Border Collie sick with Fatty Tomors. Please Help

[B&B myBabies]

Hello all I am new here and praying that someone can offer any input. I have a Border Collie "Bruezer" who is 12. This past March I noticed that her back leg was extremely swollen and hard as a rock. Upon further inspection I found some golf ball size knots on her belly and upper left chest wall. As a puppy she did have these small like knots and I was instructed per many vets to not have them removed unless they started inhibiting her activity.
Well, as the years passed they got larger and larger. The one on her back leg is approx. 15 inches round and literally is as hard as a rock. Now, don't think I am a terrible mother because I did keep up on it but literally it seemed over night her leg got that stiff!! Each year at her check up the vets kept saying "Let's just keep an eye on them". I noticed it when she was reluctant to walk up steps....She can not bend it at all!!
Upon taking her to the vet they biopsied her leg and upper chest wall for cancer and thank God it came back negative. The only option at that point was to amputate...BUT....the tumor is wrapped around the base of her spine. After much dileberation I decided no way. Great chance she would have died from the anesthesia. So, I decided to keep her healthy and happy as long as she can be around and wants to be around.
The tumors are called "Fat Lymphomas" anyone ever hear of this?? I have searched high and low and can find nada on the net!! I am hoping someone has some info. to guide me and give me ideas on any way I can help her.....The vets have really been ok but really have not been too informative. One of the signs also is that at each tumor site they develop skin tags on the outside of their fur (looks like pink moles).
We tried her on Rimadyl and Etogesic ( that was really just propholatically incase her joints were hurting) but we had to take her off because as a puppy she tried to over-dose (haha) and ate over 200 tabs of Advil so we have to be careful with her liver.
She displays no pain....still eats....wags her tail...and over all has adapted well to the leg (has learned to swing it to walk---amazing how well dogs adapt!!) She still loves to go for walks but can not make it that far because the leg just kind of drags.
I am so afraid for her that she might twist wrong and break her hip---does have some difficulty getting up and sometimes the leg slides out to the side but she does it and is always wagging her tail. As if to say "I still can do it!!"
I did start her on the Glucosamine tabs (they seem to have decreased her appetie slightly) and have helped her to loose a little weight but now the tumors are taking her caloric intake and her waist is getting small......So for right now, anything she wants she gets!! I have no idea what the life span is with this and if she wants pizza, by God she is getting pizza!! Of course, within reason--not the entire pie, maybe just half--haha...
Any info, opinions from anyone, or sites that you may know of would be so appreciated!!!!! We have decided that we will put her "to sleep" if she looses her great personality and starts showing signs of pain.....she does none of that now.....PLEASE HELP....I am so scared.........Thanks..........Linda Sorry for such a long post.......:)
PS. The tumor on her right upper chest wall is getting really bad---it will eventualy push her trachea over and cuase her great difficulty with breathing. THis has been awful!!!

[Redstorm1721]

Hello Linda,
I have a warm spot in my heart for you. I hope all truns out well for you. I have no idea what you are going through,but my prayers go to you. I have an Italian Grey and he is quite a handfull too. He has been back and forth to the vets for 6 years. And on a monthly basis. But not for the same reasons. I just want to welcome you, and send some warm wishes your way and pray that your baby will be okay. Your oppinions are worth a millian. You are on the right tract, and I don't think anyone can tell you anything you already don't know. Putting your baby to sleep is the most difficult thing to do. As I have had to do this one to many times. I take in many rescues. My buddy also is one. In the past I have had 3 others.Not of being Greys. I think you have already answered all your questions? If you read what you wrote they are all there. I know you need to talk and get it out. I again am so very sorry for you and will keep you in my prayers so things may become easier for you? Lets hope. Again welcome and hopefull some one here has been through the same so they may be of better help. Hang in there. Yours truley Gail.........Ps, I don't hope that anyones babys have been in stress, You all know what I mean? Please don't take what I said as bad!

