How Long Does My Dog Have?
Dr. Demian Dressler is internationally recognized as “the dog cancer vet” because of his innovations in the field of dog cancer management, and the popularity of his blog here at Dog Cancer Blog. The owner of South Shore Veterinary Care, a full-service veterinary hospital in Maui, Hawaii, Dr. Dressler studied Animal Physiology and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Davis before earning his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. After practicing at Killewald Animal Hospital in Amherst, New York, he returned to his home state, Hawaii, to practice at the East Honolulu Pet Hospital before heading home to Maui to open his own hospital. Dr. Dressler consults both dog lovers and veterinary professionals, and is sought after as a speaker on topics ranging from the links between lifestyle choices and disease, nutrition and cancer, and animal ethics. His television appearances include “Ask the Vet” segments on local news programs. He is the author of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog’s Life Quality and Longevity. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Avian Veterinarians, the National Animal Supplement Council and CORE (Comparative Orthopedic Research Evaluation). He is also an advisory board member for Pacific Primate Sanctuary.
Updated: January 10th, 2019
It is very important to do what we can to avoid ongoing depression when trying to cope with cancer in our dogs. Ongoing depression is exhausting, steals our reserves, and clouds judgment.
It decreases your dog’s chances of good life quality during a life with cancer. Yes, your ongoing depression.
Please do not misunderstand me. There are many legitimate reasons for guardians of dogs with cancer to be depressed.
Here are some of these reasons:
Take a look at median survival times with conventional care (chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery):
- Hemangiosarcoma of the spleen: median survival time after spleen removal without chemo is about 2 months, and with chemo is up to 6 months.
- Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the bladder: median survival time on piroxicam alone is about 6 months.
- Melanoma of the toes: following removal of the affected toe, this cancer will take the life of half the patients within a year, assuming there is no evidence for spread at the time of surgery.
- Lymphosarcoma: patients receiving the Wisconsin chemo protocol have a median survival of roughly 6-10 months.
(For more specific data on median survival times with different cancers and protocols, see The Dog Cancer Survival Guide.)
So there is every reason to have sadness. But….continued sadness is not helpful to you or to your dog. After experiencing the grief, it is time for an expectation analysis. Time to organize yourself and move forward.
Suppose your dog was diagnosed with lymphosarcoma, and seems to be having good overall life quality 6 months later. Guess what? This is very good news! Median life expectancy with chemo being 6-10 months, about half the dogs with lympho have passed away in as little as 6 months after being diagnosed.
And that is with chemotherapy!
If you have a dog with lympho and your dog is doing well 6 months after diagnosis, you are already beating the curve, since median survival is as low as 6 months in some cases with the chemo.
Get a copy of the Dog Cancer Survival Guide for more helpful information and tools
What if your dog has lympho and is on pred only? Median survival for those dogs is roughly 2 or 3 months. So you are ahead of the game if your dog has good life quality 2 months after diagnosis.
If you were to look at some of the other statistics above, you can see that if you had a dog who underwent spleen removal 8 weeks ago, is not on chemo, and is still maintaining, you are beating the odds. This is very, very good news. This is successful treatment!
An integration of these statistics in one’s mind allows for a realistic picture of where we stand with conventional cancer care.
We really must take into account how short these survival times are in our expectations! We need to redefine success in malignant cancer management.
An understanding of these figures also tells us how we are doing with the addition of our “outside the box” treatments discussed here and in The Guide.
Once we get past the grim reality of these numbers, we can alter our expectations and begin appreciation with gratitude.
The practice of gratitude for each of these days, realizing the odds, is they key to avoiding continued sadness.
Best to all of you,
Dr D
Dr. Demian Dressler is internationally recognized as “the dog cancer vet” because of his innovations in the field of dog cancer management, and the popularity of his blog here at Dog Cancer Blog. The owner of South Shore Veterinary Care, a full-service veterinary hospital in Maui, Hawaii, Dr. Dressler studied Animal Physiology and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Davis before earning his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. After practicing at Killewald Animal Hospital in Amherst, New York, he returned to his home state, Hawaii, to practice at the East Honolulu Pet Hospital before heading home to Maui to open his own hospital. Dr. Dressler consults both dog lovers and veterinary professionals, and is sought after as a speaker on topics ranging from the links between lifestyle choices and disease, nutrition and cancer, and animal ethics. His television appearances include “Ask the Vet” segments on local news programs. He is the author of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog’s Life Quality and Longevity. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Avian Veterinarians, the National Animal Supplement Council and CORE (Comparative Orthopedic Research Evaluation). He is also an advisory board member for Pacific Primate Sanctuary.
