly warn everyone I see whose pets wear them not to use those collars. They are poison incorrectly administered.
There is simply no way an equal amount of the medication can make it all the way to the tail if it’s focused around the neck. The majority of the medicine is going to be administered around the neck. It seems to be common sense to me.

Best wishes and comfort to her, and good wishes and strength to you and your family.

Very sad.
I hope her days are filled with as much joy as she can have or give.

I’m extremely sorry to hear about Helga’s diagnosis. As others have stated, you’re making the right call in just trying to give her the best quality of life. I have no doubt that she has lived a life full of love.

Damn cee Kamp I'm sorry to read this about Helga. A strong but gentle 70# lap dog that recognizes children with challenges is a special animal.

Helga's a beauty, cee_Kamp. And she sounds amazing, thank you for sharing her with us. I am sorry that you are going through this, but I think you are making the best choice. The last time I researched it, Cornell was the best vet school in the country, and it probably still is, so you have given her the best care available.

We went through this with our female lab about 6 years ago. One day she suddenly had a golf-ball sized knot on her upper jaw. The vet removed it, did the tests and a body scan. She had cancer, a different form, and the scan showed that it had spread in tiny dots all over her body. Treatment would have been long, painful and with a low likelihood of success. She was 13 and we decided to make her as comfortable as possible until it was time.

I know you will be there with her and comforting her when she passes. I feel for you, buddy.



.

Very sorry to hear that. I wish I could tell you that I hadn’t been down the same road. I’ve joked that we added a wing on at Cornell. Give her some extra snacks.

So sorry to read about Helga. She sounds like a very special girl. I too agree, you're doing the right thing. Make her as happy and comfortable as you can, and be there with her when her time comes. She's worth all of it.