bobosensei
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Post by bobosensei on Jun 3, 2019 6:09:59 GMT -5
I found out when I dropped him off at the vet for boarding for my Memorial Day vacation. I am not doing any treatment. I have no idea how much longer he will hang on. Vet said the tumor as big as it is could still be growing, but what is fatal is the internal bleeding. So I am watching for signs (collapsing, not eating, no energy) and will bring him in to be euthanized when this happens. They can do surgery to stop the bleeding and give blood transfusions, but I don't see the point. Even with successful removal of the tumors and with chemo the life expectancy is just months, so this is a pretty grim illness.
I am very sad. This dog has been with me 13 years and he's always been "mine" more than anyone else's. He was with me through an overseas move, all of exDH's military deployments, and the divorce. I cried in the airport and on the plane and I'm sure everyone thought I was crazy.
It is stressful that the situation is just a ticking time bomb. I was off work all last week after I picked the pups back up, and I am going back to work today. I'm worried about him being left alone for so long. One of the vets I spoke to said people normally make an appointment to have the pet put down when they get this news. But when I picked him up from boarding a different vet said to keep an eye on him.
Yesterday he had diarrhea in the house. He woke me up last night and I was up 20 minutes letting him out, and then put him in the garage which made me feel awful. I don't have a good place to corral him that isn't carpeted during the day and the last few months he doesn't like being outside very long. I just realized it must be since he got sick. But I have to figure something out because I have some weeks coming up at work where I can't just work from home.
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resolution
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Post by resolution on Jun 3, 2019 6:53:24 GMT -5
I am really sorry about your dog. They can become such beloved family members.
I don't have any recommendations on how to provide care for him while you are at work, but would the vet's office have any suggestions?
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Artemis Windsong
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Post by Artemis Windsong on Jun 3, 2019 7:15:14 GMT -5
That is so hard watching your beloved dog be ill. Thinking of you.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2019 7:21:04 GMT -5
Sorry about your dog.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Jun 3, 2019 7:29:44 GMT -5
You can try puppy pads but you're going to need a lot of them since you don't know where he will choose to go. They come in packs of 100 so you can put some all over the house. Buy Febreze or scented candles to get rid of any smell.
Sorry about your dog, we've lost two to cancer and it's never an easy process.
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hurricanegirl
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Post by hurricanegirl on Jun 3, 2019 7:30:24 GMT -5
my sincere sympathies my much loved Hurricane too, had a spleen cancer my only regret is that I waited too long (and that love could not save him)
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hurricanegirl
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Post by hurricanegirl on Jun 3, 2019 7:33:22 GMT -5
you also might want to try a toddler play pen (lined with a cheap rug - buy a few) to confine indoors
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steph08
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Post by steph08 on Jun 3, 2019 7:37:22 GMT -5
I'm sorry about your dog.
No one can make that decision for you. For me, I think I would schedule an appointment. Then you will be with him when he goes, and you won't spend everyday at work worrying about him. But I know that's hard if you don't think it's his time yet.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2019 7:58:51 GMT -5
I would schedule an appointment too.
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andi9899
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Post by andi9899 on Jun 3, 2019 8:14:26 GMT -5
Sorry to hear about your dog.
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Cheesy FL-Vol
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Post by Cheesy FL-Vol on Jun 3, 2019 8:37:38 GMT -5
I am so sorry to hear about your dog. Can you get thick mil painters plastic, lay it over your carpet, pick up a pet pen, and like someone else said, lay down puppy pads? Pen something like this? There are quite a number of different pens out there. www.amazon.com/Extra-Large-Exercise-Pen-40-inch/dp/B079W4LWGZ
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on Jun 3, 2019 8:55:25 GMT -5
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TheOtherMe
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Post by TheOtherMe on Jun 3, 2019 8:56:34 GMT -5
I'm so sorry. Sounds like he has had a good life.
I would probably make the appointment.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Jun 3, 2019 9:25:03 GMT -5
bobosensei - sorry to hear about your dog. Not easy letting go.
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mollyanna58
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Post by mollyanna58 on Jun 3, 2019 10:28:52 GMT -5
I am sorry to hear about your dog. My only advice is not to wait too long once your dog starts showing signs of distress or discomfort. He won't get better, so make the best choice for him.
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GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl
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Post by GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl on Jun 3, 2019 11:13:32 GMT -5
I’m so sorry. I can’t tell you when the time is right to let go or if nature should simply play out. And since no one can give you a solid time frame, maybe hire a dog sitter to come and check on him once or twice a day so he is not entirely alone all day and give you a little peace of mind during the next few days or weeks until the time comes to let him go?
Hugs.
