My tweleve-year old black lab has large growths underneath her stomach. They look like they would be uncomfortable because when she lays down it falls to the side. It used to be a large ball. Now it is very large, flat and looks like it could just fall off. Here's the thing, the vet thinks because she's already had two surgery's she shouldn't get these removed. Any suggestions? She also has a dry hacking cough, common in older labs. Anyone have any natural remedies?
2007-03-07 02:17:02 · 6 answers · asked by // 7 in Pets ➔ Dogs
My older Black Lab (he was around 12 too) had growths all over his tummy too, looked like golfballs under his skin. He has them removed so many times... maybe the vet is worried about an older dog with a cough going under the anesthetic safely. You can ask him to do blood work to check if the anesthetic would be safe, and go from there. My dog has the cough too, we had to put him to sleep when he was 14. It sounds like the growth could have been a subcutaneous cyst that has popped, hence the ball like look to flat and large. Labs are prone to them. Ask the vet for bloodwork to check the dogs health and then if he thinks it's safe after that, go for the surgery, if you think it will be necessary to the dogs quality of life. Good luck, having an older Lab is hard, they're such awesome dogs.
2007-03-07 02:30:12 · answer #1 · answered by melaniecampbell 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I had a sweet black lab that died at 14 1/2 (from other problems)that had a few of these growths. The vet stuck a needle in them and pulled back some of the cells and they weren't cancer, so she said it didn't need to be removed. Apparently they are pretty common for old labs. I never have experienced the dry hacking cough -in my dogs, I mean.
2007-03-07 02:23:59 · answer #2 · answered by paulbyr 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If your vet has tested the growths and found them to be of a non-lethal variety, and (most likely due to your dog's age) the vet suggests that putting the dog through surgery would do it more harm than good, and cause it more discomfort than the growths will, then take the advice of your vet.
To help ease the dog's cough, you can usually give it a child's dose of Robitussin, but check with your vet first to make sure that the medicine will not interfere with whatever other medical problems your dog may have.
2007-03-07 03:02:53 · answer #3 · answered by Fetch 11 Humane Society 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your vet doesnt think your dog is safe for anesthesia, then i would listen to him. Coughs are not common in older labs, or any breed, you should have him xrayed to make sure nothing else serious is going on.
2007-03-07 03:52:59 · answer #4 · answered by cs 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ask your vet about the cough, it could be anything from just a cough, allergies, heart condition to kennel cough, so don't take medical advice here.Your dog is your child, don't take chances.
2007-03-07 09:37:40 · answer #5 · answered by katie d 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in case your reading to be a vet tech then you definately could be responsive to that there is something heavily incorrect and you'd be able to desire to take the canines to a vet. at 8 years she is a senior puppy and that they could desire to be seen a minimum of two times a 300 and sixty 5 days. does not sound good to me and that's purely my straight forward sense in this one.
2016-10-17 11:47:34 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