Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 4:58 am Post subject: how we got to this point/why I've not been on much
how we got to this point/why I've not been on much.
This whole thing began back in August. Smokey ate something on one of his walks, and didn't feel well. So we took him in to the vet. We also told the vet about how he had been biting the base of his tail. After shaving the area, and taking a look they gave us some antibiotic to prevent infection.
He seemed to be getting better and his appetite improved. We got some special food from the vet for dogs with upset stomachs. We had started to wean him off the special food, and he lost his appetite again and threw up the antibiotic. The area at the base of his tail was better anyway, but we could only get Smokey to eat once a day. He had lost almost 10 pounds. (he was overweight though so now he was down to near where he should be.) We took him back to the vet, and they drew blood work. That was when they found the changes in a couple values. They gave him some high protein dog food, because one of the protein levels was down. The changes in diet gave Smokey diarrhea.:^(
This was 2 weeks ago. Then it was back for x-rays, and a specific blood test for cancer, and another for liver function. The x-rays didn't show anything. Then it was back again for an ultrasound because the test results indicated liver problems. They shaved his belly big time, so now he looks like he has a pig belly! We brought him in on my wife's 50th birthday. We didn't want to wait too long since we both had the time off.
After we dropped him off it started to rain. I thought to myself, as we drove along, that it was the angels crying because they knew it was going to be bad news. I was right. After they called and told us, and after we got ourselves together enough to drive back and pick up Smokey we cancelled our dinner reservation, and spent the evening with Smokey.
Not your traditional 50th birthday, it sucked.
I wonder where the cancer started? I don't know. Maybe it was that lump on his back leg he was chewing on last year. Was the lump caused by chewing as the vet said sometimes happens, or not? The vet said an amazing thing though... "That 50% of dogs get cancer sometime during their life." We were astonished.
Well at least the prednisolone has helped. Smokey is back to eating again, and he has been more like himself. It's not a cure, it's to help the inflammation. I suppose we could have chosen to get a further ultrasound from a specialty clinic in Oakland County which would be more accurate, and then got biopsies, and then done chemo, which may or may not have done anything. The vet said that all that _might_ get him a year _if_ it worked.
So now we wait, taking one day at a time. Taking him to the park and giving him anything he wants. Maybe he will make it to his 9th birthday October 1st. _________________ You might be a dog lover if: There are more dog toys than people in your bed.
Oh, I am so sorry. It is so hard to go through what you are experiencing. I hope that he does have some more quality time left to stay with you but I know that if he starts to suffer you will do the difficult thing and end his suffering. Dogs just don't live all that long and when we lose those very special ones like Smokey, it is devastating. I have gone through that several times in my lifetime and I well remember those beloved special dogs that the Lord allowed me to have and love for many special years. For you there will probably never be another dog like Smokey but I hope that you will honor his memory and get another puppy when he is no longer with you. Someone wrote somewhere that is the grandest compliment you can show to a very special animal that has meant so very much to you.
I will remember you and your wife in my prayers and I do hope and pray that you can eventually come out the other side of this situation with your very loving memories of your beloved companion always in your thoughts and mind. If dogs do go to heaven, I know he will be there waiting for you when you get there.
My wife and I just went through something similar in March. Tigger, our little Yorkie that I bought my wife for her birthday 6 years ago, passed away. He'd been having trouble since January, or at least that's when it accelerated to the point we knew something was wrong. Tigger started having mild seizures. They looked like twitching. We took him to the vet, and the vet suggested different food thinking he had digestive problems. We should have pushed for more tests. Turns out Tigger's seizures were due to his liver failing and it could have been slowed. He had acquired liver shunt. Unfortunately, we didn't realize it was his liver until after he had a massive seizure. While laying in my arms, resting his little head on my shoulder as I slept, the seizure started. It was the worse we'd ever seen, and we rushed him to the vet at 2 am. He never came back home.
What I've wished over and over is that I'd known earlier and could have spoiled him more. I wouldn't have fussed when he made a mess on the floor, and I wouldn't have gotten irritated in the early morning hours when he was sleeping in my back and I couldn't roll over.
Spoil that dog as much as you can. Just like the Pedigree commercial says, "Dogs rule." My prayers are with you.
Smokey, so sorry to hear about Smokey. There isn't much that I can say except 'I wish you and your wife comfort through this difficult time'. Those of us who have gone through the loss of a pet can sympathize but no one can know how it is for your family. Hope Smokey has many good days in the time he gets to spend with you.
_________________ -I'm A Galatians 2:20 Woman.-
Jesus said "...thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul,
and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength..." Mark 12:30
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