I don't have any advice but I wanted to send my healing wishes and vibes. We are dealing with cancer too and it just plain sucks.

So Thor, Nico says get better!!

**UPDATE**

Thor will be having the abnormal tumor removed tomorrow as well as a skin biopsy.

The good news, the blood sample taken from the tumor came back negative of any atypical cells. Also, since receiving the fluids; Thor has perked up considerably. As of Sunday night he began to drink vigorously and engage in play and had the zoomies . He played fetch on Monday with his normal intensity.

Not so good news; I woke up this morning to be met by a happy, ready to go dog, that reeked of the smell of a butcher shop or fresh kill. He had chewed a hole into his back that was about the most foul thing I had ever seen and a normal hotspot on his back leg. He has not been scratching or biting at anything in days.

I took him back to the vets and had to leave him while I went to work. The Vet called and said he had taken some scrapings and both hot spots showed a significant number of white blood cells as well as some atypical cells. He also feels the lesions are coming from the inside out. He found several lesions which have not made it to the surface yet. He will take a 6mm biopsy from these areas tomorrow and have them analyzed. He will also remove the abnormal tumor and biopsy to make sure the tumor itself is not cancerous. The most disheartening news of all is Thor has lost more weight.

Right now the best case scenario is allergies, though the vet isn't leaning in that direction ; the unexplained weight loss is really bothering him. He's baffled. As an aside, as far as vets go mine is pretty conventional but he told me to bring in Thor's raw food and he would make sure he ate

I had the option of taking Thor home tonight. I left him thinking it would be less disruptive for him. But now I am second guessing myself and wish I brought him home. Please say a prayer that he'll be coming home with me tomorrow night. The house is empty without him

Ohhhhhhh I hope he comes home happy and well!

i lost a dog to cancer a few years ago. I still miss her to this day.

The good news is that cancer dogs can still have good quality of life until the end. My dog lived 2 years after her diagnosis (she was almost 16 at the time). She had fibrosarcoma/melanoma.

The weight loss *could* be cachexia, although this early in the game, I doubt that. He's probably just not eating/absorbing his food because of what's going on with his body. Once he starts feeling better, I'm sure he'll gain the weight back.

make sure you keep us posted! I hope everything goes well at the vet and you get only good news back.

 Quote: Angela Burrell

The good news is that cancer dogs can still have good quality of life until the end. My dog lived 2 years after her diagnosis (she was almost 16 at the time). She had fibrosarcoma/melanoma.

Thank you. I was so down on Saturday thinking I would never do chemo to extend his life to be sick and then on Sunday I ran into a man I occassionally walk with who told me two of his dogs had cancer one who was too far gone when he was diagnosed the other who lived with chemo; disease free, healthy and happy for two years following the diagnosis. He passed away at age 13. I'm feeling better about treatment options and success stories like yours really help

But maybe its just allergies, always an optimist!

We will keep Thor in our thoughts and prayers, and sending him lots of healing vibes.

Oh Sheila, you and Thor will definitely be in my thoughts as well. I can't offer any advice or suggestion, but it does sound like you have a very caring and attentive vet working with you and I sincerely hope you can at least get to the bottom of what's causing the symptoms - worst case scenario or no - the worst part is the not knowing... poor boy, and poor worried mum. Sending best wishes and get well vibes!!

~Natalya

Sheila, I wanted to add my well-wishes, too. Sending the best of thoughts your and Thor's way...

Sheila, I hope Thor comes home tonight.

Poor guy - this must be very stressful and scary for you.

You guys are in my thoughts, and me and my whole gang send Thor 'get well soon!' wishes.

Sheila - my dog didn't have chemo, just surgery/radiation.

However, I did a lot of research and talking to doggie cancer doctors. It is possible, if controlled dosages are given, for dogs to have MUCH less problems with chemo than humans. Some dogs even have no side effects from it. They also deal with illness better than humans do. And as I said, quality of life even during cancer treatment can be quite good.

If it turns out to be the bad news, you should definitely see an animal oncologist (not a gp vet). They can give you the best advice on treatments.

Thanks so much for all the well wishes. Thor is home sleeping on his bed; , however it is no clearer today than yesterday what is wrong with him. I may not have lab results until Monday.

Nothing makes sense which is making the vet lean towards an autoimmune disease maybe lupus. I'll try to post some pictures of the lesions and maybe they'll make sense to someone. They are not being caused by trauma of being chewed and scratched because he found the majority of them under perfect coat with no hair breakage or loss. They are draining, highly inflamed with a proliferation of white blood cells but no bacteria. All of Thor's bloodwork, urine and fecal samples are completely normal. On paper he is the picture of health.

The abnormal growth which was removed was in the vet's description a purple sac of blood which was attached to the chest cavity muscle. He had to remove some of the muscle for biopsy as well but feels he got the whole tumor; it was well encapsulated. Maybe a small hemangiosarcoma but it did not present like any he has seen before.

Angela,
He mentioned a specialist; he is just not sure what kind . Teenage daughter is taking pictures. I'll be back.