swazzie

Another good day, I'm in work tomorrow so won't be able to do the multiple smaller meals. We'll go get him weighted on sat, but I'm pretty sure he's put back on some weight(it may be small but he's looking less gaunt in face ). No burping, retching or throwing up since start of week. Not sure if it's the raw meat or the steroids or other pills. He's appetite is definitely improved and he's back to camping out under the ds3 at meal time.???????? He's certainly enjoying the special attention - poor Chloe is confused as she's on a diet, but she's getting lots of pats and hugs.????

It's a local photographer, who specialises in family and pet photos- she even has a list of best beaches to take the pics- so we'll do that at raby bay here in Brissie He's good today, eating and no retching or throwing up since Saturday . I will probably open a new thread in the health forum soon and post updates re how he's going . We're trying to be very positive , no more crying for now. I am struggling with the waves of sadness though, Thanks so much to each and everyone of you who read and offered advise, info or good wishes and vibes. You are all very special xx Suzanne

Thanks so much for that info . We've been telling him Bru is sick, then he asks about Chloe and we say no Chloe is not sick. He's 3, I know longer term he won't remember but when it happens he'll ask about him a lot . I'll have a read of these links tomorrow . Bru didn't eat much this morning, even though he seemed keen to and hungry. We both had to work so this evening when I offered food , again was really keen but didn't have much. So I hand fed him the meat in little bits and he ate it all????. Then he had quite a bit of cooked chicken from my dinner and my sons leftovers. Normally that'd be a no no for me but he can have what he wants.

Thank you for all the well wishes, it means a lot to me,he's had a fair few cuddles this afternoon. The hardest is going to be trying to explain to our little boy, they are so attached , I dunno how to explain where he's gone when the time comes ???? it was hard enough explaining he couldn't come on plane when we went on hols. We've given him chicken mince twice since we came home and he's eaten both and is keeping it down . He's not loving been watched eating, so just now I let him eat and then came back when he was done . We've always fed the dogs together, but Chloe is even more food crazy than ever and tries to finish his off as he's slower eating, which then puts him off, so we've had to separate them at meal times . This would have never happened in past, she wouldn't even try!

He gave him steroids and anti naseau pills to help him eat and hopefully keep if down .

It's cancer for sure, his chest is covered in tumours (X-ray ) It's secondary , they don't know where primary is, could be anywhere . Second scan of tummy was clear. There is nothing they can do, it's a matter of trying to keeping him eating and pain free. We're heartbroken My lovely friends bought me a photo session for my birthday, so we're are going to try and do that ASAP . He's still wagging his tail - it's so unfair.

Lol yes that's pretty much what I'm getting Both chomping and now dh is in kitchen and they are both standing staring at him. ???? He's wagging his tail so must still be feeling ok ????

Chloe had been pinching Bru's food when he wasn't eating before we started watching him and then separating them for meals. So we feel mean doing this, but we've have put her on same nil by mouth as Bru today! I'll feed her in morning when Bru is in the car. We just can't feed her and not him, he would know and she really needs to lose some weigh anyhow. It's the first time I've never fed them- I feel guilty but I know in her case she'll be 100% fine .

So we weren't allowed feed Bru after last night as he's Nil by mouth(except water) for the scan tomorrow . I'm not coping, he's hungry and giving me the sad eyes then the devastated look. ???????? Plus he was sick last night and he's skinnier I think Tomorrow can't come quick enough. RL1 im sorry to hear about your expierence. After having a not so great expierence with our vet I totally understand how upsetting it is , we love our poochies.

This was taken about 3 weeks ago

We drop him off Monday between 7-8 and leave him. They'll do the scan and probably an endoscopy sometime that morning. I'll be in work trying to appear interested ! If surgery is required I'm not sure when that'll be , it's wait and see. Only one big burp yesterday and he kept the chicken mince down. He's not allowed any food after tonight - poor dog Very funky smells coming from him now and then.

Update So he had another ultrasound and they couldn't find cancer!!! He said despite the not eating his tummy had food in it,so he couldn't get a good enough look at all of it. He wants him back Monday morning to do another scan on an empty tummy ( poor dog he's only started eating chicken mince today) He think it is possibly some sort of gastrointestinal disease but won't know until they get a better look He's said there is still a smaller chance it could be cancer They may operate if they find something and if it's the gastro disease it's manageable longer term. We're very very hopeful. Rod was just lovely, very patient and Bru loved him on sight :-) there was lots of body wagging lol Thank you so much to all those who encouraged us to by a second opinion and see a specialist. Also for recommending the amazing BVSC. We're not out of any woods, but we go to bed tonight maybe able to sleep.