Dr Dressler,
My 8 yr old was brought to the ER last Thurs night and found free fluid in his abdomin. The following morning, he colapsed and had to undergo emergency spleen removal. It came back hemangiosarcoma. In the time before we knew he developed a heart ahrythmias and now possible anemia. How do we know if this is all linked to the cancer in the spleen, and what chances to we have to fight all this off and get him well enought to consider the chemo treatment.
Dear Michelle,
in medicine we usually follow the principle where if a single disease can explain everything, we usually target it without looking for a host of other diseases. This does not mean that multiple diseases are not possible, it simply means that most commonly if the single disease fits with all the signs, it most commonly will be the single disease. In this case everything you describe fits with HSA. I would venture to say that most dogs will rebound with appropriate care in these circumstances (more than half for sure) adequately enough to approach further treatment steps.
Best
D
We just removed a lump from my 13-year old Italian greyhound which had grown very quickly over the last 8 weeks. The lab results came back positive for a high grade, high mytotic rate malenoma. Because we had biopsied other lumps a few months ago and done chest xrays, which were clear, and her recent chest xrays show her lungs are still clear, no lymph node swelling yet, etc. We’ve seen the oncologist and are weighing chemotherapy vs the melanoma vaccine.
My question is, is the life expectancy greater with chemo or the vaccine? We are leaning toward the vaccine because I think she’ll tolerate it better, and my online research appears to show that the vaccine has an edge over chemo, but I have not asked a veterinary professional yet.
Thank you so much.
This is quite an interesting discussion and a question at the foremost of any owner’s mind having to deal with a pet with the big C. Dr. D, you give a good reminder to just enjoy each quality day you have with your pet. My 10 y.o. golden retriever Bailey (who looks just like the one in the picture) was diagnosed with osteosarcoma just about 4 months ago. I chose to have surgery to amputate his right hind leg, but decided against chemotherapy. I was grateful to stumble upon your books after not quite finding what I was looking for in terms of alternative treatments, and I shared that information with my vet, who has been very supportive of how I am caring for Bailey. I am homecooking his diet similar to what you recommend but am using the BalanceIT supplement instead of all the individual nutrients in your recipe and others I’ve found. I am doing cycles of EGCG and antioxidants (EGCG, turmeric, fresh garlic, parsley)and then cycles of artemisinin, with lots of fish oil through both cycles along with MSM, Prozyme, Rimadyl, and an herbal supplement called Whole Body Defense with echinacea, polysaccharides, maitake, and a couple other ingredients. Bailey has adapted real well now without his leg, and he is eating well and his happy self. I am grateful for every happy day that Bailey has, but when you speak of breaking the curve, in my mind I still want to fight in the hopes that we may have more years together rather than more months. I know the reality is grim, and this is your life’s work, so I understand your perspective. But there are a few positive endings where dogs really do break that curve. So I feel great in the moment about how my dog is doing, but I will feel better still if I see him thriving like this in 3 more months, 6 more months. This whole experience amounts to having to make the best decisions given a bunch of terrible choices. And especially for those second-guessing themselves, there are no bad decisions. It’s a matter of making the best choices for your dog and for what you are capable of sustaining. Initially, it’s tough when you are trying to figure out what to do, but I reached a point of feeling great peace with my decisions, and I have no regrets and will not have any. Thank you so much Dr. Dressler for sharing this vital information with us. I had the first edition book downloaded but just ordered a print version of the update to see if there is additional information to ponder.
Dear Kelly,
Thanks for your comments- it really helps others to hear of people going through different things.
