my dog has cancer...

[journey11]

So sad! This thread made me cry.

I have 2 dogs, 7 and 10 years old that I got while I was in college, and it grieves me to think of them getting old or sick and dying. I try to brace myself for the inevitable... I wish dogs lived longer!! They really are like family (and sometimes even more loving and dependable than family). I'm so sorry to hear about your dog Rusty.

My grandparents have lost many dogs over the years, and when their Irish Setter died, they swore they wouldn't go through that again. But months later found themselves back at the pound to adopt another pup in need of love and another chance at life. I can't imagine life without a dog! Be thankful for the good times you had with your dog and think of how blessed you and he both were for your time together. So many dogs are not so fortunate.

 

[cottagegarden]

I am so sorry, and there are never words to express how much you would like to ease someones pain. We have unfortunatly been thru this with a few pets these past months and I know how hard it is to grieve for your pets and have that magnified by your children's sorrow. It is very very hard. Loss is a part of life and there never seems enough time when we lose anything we love.
Rusty was very lucky to be a part of your family and you kept him safe, comfortable, and loved
all his life. He sounds like he was a very special dog. Wishing you the comfort of hearts who understand.

 

[songbird]

Hi,
First, I am so sorry you are having to face this difficult decision. I went through this with my hound, who had a spinal tumor. I had an MRI done, and I did take him to surgery, but after about 3 hours of surgery, we found that the tumor was so embedded in the spinal cord that there would be no way to remove it without leaving him paralyzed. That was when I decided to euthanize him right there, while he was still under anesthesia.
It seems like most people here feel that it is kinder not to do the amputation, so I will just play the devil's advocate for a minute.

How is Rusty's health and quality of life, other than the osteosarc? If he has been slowing down, and going downhill for awhile, then he probably will worsen rapidly after surgery. If he is a happy healthy dog, other than this, then he might really enjoy the life he still has after the amputation. In other words, if he is not enjoying his life too much right now (aside from the painful leg), surgery might not be worth it. But if he was really happy until the osteosarc developed, then you might be buying him some good quality time.

Another thing to think about is what portion of his life is still ahead of him? If you think of one year being about 7 years to a dog, then amputation may buy him the equivalent of another 7 years. (It's another year in your mind, but another 7 to him.) If someone told you that after a surgery, you could live another 7 years, would you do the surgery? Again...I think part of that answer depends on how strong and healthy he was before the lameness started.

There is not a right or wrong answer...every situation is different. If you don't do the surgery, make sure you ask for very aggressive pain medicine for him. If something isn't working, there are many others to try. Bone tumors are very painful.

Hang in there, I wish I could help you and your Rusty. I'll be thinking about you...

 

[rooster0209]

I am so sorry that you had to go thru that.

I have 14yr doxie and I cry just thinking about that day. I had to put down a cat a few years back. I took him from an abandoned farm. He was so/so tame. I pulled a tick off his ear and puss came pouring out and it smelled bad. The vet said there was a slim chance (he was currently working with a lady and her cat on a similar infection) I would have to clean the ear daily, oral and topical antibiotics, etc. There was no way I could do that with this cat, he barely liked attention the way it was. I cried so hard when they put him down and I didnt have him that long.

A friend of mine recently went through the same situation with her life long dog. Time makes it easier but Rusty will always be missed.

 

[abluechipstock]

i was a vet tech for 8 yrs and now a registered nurse, i've seen several dogs have their legs amputated and did very well but each one i have seen ended up with the cancer going to the lungs, amputation will prolong his life but you'll have to decide what's best for the dog and your family, what i would do may not be what the next person would do, chemo is terrible, it's so hard on people and i wouldn't put my dog through that, it's a horrible thing to have to decide, my step bro had a rescued greyhound that they took the leg off, did chemo and she died a couple months later of lung cancer, you have to ask yourself, am i doing it for the dog or for myself, after saying all that i'm really sorry about your dog

 

[songbird]

Oh dear, I am so sorry. Somehow in this thread, I missed your update about the internal bleeding and euthanasia and your son's birthday. So ignore everything I said before. It looks like Rusty told you it was time for him to go, didn't he? I'm very sorry you and your family are going through this. Remember, he will stick around you long after he is gone. After all...if you had passed, wouldn't you stick around the people you love? He will too....

 

[Henrietta23]

Cheryl, I'm so very sorry for your loss. I can only reiterate what Redfeathers said. I've had to make that decision for three dogs in my adult life. It's never easy but it will get better with time. Allow yourself to grieve for your wonderful friend.

 

[NancyDz]

Cheryl,

I am soo sorry for your loss of Rusty, I really think you did the best thing for him as much as it hurts.

Nancy