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Our dog Duffy has Lymphoma - need advice
Our dog Duffy has Lymphoma - need advice
Over the week-end our 9 year old Pembroke Welsh Corgi Duffy became ill. His face swelled up and I became alarmed when I felt lumps all around his neck.
I rushed him to the Vets where they said that all of his lymph nodes were swollen thoughout his body and they biopsied the lymph nodes and took some blood.
The tests came back positive for lymphoma and the cells are cancerous. Since all the lymph nodes are involved the only option is chemo and that may not really be an option.
Duffy is the light of our lives. Hubby and I got him a year after we were married and he is the kind of dog that everyone just adores. He truly is a special, once in a lifetime dog and I'm so torn up inside right now about what to do.
I really don't want to put him thru chemo since they say that it will only give him another 6-12 months.
Money isn't an issue. If chemo would give him another 3 years I would gladly spend thousands but it just doesn't seem to be worth it to watch him suffer.
Part of me just wants to put him on the prednisone to help alleviate some of the swelling and then plan to take a day off to be with him. Take him for a walk and let him play with Gromit. Feed him a steak (And anything else he wants to eat while he can still eat it) and then take him to the vet and put him to sleep.
I just love him so much and it's killing me to see him looking so uncomfortable. I want to remember him happy and healthy and the longer he is like this the worse those memories seem to fade.
It's just that this happened so fast and the vet said that that's pretty common for lymphoma to just come out of nowhere.
I know that several of you are dog lovers and I know that someone out there must have gone through this.
Any help, gudiance advice, reassurance that you can give me will help.
This is just so hard and I don't know what to do. Or maybe I do and just need some reassurance to follow my heart and do the right thing for my beloved Duffy.
Here's a pic I took of him just 2 weeks ago:
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ow ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/SYimp ... 8.JPG"></a>
And here's Duffy and puppy Gromit six years ago...
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/o6 ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/SKG1O ... G.JPG"></a>
Thanks in advance for any help or guidnance that you can provide in this difficult time.
I rushed him to the Vets where they said that all of his lymph nodes were swollen thoughout his body and they biopsied the lymph nodes and took some blood.
The tests came back positive for lymphoma and the cells are cancerous. Since all the lymph nodes are involved the only option is chemo and that may not really be an option.
Duffy is the light of our lives. Hubby and I got him a year after we were married and he is the kind of dog that everyone just adores. He truly is a special, once in a lifetime dog and I'm so torn up inside right now about what to do.
I really don't want to put him thru chemo since they say that it will only give him another 6-12 months.
Money isn't an issue. If chemo would give him another 3 years I would gladly spend thousands but it just doesn't seem to be worth it to watch him suffer.
Part of me just wants to put him on the prednisone to help alleviate some of the swelling and then plan to take a day off to be with him. Take him for a walk and let him play with Gromit. Feed him a steak (And anything else he wants to eat while he can still eat it) and then take him to the vet and put him to sleep.
I just love him so much and it's killing me to see him looking so uncomfortable. I want to remember him happy and healthy and the longer he is like this the worse those memories seem to fade.
It's just that this happened so fast and the vet said that that's pretty common for lymphoma to just come out of nowhere.
I know that several of you are dog lovers and I know that someone out there must have gone through this.
Any help, gudiance advice, reassurance that you can give me will help.
This is just so hard and I don't know what to do. Or maybe I do and just need some reassurance to follow my heart and do the right thing for my beloved Duffy.
Here's a pic I took of him just 2 weeks ago:
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ow ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/SYimp ... 8.JPG"></a>
And here's Duffy and puppy Gromit six years ago...
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/o6 ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/SKG1O ... G.JPG"></a>
Thanks in advance for any help or guidnance that you can provide in this difficult time.
*Another fine scatterbrained production
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silverheels
- Posts: 890
- Joined: Thu Aug 10, 2006 10:18 am
- Location: The Nutmeg State
Your note brought tears to my eyes. We have had to put 2 of our Saint Bernards to sleep. One was 12 years old and just got very weak and couldn't get up any longer. It was best for her that we let her go. It was not easy as she had been with us for a long time. Our second saint had cancer and the vet said that she wouldn't survive very long even if he gave her chemo. She was 8. Having seen the devastation chemo had caused in a couple of our friends, we couldn't put her through that.
