the Cost of Non-Routine Pet Care

A cancerous tumor on the dog's tail required surgical removal of the entire tail. The fee covered the entire cost of surgery as well as the first course of pain drugs and antibiotics as supplied by the veterinarian. This is the second procedure performed to remove cancerous tissue from the dog's tail.

A year after the first round of surgery and chemotherapy, the tumor on the dog's tail started to regrow. After a couple weeks her tail had swollen to three or four times its normal size. A surgical consultation with the vet noted that they must not have gotten all the cancerous tissue the last time and to be sure this time they'd have to take off her entire tail as well as perform several more rounds of chemotherapy, which are now in progress. On the day of the surgery, the ever-expanding tumor on her tail ruptured leaving her in enormous pain. It was almost impossible to get her in the car to go to the vet.

Once there the surgery proceeded without issue. She stayed overnight in the kennel recovering and went home the next day with a few days supply of pain medication and antibiotics. Days after the surgery, her mood improved and she regained all the bounce she'd lost in the weeks since the cancer recurred. As for whether it's finally in remission, we'll have to see.

If you ever have to have a dog's tail removed, be sure to have clever nicknames ready. We like "monkey butt" and you can't use it.

Also, be sure to check the credentials of the vet you plan on using, shop around to check the prices on the surgery to make sure you're not getting taken to the cleaners because you're concerned for your family pet, and read up a bit on post-surgical care and pain management for dogs to make sure your dog is getting the right medications.