[Guest]

Not a lab question, but our little (ancient) JRT we rescued last year from the shelter. She has melanoma (on here eyelid, untreatable except with major surgery and then would 99% return).

I believe she's "winding down"... But I have a question. I dealt with Austin passing from cancer and making the decision to let him go. He got to a point where he couldn't move on his own.

I'm trying to figure out what's going on with "Toogs" . She's been "sleeping in" lately and you can wake her up, she just goes back to sleep. She doesn't seem to be in any terrible pain, but there's clearly some pain and she's much less active than normal. She stays a little stiff and her eyes occasionally cringe, but she seems very comfortable when she's asleep....

I think I'm just more "venting" than anything, and I know we are the only ones that can answer when to make the decision. She's still eating, but ate a little less today. She's drinking, pottying, etc. normally.

I just have a guilty feeling both ways. I don't want her to go if it's to soon, but I don't want to "make" her stay if it's time. And I'm having a hard time reading her. I noticed today, she seems more "down". She just came up to the couch, where I'm working on the computer and she needed me to lift her onto it, where she used to be able to jump...

We had an issue a couple of months ago where we thought it had metasticized to her lungs because she had a non-stop cough/hack. We got that under control with prednisone, which she's been on ever since.

I called the vet to see if there's anything I should be doing for her and he said just to keep her comfortable, that they normally live 6+ months after a diagnosis and we're about there....

If anyone has any insight, please share. I feel confused and indecisive... I think it's because today is her worst day so far and I don't want to make the call too early if she could be better the next day.

Thanks as always.

 

[YardleyLabs]

Kristie,

I've been down this road with any number of cats and dogs (and people) over the years and there are no clean answers. Altogether, I've had nine dogs die, ages 3-21. Virtually every one has died in my arms or lying next to me. It was never the right time for me, but it was the right time for them. All I could ever do is make them comfortable, make sure they knew they were loved, and help them on the way if nature seemed to promise too much pain. Once I did too much to keep the dog alive because I couldn't bear to let her go. I will not do that again.

 

[Ron in Portland]

Kristie,

I'm sorry that you're going through this.

A few years back I had my old yellow male with a mast cell tumor they couldn't do anything about. The vet I had helped me by asking, does the dog seem to be suffering? Is he still interacting with you? Is he still eating?

Even though he couldn't do what he used to, he was still "there", even if a lot of his time was spent sleeping. I agonized with the same decision you're looking at. I didn't want to too soon, but didn't want to keep hiim around because it was "easier" on me. The Vet's words helped me. My boy was still "there", albeit in little bits, and he was eating and wasn't incontinent or in pain.

Finally, when it was time, it really was clear.

Good luck with your decision and my thoughts are with you.

 

[Guest]

Kristie,

I'm sorry that you're going through this.

A few years back I had my old yellow male with a mast cell tumor they couldn't do anything about. The vet I had helped me by asking, does the dog seem to be suffering? Is he still interacting with you? Is he still eating?

Even though he couldn't do what he used to, he was still "there", even if a lot of his time was spent sleeping. I agonized with the same decision you're looking at. I didn't want to too soon, but didn't want to keep hiim around because it was "easier" on me. The Vet's words helped me. My boy was still "there", albeit in little bits, and he was eating and wasn't incontinent or in pain.

Finally, when it was time, it really was clear.

Good luck with your decision and my thoughts are with you.

Thanks, Ron, that's exactly what I'm thinking. I appreciate your thoughts.

 

[Guest]

Kristie,

I've been down this road with any number of cats and dogs (and people) over the years and there are no clean answers. Altogether, I've had nine dogs die, ages 3-21. Virtually every one has died in my arms or lying next to me. It was never the right time for me, but it was the right time for them. All I could ever do is make them comfortable, make sure they knew they were loved, and help them on the way if nature seemed to promise too much pain. Once I did too much to keep the dog alive because I couldn't bear to let her go. I will not do that again.

Thanks, Jeff.

 

[Billie]

Kristie
If she still gets pleasure from eating, etc- thats a good sign. Bottom line is-
YOU WILL KNOW- when its time,she'll tell you.
Sorry youre going thru this - we all dealwith it at least once, and those of us with so many, deal with it more than our share. it is never easy, if we love them, its going to be hard,no matter what.....

 

[John Lash]

Kristie,

I agree, you'll know when it's time.

Good luck,
John Lash

 

[Chelsey's Triple H]

When its time, you won't be contemplating whether or not its time, you'll just know. I went through this with my 14 yr old Sheltie last April. He was diagnosed with bladder cancer in Nov. and over the next few months I was debating whether or not it was time. One evening he just wasn't acting right, there were signs he had never shown before and I made the decision to help him over the rainbow bridge. It was difficult having lost a dog just four months earlier but he had many wonderful years and clearly showed me it was time. There was no more contemplating on my mind, just a silence because I knew it was time. Keeping you and Toogs in my thoughts...

