Should further diagnostic testing be done for 13 yr. old golden retriever that vet thinks has cancer?

[Brandy222]

Our beautiful 13 yr old golden retriever has just recently been ill.  Happy and content one day and the next - just couldn't get up.  We brought him to an emergency pet hospital (it was a Sunday) where they suspected lyme disease.  They did a stat test which came back positive.  He was put on doxicyline for 30 days.  Two days later the vet called and said his lyme # was low and he was slightly anemic.  She recommended an emergency abdominal Ultrasound.  It was done the next day and fortunately came out normal.  They recommended bloodwork to be done in 1 week and a repeat U/S in 1-3 months.  A couple of days later the dog started to vomit clear liquids and had watery diarhea.  I called his dr. and she said to stop the lyme meds immediately and be seen. She couldn't see any visible signs of anything and she did a complete bloodwork panel on him.   That came back normal so she suggested keeping him on a bland diet of boiled chicken and rice.  The vomitting stopped but the diarrhea continued.  She had his stool then tested which came back normal.  He would seem better one day but then very lethargic the next.  He always continued to eat if you put it in front of him and still went to the bathroom on his own (but would be out there awhile trying to get it all out).  She then suggested he might have IBS (irritable bowel) so she put him on a prescription diet and prednisone.  Every now and then his legs might stiffen up or he wouldn't want to climb the backstairs to get in.  Sometimes when he ate it would be messy and it would take him longer to eat.  Upon hearing of these symptons she asked to see him again.  She did some neurological tests and thought that perhaps it may be cancer but couldn't give an accurate diagnosis without further test which would include an MRI and Ct Scan, Endoscopy and biopsy.  I do not want to put him through all these tests as she stated his prognosis and life expectancy would not be long.  She said the fact that he is eating and reacting well to the prednisone was a good sign and he could live like this from now to a year.  I only want to make him comfortable, happy and pain free as I can.  However, there are these thoughts in the back of my mind because I still do not have a definative diagnosis yet and do not know why he is sick.  Is there anyone that has gone through a similar situation?  If I had the tests and it proved to be cancer, would treatment be harder for a thirteen year old dog?  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

[Brandy222]

Thank you so much for your kind words and suggestions.  I will definately read those articles and ask our vet more questions.  I know our family has been very lucky to have had a healthy golden for 13 years....but it's still a very hard process to go through.

Many Thanks for thinking of us.

[Thomas Dock, CVJ, Vet. Technician]

Hi Brandy...wow, it sure sounds like you have been through a lot recently with your old guy!

As you already know, it will be next to impossible to get a definitive diagnosis without doing more diagnostics, but will the findings from those tests change the treatment he is already undergoing?  That is probably a good question to ask your veterinarian....

He is certainly considered to be a senior citizen dog, but it is possible that he could have a year or more left to enjoy life with you.  I would recommend a couple of articles that may help you as you work to keep him comfortable:

First, an article on hospice care written by our veterinary adminstrator, Dr. Jim Humphries:  http://www.petdocsoncall.com/page.asp?id=59&name=Pet Hospice Care

And, an article written by one of our great DVMs here at MedHelp, Dr. Brian Hurley, on determining quality of life:  http://www.petdocsoncall.com/page.asp?id=39&name=Quality of Life

You might also consider posting  your questions and concerns in the Ask A Vet section here at MedHelp.   Our veterinarians would be happy to give you some thoughts and opinions and maybe even a few more questions to ask your veterinarian.