What Would You Do?

[Guest]

I have a 15 and a half year old Jack Russell who is nearly stone deaf and quite blind, but besides that he is happy. He eats well, has a shiny coat, abit (well maybe alot) on the chubby side. But other wise a happy chap you couldn't hope to meet. But he has one or two lumps. One almost feels like a fat roll just behind his shoulder blade and another further down his back. They have been there for quite some time now, but I was reluctant to take him to the vet as they did not bother him. But I had him in for a teeth clean and they checked them out. They gave me the whole spiel of it could be something an nothing, considering his age these things can appear for no reason, blah, blah, blah, but basically said that seeing as they are not hurting him, not getting any bigger they gave me the choice of having him undergo exploratory surgery to find out what they are. He had a major surgery 5 years ago and it took alot for him to recover, so I am reluctant to have him go under the knife. I feel that as long as he's happy and not in any pain, (if it is anything major I'll make that decision then) I want his final years of his life living a leisurely life, lazing about at home, being spoilt rotten.

What do you guys think?

[persephone]

if it were mine- (and I have had an old dog with lots of growths on his body) I would choose to not put him thru the anaesthetic ,etc- but ,as you said- let him enjoy what time he has

[Diva]

I'd also leave him be. It would be different if they were causing him discomfort, but as they aren't at his age I wouldn't put him through an op unless you really have to.

[kamuzz]

Agree with the others, I'd be happy to leave them be and see what happened.

[Golden Rules]

Yes, if you think he is happy enough as it is, leave him be.

I am a firm believer in quality of life rather than quantity - and it sounds like he might be living the life of Riley!

[cavNrott]

I'd leave him be too. I wonder why they didn't do a fine needle aspirate when they had him in to clean his teeth.

[RuralPug]

I would think it likely that they did do aspirations but these are often not definitive. Check that with them.

Why not ask for a full blood work up (might be nearly as expensive as a biopsy, but less intrusive on your JRT) and if there are no contraindications in those results, then I would leave him be.

[becks]

I would have had them off while his teeth were done, otherwise, I'd be leaving him alone unless something else warrents having an anaesthetic

[~Anne~]

I wouldn't operate. I think there is just as much, if not more, risk in the operation on a dog of that age then leaving the lumps.

[Sam&Saki]

No, I would let him be. Non-invasive tests, yes, spare no expense; but investigative surgery? Not on an elderly dog.

That's been more personal choice in the past, anyway. Blood tests, ultrasounds, all fine - anything requiring a general anaesthetic, no way.

Just do what you feel and think is right for your dog and be at peace with that ;) x

[Guest]

Thank You to all who added their views. Though I know I'm doing the right thing, it's nice to know that other like-minded (by that I mean animal lovers) people think that I'm doing the right thing. Rocky is a happy JR, who enjoys his days however he pleases, and until his behaviour shows me that he is in any sort of pain, I don't want a scalpel to come near him. ;)

[Dogsfevr]

To be honest at that age we wouldnt even go into in depth testing.

At that age the little one has had a fantastic innings.As you say the dog is happy,healthy & content & Every day is a bonus & i would prefer it to be that way .