*NOTE: I’ve included incision pictures post-op, so if you are squeamish, you may want to avoid this post! 

Lymphadenectomy

A lymphadenectomy is a surgical procedure in which the lymph nodes are removed and a sample of tissue is checked under a microscope for signs of cancer.

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Monday, May 9

There is a saying that some dog owners might be more familiar with: “old age is not a disease”, and that’s what I kept telling myself as I anticipated Chase’s surgery coming up on the 13th. Friday the 13th to be exact. How lucky. In an attempt to curb our own guilty conscious and maybe a little of our own anxiety, we took him for walks and hikes every day, not knowing how much recovery time he would need since this wasn’t like the previous surgery. We really wanted him to get as much outdoor time as possible.

We emotionally (and let’s face it, financially) prepared for Chase’s second surgery – this one being more invasive. Unlike the first surgery, this one had a larger goal: to remove the medial iliac lymph node that was noted to be significantly enlarged on a CT scan in February 2022. He also had a regrowth in the form of a polyp where the original anal gland tumor was, which was also removed with clean margins again. (This was found during a 2-3 month check-up, please do what your vet tells you to do!!)

Somewhere in my dog ownership history, I was warned, or maybe just assumed, that the older the dog the more risk you’re taking with putting them “under”.  But one important thing I have learned with Chase and with his cancer diagnosis is AGE IS NOT A DISEASE. Throughout the week I kept telling myself this with each passing day, randomly getting pangs of anxiety and questioning myself “Am I doing the right thing?” “Maybe he won’t bounce back this time, he’s getting tired.” “What if this does nothing and cancer has spread?” “What if he dies on the table?”

All while balancing a full-time job, regular exercise routine, proper sleep and nutrition, and maintaining a social life. HAHAH. Yeah okay. The day was quickly approaching. Chase knew nothing and he was perfectly happy. Maybe there is a lesson in that.

Friday, May 13 – Day Of Surgery 

Chase had his first tumor removal surgery in November 2020. He was up and walking the next day, although much slower with the pain medication. We were really confident he was out of the wood since the anal tumor was removed with clean margins – but again, cancer always comes back, it’s just a matter of time.

Fast forward to May 13, 2022 – let me clarify, FRIDAY, May 13th 2022 – oh how lucky!

MSPCA Angell in Jamaica Plain is about an hour’s drive for us, on a good day. We knew Chase needed to be fasted the morning off, so his last meal with us was the night prior at about 9pm.

I have learned that it’s best to show as little emotion as possible when your dog is involved – they feed off of you and your energy. Are you pacing? Are you anxious or frustrated, running around trying to find things because you’re now late to get out the door? They pick up on that. So if your pup is needing surgery, try to remain calm and take extra time to prepare. You’ll feel better and they will too.

When we got there, we were as calm as we could be waiting for him to be called in. A very kind vet tech came out and went over the procedure and what to expect. We knew there was a chance he could come home the same day, but we made it clear that we’d prefer him to stay overnight to make sure he recovered properly.

The other important thing to note is that we didn’t leave when she took him. She slipped on a disposable leash and took him over to the scale to weigh him. We stood there, watching him and telling him he was a good boy. Then, they turned and he happily trotted with his new friend into the back. Cue the tears. I held it together so he wouldn’t see me upset. But he has always been accepting of new friends, even when it came to the vet’s office. He really doesn’t mind them poking and prodding. He’s a good boy like that.

Side Note: I also want to note here that before any procedure, Vet’s offices require either a full or partial payment of the lowest amount on your estimate – offices may vary. But MSPCA Angell in Boston required full payment on the lowest estimate number OR half of the highest estimated number if that was more than the lowest.

This doesn’t mean they won’t require more funds when it’s time to pick up your pet. If your animal is not already covered by medical insurance (or even if it is, this card can be used NOW, while you submit a claim for insurance) I highly suggest signing up for CareCredit – it will help you in times of great need or emergency situations.

You can also use it for dentist and doctor visits yourself. If approved, you can use the credit card at that moment. Depending on the amount charged, you have the option of doing a 6-month or 12-month 0% interest plan. (of course, you have to pay it off during the promotional period or you are charged the full interest amount). 

