<p>Today just sucks. period.<br>
We’ve been treating Casey, our 12 yo mixed poodle for what was originally thought to be a UTI, but it isn’t, her urine culture didn’t grow anything, antibiotics didn’t help, x-ray, CBCs all fairly normal but she has blood in her urine, she’s straining to pee and she goes at least every 2 hours.<br>
Next thing to do is an ultrasound. She had one today. She spent the day with the Vet. We picked her up at 5:00. Doc comes in the room and spends a good 1/2 hr with us discussing our “options.”<br>
They finally found something…she has transitional cell carcinoma. A malignant tumor in her bladder. Surgery isn’t an option…He wants to start her on a drug that may or may not help her. If we do nothing, she has probably 3 months. I’m sitting here in tears and don’t know what to do. I certainly will not let her suffer but it sucks so badly! She still plays with Eddie, our other dog, she eats well, drinks water and generally, other than peeing all the time, you wouldn’t know she was sick. We will go get her medicine tomorrow. The local pharmacy will have to formulate it…plus she will have to take Pepcid with it so it doesn’t upset her stomach.
She’s sleeping on the couch right now…looking peaceful while I’m a mess. Thanks for listening. :(</p>
<p>I am sorry to hear about your dog. They do become such important parts of our lives and it hurts to think about their pain or about losing them.</p>
<p>laxmom, my heart goes out to you. That is very sad, and I am so sorry for your situation. It is so difficult to deal with the loss of perfect innocence and love, which is what our beloved pets are for us. If I were with you, I would give you a hug.</p>
<p>Please let us know how things go for you and Casey. We’re here.</p>
<p>Both of my pups are 13 and I know that I will be in your shoes soon (one way or another).
Lots of worry and heartache…sigh. Hang in there. Give yourself a break. The right course of action will come to you. HUGS.</p>
<p>That’s tough, laxmom! Such a difficult time/decision-making process. We took our dog w/a problem to a special hospital. U of Penn has a well-regarded vet hosp. Would a 2nd opinion/specialty evaluation help?</p>
<p>Laxmom,</p>
<p>I hope you take some comfort in the fact that she seems to feel fine right now. You know what is going on, but she only knows that it is time to pee–right?</p>
<p>Many of us have been in a similar spot. It is not easy. You will know what to do and when–after much soul searching. They trust us so much, and we must do the best we can for THEM. Please come back for support whenever you think it will help.</p>
<p>I’m so sorry! I hope the meds help and you get to enjoy your sweet dog for awhile longer. Keep us updated on her progress.</p>
<p>I’m so sorry, laxmom! That does indeed suck. I have a poodle mix too. I know how much she must mean to you and your family. I hope the medications help.</p>
<p>Best wishes, laxmom. I recall like it was yesterday (and it was 5 yrs ago) everything we did to help our sweet dog when he was in end stage congestive heart failure. My heart goes out to you.</p>
<p>Oh man! I’m so sorry 
We lost one of our pups in May. He had a heart attack. He’d had a heart issue and we knew we could medicate him, which made him woozy and not himself, or just let him live it out. So, even though it was no surprise, it was sad. I’m sorry. Our other retriever was so bereft we got him a puppy within a month. Still miss the other one, though. I just really feel for you, right now.</p>
<p>Laxmom, SO SO sorry. We recently lost our dear canine friend, so I do fully understand! Because their lives are typically so much shorter than ours, it is usually inevitable to experience this as a pet lover. However, I never expected the emotions to be as strong as they were. Definitely start talking with your vet now, both about her care, her comfort, but also about “end-of-life” issues, as hard as that may be. Some things I would highly recommend:</p>
<p>Try to learn what to expect. We were constantly told that we would know “when”. We never did. No neon sign. Our vet said, when her life was not “fair”. How do you know that? Do you wait until they are in pain? If you don’t, is it fair? The questions were very tough, and I don’t think our vet was very helpful in that regard. Start talking with them now, and if you don’t get advice, seek it elsewhere. I finally asked a friend from long ago (a vet in another town), and they were both understanding but also honest. Their advice was very appreciated.</p>
<p>IF the time comes, and you believe in pet euthanasia, you might want to consider a vet who comes to your house. We had that option and I regret not doing this. </p>
<p>If you want to talk more, feel free to PM. I don’t want to assume the worst, and sincerely hope that things get better. However, it really does help to think about these things in advance.</p>
<p>laxmom, I’m so sorry. I lost three animals within one year (one was 12, one 19, and one was only 2… she was the hardest) a few years back and it is truly the hardest thing I’ve ever done. </p>
<p>Take comfort in the fact that she isn’t suffering. As long as she is peaceful, it’s ok. I hope the medicine works. </p>
<p>Good luck and my heart truly goes out to you. I hope everything works out. If not, just remember that you will meet again at the rainbow bridge and she can say hi to my babies :). </p>
<p>Please let us know how everything goes.</p>
<p>We are going through the same thing this week with my lab that we have had since she was 4 mo old. She is now 15 & 1/2 yrs. Tonight I was in tears during a break in my Hort class , watching the profs new lab puppy chase a ball. It was all I could do to keep from sobbing.</p>
<p>She has been such a good dog, and although most of the time she sleeps and doesn’t even want to go all the way around the block anymore, she is still eating good and can get herself up and down the stairs.</p>
<p>She has low red blood cells- but only slightly, some bacteria but only a little, and a tumor in her lungs, but it is tiny and they don’t know how fast it has been growing.
