Our best friends on this planet, dogs would give us the world if it were there's to give, they share our homes, their presence is one of the great pleasures of modern life, sadly, through a trick of nature they are also cursed with far too short a lifespan.

Titan, a picture of health at age 12, lost a perfectly healthy molar at the dog park in January; odd because of all dogs I have had his teeth and gums were always very healthy. I saw what appeared to be inflamed lower gums and thought it was an infection but a visit to the vet found it to be spindle cell sarcoma, a rare cancer. He then went to an oncologist who, after a biopsy, tests and later an additional stain, said the only cure for this particular type would be lower jaw removal and anything else would be palliative. That would include radiation therapy, chemo or doing nothing.

I was told this is a fast growing cancer and once it gets a blood supply Titan would be ok only as long as he could continue to eat, that is unless his jaw breaks as its presence destroys bone. Radiation would have been expensive of course, 10 days over 2 weeks, 5 on and two off of being dropped off, anaethetised, irradiated, revived and picked up. But was not a cure and would not do anything but buy a little time, months perhaps.

I mention this now because after staying small for some time it has indeed started to grow and any friends that wanted to see him as he was might want to do so soon. I am taking him to my vet on Thursday to see if the doc can debride the tumor enough to make it easier for him to eat, and knowing that cancer tissue if not thoroughly removed does not heal. Surgery may make for a bloody mess, not what either of us would want. If not it will be a matter of time, a few weeks perhaps before Titan is no longer able to eat normally.
Bear in mind that he is otherwise perfectly healthy but cancer does not care. A cruel thing I have had little experience with. Has anyone here gone through this type of cancer in their dog's mouth? Did you choose radiation? Full or partial jaw removal? How did it go?

My other dog Bruce, a smaller breed, is 15, fluff-monster Titan would have been 13 in September. I have not had a single dog I would not have given the forever pill to if it were available, but such a thing is not. So adopt, love, cherish, raise and train a dog but just never totally give your heart to one, it will be broken.

I will re-dog at some point, the one good thing is that with Titan going first Bruce will be ok, had Bruce gone first Titan would need another dog right away since he can never be alone. This is the reason I have Bruce, when I lost Pepper, Titan tore the house apart the first time he was left alone, I looked for another shepherd like Pepper but wound up with Bruce (a pit bull/cocker spaniel X) just because he was available.

Here are some pics from this year showing the progression of the disease, you can see that there is no pain, just confusion on the part of Titan as to what is happening and why he cannot ear the same foods he has loved his whole life. https://sta.sh/2jxz66n13nw?edit=1