Prayers for our dog

I heart you, BR. I will pass this on to my financial advisor, Mr. K, because it makes me break out in hives. But, it does remind me it's time for a kept wife update.

Yes, one must always do what is necessary to be "kept."

I'm happy to hear Pepper is on the mend




Yes, but you will be the most stylish bag lady with bags from NeimanMarcus :rofl:

Thanks (re Pepper).

And I have enough shoes that I could share them with the other bag ladies! On second thought, maybe I'll just try to remain a kept woman so I don't have to depend on my own retirement fund.;-)

Glad to hear Pepper is up and about, before you know it she will be back to boxing and dancing.;-)

Any updated news to share on Pepper's recovery? I'm hoping for the best and sending prayers your way.

On Friday we have to take our Flat Coat Retriever to vet for a very suspicious looking lump on his rear paw. I noticed it before our vacation last week and have been worried ever since. He's 7 1/2 so sure hope it's not cancer.

It's never easy when you have to worry about those fur kids !!

Any updated news to share on Pepper's recovery? I'm hoping for the best and sending prayers your way.

On Friday we have to take our Flat Coat Retriever to vet for a very suspicious looking lump on his rear paw. I noticed it before our vacation last week and have been worried ever since. He's 7 1/2 so sure hope it's not cancer.

It's never easy when you have to worry about those fur kids !!

I see that he's black. Black dogs are more at risk for some reason -- they don't know why. Black standard poodles, black labs, and black giant schauzers are most at risk for toe cancer. I don't know about other retrievers. Hopefully it's just one of those benign fatty tumors that dogs get.

We won't get the test results back for a few weeks. Pepper gets her bandage off tomorrow. She's getting back to her old self, except that her front left paw (the one she likes to box with the most) is the one that had the toe amputated.

EDIT: I just pm'ed you with some links regarding flat-coat retrievers.

Thinking of you and Pepper. Keep us posted.

So sorry to hear. My sixteen year old puppy passed away this last September do to cancer, Pepper will be in my thoughts and prayers.

boxing and burping seem to be poodle traits...Brantley does both well!! (mean right jab) lol
Glad to hear Pepmeister is doing well, it must be a relief for now
if they would just hurry up with those test results...

"Zelda" and "Princess" send their best wishes to Pepper and hope everything is well. keep all of us updated.

Princess is a two year old black Lab mix. Thanks to you and Pepper we will be watching Princess and her toes.

Princess is a two year old black Lab mix. Thanks to you and Pepper we will be watching Princess and her toes.

Most dogs with SCC of the digit are examined because of a sore toe. Limping, swelling, bleeding/discharge, ulceration, and breaking or splitting of nails are also common complaints. SCC tumors in many dogs can also be preceded by chronic nail-bed infections.

"Zelda" and "Princess" send their best wishes to Pepper and hope everything is well. keep all of us updated.

Thanks!

boxing and burping seem to be poodle traits...Brantley does both well!! (mean right jab) lol
Glad to hear Pepmeister is doing well, it must be a relief for now
if they would just hurry up with those test results...

Pepper doesn't burp , but she sure likes to box us, especially when we're on the sofa or in bed. She has quite a punch.

So sorry to hear. My sixteen year old puppy passed away this last September do to cancer, Pepper will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Have dealt with other doggie issues (parvo, kidney disease, and Cushing's) but not that. Sister lost two retrievers to cancer -- she spent a fortune on surgery and chemo at Auburn. She says she wouldn't put a dog through that again because it didn't extend their lives significantly and put them through a lot of pain.

Pepper got her bandage off yesterday, and her stitches will be taken out on Monday. Her foot looks strange, but we'll gladly take a funky foot over no Pepper.

Today Pepper?s results came back negative for squamous cell carcinoma and positive for early melanoma. The vet plans to call the oncologist at Auburn University Veterinary College to see what we should do next.

Today Pepper?s results came back negative for squamous cell carcinoma and positive for early melanoma. The vet plans to call the oncologist at Auburn University Veterinary College to see what we should do next.

I know this is sad news for you, but hang in there! Your vet is on the case! Please explain the difference in the two cancers. I would think the first one is worse.

I know this is sad news for you, but hang in there! Your vet is on the case! Please explain the difference in the two cancers. I would think the first one is worse.

The vet said that canine melanoma isn't as bad melanoma in humans. Coincidentally we just got back from our family's yearly dermatologist skin checkup (everything okay), so I have just gotten online.

However, everything I've seen so far indicates that melanoma is pretty much a death sentence for a dog. I haven't found a link that compares the two cancers. Before I agreed to them cutting off her toe, I did insist on a chest X-ray to see if it had metastisized. That was normal.

An email just came in from the person who runs standard poodle health registry. She was afraid that would be the diagnosis because Pepper is very, very young to have SCC, but didn't want to scare me. I could .

Oh, I hope it's not as bad as it could be. I had a friend whose cat had melanoma (from years of sunbathing on the screened-in porch). After months of intense treatments and some minor surgeries, she kicked it and lived to a healthy old age.
- - hugs for you - -

Is this at all common? I've not heard of this before and I've always had dogs in my life (that's how I learned so much).
I guess I'd look for a second opinion and that Auburn oncologist would be a good one. I don't have the words...I won't tell you I know what you're going through...I don't. But our prayers are with you and besides, any dog that's a good boxer is already a fighter.

Is this at all common? I've not heard of this before and I've always had dogs in my life (that's how I learned so much).
I guess I'd look for a second opinion and that Auburn oncologist would be a good one. I don't have the words...I won't tell you I know what you're going through...I don't. But our prayers are with you and besides, any dog that's a good boxer is already a fighter.

Black standard poodles have toe cancers as well as other health maladies, especially those like Pepper who are Westminster-quality show dogs because they have been so inbred. We have a gorgeous, loving, and loveable pet whom we adore. But we never thought the low probability of black standard poodle maladies would hit home.

Toe cancer is fairly common in black dogs, especially standard poodles, retrievers, and giant schaunzers.

Thanks. Hope we get good news from Auburn, too.

Stay positive!! Keeping you all in our prayers

Much as I hate to admit it as an Alabama grad, Auburn has an awesome vet school. Pepper is in good hands. Best wishes for a full recovery.

Still praying for Pepper.

i hate to hear this br - please keep us posted on what you find out from auburn

BR, I hope that you get good news from Auburn. I will be thinking you and your family and Pepper!

Do not give up! My Italian Greyhounds (all three) had hemangiosarcoma (cancer) and were given only months to live. My boy, who had it first, lived over three years. It taught me that no vet can say for sure what will happen, and to live in the moment as much as possible. Dogs are amazingly strong, much tougher than humans, and they DO NOT worry about the future. Try to learn from your Pepper. Much Love from a dog lover who has been there!

Prayers for all.

Do not give up! My Italian Greyhounds (all three) had hemangiosarcoma (cancer) and were given only months to live. My boy, who had it first, lived over three years. It taught me that no vet can say for sure what will happen, and to live in the moment as much as possible. Dogs are amazingly strong, much tougher than humans, and they DO NOT worry about the future. Try to learn from your Pepper. Much Love from a dog lover who has been there!

Well said

Much love and prayers are being sent your way