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My dog with cancer is lethargic, off balance, lumps changed. Emergency?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Female | unspayed | 120 lbs

12 year old black lab pit bull cross. Diagnosed by our vet with cancer after a biopsy was done on one of the hard lumps on her throat. This morning when I got up the once hard lumps are all either squishy or gone, she’s lethargic and off balance so she’s walking funny, and she won’t even drink water. What does this mean for my dog? I know she’s dying of cancer but does she need emergency care right now or is this the normal next step?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Joy Fuhrman, DVM, MBA, CPA

Veterinarian

Published on January 9th, 2018

Cancerous masses can become necrotic (rotten) as they continue to grow and outgrow their blood supply. This could be one possible explanation for the change in the masses. The imbalance could suggest that the cancer has spread to the brain or it could be unrelated to the cancer (eg old dog vestibular disease). Either way, this is an uncomfortable situation for Mercedes and I recommend you take her to see a veterinarian right away.

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    Answered By Daniel Fonza, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Based on your description, I would recommend having Mercedes examined by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. This could potentially be vestibular disease in (old dog disease) in which the balance system is off. This is a self limiting disease but the symptoms may persist for multiple days. There may be a neurological component to these symptoms so it would be best to have this assessed by a veterinarian. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction! Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further!

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