I'm at BVSC now waiting on the ultrasound. They are lovely here , spoke with Rod Straw Feel sick but so happy he's been looked at.

Thanks it's not til 3pm but im so thankful they fitted us in. Our vet was less than helpful today, but that's a whole other story, safe to say anything we need vet wise ongoing, I'll be looking elsewhere - the plus with them is they are only 24 hr within the area. He ate a little bit of Chloe's food this evening so we're happy he's had something and then he came over for a big cuddle. Thanks again for all the advise , help and kind words

We got a cancellation at BVSC for tomorrow, our vet did referral just waiting on them to hurry on a get paperwork over to BVSC . I've been home all day, was getting teeny bits of food into him but just now he threw up all he ate today and maybe what he had yesterday . He's so sad and tired looking today I think- allthough still tail wagging . I was looking at pic of taken of him end of May and he's seems to have aged in face about 5 years- he looks like much older dog I think.

Thank you He's eaten again and is now asleep on my foot

I really appreciate all of you taking the time to comment . It's all such a shock for us . Bru is our first dog, we got him a few months after we got married. He's the most placid , cuddly dog and always has been. He was never really the crazy lab, he just wants to please all the time. When our son was born he planted himself beside the baby and never leaves him. He's the dog that ds goes to whet he just wants to be still or wants a cuddle(he learnt very early on to not lick????), they have this amazing connection. I'll do anything to keep him alive , but i won't let him be in pain or go through surgery unless it will help him . weve decided I'll ring the vet in morning to see about a referral , (I could barely talk today so really I was useless)

She said because it seems like it's near intestine and is covered by frame then she didn't recommend it The one thing is that particular vet surgery are always very keen to push surgery and treatment onto people . I assumed they'd be pushing surgery today. she thought the surgery would confirm what she thinks that see on ultrasound and due to size it's not operatable (sp) and Taft he'd just be put through a lot for no benefit. So to clarify They did offer exploratory surgery of the intestine but the vet thinks that it's will confirm the cancer but not prolong his life As he's prob lose half intestine , plus the probability that there would be secondary tumours. She said the surgery is hard on them . We are going to see about an mri - does anyone know good specialist around Brisbane- or is that a referral?

He'll be 7 in August. We did get some high cal plus dense wet food off her as he was refusing dry. I've also gave him sardines as he eats them . Between both he's eaten most of it and we're going to give him more later. She said it wouldn't be a great idea to change his diet too much so not to make him throw up. We have always tried not to go the human foods with the dogs but since the 3 yr old came along , the dogs have been getting a steady top up of dinner food.

Just had a chat with DH, I don't think I quite took in/heard the same info as he did There was no mass, the ultrasound checked for blockages throughout his body and found nothing . The wall of his intestines was thicker than it should be which she said looked like it was a long tumour . She said nothing else works explain the weight loss I lasted if it could be anything else and she said no as the U.S. Found nothing . We're too raw to think further and hope to have a clear head tomorrow. There is another vet who is highly recommended that I'll call and see what they think .

Thanks for all the kind words, it means a lot to me. We picked him up a few hours ago, he was happy to see us and wagging his massive tail as always. She did bloodwork and ultrasound . They couldn't find anything else in him that would cause the rapid weight loss and muscle loss. She said the wall was thicker than it should be around intestine and one other spot ( I can't rem I was too upset) which she said indicates cancer. She said at best a few months but it would be this week, if we can't get any weight on him, he lost 10kg in a matter of days. Have special diet and he ate a bit when we just fed him and the three year old just slipped him a sausage which he ate. No throwing up or burping but vet said he was doing the burp thing through the night. We got one week of pills and she said come back in a week get him weighted and looked at agin unless he goes downhill. I don't know, I am leaning towards a few days see how he is and then a second opinion .

Dh just spoke with vet it's not good . Blood came back clear but they found mass in intestines and thinks it's cancer Said the op to determine if it is , is invasive and if it's is where it is means not much can be done Said meds are hard and prob won't do much. We have to get him on high energy diet to keep weight on him. I am going to get him soon and will ask questions Devastated

No news waiting on vet to get test result. Chloe is anxious I think, back to her not going down the scary hallway routine .bru and Chloe have never been separated since the day we collect her from Canberra and brought her home.

Since we came back from hols( week) he's not eating his normal dry. He was eating tuna up until today. He's still burping and has threw up only once this past week. Vet told dh he's worried about cancer- surely not so quick with no other symptoms ?! Our other girl is so sad she keeps checking the door and coming over for a cuddle. Vet will call me in morning .

Husband just text he weighted him on way in- he's down almost 10kg- he was a bit over weight and is a big dog but I feel sick- that's huge . They are keeping him in for tests overnight