9-year-old dog diagnosed with a grade 3 sarcoma after her 3rd abdominal surgery. Looking for experiences with treatment and outcomes.

Raven: almost 9, spayed female Lab/shepherd mix, ~ 70 lbs

History

June 2025: A 13 cm mass on her spleen plus enlarged lymph nodes. She had a splenectomy, and pathology came back benign (a hematoma).

April 2026: An 8 cm mass grew where her spleen used to be. The first pathology read suggested lymphoma, but further testing (immunohistochemistry and PCR) ruled that out. The final diagnosis was a benign, reactive lymph node. She also has a ~3 cm right adrenal mass we're monitoring, which has stayed fairly stable.

October 2026: Ultrasound showed two new masses in the same area. Both were removed on Oct 12. A suspected liver mass seen on ultrasound wasn't found during surgery. Chest X-rays before surgery were clear.
Biopsy results (reviewed by 3 board-certified pathologists)
Larger mass: high-grade (grade 3) sarcoma, likely a splenic stromal sarcoma. They believe it grew from leftover spleen tissue (ectopic spleen) left behind after the splenectomy.
Mitotic count over 20: a measure of how fast the cells are dividing, which makes it fast-growing.
Smaller mass: benign nodular hyperplasia, also in leftover spleen tissue.
Margins were clean on both: the masses were fully removed.
Plan: Her surgeon and his oncology colleague are both recommend chemo. We have an oncology consult coming up.

Questions
Has anyone dealt with splenic stromal sarcoma, or a sarcoma growing from leftover spleen tissue? How did your dog do?
For a high-grade sarcoma that was fully removed with no visible spread, did you do chemo (IV doxorubicin or low-dose oral)? How did your dog tolerate it, and did it seem to help?
Did your vet recommend a CT scan for staging beyond chest X-rays?
Has anyone used turkey tail or other supplements alongside chemo?

picture of raven for flare

I love my dog, truly. She's such a sweetheart. But the truth is I didn't ever want a dog. I'm really a cat person. Not because I don't adore dogs, I do! So much! But because I don't feel like the needs of a dog align with my needs from a pet. I have a lot of anxiety and depression and I struggle with panic disorder. I don't want an animal dependent on me for walks and all the stimulation a dog requires.

My mom is a recovering alcoholic and currently, we are living together to save money. My mom is the most dog person you could ever meet. She lost her dogs some years back and it devastated her. She would wake up dreaming of them almost every single night. It broke my heart to see her mourn them so viscerally. So she told me, "I just need a dog to love and take care of and it would mean so much for me." And I knew it was true. That's just how she is, she adores them. So she adopted a dog while I was living with her and unfortunately ... This dog attached itself to ME. This dog adores me. Waits for me to come home from work. Snuggles with me like I'm her angel. Didn't attach to my mom at all. I tried to push her towards my mom but she just wasn't having it. Even when she tries to take her outside, she refuses if I don't come with. She loves me to death. And in turn I ended up loving this dog. But I didn't ask for this.

She's unspayed and I've been trying to find resources for a cheaper spay but we're really poor and every place quotes like $600 which we just can't pull off right now. Every time I try to save for it something comes up that puts it off. Because she's unspayed she tears up all my blankets, constantly paces, and loses her mind if she sees another dog at the park. She's so sweet and I don't want to abandon her but again, this wasn't a responsibility I signed up for. I know myself and I wouldn't have intentionally put a dog in the position of depending on me because I know I'm not currently equipped for that. I do my best taking her to the park on my days off and doing what I can for her but I'm emptying my limited amount of energy right now to be there for her and I know I need to give more energy to myself right now.

My mom got her off of Facebook from someone giving her away for free after they allegedly took her from someone who was leaving her tied out all day and kicking her. I have no clue about the validity of any of that but I do know that she seems skittish around certain men and it seems like she probably has trauma. I don't want to give her up without knowing that she'll end up somewhere loving and calm. There's a no kill shelter in my town but I don't want her to be stuck there for ages. She's very clingy and just needs a lot of attention so the idea of her sitting in that shelter for ages breaks my heart. What is the best way for me to find a good home for her? I adore this dog and I'm scared to just give her up without knowing where she'll end up.

EDIT: Thank you to everyone helping me find options that aren't giving her up. I'm going to do my best for her to keep her with me with the resources y'all have provided. I just want this sweet girl to be happy and you all are right, she does give me something that I think will help me through my own stuff too so I don't want to abandon her if I don't have to. She might be here for me just as much as I try to be there for her.

The one on the bottom is a three year-old female and the one on top is a two-year-old female.

They are inseparable, play together, eat together, walk together, and now I realize that they even sleep in the same bed all the time even when they’re just resting.

Is this OK? Do they need their own space? Should I encourage them to sleep in separate beds? Also, should I walk them separately sometimes?

He's been limping, staggering, reluctantly to move, lost a lot of wait in 4 days, lost of appetite, constant yellow/white eye and nose discharge.