11am – May 13, 2022

Probably one of the greatest improvements between veterinarian offices and their clients is the use of technology – specifically, cell phones. How amazing is it that now you can get text messages that let you know what’s happening with your pet? That’s amazing, right

We got a few text messages that morning letting us know how he was doing, and most importantly when he was out of surgery! That little face with the “cone of shame” was the happiest text message I’ve received in a long time. The surgery team assistant let us know that he was awake and happy and looking for food.

The procedure was two surgeries actually. The first one was to remove the polyp in his rectum which was a suspected regrowth of the previously removed tumor. Since it was just a polyp, it wasn’t major surgery, but because of its location of it, clean margins are hard without causing potential fecal incontinence. That’s why it’s so important to catch these things when they are small, not because it’s just easier to remove, but because you need less tissue for clean margins. Most of the time, the larger the tumor, the more healthy tissue they need to take with it to ensure clean margins.

The second surgery was through his abdomen. They removed the left medial iliac lymph node that was enlarged – about 4cms in diameter. Both sets of tissue were sent to their in-house pathologist for further testing to confirm cancer and to get an idea of how many cancer cells were in each. He does have another enlarged lymph node, however that is further in his pelvis and is only slightly enlarged – they couldn’t remove it but did biopsy it for testing.

He stayed overnight for observation.

Saturday, May 14th, 2022

We received a call around 9am to discuss his status, and when we could come to get him. Overall, the surgery was a success and he did great overnight. He was eating, drinking, and “ready to go” – which means he was probably very vocal with their team about his feelings…haha

Side note: Chase looks mostly labrador and some type of shepherd, but he is actually part Australian shepherd, treeing walking coonhound, Siberian husky, and labrador.

We arrived at Angell right at 11am and waited for our boy. He happily trotted out to see us, but he was still a little spacey and had some trouble standing on his hind legs for long periods. We thank them and got him right into the car.

Side note: we have an impact crate for the car. I drive a lot with him, and he also has car anxiety, so getting him into his crate for the ride home was very important.

We got home and immediately gave him water. He settled down sooner after that and fell asleep for a few hours. But we set a time for ourselves so we could wake up, check both areas for any potential “discharge” and get him up to walk.

Saturday was fairly uneventful. He was mostly quiet and very relieved to be home. With another round of pain meds and an antibiotic, he slept through the entire night until 6am Sunday.
Side note: The cone of shame! We received one from the vet’s office with strict instructions to keep it on him for 10-14 days. However, I hate the hard plastic ones so I ordered some soft clear ones that work really well for him! He can see through them and doesn’t smash into everything. I highly suggest buying them in case you do need them! To have them on hand is fantastic. 

After a good night’s rest, he seems to be getting back to his old self. He defecated twice in the am which was great! (yay, dog poop lol – the anesthesia can sometimes cause constipation). He didn’t seem to be in much pain and even tried to happy trot across the yard.

Seeing him wag his tail and perk up was very refreshing. Little bits of his old self have been coming through and I’m so happy to see him get a bit of energy back. Although we are still limiting his activity, seeing him feeling better despite the two surgeries is awesome.

He has about 10-14 days of recovery time before we discuss the next step like when to start radiation treatment. I plan to release daily notes about the radiation treatments to raise awareness about the process and hopefully help any pet owner who may be faced with the same situation.

Feel free to comment or email me directly with any questions you may have. I’m happy to share notes and estimate information but I won’t be sharing those publicly. I think its important to have transparency, but I don’t want to mislead or provide improper information – please make sure you discuss any questions you have with your vet.

I’m happy to provide more information or context, as long as it’s used properly and not as a self-diagnosis or treatment plan. Please consult your vet.

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Also – if anyone is wondering, I’ve linked the dog bed (we have two now!) and the cooling blanket (also have two of these) below if you’re interested in them. 

Dog Bed – quilted iron-gray, large, cooling gel option $63

Premium Cooling Blanket – 40×60 in gray $30.00