Joined Today (Orlando has passed)

Thanks so much for the replies. I was waiting to see the oncologist which I did yesterday. She recommends amputation of the 3rd phalanx, radiation at least 4 time, the melanoma vaccine Oncept, but not chemo as it is not effective with melanoma in dogs. Because of Orlando's age and because I lost my first Cushings dog to anesthesia years ago for another type of tumor removal, I am not comfortable with radiation since it requires general anesthesia. At this point I am seriously considering amputation as recommended to be done at a special surgery center with 24 hour doctors on duty and hopefully the would weather the anesthesia well under those circumstances. The pathology on the biopsy came back as low mitotic rate on the cells that were found and staining showed what they called low grade melanoma. I am unsure about the use of the vaccine. The oncologist says that with treatment given his age and Cushings and melanoma that he probably has a year to a year and a half. Cost is up to about $5000 or so without radiation included at this point. Today another question came up when I spoke to his regular vet. She does not want to give him his next rabies shot because of everything going on. Has anyone gotten a waiver on rabies shots, should I just lay low and let it ride? Any advice or questions about the course of action is greatly appreciated.

My dog, Skippy, was due for Rabies vaccination in early June. I am lying low on the issue but will secure a waiver if need be. Sick dogs should not vaccinated period. This is a tough diagnosis and I wish you both the very best. Please let us know how it goes.

One more thing regarding Oncept: I didn't do an exhaustive search regarding this vaccine but I did make my way through three articles; I must confess one was way too dense. The research is mixed with some researchers reporting that it extends the life of dogs with melanoma, other say not. Here's what I looked at:

http://www.petcancervaccine.com/vacc...s/default.aspx
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/wol1/...vco.12057/full
https://www.researchgate.net/profile...89a3ad4199.pdf

Hope it helps as you consider your options.

I'm sorry that Orlando is having these problems. :(

We have had people who have had waivers for vaccines due to age and medical issues.

Thank you so much. I did find that LA County has a waiver for the rabies vaccine and about 50% receive it, so that gives me something to fall back on. Immunotherapy is one reason that they give a waiver.

I had been trying to research the vaccine as well and, as you say, a couple of those articles are dense, but I did get the gist I think. Not a hugely great survival rate and I also found one article elsewhere which questioned how the studies were done...not that they were dishonest but that they were not normed correctly and the care of the various dogs depended on how much the owner could spend and other factors which really could not be documented with 100% certainty.

I'd get the waiver for sure then. If they accept waivers, then I'm sure orlando qualifies. How is he doing?

We are going to see the surgeon on Tuesday for a consultation only. Orlando is comfortable but quite lethargic which I think is partly due to the heat we are having. I have not decided on a course of action yet and hopefully the surgeon will be able to answer a few more questions.

Heat everywhere right now it seems. Wishing you and Orlando the best in your decision about next steps.

Thank you all again for your help. I am going ahead with toe amputation on Thursday at a special facility with a very reputable surgeon. On the hopeful side, we may get clean margins which will allow me to make a decision about further treatment. On the other hand, I have observed Orlando licking at the toe despite stitches being removed two weeks ago and a very clean job done by his vet. If the lesion returns and infiltrates the bone we will be looking at a palliative amputation at the least and one done with he is further down the road.

Hi. Know that our hearts will be with you and Orlando on Thursday and we are all hoping for clean margins and a successful recovery for Orlando.

Let us know how things go! I hope there is no spreading and you can move on from this specific issue.