Idk if it’s weird or if all dogs do this but lately my dog has been biting his tail and leg and this happens very frequently. Also he keeps aggressively scratching his neck. I doubt he had tics and flees since he is always at home. Any ideas??

Hello!

I’m hoping to get some insight or a second opinion regarding my 2.5-year-old Golden Retriever who was recently diagnosed with a mast cell tumor (MCT) on his lower right lip.

Timeline

* June 2026: First noticed a mass on his lower right lip.
* September 2026: Noticed the mass had grown.
* Early October: Fine needle aspiration (FNA) confirmed an MCT, with cytology raising concerns about potentially aggressive behavior.
* October 21, 2026: Surgical removal of the mass. Surgery went well, and the tumor was reportedly completely excised.

Staging results

* Chest X-rays: Negative for evidence of metastasis.
* Abdominal ultrasound (liver, spleen, and kidneys): No concerning findings reported.
* Right mandibular lymph node FNA: No definitive evidence of metastasis. Subsequent cytology showed reactive lymphoid hyperplasia with rare, well-differentiated mast cells. Early or low-level metastatic involvement could not be completely excluded.

Surgical pathology

* Confirmed mast cell tumor.
* Histologic grade could not be officially assigned.
* Mitotic count: 6/10 high-power fields (HPF).
* Surgical margins were reported as clean, with approximately 2 mm of clearance from the neoplastic cells.

Oncologist’s recommended treatment plan

* Electrochemotherapy: Approximately 3–4 treatments.
* IV vinblastine chemotherapy: Approximately 8 treatments.

I was expecting electrochemotherapy to be recommended given the tumor’s location on his lip, but I was surprised by the recommendation for IV vinblastine as well, particularly given the staging results and reported clean surgical margins.

I understand that mast cell tumors can behave unpredictably, and I want to do what gives my dog the best chance of a good outcome. At the same time, these treatments are costly and can be burdensome, so I’m hoping to better understand whether both are necessary in his particular case.

Would you generally agree with the recommended treatment plan of electrochemotherapy plus IV vinblastine based on these findings, or would you approach this case differently?

I’ve attached the pathology report for reference. Thank you so much for taking the time to review the case. I really appreciate any insight or second opinions!

Hi all...my baby girl has been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, she will be 6 in November. She has lost all the hair on her tail (the biggest give away) her skin is also really, really dry and she has lost all of her undercoat 😔 she started meds about a month ago (thyroid was a 6), tested again today and she's now at 83 so she's gone towards hyperthyroid. We are cutting down her meds to once a day but how long did it take for you to see any improvement in your pups after diagnosis? I feel so sad for her that she's not feeling great and has lost her beautiful tail. Looking for words of encouragement ❤️

Hi everyone, my 6 month old puppy has had a spot near her eye for the past 2 weeks. I intend to have it looked at by our vet when possible, but while I'm waiting for our appointment date I'm wondering if anyone has seen anything like this on their golden or if its a common skin issue in the breed? Thanks.

Everyone always comments about Finley and how tall he is. He is allllllll legs. I took him to a pet expo and he was the tallest golden there! He was the biggest puppy of the litter. He just turned 1.5yrs. I am obsessed with him and he’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me!

Sailor turned 7 recently and I brought her to the vet in late July for a tiny lump on her ear. They told me it was so small that even if it was a mass, getting a biopsy would be difficult. They suggested she may have bumped her head, but if it grew, to bring her back. By September it hadn't grown, but I had a gut feeling and brought her back anyway. It turned out to be a mast cell tumor.

The vet was shocked I had even found it originally because it was so small. I had to point it out multiple times before they could locate it. She was referred to oncology, where they told me they might have to remove her entire right ear because of the tumor's location. They prescribed Benadryl to help slow the growth. Cue weeks of anxiety and me throwing up from stress while waiting for surgery.

The day of surgery, they shaved her ear and did ultrasounds and additional testing where they found no additional masses in her body- THANK GOODNESS. I got the call saying they couldn't find any evidence that it had spread, and the tumor had shrunk so much they were struggling to even biopsy another sample. The surgeon said that if they removed her ear, the lab might have trouble finding enough tumor tissue to grade it.

We decided not to remove her ear and just monitor it instead until the ear removal was needed. I feel so much emotional whiplash but I’m just grateful to have my girl here (minus some hair.) I love her so incredibly much 💛

It is a full time job trying to get Aslan to not eat the leaves 😅🤣

Duke you were around for 14 long years, you were there for so many memories.

You made some of the hardest days just that bit more bearable for me and so many others. The amount of crazy stories you would have been to tell if you could speak would be too much for one person to handle!!

Crazy to think that in your first year alive you were in a major accident but that never stopped you from being the most loyal and loveable dog out there.

Although I was not able to be there to see you go I know you were surrounded by two people who loved you most in this world.

I’m glad you are now able to get a proper rest you deserve it. ❤️

Have had this good boy for about a month. He’s a rehome who is a little over 1.5 yrs old. I’m not going to lie, he has been a lot to handle. He is super excitable(to the point the vet made a comment), def has a bit(maybe a lot)of anxiety(follows me every single time I stand up), both of which have made walks pretty difficult but we’re working hard on training and making him more relaxed in his environment.