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kent
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Post by kent on Jun 3, 2019 11:28:55 GMT -5
I am sorry to hear about your dog. My only advice is not to wait too long once your dog starts showing signs of distress or discomfort. He won't get better, so make the best choice for him. I'm sorry as well. It's a heart breaking decision but you have to look at it from the "quality of life" perspective and then, when it's "over," you can spend a long time crying about it - I still get emotional when looking at a picture of any of my previous dogs.
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whoami
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Post by whoami on Jun 3, 2019 12:00:39 GMT -5
My dog had a tumor in her spleen when she was 12. It was discovered during a dental cleaning...her bloodwork was slightly off so the vet when in to look at her. Under anesthesia it was obvious as you could see it when her belly was relaxed.
We we chose to treat. First X-rays to see the whole thing followed by an ultrasound. It looked operable so we scheduled the surgery for 2 days later. We did tell the vet if it had spread or looked like cancer to let her sleep. It was the longest 2 hours but they called and were able to remove all of the spleen and tumor. Biopsy showed it was not cancerous.
She is now 14 and doing fine. She is a big dog so probably on borrowed time at this point, but she continues to be relatively healthy.
We did make the decision if surgery was not possible that we would take her in the next day and let her go. I could not handle the idea of the thing rupturing and watching my dog bleed to death in front of me. I’m so glad it did not come to that. I’m sorry you are in this position. I was a basket case for a week while this all played out.
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sesfw
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Post by sesfw on Jun 3, 2019 18:09:13 GMT -5
I'm so sorry this is happening. Furbabies are family
Hugs ……...
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Ava
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Post by Ava on Jun 3, 2019 19:24:36 GMT -5
Sorry about the dog. I would hang on to him as long as he's not in pain and distress. The vet can help you determine when is time to let him go.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Jun 3, 2019 21:48:12 GMT -5
I’m sorry about your dog.
We put up a child gate in the master bath, then padded the floor with old towels. Each morning, the towels got thrown into the wash, and the floor quickly swiffered. This kept the worst of Harpo’s mess corralled.
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Works4me
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Post by Works4me on Jun 4, 2019 0:21:13 GMT -5
I'm so sorry about this. It does sound like you have a quality care plan and are working with a good veterinary team. Sometimes that is the best we can do but it is never easy. Please give your dog extra lovies from me.
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bobosensei
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Post by bobosensei on Jun 4, 2019 5:58:52 GMT -5
Thanks for all the well wishes and good ideas. The digestive issues he had stopped. He's always had a weak stomach and been prone to diarrhea so I think this last bout was unrelated to his issues now and probably not indicative of what is to come. But I will get a baby gate so that if the time comes I need to keep him off the carpet I can do that in the master bathroom. He drank out of the toilet a few times last night so I am moving water upstairs for him too.
We have a meeting today at work where they are discussing big changes for the next fiscal year. So at least I will know over the next few weeks what to expect in terms of some of those meetings that would keep me in the office. My current position I don't participate in them, but they are trying to move me into one of the positions that does for the last 2 months without success, and this is the point where we should be getting the definitive news. I'd have more flexibility to work from home outside of those meetings in the new position which would be good. It would improve my quality of life since my commute is 1.5-2.5 hours a day again. Right now my boyfriend works 2-10pm so he is usually home until 11 or 12. But I was typically not getting home until 7:30. Post vacation I am trying to change that. I got home at 5:30 last night.
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Jun 4, 2019 13:06:49 GMT -5
I'm so sorry. It's never easy.
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busymom
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Post by busymom on Jun 4, 2019 13:26:12 GMT -5
I'm so sorry. Fur babies are family. Wishing you peace however it all plays out.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2019 21:14:24 GMT -5
I'm sorry. As others have said, it's never easy. Do what you can do, love your baby as long as he is enjoying life and relatively pain-free. With mine, I have found their eyes tell me when it's time, when they are ready.
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geenamercile
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Post by geenamercile on Jun 5, 2019 17:55:49 GMT -5
I am sorry for you and your puppy. I have no doubt that you will know when the time is right for him. In the mean time I am sure you will have some extra love moments for memories.
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dannylion
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Post by dannylion on Jun 5, 2019 18:02:55 GMT -5
Aw, the poor sweetie. I'm sure your precious fur baby knows you love him very much. I hope your work situation will allow you to have the time you need for him.
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CCL
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Post by CCL on Jun 12, 2019 19:56:56 GMT -5
How's your doggie doing? Hopefully he's feeling a little better by now.
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bobosensei
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Post by bobosensei on Jul 18, 2019 11:11:22 GMT -5
I elected to euthanize my dog yesterday. Over the last couple of weeks his appetite had decreased from 4-5 cans of dog food to 1-2 and he was having trouble walking. He stopped getting up to go on walks with the other dog which were always a favorite thing and hadn't been playing with his toys either. I know he is better off now, but it was still very hard. I just had to remember that I didn't want to come home from work and find out he'd been suffering all day with internal bleeding.
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