I rescued a dog from a shelter and she has been so obsessed with me. Anytime im home she's always getting in my face and forcefully licks me and I cant seem to get her to stop. I understand she loves me as I love her too but this is getting a bit out of hand.

Spunky is 14 and over the summer it has really progressed. The vet gave us gabapentin to give him twice a day to manage the pain but I need to do more for him. He still eagerly wakes up in the morning for his walks and the only change is he moves slower. The biggest issue seems to be when he’s standing still, particularly when he’s eating. His legs bow out whether we put the bowl on his little table or on the floor until they collapse and he lays down while he eats. I’m definitely worried it’ll be difficult for him to stand while he goes to the bathroom and he’ll feel defeated.

Has anyone been in this situation? Are there any good results with “manual therapy”?

This is my first dog. I met him when he was 2, played with him every week, and he became mine when he was about 6 when his previous owner passed away. I guess I never really entertained the idea that he would grow older and I just want to do anything I can to make him as comfortable as possible.

These are my two dogs, larger one is female and she’s 4. Smaller fella is 6. These two Co exist very well apart from they don’t play. They’ve two very different play styles, but will have a good chase when out in an open field together.

This scenario will happen occasionally where they’ll jump about, the small one is a vocal and growly player but I don’t know if these are happy playful growls. The big gal will also come up and lift her leg for him to sniff??

Would love some expert eyes on this! Should I discourage this behaviour? Leave them be? Thank you!

Any idea what this could be? Dog is eating and drinking like normal but has been coughing and reverse sneezing

Does anyone know what’s wrong? He was breathing like this for a couple minutes and then he was okay. He’s 14 year old cairn terrier. He’s blind and deaf. The vet just said he may have a heart mur mur but denied any treatment for him. Should I take him to the vet?

My dog started doing this at night for the last few days. If I have him get on the couch, he stops. He’s done it standing up too. It’s always a few hours after eating dinner and after he’s been laying down for awhile. But he doesn’t do it after his morning meal. Any thoughts? I searched the group and found it could be nausea or acid reflux. I’m wondering if it’s a potential apoquil side effect since he’s been taking that but I’m going to look for alternatives.

Noticed my dog is closing one of her eyes a lot. Opened it and saw this. Any idea? Going to vet but curious.

She’s 14

Lab border collie.

We switched his food about 8 months ago, recently he just started to push away the kibbles. I ve been trying different bowl setups, mixing some ground beef or similar stuff etc.

We were at the vet 2-3 months ago and they said teeth look good. He also had a blood work done and kidneys looked good too.

He’ll eat hard dental chews, not sure if its oral pain.

Do I change his food again?

Edit: Thank you all for the great tips! I am trying to reply everyone - but worse case I will read them all.

I'm not sure whether I should let them do this. It's so hard to separate them because my cat is super food motivated and this happens every time I feed her (which is more frequently than I feed the cats). My other cat stays away from the dog entirely. The cats have plenty of escape routes and dog free zones in the house.

My two cattle dogs (8M and 7M) have lived together with our family for the past 6 years and have been great buds for the majority of their relationship. Over the past year, their dynamic seems to have started to shift and they have had episodes of aggression with one another. It happened very occasionally at the start and now unfortunately it’s nearly becoming a weekly occurrence. I’m currently writing this in the waiting room at the emergency vet at midnight because my oldest dog likely has a puncture wound on his lip from getting bit by my other dog tonight during a fight. I’m desperate for some advice or feedback on our situation.

When they get into fights, it usually seems to be triggered by one dog getting territorial over something (barking at the neighbor dog trying to guard the yard, food bowls, toys) but it has also happened more randomly when one dog got excited and playful and crossed paths with the other dog who did not receive it well. We have tried to remove the obvious triggers and the dogs are fed separately in their own kennels and then the food bowls are removed/hidden entirely. We do not let them play with toys together anymore. They stay home with each other during the day when my spouse and I are at work and seem to do fine together but now I am nervous to leave them alone together.

We suspect our oldest dog is starting to have some health issues and may be trending toward a Cushing’s diagnosis based on recent bloodwork. Our youngest had an orthopedic injury from playing that still seems to bother him at times but the vet could not determine anything to be wrong. I’ve read that injuries and declining health can trigger fighting within companion dogs and I fear we have entered that territory.

Both dogs are intact and I would be open to neutering one/both but not sure if that would make anything better. The thought of rehoming one dog is heartbreaking and I’m wondering if anyone has had success dealing with a similar issue. I’m so sad for both of them and our whole family, it has been really stressful and exhausting. I would appreciate any insight or guidance that others can offer, TIA.

My girl is a 12 yr old American Staffy. She tends to whine at night for a bit and sometimes also pants. She is starting to have joint issues and arthritis. We just had a vet visit and awaiting blood test results. Any advice on what I can do to help her be more comfortable? We do give her joint supplements twice a day. I don’t want her suffering.

