My dog may have a tumor in her ear......

Hi guys,

My almost 9 year old GSD cross was showing signs of old age, you know going deaf, cloudy eyes and bad back legs, so I took her to the vet for a checkup. Well she said she may have a tumor in her ear!! and wants to refer her to the hospital for an operation! So I'm just waiting for the appointment to come through.

I'm just wondering if anyone else's dog had experienced this, and how they got on etc? (I know every dog and situation is different, but theres not much I can find on the web about this, so was just wondering if any of you guys out there had experience of this?).

The vet also thinks my dog may have cataracts, so is testing for diabetes... just waiting for the results to come though....

Thanks guys.

Helen xxx

Have no advice to offer as such but is it a specialist she is seeing, if so I would ask him/her what they thought as 9 is getting old for a GSD and with her other conditions, they may offer other advice .

I hope all goes well Hugs from us here xxxxxxxxxxxx

Thanks! I'm not sure who she is seeing to be honest, I'm not sure if they have specialists at the hospital or if its just a general surgeon.

She doesn't seem to be showing signs of distress with it in any way, if anything, I thought the back legs were worse (she can run n all, but now and again you can see stiffness, and a funny walk, perhaps its just when she over does it.) She still loves to run and fetch things, just not for perhaps as long as when she was younger.

I suppose thats the thing with some tumors isn't it? They can sneak up on you! (If that is what it is of course...)

Helen xxx

Well I am hoping others come on with advice.

But I think I would want to know why he suspects a tumour.
Has he taken blood tests to see if she is fit enough to endour a operation.
How does he know she needs an operation.... for instance not all tumours can be operated on, so why is he going in without a specialist checking her first.

I think I would be asking to see a specialist only for this, as this IMO is a specialist area, and I would be concerned due to her age.

I think it would be wise to go back and ask him questions, maybe write down all your concerns and have a chat with him

Thanks youngstevie!

The vet looked in her ear twice, and said that she could see a mass and that it could be a tumor, and that she wanted to refer her to the hospital. She said they would probably open up her ear to take a look etc.

I assumed they would do all the tests etc at the hospital first anyway, hopefully including x-rays (I hear ear tumors can spread to the lungs..) and then perhaps go through the options with me. So I'll ask those very same questions you have posed when I go to the hospital. I guess they may be better prepared for such tests etc.

You've given me alot to think about... thanks again!

Helen xxx

I hope the news is good hun xxxxx we send doggy vibes to you and your girl xxxxxxxxxx