We already did our big medical expense last year for her( I know it is only money, but it was over 10K and we don’t have that kind of cash), when she was bleeding ( I believe because of the Deramaxx that she was taking for pain), and they told us her liver was failing. Actually they just took out her spleen which was enlarged, gave her a transfusion and while she wasn’t good as new, she has been doing fairly well since last Christmas time until now.</p>
<p>It is really hard- and I am extremely conscious about trying to keep the girls, neither of whom are at home, posted on what is happening. I had a dog that I raised from a puppy when I was 12, but when I moved out when I was almost 18, I wasn’t able to take him with me. ( I also had a younger brother and sister at home and we had another dog as well)
I was devastated when I was 19 and when I called my mother, she told me that she had both of the dogs put to sleep, one dog because she had a fatty tumor and my dog because he had eaten a chicken bone.
She didn’t think I cared, because I hadn’t taken him with me. :(</p>
<p>So now I probably keep the kids posted on the ups and downs much more than they need to be, just because I don’t want them to feel the way that I did.</p>
<p>Give the medicine a chance to work- I will be thinking of you and your pup.</p>
<p>Oh dear, laxmom…this one stirred me up , since we just lost one of our cats VERY unexpectedly a little over a week ago.
I have also been in your shoes with another beloved pet who was found to have a large tumor that couldn’t be treated about 4 yrs ago.
All I can say to you is that I am so sorry that you and your dog are going thru this because I know how hard it is.
sending you a hug and positive thoughts !</p>
<p>laxmom and emeraldkity4 - My heart goes out to you. I don’t know how these critters manage to find a place so deep in our hearts, but they do. It sounds like your pets are still happy, and there is comfort in that. My thoughts and prayers are with you.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the kind words and prayers. I think the reason this is hitting me so hard is because Casey is “my” dog. From the day I found her at the pound, she has been my constant shadow, never leaving my side.<br>
We pick up the meds this morning and I pray this will help shrink the tumor. If it’s not meant to be, I will look into having the vet come to our house (thanks, Kjofkw). Casey always trembles when she is in the Vet’s office and I don’t want that to be the last thing she remembers.</p>
<p>Thoughts and prayers for Casey…</p>
<p>I second kj. We let our baby pass away peacefully in the woods, her favorite spot. The vet tech was gracious enough to come over and help us. It made the whole thing much, much easier on everyone and especially her which was the most important part. </p>
<p>My thoughts and hopes and whole heart goes out to you and your baby dog.</p>
<p>so sorry laxmom.
We also have an old dog who is starting to have problems. He is very dear to us and is my constant shadow. He is such a sweety and I can’t imagine life without him.
Our dog is also afraid of the Vet’s office…he growls and barks instead of trembling. Years ago, they didn’t give him enough anesthesia for surgery and he never forgot. Poor thing. We go to a different office now, but they’re all the same to him.
I hope the drugs work for Casey. Hang in there…we dog lovers understand and are pulling for you!</p>
<p>OOh, we are so there with you on this hard situation. Trust your love for her to guide you. I find an odd comfort in my sense that while animals can feel pain, they do not “suffer” like humans with worries and regrets. So if we can give them time that is relatively pain free and full of love, that is good. But our hearts struggle with it. You’re not alone and I’m glad you could post about this.</p>