Just last year our 6 month old yellow lab died while being neutered-that was really tough for us.
There's really no easy answer. We just thought that we didn't want our dogs to suffer. They really can't tell you how much they hurt. Their eyes are so woeful.
We gave our two saints lots of love before we let them go to sleep and then cried our eyes out.
We now have a 10 month old yellow lab. How lucky you are that you already have another dog.
God bless, I know you will do the right thing.
Just last year our 6 month old yellow lab died while being neutered-that was really tough for us.
There's really no easy answer. We just thought that we didn't want our dogs to suffer. They really can't tell you how much they hurt. Their eyes are so woeful.
We gave our two saints lots of love before we let them go to sleep and then cried our eyes out.
We now have a 10 month old yellow lab. How lucky you are that you already have another dog.
God bless, I know you will do the right thing.
I think your gut instinct is spot-on.
Try the pred, spend a day or two saying goodbye and then make the best decision for your puppy dog.
Lymphoma is very aggressive and the chemo treatment does not come with a 6-12 month extension of life guarantee. It may not work at all.
Chemo is really harsh. We did it to our Rotti and will will not do it again if the cancer returns. all the happiness & joy drained from him. took him a long time to bounce back.
Just cuz the technology is out there and the money is in our pocket doesn't mean that we have to prolong our dogs lives if it means their quality of life will never be the same.
ask your vet what he/she would do if it was their dog.
Try the pred, spend a day or two saying goodbye and then make the best decision for your puppy dog.
Lymphoma is very aggressive and the chemo treatment does not come with a 6-12 month extension of life guarantee. It may not work at all.
Chemo is really harsh. We did it to our Rotti and will will not do it again if the cancer returns. all the happiness & joy drained from him. took him a long time to bounce back.
Just cuz the technology is out there and the money is in our pocket doesn't mean that we have to prolong our dogs lives if it means their quality of life will never be the same.
ask your vet what he/she would do if it was their dog.
I'm so sorry for you, your family and the pup.
All I can say is that I've been there and I truly believe that animals tell YOU when it's time.
If steroids will help with any pain, and you need time, it's the right thing to do.
This is brand new to you, so do your homework on the net and see if their are any other options.
I think you know that you would never want your baby put through any pain because you want more time with them.
When you hear bad news like this your thoughts are all over the place, and I'm sure you're extremely upset, but please, just take some time to get over this shocking news and enjoy Duffy as much as you can.
All I can say is that I've been there and I truly believe that animals tell YOU when it's time.
If steroids will help with any pain, and you need time, it's the right thing to do.
This is brand new to you, so do your homework on the net and see if their are any other options.
I think you know that you would never want your baby put through any pain because you want more time with them.
When you hear bad news like this your thoughts are all over the place, and I'm sure you're extremely upset, but please, just take some time to get over this shocking news and enjoy Duffy as much as you can.
"Paradise...it's a state of mine"
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Tracy in WI
- Posts: 1624
- Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 8:39 am
- Location: Wisconsin
Oh Gromit, I am so sorry. We just put our old guy George to sleep in December. Not cancer, but also very sudden. I knew it was time as I could tell he was in pain and not enjoying life anymore. Keeping him alive would only be for my benefit of having him around. It would have been no benefit to him.
We didn't have the option of taking a few good days to spend with him to allow us all to say goodbye. Although it certainly will not feel like it, those will be some special days you can treasure. Be sure to take alot more pictures of your best friend.
My thoughts are with you and your Duffy.
Tracy
We didn't have the option of taking a few good days to spend with him to allow us all to say goodbye. Although it certainly will not feel like it, those will be some special days you can treasure. Be sure to take alot more pictures of your best friend.
My thoughts are with you and your Duffy.
Tracy
Tracy, Seaside Properties at Grande Bay
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Xislandgirl
- Posts: 4163
- Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 4:03 pm
- Location: Slightly left of center
I am so very sorry. I have no experience with cancer in dogs but I have been in your situation and I can tell you that there is no easy way to make that decision.
Spend some time, hug and kiss, take some pictures and hug and kiss some more. Give hime a piece of chocolate, so he knows what it tastes like and do what you feel is best for him.
I know exactly how you are feeling, as I sit here, tears are streaming down my face.
I will keep all of you in my prayers.
