Chia Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 Hi, My family has a 14 year old Labrador. She's had a pretty good life, with some rough spots - she was hit by a car when she was about 4 years old, but recovered well; and three years ago we had to have a maligant cancer removed from her leg. She has severe arthritis, but we have adapted. I've changed our routine to fit her a bit better, and we had an extra gat installed at the side of the house so she never has to climb stairs anymore. We though she was doing alright until last week I found an egg sized lump on one of her breasts. We took her to the vet, and sure enough it was another cancer. They warned us before that it would probably come back, and also that she probably has secondaries. I've been going over her carefully the last few days, at she has at least 6 smaller lumps spread over her body. Things are difficult because my parents moved away this year to go on a government posting, and now I am looking after our dogs. I love the dogs dearly and don't mind looking after them, but I can't handle the idea of having to put Hannah down when the rest of my family isn't here to say goodbye. This is the decision I felt I was faced with last week, when the vet told me to have a careful think and decide what to do. I spoke to my parents and we deciced we would get the breast tumor removed, as it is in a reasonably accessable spot and would not be a terribly invasive surgery. She's at the vet now, having this done. My parents will bo home fore a month over christmas, and we have come to a tactic agreement that when they are here we will have her put to sleep, when we are all able to be with her and before she can get much sicker. I am having trouble, I guess because I feel really torn. I think it would be best for me if my parents were here when it's her time, because it would be so hard to do alone - I've loved that dog since I was 6 years old. On the other hand, she has been constantly suprising me over the last year. She gets worse, and we adapt. She is still bright eyed, she can walk short distances, take herself to the toilet, enjoys meals, and obviously enjoys being around people. She is very spoilt now and spends all her days with me, sleeping in our lounge room. Whenever anyone walks past she rolls onto her side and waves her paw impetously at them to give her a tummy rub. She is a very stoic dog, and the vet told me she must be in pain but would never show it. I don't want her to get sicker, and I feel like it would be the right thing to have her go gently, with all her family around her. On the other hand, I have a desperate desire to squeeze every single day I can out of her, and not let her go until I'm sure she is no longer enjoying being alive. I'm feeling lost and confused, and I don't know how to reconcile these two things. What is the right thing to do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 She sounds like my old stafford - he was dxd with MCT 2 just on 3 years ago and they gave us 12-18 months. He had chemo and has been holistically treated for cancer as well as being supplemented with tonics and vitamins to keep him well. He is still here and while he enjoys laying in the sun, taking his daily walk (all of about 600m to 1km depending on how he feels), eating his dinner and having a nightly play with the family and he has NO Pain, then he will stay with us. He is in remission at the moment but he still has tumours and cannot be cured, so we take one day at a time. I know people that would have put my old guy down by now because the costs for his treatment is quite expensive as is the ongoing cost of his meds because the chemo damaged his thyroid so that no longer works and he has stomach problems sometimes which we don't know is from the chemo or the cancer. I think it is a personal decision for each and every one of us. Have you considered some supplements to help her stay as well as possible in her elderly years and to help her system cope with the invasion of the cancer? Good luck with her, she sounds like a gem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chia Posted November 10, 2008 Author Share Posted November 10, 2008 She sounds like my old stafford - he was dxd with MCT 2 just on 3 years ago and they gave us 12-18 months. He had chemo and has been holistically treated for cancer as well as being supplemented with tonics and vitamins to keep him well. He is still here and while he enjoys laying in the sun, taking his daily walk (all of about 600m to 1km depending on how he feels), eating his dinner and having a nightly play with the family and he has NO Pain, then he will stay with us. He is in remission at the moment but he still has tumours and cannot be cured, so we take one day at a time. I know people that would have put my old guy down by now because the costs for his treatment is quite expensive as is the ongoing cost of his meds because the chemo damaged his thyroid so that no longer works and he has stomach problems sometimes which we don't know is from the chemo or the cancer. I think it is a personal decision for each and every one of us. Have you considered some supplements to help her stay as well as possible in her elderly years and to help her system cope with the invasion of the cancer? Good luck with her, she sounds like a gem. She is on antiimflammatories and painkillers to help manage her arthritis. She's doing really well after her trip to the vet today, barely licking her wound - but obviously very glad to be home. Our vet told me that he examined her closely, and she has secondary tumors all throughout her mammaries as well as all over her body. He said it might be an option to remove some of them, but it would be a major operation - she would need to be desexed, and have all of her mammary glands removed. I don't really think I'm willing to do that to her, when she is already so old and frail... it seems selfish to put her through that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheridan Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 Chia, how is she at home? Pleased to see you? Happy? Is she doing something that's unusual that's saying she wants to leave you? When my last dog was diagnosed with a kidney disease, my parents were overseas. I did everything I could but I came to the conclusion that he was just waiting for them to come home. This was after he started wanting to sleep in their room rather than ours. I'm a firm believer in adage that the dog will tell you when it's time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Funny Farm Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 Yeah i agree with Sheridan you will know when its time and also what Staffyluv said just take it one day at a time. Goodluck with her, but saying goodbye is never easy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbesotted Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 As others have said whenthe time is right she will let you know. I have had the task of helping several of my beloved companions to The Bridge it is never ever easy... but I have always known deep in my heart it was right. Take each day at a time and dont put any dates or time lines on anything. Let her enjoy her older years until she decides that it is time and lets you know Blessings H Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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