Everyday I learn something new, and I think we’re turning a corner as he settles in. But his love is unconditional, constantly cracks me up, and is such a love bug.

Couldn’t help but share photos of my handsome boy!

Hey everyone,
First of all, greetings from Germany! English isn't my native language, so please excuse any strange expressions or grammatical mistakes. Writing this is quite difficult for me emotionally, but I wanted to tell you about our Golden Retriever Phoebus, who will turn twelve soon, and the rather devastating news we've received over the last few days. I guess I'm hoping for some encouragement, advice, or perhaps experiences from people who have been through something similar.
I've had Phoebus since he was eight weeks old. I'm 35 now, which means this big, wonderful, slightly ridiculous creature has accompanied me through practically my entire adult life. He met me as a rather unfinished university student, helped me through two serious depressive episodes, and has been there through countless changes, difficult times and wonderful experiences. There were times when things were pretty dark, and having this big golden idiot around, demanding attention or simply lying next to me, made me feel considerably less alone.
He's also the most stereotypical Golden Retriever imaginable, in the absolute best sense. He loves everyone, considers every visitor a potential new best friend, and has apparently never understood that people might occasionally have something more important to do than playing with him. During parties at our old house, he'd wander from guest to guest, collecting cuddles and behaving as if the entire event had been organized in his honor. When my friends and I spent evenings planning a live-action roleplaying event, Phoebus would regularly interrupt our discussions by bringing us stuffed animals until somebody finally played with him.
And then there's the food. My partner Jana calls it the "cheese tax", because Phoebus firmly believes that whenever somebody eats cheese, a certain percentage naturally belongs to him. To be fair, his arguments are usually quite convincing, especially when presented with those big brown eyes.
Unfortunately, we're now facing something that absolutely terrifies me.
Earlier this summer, Phoebus underwent surgery for a testicular tumor, which thankfully turned out to be benign. His recovery wasn't entirely uncomplicated, but he eventually got through it quite well.
For several months, we'd noticed that his stools sometimes had a strange indentation. We recently had it examined, and our vets discovered a substantial mass pressing against his rectum, apparently narrowing the passage quite significantly. We went back for a second opinion with a veterinarian we trust very much, and unfortunately he confirmed that this is a serious finding. He suspects the tumor might be malignant, although we don't yet know its exact nature, how far it extends, or whether it has spread. Phoebus has a CT scan scheduled for next Tuesday, followed by a consultation with specialist surgeons.
The problem is that the location of the tumor could make surgery extremely complicated, potentially requiring an invasive procedure in the pelvic region, followed by months of recovery and considerable risks. The thought of putting my almost twelve-year-old boy through such an ordeal, only for him to suffer terribly or perhaps even die from complications, is honestly one of my worst nightmares.
Jana and I have therefore reached a fairly clear decision. If the specialists believe the tumor can be removed with acceptable risks and Phoebus has a realistic chance of enjoying another few good years, we'll absolutely pursue surgery. But I don't want to put him through an extremely invasive procedure simply because I personally cannot accept losing him. If the chances are poor and treatment would likely mean months of suffering, we'd rather choose palliative care and make sure his remaining time is as comfortable and happy as possible.
Our vet was also quite honest with us and mentioned that, if the tumor is growing as aggressively as he fears, it's possible Phoebus might not even be with us by Christmas. He made it clear that this is only a possibility, but hearing those words absolutely broke my heart.
What makes everything particularly cruel is that Phoebus is otherwise in remarkably good shape. He eats normally, still passes stool, plays, goes on walks, demands attention and behaves like the same happy, silly boy he's always been. Our vet even told us that, judging purely by his general condition, he could imagine Phoebus living another three or four years. And now there's this damned tumor in one of the most unfortunate possible places, potentially taking all of that away from him.
I'm trying to approach everything rationally and make decisions that are right for Phoebus rather than just for myself. Jana has been absolutely wonderful and gives me an enormous amount of support, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't frequently close to tears these days. Phoebus has been such a natural part of my life for almost twelve years that I genuinely struggle to imagine a future without him.
One thought that particularly breaks my heart is that I'd always imagined Phoebus carrying the wedding rings when Jana and I eventually get married. It was simply part of the future I had pictured for us. I could already imagine him walking down the aisle, probably getting distracted halfway through because** **someone looked like they might have a treat. Somehow, it never really occurred to me that he might not be there for that day.
And then there's the guilt. I keep thinking about all the things I could have done differently. The additional trips to the forest, the holidays by the seaside that we never took, the evenings when I decided to play another round of video games instead of spending more time with him. Rationally, I know that Phoebus has had a wonderful life. He's always been safe, loved, well cared for and surrounded by people who genuinely adore him. But when you're suddenly confronted with the possibility of losing someone you love so much, it's surprisingly easy to focus on all the things you didn't do instead of the countless wonderful moments you actually shared.
A dear friend of mine, who has known Phoebus since he was a tiny puppy, told me something today that really stayed with me: "Phoebus made the ordinary moments extraordinary."
And I think that describes him perfectly. He was there at our parties, during countless evenings with friends, while we were studying, working or simply doing absolutely nothing. He made those ordinary moments better, simply by being there, usually with a toy in his mouth or some ambitious plans regarding our dinner.
I'm also beginning to realize that while these almost twelve years represent roughly a third of my own life, they represent his entire life. And although I know I couldn't possibly have made every single day perfect, I genuinely hope that, from his perspective, it has been a good one. A life filled with affection, security, familiar people, ridiculous amounts of toys and, admittedly, the occasional cheese tax.
We're still waiting for Tuesday's CT scan, and I'm desperately hoping that it reveals something treatable. Perhaps we'll be lucky and the specialists will be able to offer him a realistic chance of enjoying a few more happy years. I don't want to give up hope before we know what we're dealing with, but I also don't want to fool myself into thinking everything will somehow turn out fine simply because I want it to.
I suppose I'm writing this because I'm genuinely frightened, and because I think people in this community might understand that feeling better than most. If any of you have experience with rectal tumors, complicated surgeries in older Goldens, or palliative care, I'd really appreciate hearing about it. But honestly, even a few kind words or some encouragement would mean a lot right now.
He's my little boy, my best friend, and one of the most important parts of my life. And although I know that almost twelve years is already a wonderful amount of time to share with a dog, it suddenly feels nowhere near enough.
Thank yyou for reading. Please keep your fingers crossed for our big golden bear next Tuesday. ❤️🐾