Noticed he wouldn’t stop licking this area and it was red and blotchy, he has the one scratch at the top that looks gunky, where he can scratch himself with his back paw (he’s a flexible little guy). We’ve put a cone on him to see if it improves but wondering if it looks like a rash or just him irritating his skin by licking. No spots or anything on his tummy where he can’t lick.
Vet? Wait a bit (a week?) and if no improvement then vet?

Hey everyone!

I’m posting on behalf of a friend whose puppy, Kobe, has recently been diagnosed with megaesophagus following X-rays, and we’re hoping to get some advice from people who have been through something similar with their own dogs.

Kobe is just over 5months old and the Vet says that it is extremely rare for it to happen with a puppy. It’s understandably a worrying situation, and we’re trying to learn as much as we can about this condition and how best to manage it so Kobe can have the happiest and healthiest life possible. ❤️

We’ve been reading about different ways to manage the condition, such as feeding dogs upright using a Bailey chair, keeping them upright after meals, adjusting food consistency, and offering smaller, more frequent meals. However, we’d really appreciate hearing from people who have firsthand experience with this.

A few questions for those who have cared for a dog with megaesophagus:
🐾 What feeding routine or food consistency has worked best for your dog?
🐾 Has using a Bailey chair made a significant difference?
🐾 What are the biggest challenges when caring for a puppy with this condition?
🐾 Are there any warning signs we should be especially mindful of?
🐾 What advice would you give someone whose puppy has just been diagnosed?
🐾 Have your dogs been able to live happy, comfortable lives with proper management?

We understand that every dog is different and that Kobe’s vet will guide his treatment. We’re simply hoping to learn from other owners’ experiences, practical tips, and anything that might make this journey a little easier for Kobe and his family.

If you’ve been through this with your own pup, we’d be incredibly grateful if you could share your experience. Even a small piece of advice could make a real difference. ❤️

Thank you so much for reading, and lots of love to all your furry companions!

First time asking in here but my 9 year old American bulldog (mix) lost ability to walk in his back legs randomly last Saturday, the vet said its most likely an FCE, however the x-ray did show he had a “mass” of arthritis right where his back and tail meet. We were given steroids to help the inflammation and I’m waiting it out to see if an MRI is needed asap. However, he never lost his tail wagging abilities, and I definitely see him try and walk occasionally with his sling but I usually have a lot of weight on my end to hold up. Tonight though, he surprised me with standing for a good minute on his own drinking water, and THEN he moved the other foot that wasn’t standing as sturdy as the other, and it landed right next to the other confidently, and he stood there even longer after that. Still cannot walk without the sling but I swear when he’s dragging to go pee outside I see his thigh move and want to take a step, it seems the feet are what’s holding him back. I just wanna know if this is a good sign and has anyone’s dog with an FCE seem to experience this. Makes me wonder if it really was just the arthritis compared to lots of other cases I’ve read about recently.

To everyone who have had a dog since early 2010s. How's your pup doing now?
I think my sweet 14 year old puppy is coming to her final chapter. I just wanna say to everybody who is going into their final chapter with their furry family member. That you are not alone. I am extremely sorry it's going on. Hope you have someone close with you to share the lovely memories you have had with your doggie

We're seeing the vet soon anyway, and I'll bring it up, but I've been assuming this to be a cutaneous horns and was curious what you all think. It is definitely quite solid, does not feel fleshy at all. Doesn't bother him in the slightest. It's not that ruddy irl, that's caused by the camera flash.

I just noticed that my 7yr old golden retriever have a bump on her mouth should I be concerned and take her to the vet? Or is it something that can be left alone and heal? Thanks.

We adopted a German shepherd mix dog two years ago; he’s now three. When we adopted him, he was on a very low dose of gabapentin for anxiety from being at the shelter and we have weaned him off these meds. For the first six months, we were able to walk him without too many issues and even take him to the park for a run but since then he has become incredibly reactive on walks and we now struggle to get him off our street without fixating on houses that have dogs. He lunges and pulls on the leash, making walks extremely difficult. His reaction doesn’t seem to be aggression as once we’re close to other dogs, he’s actually playful and friendly. It’s the reactivity on the lead that we’re struggling with and it’s obviously very intimidating for anyone walking near us.

We’ve worked with three different trainers, all have said he’s a difficult case and recommended using a slip lead. We’ve tried this along with a halter and harness but nothing has really helped.

My husband now feels we’ve exhausted all our options and wants to rehome him. The hardest part is that he’s such a fantastic dog at home — he’s loyal, loving and a real joy to have around. He’s also intelligent so I’ve always made sure he’s stimulated with brain games, scent work and command training.

I’m feeling torn because I don’t want to give up on him but I also understand how exhausting and frustrating this has become as we’ve now got a newborn.

I’m wondering if anyone has experienced something similar or has any advice on what else we could try before making such a difficult decision.

My dog who just turned 1 had this bump recently show up on his nose. Wondering if anyone has any thoughts?

I am planning on taking him to the vet regardless, but hoping for some reassurance/advice in the meantime.