my buddy

[BoeingDiesel]

I fear that I’m about to lose my best buddy. We had to rush our 13 year old border collie to the vet yesterday. She had a temp of 104. 8 and looked so sick. The doctor X-Rayed her front legs and pointed to a very suspicious area explaining that it may be a bone infection, but the worst, was when he explained that it may also be bone cancer. If it is the latter, I am faced with some very tough decisions. She has arthritis in her hips and can no longer jump into the car and it takes her a while to get up after a nap so I’ve been picking her up and doing everything for her. We put her on glucosamine a couple years ago and it has helped in giving her a better quality of life but I know it’s only temporary. The doctor explained the options that if it is cancer they can control pain with radiation or amputate and administer chemo therapy but that in most cases it would only extend her life by a year or so, they just don’t know. She has always been so energetic loving to play fly ball and she came from working stock and had that natural built in instinct to herd other animals. My entire family is devastated and all looking at me for an answer. To me, this little Gal' is like one of my children, I could use some input guys.

Thanks

gregg

 

[BSeyler]

I fear that I'm about to lose my best buddy. We had to rush our 13 year old border collie to the vet yesterday. She had a temp of 104. 8 and looked so sick. The doctor X-Rayed her front legs and pointed to a very suspicious area explaining that it may be a bone infection, but the worst, was when he explained that it may also be bone cancer. If it is the latter, I am faced with some very tough decisions. She has arthritis in her hips and can no longer jump into the car and it takes her a while to get up after a nap so I've been picking her up and doing everything for her. We put her on glucosamine a couple years ago and it has helped in giving her a better quality of life but I know it's only temporary. The doctor explained the options that if it is cancer they can control pain with radiation or amputate and administer chemo therapy but that in most cases it would only extend her life by a year or so, they just don't know. She has always been so energetic loving to play fly ball and she came from working stock and had that natural built in instinct to herd other animals. My entire family is devastated and all looking at me for an answer. To me, this little Gal' is like one of my children, I could use some input guys.
Thanks
gregg

Gregg,

Sorry to hear of your situation. I lost my BC/Blue Heeler mix two years ago. She was lying on the floor in the garage next to my pickup, just like she knew I'd help her. I loaded her up and headed for town. The vet said he thought it was a twisted gut, but couldn't tell for sure because she was extremely bloated. He administered drugs to "deflate" her, but in the end, she couldn't be saved. I know what you mean - it was really hard and almost like losing a child. I haven't been able to bring myself to get a replacement, yet. Hopefully, you and your family can make a decision that takes in the dog's best interest and come to terms as a family. Again, sorry you and your family are dealing with this right now.

Bud

 

[Wayne M.]

So very sorry to hear. Been on that path. Pray for the vets knowledge and wisdom. Pray for your best friend. Thanks for letting us know.

 

[ata]

My wife and I lost are Rottweiler to bone cancer. She got it in her left leg. Our Vet said the same as yours except that taking the leg would probably not do much good because the cancer probably had all ready spread. (would not do that to her) The only good thing was our Rott was not in pain or showed any signs of being sick all the way to the end. (we did have to put her down) It was not long and it showed up in other places. We took good care of her which was a lot of work but she was worth every minute of it to us and I'm sure to her. That's the bad thing about pets they don't live as long as you and you get so close to them that it's really hard to let them go. Our Vet has always said when your friend is not have fun in life anymore it's time to let them go. She's helped us three times. It's never easy and we feel your pain good luck hoping for the best for you and your friend.

 

[BoeingDiesel]

Thanks guys. Just got back from the Vet and her temp is down to 103. 1, still not good. It's damn hard to look at her with all the IV's plugged in and i did my best to conceal what was churning inside of me. Chrissy and I have always connected and she plainly understands simple sentences so I just told her she would be okay and coming home soon. She has this knack of smiling when she's happy but I didn't see it today. The radiologist is going to do a bone biopsy tomorrow if he feels the X-Ray warrants further investigation. We're just hoping and praying that it's just an infection. Thank you one and all for your kind words.

gregg

 

[Missouri Mule]

It's hard to let them(best friends) go but it mite be the best in this case. I had to put down my liitle girl (cat,17. 5 yrs old) in 2010 because of kidney failure, urea [protien] off the chart for 2nd time) an easy decision but hard to watch her go.

 

[AABEN]

I had to have my buddy put to sleep! He hurt his back and could not get up. He was 151/2 years I did not want him to suffer.

