Should I put my 11 year old dog through surgery?

Should I put my 11 year old dog through surgery?

Choosing surgery for your senior dog is never an easy decision. Age is not a disease, and your dog is never “too old” to receive the quality care he or she needs, even if it involves a surgical procedure that requires anesthesia.

How long does it take for a dog to recover from tumor surgery?

Depending on the type of surgery, full recovery will take between six weeks and four months. A full, safe recovery requires careful post-op care, followed by a gradual rehabilitation. Your veterinarian or board-certified veterinary surgeon will give you a range of time that they expect your pet will take to heal.

How much does it cost to remove a tumor from my dog?

Veterinary Cost $500 to $1,000 is a fairly typical expense for a mast cell removal. If a board certified surgeon is elected due to difficult access to the site (for internal tumors or for less surgically amenable locations on the skin), costs are likely to increase two- to five-fold.

Is it possible for a tumor to come back?

Yes, these tumors do tend to want to come back in the exact same spot they were cut, especially if the vet was unable to get the extra skin around the mass (what we call “wide margins”) due to the location (ie – a foot or leg, where there is not a lot of skin to work with). Many tend to not come back though.

Is it possible to remove a tumor from a dog?

If the tumor is on a part of the dog that doesn’t have a lot of extra skin (ie – wrists and ankles) then removing it and getting all of it is practically impossible. In these cases, some people choose to not operate.

What to do if your pet has a spindle cell tumor?

If your pet has a really persistent spindle cell tumor that comes back, the best way to ensure it will not return again is with radiation therapy. This often involves leaving your pet at a facility to get radiation every day for 3 weeks, and most people (and pets!) don’t dig that.