My dog has cancer

[NightingaleJen]

Oh, I am so sorry. There is no such thing as "just a dog"; they really and truly become part of the family, and it doesn't take long, either. Look at that sweet face on Hattie! That is one happy, loving pup. Clearly she *knows* she is well loved, too. Please let that be a comfort to you.

Also, @microchick has given you good advice. It never, ever hurts to ask—and believe me, the staff at the clinic(s) absolutely understand. They don't like having to deliver bad news, either. When we had to make That Decision last December—and our vet agreed the moment he saw our beloved, two days shy of twelve Ben that day—our vet was literally crying with us as we said goodbye to my best pal. Two of the techs who'd seen Ben the most came in to cry with us and say how sorry they were, and the gal who usually checked us out could barely talk. We'd only been seeing this vet since we moved out here, about two and a half years...These people want to help, and if there is a way, they'll help you find it. Please ask around. You never know and could end up being very blessed (and blessing them by giving an opportunity to bless you and sweet Hattie!).

"Just a dog". These amazing creatures that love unconditionally, make us laugh when we're sad, and are the most faithful of companions? No way. Dogs are the best.

I am so sorry. *hug*

 

[microchick]

Thanks, @NightengaleJen, I agree with you 100%. DH and I do not have human children, we have children with fur tho. And there is no such thing of JUST a dog, cat or even chicken in our home.

I would definitely find out if there is a teaching veterinary college reasonably distanced away and call them along with the local vets. Somebody will be willing to help and a lot of times a teaching college will do treatment for free with supervised students/residents providing the care.

Hugs to all and prayers for Hattie.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I tell you what. This is hard. She is sick, and we are trying to close on a house that has been dragging on and on because of various things completely out of our control. I can't start her treatments until we close this mortgage because it will be expensive, and I still don't know exactly how much closing costs will be. We were supposed to move on 6/26. Then 7/7. Then today. Now Friday. I am getting very overwhelmed.

Sorry to put this on a chicken message board, but I don't really have anywhere else to vent.

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

Your dog is adorable. And there is no such thing as “ just” a dog. Use your judgement and take good care of her. Spoil her too.

 

[Birdie mom]

hello @Aunt Angus, how is Hattie doing today?

 

[Aunt Angus]

Oh - you are so kind for asking! ☺

Nothing has changed since I posted. I posted that right after I got the call. We JUST moved, and we are waiting to see the oncologist. Looks like radiation only at this point, which is better than I expected. Still crazy expensive, but not prolonged chemo. Fewer side effects.

They are going to do an ultrasound and an MRI just to make sure it hasn't metastasized. I'm a bit worried about that. She had an ultrasound a while back that showed a spot on her spleen. If that is cancer, we can get that removed. But her bloodwork showed possible problems with her pancreas. The vet said if she had pancreatic cancer, she'd probably show symptoms. She doesn't, but I'm still worried.

 

[Birdie mom]

Hi @Aunt Angus, I know it has been a really long times since you posted on this thread, and I was wondering how things were going ( everything is ok). My dog, TJ, just got diagnosed with cancer and it made me think of you and Hattie. I'm praying that everything is still good,
-Birdie Mom

 

[Aunt Angus]

Hi @Aunt Angus, I know it has been a really long times since you posted on this thread, and I was wondering how things were going fl everything is ok). My dog, TJ, just got diagnosed with cancer and it made me think of you and Hattie. I'm praying that everything is still good,
-Birdie Mom

Oh my goodness! I am so sorry! What kind of cancer, if I may ask?

I never updated this, and I meant to. The MRI was clean - no internal tumors, thank goodness. We had the one removed. Then, a few months later, two more tumors appeared. MRI was still clean, so she had another surgery. This time, they were able to get more of a margin.

She's doing... ok. The last surgery really took a lot out of her. She always held her tail straight up - we joked that it was like a periscope. But she keeps it down now, and the scar on her backside is a monster. She sleeps a lot more now, too.

She also has chronic pancreatitis, so we have her on a bland diet of steamed chicken breast, sweet potatoes, cottage cheese, and egg. Because it is so low fat, she's lost a lot of weight and is cold a lot of the time, so she has a heated blanket in the living room and wears a lot of doggie sweaters. She's still active for an old doggie. She's just not as active as we are used to, and it is kind of sad.

Edited for awful spelling!

 

[Birdie mom]

So glad Hattie is doing well!

TJ, has lung cancer. It originally was a small mass pressing up on his diaphragm. Six months after the vet found it, it had doubled in size . We got new images a month or so ago and saw that it had spread to his lungs.
A couple weeks before Christmas he started acting weird so we took him to the vet and they gave him him steroids. He is acting a lot better now, I think its the medicine, but like Hattie, you can see that he's getting old.

it's sad though. You can tell he's not his best. We decided not to have treatment, and that's been hard. The mass is in a place where the vet can't really reach, and also, he is about to turn 10. That's really old for an English Shepherd

 

[Aunt Angus]

So glad Hattie is doing well!

TJ, has lung cancer. It originally was a small mass pressing up on his diaphragm. Six months after the vet found it, it had doubled in size . We got new images a month or so ago and saw that it had spread to his lungs.
A couple weeks before Christmas he started acting weird so we took him to the vet and they gave him him steroids. He is acting a lot better now, I think its the medicine, but like Hattie, you can see that he's getting old.

it's sad though. You can tell he's not his best. We decided not to have treatment, and that's been hard. The mass is in a place where the vet can't really reach, and also, he is about to turn 10. That's really old for an English Shepherd

That is quite old. The vet was concerned it had spread to Hattie's pancreas. Had it spread to any of her vital organs, we would not gave tried anything aggressive, either. It's about quality of life, you know? Don't want to torture her with endless surgeries and treatments. Never an easy decision to make.

My heart goes out to you and TJ. They just never stay in our lives long enough...