Second opinion. Give the new vet the same info you just gave us,

No, My opinion. Anesthesia would be too traumatic to a dog already stressed. From what you've posted, too many variables, and I'm no veterinary PhD. Seek out your best vet clinic, yes, a 2nd opinion ASAP.

Hold fast, steel yourself. I have a B, about 12ish ( a BRAT rescue), who was diagnosed about 7 weeks ago with lymphoma. Treating him with prednisone and supplements, but I'm still trying to wrap my own head around the endgame. I've already figured what I'll do for <him> to transition when it's time, dunno about me.

The sad but inescapable fact of living with dogs or cats is that they'll live nowhere nearly as long as their human. Maybe they're here to teach us about love AND loss. Something to think about, myself included. I've seen many beloved pets in my life pass, either from accident or age, never had to euthanize one. All I know is that it's on us to allow them the best transition out of this life as we can.

I too will be looking to bring another B into our lives. My SO thinks we're getting to the age that we don't need another dog. We will argue this, I intend to prevail. I WILL. Dogs bring so much love and beauty into our lives, we tend to take them for granted. I do not. It's a heavy burden, and you'll never know the weight you carry until the end. You enjoy the light of their lives all these years, but they're dimmed much earlier than you ever think.

Prayers indeed. For you, yours, me and mine.

If anyone has experience with a prednisone regimen in treating lymphoma, holler. Since the diagnosis on MLK Jr. day, he's gained 4.5#. I'm going to speak with the vet tomorrow to ask if I should pull back on the prednisone- he's eating more than ever and especially drinking more water. One day at a time, I guess.

Whoops, that's Rocky, D'Ogee's brother, after a KO.

Update. Last night at about 1130 D'Ogee had another seizure. Thankfully it didn't last as long as they have in the past, but it was still horrible. I'd fallen asleep watching TV, and as usual he was on the couch next to me. Not many worse ways to be woken up, AFAIK. Oh well. It is what it is, just gotta deal with things as they come.

Cool. I never thought to take a look at cousin breeds to a B, but that makes sense.

Just shared a chicken nugget snack with both boys. Meds for the B- we split a 20mg tablet of Predinisone, for a morning/night dose,he's about 32 # now, gaining weight, eating and drinking lots. The other dog has been on regular meds- potassium bromide, gabapentin, and phenobarbitol. That regimen has yielded good results, but predictable- he'll still have 1 or 2 episodes a month.

I've already worked out tentative plans for an endgame. Known a mobile vet doc and friend for years, I'll call on her when the time comes- she's helped in the past with a GF's kitteh. Planning a nice fish/bacon whatever dinner, and a heavy dose of probably gabapentin to sedate him. Then the euthanasia procedure.

Then a large rock for me to crawl under. Allow me to share a quote.

"And once the storm is over, you won't remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. And you may not be sure, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won't be the same person who walked in. That's what this storm is all about."

Haruki Hurakami

Dealing with my boy and his lymphoma, diagnosed on MLK JR day.. He's on prednisone, fish oil, CBD, ashwaghanda, and immunikokobo. He started having seizures last year, about one every quarter. Horrible, he wakes up terrified, and then his brain "reboots". Our other dog is a Jack Russell/Chihuahua/? who took a hard head trauma several years ago, and he has seizures. It's almost a routine with him, predictable, still just crappy when they happen. Very different than the B. I grew up with an epileptic Chihuahua, so I'm kinda used to it.

My first B made 17.5 years, but I kept him too long. Loved to sun out on the deck, all his life. We'd crack the door to the deck and let him come and go. One day he laid out in the sun, and couldn't get back up. Sunstroke. That's on me. Should have worked out the path for him out of this life, but didn't. I'll not make that mistake with D'Ogee.

Parrots- you gotta will them to someone. Other birds, meh-just birds. I always say that fish and birds are the easiest pets. When we commit to a dog or cat, or horse, we've the responsibility to help them pass when the time comes. I'm struggling to deal with mine too.

Steel yourself. I'm trying to do the same. I've got a plan for him, not so much for myself emotionally. Gotta do right by these critters, these great souls.

JBH

I've noticed this on both dogs I've owned. My theory is that it helps them run and corner faster. Their rear toes align like one would expect. I've always wondered about this! As Spock would say- "Fascinating."