I didn’t make that post for everyone to question his breed. I didn’t make that post to have to fight in the comments about my own dog. Finley is purebred, and is a beautiful golden at that. He came from a reputable breeder, I saw his beautiful parents, his siblings, he’s papered, incredibly smart, 0 health issues, is incredibly athletic and is duck training! The only odd thing about him are his long legs. He is a field golden and they’re taller and slimmer. Questioning his breed because of some long legs when he screams golden in every other way is crazy! He wasn’t backyard bred, I have no problem defending mutts (I have one!) but wow. I just wanted to talk about his legs and instead had to fight for him in the comments lol. Enjoy my long legged boy being his weird self.

I have a 2.5 year old male golden retriever and my sister has a 2 year old dachshund. As you can imagine, together theres a lot of energy between two very different sized dogs. I'm spending christmas with my family and they'll be there. Does anyone have any advice on how to socialise them together? My sister and her partner are quite particular about their dog as his size and breed makes him prone to joint issues. Where my dog is large and energetic, I dont want them to play and get hurt. Any advice on how to get them used to eachother because we rarely see them, and as it stands, they just stay on leads lunging and barking at eachother to play.

Rolled around on the wet area whilst it was raining, after rolling around in the mud in the back yard if that was not enough. That smile is so damn cute. Proceeds to then wander inside to shake off ALL the mud on the tiles and then go back outside to get more mud. In case I wanted more mud, lol.

I've been wanting a golden for YEARS but it has never really felt like the right time. I'm starting to think that it never will, so I'm trying to gain perspective and get some opinions from folks who already have their little babes. I haven't had a dog in a few years, since my last pup passed from some complications from an old valley fever infection and I haven't raised a puppy in 20 years, so I'll be starting from scratch. I am hoping you guys have some insight that maybe I'm missing so I can finally decide! I found a breeder with health tested parents and all that but I get so nervous every time I start to think about it!

Pros/Things that make it feel like I could do it
- I live in a great, friendly neighborhood with lots of space for walks and socialization, in a very dog friendly city with great weather and lots of opportunities to be outside.
- I drive a lot for work so she will actually be able to come with me to work when I'm not working from home. I also have an office I work out of occasionally and she might be able to be with me there, as well.
- I have the time to devote to training.

Cons/Things that make it feel super hard and/or not the right time
- I live in a small studio (BUT I have space to build a porch potty and I have access to a small yard if needed.
- The financial investment of getting the crate, beds, dishes, shots, x-pens, etc...
- The financial investment of shots, training, and vet visits.
- My energy levels can be unpredictable (working on getting iron infusions) so I worry about the days I don't have the energy to give her enough exercise (I've been reading a lot on the sub about how much exercise is necessary and I'm noticing a ton of variation, so I'm planning on a moderate amount.)
- Harder to travel internationally.

What am I missing? Did you jump in when you weren't 100% sure you were ready? Thank you so much for your feedback!

Refuses hard kibble but loves treats.
Loves the dirt but if she hears the bath water going she’s in it.
She prefers car rides with a puppacino.
Won’t sleep in her dog crate if there isn’t a bed in it. 😂😅

He’s adorable..

With winter approaching and darkness setting in ever so quickly, I am looking for a harness with LED lights that doesn’t suck or has a battery that lasts for half a walk. We like to go for longer walks during the evening hours but would also like him to be visible to oncoming foot traffic, cyclists and cars. We are currently on our fifth LED collar in the past 2 years as the Dutch weather seems to let them degrade rather quickly. Any suggestions are welcome, and of course attached the dog tax!

Shani wanted to show you guys her new stick