Hi Tracy

So pleased to read your latest posts!! I am glad you were able to take the positives out of that link now that you have come out of the initial shock of the diagnosis. I was just wondering how they came up with it, you had mentioned they biopsied the liver and a lymph node, did they feel the anal mass as well?

That's great he is pooping well, I had read that their poop can go all pencil thin because of the mass so I am thinking if they look normal the tumour may not be too big? The prostate is close to the glands so I guess they are looking for local invasion.

Flynn who is Woody's doppelganger arrived in this forum with some of the signs of cushings but tested negative, he was eventually diagnosed with the adrenal tumour and we went through surgery. So I am sure no expert on cushings, but hopefully I am some help for those facing surgery. Most doggie parents when facing surgery ask what questions we would ask so I have came up with a fairly standard list of questions to ask the surgeon, these are based on the questions I asked my surgeon. I have tried to focus them on Woody's case, it does look bit of a daunting list when I finished!! you might already have some of them down, so just pick and choose whatever will be helpful for you guys Hope it helps!

Questions to ask when considering if surgery is an option for Woody
1. What type of tumour do you suspect?
2. Expected life span for my dog in a normal situation. If your dog is close to, at or past his expected lifespan for his breed is surgery going to be of any benefit?
3. Prognosis for my Woody if we do not operate
4. Are there any other health problems that could impact on a positive surgical outcome, for example: if your dog is overweight or has heart, BP, liver, kidney or lung conditions
5. I have read radiotherapy with surgery gives better outcomes, is this an option for Woody, how about chemotherapy as well? What symptoms would lead you to consider these options? Ie positive lymph nodes etc
6. Is there any sign of tumour spread – prostate? Lymph nodes, lungs? What is the impact of this on prognosis?
7. Are his kidneys at risk (I am thinking here of Woody’s excessive peeing/drinking, periodic high calcium?) is his renal function good enough for surgery, how will you manage this while he is in hospital?
8. Surgeon recommendations – would he/she do it for their own dog?
9. How many operations of this type have you done? What complications have you experienced? What were the outcomes?
10. Please explain to me how you will do the surgery, which part would likely give you the most trouble? Will you be doing the actual surgery or a resident in a teaching situation? If so, is their close supervision?
11. Are you planning on taking the lymph nodes (as recommended in the literature)
12. Will there be a specialist anaesthetist available for the surgery?
13. What are the risks associated with this surgery, including
• Bleeding
• clots
• infection
• Kidney damage
• Continence problems postop
• wound problems
• bowel problems
• anaesthetic risks
• death (sorry but you have to ask that risk too)
14. How long will the surgery take and when will you contact me so I know all is OK, when can I visit after surgery?
15. How will the postoperative period go, how long would you anticipate he would need to stay in hospital? How will we manage pain? Bowels and bladder?
16. Hopefully this will not happen, but if your dog collapses, e.g his heart stops either during his surgery or afterwards what emergency measures should be undertaken, do you want your dog to have CPR, how far are you (the owner) willing to go for your dog to be saved in such circumstances
17. If there are problems when I take him home, who do I contact? Hopefully the surgical team until all is stable.