Update: So far, so good. He's always thirsty and hungry it seems... gained weight, all from the prednisone. A bit more lethargic, but hey, he IS a hound, and older. With the extra water uptake, he's gained the nickname "Mr. Leaky"... our dogs sleep with us, and we've long kept a waterproof mattress protector on. (D'Ogee's "brother" is a Jack Russell/Chihuahua mix, suffers from seizures about once a month.)

Steady on. With the meds we're giving D'Ogee, all he knows is he's getting more treats than ever. Time and tide, que sera sera.

OK, time for an update. So far so good- tomorrow will be week 3 since the diagnosis. He's now taking fish oil, curcumin (turmeric), and 2 herbal supplements- ashwaganda, and immunikinoko. His lymph nodes under the chin have stayed shrunken since just after we started prednisone. Behavior is normal- he's a mooch pooch/chowhound, so giving all these pills is like a bonanza for him. Plus I work at a fine dining steakhouse, so there's always some top-notch prime beef or other proteins for treats.

Upon learning the diagnosis, I fell hard into a pit of despair. At this writing it feels like my rational mind, emotions, and subconscious are beginning to firm up to face the future. Everything I read and heard said it'd be about a month without treatment, so I'm content with the treatment regimen we're following. Chemo would have been too traumatic for him and for my finances. I've rationalized that in the end, the money I don't spend on his chemo should go into the eventual search for our next buddy. although that's a difficult thought in the present moment.

So, in all we're doing well, holding steady, day by day. Thank you all for your input and kind words/thoughts. Going forward I'll lean on folks, surely, to carry the weight.

Today is a week out from the diagnosis. Petting him now always involves checking his chin and neck. At this writing he's fine, the main problem is me.

One of the worst things about being human is being self-aware, knowing that the only two certainties in life are death and taxes. (Well, the second point is arguable.) Our pets don't comprehend the finite nature of life, so that's a blessing on them. The joys of a pet's life with you are tempered by the circumstances of the end of it.

I'm the type of guy that cries when I see/hear beauty, or some certain types of pain. (Physically I have a high threshold.)

We must steel ourselves for the inevitable, as dog or cat owners. They're not parrots, you don't have to write them into your will when you die. One must plan for the endgame.

Here's mine. Prednisone for as long as it's useful, as long as he's not suffering. Gonna get the wood and do my own carpentry. Then plot out his favorite spot out back. A day of feasting, then a good dose of gabapentin before bed. Another when we wake, a heavier dose. Whatever it takes to alleviate any pain or stress of the final injection, the final IV. If anyone here has any good suggestions, beyond this, please post. Then, a good rock for me to crawl under.

As I mentioned before, this will be the hardest for me and D'ogee's mama. I'll take one, maybe two days off of work.

ee- wow! I've read nothing related to prednisone that would indicate it would help that much. Still on the front end of researching this.

Well. starting day 3 on prednisone, for now his lymph nodes under his chin have receded to being barely noticeable. I just wonder how much extra time this is going to buy us. Definitely positive, hopefully for as long as possible we'll stave off the cancer. If anyone here has experience going this route, holler.

Thanks again to all here who've spoken up. Currently waiting on a call from the vet to discuss cost options, chemo vs. no chemo. At this writing he's acting completely normal.

Those of you who've gone the chemo route, a few questions: Procedures? Costs? Cost/Benefit ratios? I don't have a lot of money, and tax time will be upon us soon. This is getting tricky.

Just got done reading an article Jackie K. from BRAT sent me, a nicely detailed article from Whole Dog Journal. If I can swing it financially, I'd love to do chemo, but that's probably cost prohibitive. If anyone can inform me as to their experience having done chemo for a Basenji, holler. He's about 30.3#, strong as an ox today, nothing appears wrong**, but I can see the nodes under his chin. Can't put his collar on anymore. Vet suspects stage 3, maybe 4 at this time. Craptastic.

Thank you all here for your input, it's greatly appreciated.

JBH

Hello all, I'm new here. I've owned one dog for 17.5 years, my current one is approximately 10ish years old. Just learned yesterday that he has lymphoma. Waiting on the oncology test results. What are my best options? Chemotherapy? Palliatives? Obviously euthanasia down the line.

Any and all advice is greatly appreciated. The worst part now is simply dealing with my emotions.