A little info for you- an antioxidant protocol along with artemisinin does not make a lot of sense. Artemisinin works by increasing free radicals in cancer cells to promote cell suicide. Anti-oxidants scavenge free radicals. Check out this:
https://www.dogcancerblog.com/blog/dog-cancer-and-antioxidantstime-to-clear-up-confusion/
https://www.dogcancerblog.com/blog/anti-oxidants-versus-pro-oxidants/
https://www.dogcancerblog.com/blog/new-antioxidant-info-for-managing-dog-cancer/
The best combo prooxidant is apocaps, formulated by yours truly. 🙂
Best,
D
19 yrs ago I had an American eskimo with inoperable TCC of the bladder in Januay. That was before the discovery that piroxicam could help with TCC. We tried chemo. The first one stopped the growth, but didn’t shrink it. After 3 treaments we tried another that Muffet did not tolerate well and she developed acute renal failure. After she recovered from that we tried a third chemo and that seemed to help, tho her kidneys were somewhat damaged and we almost lost her that first Fall. We felt she could not handl any more chemo, but we opted to give her subcu fluids to help with her kidney function. After a couple of month she developed cellulitis from the fuids so we stopped those to allow healing. Much to our surprise her creat/bun were the same with and without the fluids. Muffet lived till the following Feb -almost 26 months with bladder cancer! Having he vaccinated the December before her death may have cased her death due to compromisng her immunity. Other than antibiotics for a couple of scary, bloody bladded infections, Muffet lived that last year on no chemo! It was close a few times, but we never gave up and neiher did she! There were more complications which included the need to stimulate her bone marrow to make red cells as that hormone production in her kidneys had been damaged. We lost her when the cancer went to her shoulder bone at age 12. We alo had another dog with TCC that lived 17 months with it. And we know so much more that we did back then. So what I am saying is to not give up -as long as your dog in comfortable and happy keep fighting. We just lost a beautiful dog from stomach cancer and that was far worse and there seemed little we could do to stop it.
Thanks for your helpful input Ann
Best
Dr D
Hi Dr.
I just found your site and plan to buy your book. My dog has TCC and just had a large portion of his bladder removed today because of the cancer. I’m afraid now that maybe I did the wrong thing even though I was trying to help him. Though I’m glad most of the cancer is out, there was an area near the ureter that may be more cancer cells that they couldn’t remove. I’m hoping he won’t be too uncomfortable with less bladder now. And I am afraid that the cells that may be cancer may grow fast. They are sending samples to the lab to find out what is going on. I am also very afraid that uroabdomen may occur, in fact I am terrified about this complication and didn’t know about it until after surgery. My boy Max is staying overnight for one, maybe 2 nights. I’m thinking 2 might be best to keep him safe. How common is uroabdomen after bladder surgery. I could not find this info on the web. I have been an emotional mess for days now and I know I shouldn’t cry around my Max too much because it upsets him too, so I try to do this on my own instead. I downloaded your cancer diet and hope that can help him too. Thanks so much, you seem like a very compassionate person.
Dr. I forgot to mention that Max was on piroxicam for one week but he could not tolerate it and he vomited a lot. He was taken off it and we did surgery a few days later. I was told there were other milder NSAIDs that may be given that may help him if necessary.
Maria
His red blood cell count was at 24 but they said his body is fighting because he was regenerating the cells. His liver, heart and everything else is fine.
My 10 yr. old pitbull was just diagnosed with a tumor on his spleen. His belly is filling with fluid from it. I just dont feel the vet. gave me more options besides surgery and chemo. I dont want to put him through all of the stress of surgery and chemo when they gave him 6 months with and without surgery. I was wondering if he should be on some kind of painkiller and if its possible to drain the fluid.I just feel they didnt give me any idea on what to do so I just feel helpless right now. I dont want him to be in pain or suffer.Any idea on what I should do to make him as comfortable as possible?
Dear Chrissy,
so sorry to hear about your Pit. Yes, the fluid can be drained with a procedure called therapeutic abdominocentesis. We also don’t know the type of cancer (you need a biopsy which might be obtained with a non-invasive fine needle aspirate with ultrasound guidance). Bear in mind the fluid may return after drainage. Chemo might help, you know, and the life expectancy may be different that what is stated. You should be considering diet, apocaps, beta glucans like K-9 immunity, yunnan baiyao, modified citrus pectin, and daily efforts to boost your boy’s life quality. These are all discussed in the Guide and to some extent in this blog. Pain control can be helped with Tramadol plus gabapentin plus or minus metacam, depending on well being of kidney and liver and intestine…
I hope this helps
D
Just looking for any advice. My 11 y/o Pomeranian (Gizmo) was ok one day and violently sick the next. He started vomiting in the middle of the night and I rushed him to the vet the next morning. His labs were awful, anemic, hyperglycemic, high WBC, etc… Diag him with pancreatitis and a tumor on either the spleen, liver, or pancreas…the dr was not certain exactly where it was. He has been at the vet for two days and is responding to the treatment. No more vomiting and scarfed down the small amount of food the dr gave him. The vet said Gizmo probably has three months and of course I am devastated. Please give me any advice on how to make the best of his time with our family.
Dear Jennifer,
one of the first steps is getting a biopsy to find out what type of cancer you are looking at. This may be easiest with either an ultrasound guided biopsy or an exploratory. I would definitely start to read the Guide so you can start getting ready now. The different types of cancer all have different outcomes, and there is data in the book on the different common cancers and their life expectancies. 3 months is a number that is hard to say without this more specific information to be honest with you.