Spend some time, hug and kiss, take some pictures and hug and kiss some more. Give hime a piece of chocolate, so he knows what it tastes like and do what you feel is best for him.
I know exactly how you are feeling, as I sit here, tears are streaming down my face.
I will keep all of you in my prayers.
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California Girl
We lost a fantastic cat to lymphoma. We kept trying to hang on to him and it was so sad. I would never do that to an animal again so I can have more time with him. Your decision is the right one. It's not easy, but losing an animal through whatever means is always heart wrenching.
I hope someone will be kind enough to put me down when it's my time.
I hope someone will be kind enough to put me down when it's my time.
Gromit,
I am so sorry to hear about your dog. Our Foster died of cancer in December 2 years ago; he was 12. We choose not to do chemo because of his age and I didn't want to do anything that would make him feel sicker (even if it meant he would be with us longer). He was diagnosed in June of that year and died in December. He was on Rimadyl and was doing great until he had a relapse just after Christmas. My mom convinced me that it was time to take him to be put down. On December 28th, we fed him filet mignon and mom's home made meatloaf. He collapsed in the back of the car on the way to the vet and lost his bowels - I thought that was it. When we arrived, I ran in to get a stretcher for him and much to my surprise, he was standing in the back of the Durango when I came out and ate a treat. He then proceed to very gingerly walk himself into the vet. The vet guessed that the cancer had spread from his shoulder to his lungs and we were going to do an x-ray to confirm before we put him down. The vet left the room, my mom said we shouldn't do it and with that Foster started going in to cardiac arrest. We called the vet in and before they could even 'help him along' to get him out of pain, he had passed.
So, my point is that you will do what is best for the dog that you love so very much. Treasure ever second you have with him. He knows you love him.
PS Foster's son, Lager is now 12 years 9 mos. He is very frail and I know my time with him is limited so I do know how you feel.
Hugs to you,
Nancy
I am so sorry to hear about your dog. Our Foster died of cancer in December 2 years ago; he was 12. We choose not to do chemo because of his age and I didn't want to do anything that would make him feel sicker (even if it meant he would be with us longer). He was diagnosed in June of that year and died in December. He was on Rimadyl and was doing great until he had a relapse just after Christmas. My mom convinced me that it was time to take him to be put down. On December 28th, we fed him filet mignon and mom's home made meatloaf. He collapsed in the back of the car on the way to the vet and lost his bowels - I thought that was it. When we arrived, I ran in to get a stretcher for him and much to my surprise, he was standing in the back of the Durango when I came out and ate a treat. He then proceed to very gingerly walk himself into the vet. The vet guessed that the cancer had spread from his shoulder to his lungs and we were going to do an x-ray to confirm before we put him down. The vet left the room, my mom said we shouldn't do it and with that Foster started going in to cardiac arrest. We called the vet in and before they could even 'help him along' to get him out of pain, he had passed.
So, my point is that you will do what is best for the dog that you love so very much. Treasure ever second you have with him. He knows you love him.
PS Foster's son, Lager is now 12 years 9 mos. He is very frail and I know my time with him is limited so I do know how you feel.
Hugs to you,
Nancy
NancyB
Gromit,
I am so sorry to hear about your baby. I have never been through anything like that, so I have nothing to add. But I am hurting for you.
And I also think keeping him around for a little longer to say goodbye is a wonderful idea. I am sure the vet can make him more comfortable while you spend a little more time together.
Susan
I am so sorry to hear about your baby. I have never been through anything like that, so I have nothing to add. But I am hurting for you.
And I also think keeping him around for a little longer to say goodbye is a wonderful idea. I am sure the vet can make him more comfortable while you spend a little more time together.
Susan
"Sponges grow in the ocean...I wonder how much deeper it would be if that didn't happen."
Gromit - a couple of year ago, one of my favorite cats began to loose weight and looked REALLY run down. I took her to the vet and he poked and prodded and ran some quick tests. He explained the tumor in her belly was about the size of his thumb, and probably growing. The technology choice was a battery of tests and possible surgery to remove the tumor. There was no guarantee this option would yeild any additional time or quality of life. I hemmed and hawed, explained that she was an "outdoor" cat, but she was special. He reviewed the various potential treatment protocols and the expected success, and expense, of those treatments. Then he looked at me and asked "Do you want this cat, or do you want a cat?" I quietly said goodbye to the cat. It was a good decision.
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.
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