Opinions please.

Mutter_2

I was busying myself on the forward planning for when your next of kin dies thread, when Jaffa had a seizure behind my chair.

I needed no warning. For some reason I knew Jaffa was going down. Only lasted about 30 secs this time. He is still in recovery. Love him, 2 hours later, totally zonked out.

I need no medical help or advice, got that from the Vet
What I need is some way of coping.

History. Jaffa, 13 yrs in June. Show type Orange/White, hence Jaffa.
Never any medical problem, apart from the occasional seed in ear.

4 weeks ago right out of the blue, Jaffa appeared to fit, then again later that day.
Off to the Vet,couldn't find a prob. Examined him only to find prostate enlarged as to be expected in male of that age.
Female hormone tabs. to correct.

Next morning, a definate fit, right in front of me so no doubt. Epiphen 30mg x 2 daily.
This is where I need advice, no not advice, opinion. If it's banned here please contact me via PM.
The Vet says he can feel a swelling in Jaf's tummy. Maybe spleen, maybe liver. He wants to open up Jaf and maybe remove his spleen.
I've said no.
Vet thinks I'm denying Jaf the chance of a further few months of life.

I have delved, and have found that 50% of all splenectomy are cancerous, spreading to other areas, including the brain, as I feel in my dog's case. Only 10% live to a year. I have to decide, which I've already done.
Jaffa is not going to be cut open, stitched up, fitted with a lampshade thing on his head for two weeks.
Just a few weeks ago, Jaf would come hurtling through the door to demand his morning treat. Now he can barely walk.

He is here, recovering from his fit. Hours later. Lying on his bed. Zonked out. Loved to bits.

BLUEWKD

Has the vet done an x ray? That would tell you more without op. Also did he test for diabetes? My dog got it at 13. Hope he gets better soon

suki1964

Mutter,I think you have to decide whats best for you.

If you think the stress of the op is not worth a few months then talk to your vet about pain relief and keep him home with you to enjoy what time is left.

I think you are doing the right thing.Enjoy the time you have left together and may you find the strength to recognise the time to say goodbye

(((((hugs))))

foreign_correspondent

Sorry to hear that Mutter - It has to be your decision, knowing your dog and how he is - quality of life is perhaps more important then a few more weeks or months, is he a cocker spaniel? (Jaffa is a lovely name btw!)

Personally, I think he is quite a good age, and it sounds like no proceedure is going to give him much more than a few months, so I would go for quality of life and just try and give him as much fun and comfort as you can in his last days and weeks.

Did you ask the vet if he feels it is likely to be cancerous and if secondaries could be the cause of the sudden epilepsy?

Waterfalls

oh bless him. i would prob ask for thinks like xrays and ultrasounds as they are non invasive, can sometimes do biopsies this way to, it may give u a better idea of whats going on. good luck with ur decision

lowis

sorry to hear this mutter...it's really crap when our little companions seem to be on their way out. hope you are coping OK...when my cat was diagnosed with cancer my heart sank to the floor.

can the vet do a needle biopsy? this is what my vet did, and it gave him 80% certainty that my cat had cancer, without having to go through an awful operation. also scans, as others have suggested, can tell you a lot too.

it's a tough decision, one of the hardest, only you can decide, you know your doggie and are the best judge. i will say that sometimes our little animals surprise us...my cat was given 6-9 months 'average' with treatment when she had stomach cancer, she went on to last for just over 18 months, with a normal quality of life - but prior to having cancer she was a healthy youngish (12) cat so maybe that was in her favour.

good luck mutter, and give your Jaffa a hug from me x

shoppaholic_returns

Love to you and Jaffa, I'm sure you'll make the right decision, you after all know him better than us! Go with what your gut feeling tells you, you love him more than anything and deep down know what's best, good luck xxx

Hintza

I concur with most of the above, make him as comfortable as possible and avoid an operation. Enjoy him whilst he is still there and be ready to make the dreaded decision.

nesssie1702

Mutter

Sorry to hear about Jaffa - I hope that he's comfortable for the remainder of his life and that you get the strength to know when it's time to say "goodbye". Enjoy the rest of your time with him.

YorkiePud_3

I am soooo sorry for you and Jaffa ... fits aren't nice for either one of you (I had a Yorkie who had them) ... but I applaud your decision not to put Jaffa through being poked, prodded and operated on for what time he has left with you.

It's not just the examinations, it is the stress of being someplace else, treated by people he doesn't know ... if it may only prolong the time he has with you by a few weeks, (the majority of that time taken up recovering from the operation), then I would say it isn't worth it and would keep him home, as comfortable as possible.

The vet HAS to give you every option that is open to you ... but only you know what effect going through that would have on your pet ... and if it doesn't balance up as worth it to put him through all that for a matter of a few weeks, then your vet will accept and should give you all the support and help you need to keep Jaffa comfortable at home.

At the end of the day, we have to put our pets first ... in this sort of situation, I believe a quiet, peaceful and dignified end at home where he is settled and with his family is worth more than putting him through more stress and operations.

Raksha

So sorry to hear about Jaffa. I lost my Lab cross to a spleenic cancer nearly 7 years ago. She had an x-ray and it showed not only was it on her spleen, it had also metasized to her lungs. We decided, in her case (aged 14) that 'just because you can, doesn't always mean you should' and we did nothing - she wasn't in pain, was still having small play sessions, and was enjoying the company of our other dog.

We moved house about 3 months after diagnosis, in the height of summer (Aug) and she suddenly started to struggle - she wanted to be with me, but the heat was making it too hard for her to get her breath, and within a week of moving in, we had to ask the vet to come to the house to PTS. Her passing was peaceful, being fed choccie biscuits in the garden.

I believe we did the best thing for her, and I'm sure whatever you do, it will be with Jaffa's best interests at heart.

Better a day to early than a day too late.