 

[Guest]

She gobbled up a bowl of canned food this morning. Still pretty pitiful, but ate like a horse. I'm sure she's curled up on her bed now. Thanks again for all the thoughts.

 

[2tall]

Kristie, when my Harry dog was losing ground to mast cell cancer, I had the same discussions with his vet and friends. Near the end all he could keep down was deli roasted chicken. Each morning he would wake up and be bright eyed and young for just an hour or so and enjoyed his meal. Later in the day he was comfortable just lying on the sofa. Once in a while he would choose to walk about with us outside in his favorite woods. The hardest part was controlling my emotions so I did not worry him. He always took it very personally if anyone was upset in any way. Finally one morning when I tried to wake him for his chicken, he would/could not get up. He just rolled over and moaned. I called the vet, and he came to the house a couple of hours later. He awoke just long enough to tell us goodbye after the injections.

There was no mistaking the "right" time, and I'm glad we weren't too quick. Be strong for your friend, and god bless you for caring.

 

[Laura Heyden]

Kristie, I'm sorry you're going through this. With my Goldens that passed due to kidney failure (two within a year of each other) I knew that morning when the time was right. Brandy didn't eat or get off her bed the day before and Tuck stopped eating and couldn't walk without help. They told me clear as day they were ready and after years of following my direction, it was time I followed theirs.

 

[1st retriever]

Sorry you are going through this. But as others have said you will know. With our boxer mix we had she told us by not being able to get up one day and had lost bladder control.

 

[browndoggirls]

so sorry to hear about your baby. just a thought . . . i have had a dog eat more at the end of life, whether its the pack thing and they don't want to show weakness, or she needed the energy. but you must put yourself in their "paws", which is harder than putting yourself in human shoes. think of yourself as in their personality and what that dog would want. i beleive there is a difference. it's hard to cross into that line of thinking. we spend all this time with them, and in the end i still think they understand more than us. our girl woke up evey morning with bright eyes - now i know she was faking it for us. even the vets had hope. its hard to know when- there is no right answer. i just say spoil the hell out of them (ice cream, hot dogs, chicken, haul them into bed if they can't walk, and love 'em up), what ever brings them enjoyment before hand. i hope your baby is not there yet . . . but love lots and hold tight

 

[Guest]

Well, it's happened really fast... Within the last 24 hours. And now we're scrambling to find someone to end her suffering. Our vet refers out to emergency clinic on the weekend, but I don't want to go that route. I really want a home call... So I'm waiting to hear back. I called the vets at home, which I hate to do. I will take her to their clinic if it's convenient for them...

This is really horrible because it's happened so fast. She's really bad. I gave her some tramadol to help ease any pain and her mouth was cold, which is one of the most awful things I've ever felt. You can tell her circulation is just awful, her lungs are filling with fluid and her digestive system is a wreck. This was really quick; just yesterday morning she ate a full meal and seemed weak, but ok overall.

She had a bowel movement, which I hope made her feel better, but then I helped her walk a couple of steps. I thought she was going to pee, but she stepped and fell over...

...and this is how you know it's the end. I feel so badly that I can't do anything for her right now. I don't think we made a bad decision to wait another couple of days, but she's just completely turned for the worse so fast.

Thank you everyone for your advice and support. I wish I had something here we could give her...

-K

 

[cakaiser]

I'm so sorry, Kristie.
It's just never,ever, gets any easier....
I hope your vet calls really soon
Charlotte

 

[jeff t.]

Kristie,

If it is time and she is suffering, why not go to the ER rather than make her wait?

 

[Guest]

Kristie,

If it is time and she is suffering, why not go to the ER rather than make her wait?

Because moving her around makes it 100 times worse and it's an hour to the closest ER. It seems to stir up the fluid in her lungs and make her abdomen very noisy. I think she would be most comfortable here, so I'm going to try to get someone to come out tonight.

 

[YardleyLabs]

My last one, Star, lay next to me, her breaths coming slow and labored. I put a large plastic garbage bag under her so I would not need to be concerned. I kept my foot under her head so she would know i was there. When she would move, I petted her head and side and spoke to her softly. And then she was quiet, so quiet I didn't even notice the moment between when she was there and when she was not, and the only suffering was mine. Nature's way is seldom cruel to any but the survivors. My heart goes out to you.

 

[jeff t.]

Because moving her around makes it 100 times worse and it's an hour to the closest ER. It seems to stir up the fluid in her lungs and make her abdomen very noisy. I think she would be most comfortable here, so I'm going to try to get someone to come out tonight.

For her sake, and yours I hope you are able to find someone who will help.

 

[Guest]

For her sake, and yours I hope you are able to find someone who will help.

If we feel like we have to go, we'll go. It's only been about 30 mins since I made some calls and I'm about to make some more....