 

[Wayne M.]

I had an outdoor cat since I was a small kid till I was 21. He would follow me to grade school and hide in a bush and join me on the way home. He lost his faculties. That hurt to loose him but he left us slowly.

 

[mhsmith57]

Gregg,

Sorry to hear about your family's 4-legged friend. It sounds like you're doing everything possible for her comfort. As all of us here know, it's tough to let your family members go. When she looked at you and wasn't smiling, I think she was telling you in her own way that it's time to let her go. Seeing our little friends in pain is very painful. We had to put down our 10 yr. old Golden Retriever due to kidney failure, inoperable. It wasn't her time and her life was being shortened. It's tough decision but know that they aren't in pain anymore and if there is an after-life, they're running and sleeping to their heart's content. Remember, think of the good times you guys shared together and you might see her again.
Regards sir,
Mark

 

[BoeingDiesel]

Great news!... we just got word from our Vet that she does not have bone cancer, but has bursitis which goes along with an infection. Her fever is coming down and should be able to come home tomorrow. She’s up in the years and we know that the day will happen, but in the mean time we’ll take the best of care of our girl.

Thank you for your support, thoughts and comments… only on the TDR!

 

[Wayne M.]

Best news today.

 

[jgillott]

That's good to hear.

 

[Missouri Mule]

Love to hear Great News!

 

[mwilson]

Gregg,

As my dog (Psychotic 20lb. Cummins Loving Yorkie) snores here under the desk with his head on my feet I think how happy and relieved you must have been to get the news today.



Wife picked out the dog but he became mine at some point about 3 years in. Wouldn't trade him even though he is a little abnormal. .



Mike.

 

[ata]

Glad everything worked out for you and your friend. That was really good news.

 

[mhsmith57]

Ditto here Gregg! Amazing what a few prayers can do.
Mark

 

[BoeingDiesel]

what a day

So this is how my day began. I called the Vet, which we’ve been using for years, and it’s a father / son practice. They’re great doctors and show a genuine concern for their patients and owners. So the father John Sr. gets on the phone and after the usual hello, how are you etc… begins to give me a rundown of our dogs condition. He starts out by saying that they have done everything possible and in all of his years of experience has never been [so] at a loss in what to do next. He said that he was going to refer us to an immunologist for further tests and that we need to get her there ASAP. At this point I’m dumbfounded and told him I would be there in 10 minutes. I called my wife and interrupted her tennis game and gave her a quick rundown and to meet me at Vet the right away. Fifteen minutes later we’re walking in, tears are streaming down her face and she’s clutching my arm. They ushered us into an exam room and John Sr. came in a minute later. He’s talking while flipping through the pages and then took a step back and began to apologize while shaking his head. He then opened the door and barked [no pun intended] at the girls at the desk exclaiming that someone had [apparently] combined our border collies’ file with a very sick sheltie collies’ file. By this time my wife and I are looking at each other wondering what just happened. A few seconds later his son John Jr. walked in apologizing for the mix up and reassuring us that Chrissy was doing well and would discharge her this afternoon. His reassurance was not adequate for my emotionally distraught wife and she demanded that we see her, so he took us back to the kennel area and there she was, still hooked up with two IV bags [enter crying phase # 2 for my wife]… but smiling like her old self. In retrospect, I should have suspected that something wasn’t quite right when I spoke with john Sr. in the morning. Obviously, they confer with each other, but handle their own case loads. For some unknown reason the files were mixed together…I’m sure he chewed some butt after we left. That simple mistake reminded me of how quickly things can change in life, and it could have been bad news for our dog. Well, the good news is my buddy is doing better and I’m hoping that will last for a long time.



Thank you all for kindness,comments and support.

gregg

 

[ata]

Sure sorry you had to go through something like that. Hope you got to take your friend home today and everything is good.

 

[sarj]

It's good to hear when one goes well. My woman lost a golden to brain cancer not quite a ten years ago. She never looked more beautiful than when she was on the floor next to the dog when we had to put her down. A Chesapeake of mine had bloat at 6, we paid for an expensive surgery, and we got five more very good years out of him. It's always tough to know how to intervene or which way to go when our dogs are suffering, and it's always a relief when we go the right way. It's good to enjoy them everyday can we spend with them and be thankful for the gifts they are.

 

[EMAC2]

Glad the outcome was good. Our dogs are family members and have been for since we brought them home. Again, glad she's ok!