[B&B myBabies]

Gail,
Thank you so very much for your kind comments!! I guess you are right I have pretty much answered my own questions but what drives me crazy is that I can not find any info. on these type of tumors!! I have found that humans can get the same thing!!!
I just want to see if there is anything "special" I can do for her to make her more comfortable or prolong her life.
You know, just reading your reply I cried!! In a good way though. I have found a site where people actully know that their pets (whatever they may be) are part of the family!!
Thankyou for the prayers as I will pray for you and your Grey!!
Linda

['too crazy]

Linda, I don't have an answer for you at all but I just wanted to welcome you to the board and tell you I'm praying for you and your dog also. 2 years ago I was treating my cat for a virus only to find out it was stomach cancer. She was constantly throwing up and when we found out what it was, we knew it was time to let go. She was my favorite of all 4 of our cats and the decision wasn't easy but in my heart, as hard as it was to do, I knew putting her down was the best thing for HER. You will know when the time is right. Sometimes there just isn't a cure no matter how much we want one but there are always the memories and there are many of us on this board who have lost a pet. The support on this board is fantastic and when the time comes, we will be here to help you through it. Sending ((((hugs)))) and prayers, Sherry

[bobbie cox]

Dear B&B: I have a 14 year old poodle who is covered with the same type of fatty tumors that you describe. She also has numerous skin tags on her body. We had some of the fatty tumors removed when she was younger but as she developed more and more of them there was no way we could take them all off. CC has diabetes now, and arthritis. She manages to get around. You are right, dogs adapt better than humans. Take heart, you are not alone. Fatty tumors are very common. CC has a big cyst on her back as well. Don't laugh, but we put Noni Juice on it and it goes down for quite a while at a time. My husband had a growth on the side of his face that looked like a mushroom. We put Noni Juice on it for a couple of months and it dropped off. I am wondering if I give CC some of it to drink (we drink it) that maybe it will help with the tumors. CC can't have much in the way of anesthesia so we cannot have even the biggest one removed. It is behind her left leg (elbow I guess) and does interfer some with the walking. Keep the faith and don't hesitate to use some home remedies. I really hate giving CC a lot of drugs and don't care much to put chemicals on her either so try for natural treatments. Keep us informed as to how your baby is doing and even though I am new to this board as well, it seems like everyone is very kind and very much animal lovers.

[RWDVM]

Hello. I am a veterinarian. I believe that you are not finding any information on "fat lymphomas" because that term does not exist. Perhaps what you mean is "Lipoma", the scientific term for fatty tumors.

Lipomas are benign tumors that arise from the subcutaneous fat. They can get quite large and heavy. Like your vet, I do not surgically remove them unless they interfere with movement or eating.

Good idea to start your dog on glucosamine. Glucosamine alone, however, is not as effective as glucosamine taken in combintation with MSM, perna caniculus root, and anti-oxidants. This combination increases joint lubrication, regenerates cartilage and decreases inflammation. See the arthritis management page of my veterinary advice and health management website for information about the canine arthritis supplement I have the most succes using. The url is http://www.askdvm.com Best of luck to you. Feel free to reply or email me directly if you have any more questions or concerns.

Roger L. Welton

[bobbie cox]

How nice of you to provide this information. My vet prescribed Glucosamine for my 14 year old diabetic poodle, who is also arthritic. I will keep your web site - wish I had it when our dog was diagnosed with the diabetes, maybe we would have had better luck with the needles. It was a disaster. Long and boring story but we had to change vets after 18 years. Thanks again.

[judymomrn]

Linda, Just wanted to let you know that I have a 13 yr old Brittany who has a fatty tumor the size of a football from her abdomen. We had it removed surgically about 5 yrs ago and it grew back sooo much larger. It swings when she walks. She doesn't seem to be in pain but it is cumbersome for her. Due to her age and the involvement with major arteries it is not possible to remove it. Not sure of the age of your dog, but it will probably get larger unfortunately. My Maggie also had knee surgery in the past. If the dog is young I think getting it removed would be the answer. When we had our dogs removed I could tell they didn't remove the core, and it grew right back. I have tried putting a corset on my dog so it wouldn't swing when she walks, but she hated it even more. I don't know if this helps you but it sure doesn't seem to shorten their life. Hope your dog makes out alright. They are part of the family. Judy