Blood & leaking urine, but not UTI

[Mjer]

Our 7 year old small german shepherd mix has been leaking drops of blood and urine. We took her to the vet and $220 later after urine testing and x-rays they said she did not have a urinary tract infection, they did not know what was wrong with her and they referred us to an internal medicine specialist.

They did say she had some sort of mass in her tissue near her bladder, but they weren't sure what it was and it didn't show up on x-ray.

Up until today she has been acting like she is in a occasional pain, but for the most part fairly normal. This afternoon after getting back from the vet, she started just laying down with very labored breathing and tremors and seems barely conscious. However, just a short time ago, she got up and has been walking around shakily and panting. She doesn't want to eat, but is drinking.

The vet put her on doxycycline and piroxicam. She just started the medication today.

Any ideas?

[Sudilar]

Check into bladder cancer. Was an ultrasound done?

[Mjer]

Hi Sue,

Thanks for responding. They did not do an ultrasound....said we had to go to an internal specialist for that. However, I talked to the vet again the next day on the phone (after I posted the first message) and she said that she thought it was bladder cancer.

We are in a real tough position right now. The vet said we should have her put to sleep as soon as possible so she won't suffer. She said the medication she was on (anti-inflammatory) would possibly shrink the tumor, but would only extend her life about a month or even less.

Tessa (our dog) was in really bad shape on Wednesday. Since she has been on the medication, she has been better. She gets excited about going on walks, barks at the mailman, runs to the door to greet us when we come home. However, the rest of the time she just lays under our kitchen table.

It is really hard to think of putting her to sleep when she seems "almost OK", but at the same time, I don't want it to get really painful, really fast and then have her suffering.

We just aren't sure what to do.

Teresa

[Sudilar]

Oh, my heart goes out to you!!! In October, we went through what you are going through now. I still can't get over the loss of my GSD Shiloh to bladder cancer. I will be back later to post what happened and what we did for her. I am so sorry you have to go through this. Hugs.

[Sudilar]

This is Shiloh's story of bladder cancer. http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthre...bladder+cancer

The Piroxicam is supposed to shrink the tumors and buy a few months time, but Shiloh could not keep anything down, so the pills did not help her. We did not send her to Rainbow Bridge until we knew that there was no hope and she was suffering. I can picture those days now, as I type. The cancer was swift and deadly.

If Tessa is still having good days, I would wait. When the time comes and nothing works any more, then you will know. My heart goes out to you. I know EXACTLY what you are going through. Prayers for you, your family and Tessa.

[Sudilar]

How is Tessa doing today? I hope she is having a good day.
Before I would make any decisions, I would be sure to get a definite diagnosis and prognosis. Please keep me updated and if there is anything I can help with...let me know.
Hugs.