Best
D
Hi,
My cattle dog cross, Suki, 15 1/2 years, became violently ill in Jan and was subsequently diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma. At that point, she had a very large splenic tumour.
I brought her home with anti-nausea meds and some pain meds, in case, expecting her to die within weeks. I had no intention of subjecting her to a splenectomy at her age. And she was diagnosed 2 days before my husband’s 5 hour surgery for colon cancer and all the subsequent, iatrogenic complications and surgery it entailed. We said no to chemo for my husband (so little to no benefit with a great deal of horrendous and often permanent side effects).
So I had little time and energy to change a whole lot for her. I didn’t change her diet (already a very good quality feed) or add supplements.
Long story short, although I suspect she’s had a few bleeds, 7 1/2 months later, she is a robust, happy, full of energy dog with little of the normal “old dog” problems even (except for hearing and sight).
I have 2 friends who also had dogs with the same disease, diagnosed about the same time, one who did surgery and chemo, and one who used all alternative practices, both of whose dogs have died.
Chemo is extremely expensive, very stressful for dog and person and highly toxic. Yet, for dogs it supposedly gives a few months. At what cost? And why is this being encouraged? Why has the cancer culture gotten to this extent; where we don’t even question if quality of life is not more important than lengthening it (possibly, although I wonder) by a fraction of a year.
I’d rather see us looking more into why this is happening– perhaps over-vaccination, using vaccines with toxins, people using pesticides, some flea products, feed and so on.
And we need to allow people to use their own judgement and not be guilted into doing something for their dog that their “gut” warns against.
I’m all for doing what we can, in the way of food and supplements. But when we add poisons to their system, with very little evidence of success and much evidence of harm (we have to include the stress to the body the stress to their psyche [going to the vet], and the stress to their humans– both emotionally and financially), then one has to wonder if it isn’t the drug companies who are the ones who’ll do well.
Dr. Dressler,
My baby chopper 10 year old bulldog was diagnosed with lymphoma 2 weeks ago monday. He showed no signs other then a mild cough after he would play and his left submandibular lymph node with swelling. We took him to our vet and after blood work and aspirate of lymph node it came back that he had lymphoma. She immediately sent us to a oncologist in los angeles where they recommended the Wisconsin protocol. They stated that dogs do not have the side effects like people do when receiving CA treatment but that is hard for me to believe. We started him on Pred (they wanted 40mg) and he is 39 lbs. I did not feel comfortable with this dose as I know the side effects of pred. I feel the pred would kill him before the cancer would. So he is on 10mg tapering dose. He has been on for about a week. I am also giving him a fish oil. I have done some research on the k9 immunity and am considering ordering it.
My husband and I decided against the chemo. He seems to be doing great, eating great, playing, drinking. No problems besides mild fatigue but that isnt anything out of the ordinary for him, 10 year old lazy bulldog!!
One question I do have, is it possible that a mistake could have been made on the cytology report? His labs are perfect! They said so perfect that better then a puppy! Would any of these values be elevated with lymphoma? No anemia, lymphocytes normal, everything normal! Chest xray done, nothing significant however I dont think it is a good quality xray. I have noticed that in last couple days the other lymph node has swelled up. But no other in his body. They wanted to do u/s and bone marrow biopsy etc, but that wouldnt change the course of plan or treatment. Only predict his outcome.
This has been a horrible last two weeks. He has bee the light of our lives for 10 years. We have 3 bulldogs and cant imagine life without them! Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Dear Sarah, this is a pretty open ended question and the answer could fill a book..(actually it has, the Guide!)
I wonder whether you have the data on the use of pred for lymphoma? The suppression only lasts for months usually, and then the cancer gets resistant. Don’t be fooled. If you are wondering about the diagnsosis, get a copy of the path report and get a second opinion.
No, the lab work does not necessarily change with early lympho.
After you are satisfied the diagnosis is correct, I might reconsider the chemo to be honest. Get the data you need- 80% of dogs respond, median life expectancy with the chemo is around 10-12 months or more depending on who you read. Chemo side effects do happen but they are rarer than in people.
I would also remind you about the apoptogens, immune support (like the beta glucans in K-9 immunity, among others), higher than normal doses of omega 3’s, melatonin, and the other strategies in the Guide. There is also a section on treatment plan analysis that I think might help you guys a lot.
Hope this helps,
D