Very ill dog

jackomdj

I have started typing a few times & deleted it.

We went to the vets in early Jan with a list of problems our old dog had developed over the last month or so. His arthritus had got worse, he had a new lump on his tail & he had a new lump on his cheek.

The vet was worried about the cheek & said it was probably a tumour, we had some antibiotics along with some new strong pain killers in the hope that it was just an infection. Nothing changed. We went back to the vets & saw our regular vet who said that she thought it was going to be a malignant tumour. He had a lump in this throat & that has now gone to 2.

She booked us in to see another vet to do a scan to count out a foreign body. We went yesterday & he did not even do the scan, he said based on the size, shape & colouring on the inside of his mouth it definitely is a tumour. He said because it has gone to his lymph nodes it is probably going to be quite invasive & spread quickly. We do not want to go down the chemo route, he is 14 & his breeds life expectancy is around 12 so he has done well.

We are having to talk about his illness to our 2 children who are just 5 & 2 (3 next month). I think it is so important that they know he won't be with us for much longer & we have to be very careful with him as he is ill. The eldest understands (although I don't know if she understands fully that when they die it is forever).

I just wanted to let people on her know as I had some great support when he had his last big op to cut a big lump out of his chest about a year ago.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30955407&l=dc58d42766&id=1265672228 this is a photo of him in the snow

Nicky

Fire_Fox

Sorry to read that. ((((hugs))))

[Deleted User]

Really sorry to hear that Jacko, we lost our 5 year old dog to lymphatic cancer 2 weeks ago, (only diagnosed and started showing signs of being poorly 3 weeks before that!) it's absolutely heartbreaking, thinking of you.

hethmar

So sorry Nicky The heart ache is the terrible price we pay for giving our love to our pets but pay it we must.

You have done your very best loving and caring for this boy and thats the best any of us can ever do.

Thinking of you xxx

walwin

I'm really sorry, Nicky.

Please try and make the most of the time you have left together xxx

Artytarty

Its a rough time, no doubt.
Sorry you are all going through this Nicky.
Best wishes,
Arty.

foreign_correspondent

I'm sorry to hear that - I think you are doing the right thing by being honest with the kids though - he looks like a lovely lad!

jackomdj

Thanks for all your kind wishes.

He has been a great friend over the years, for the first 3 or 4 years we thought he was a beagle x (as he was advertised that way) then on 2 consecutive days 2 different farmers told us he was a Harrier.

We got him from free-adds & paid £20 (always say it was the best £20 ever). The guy said he had taken him hunting a few times & could not afford to keep him as he had split up with his wife. We always thought he was a hunt reject as he was scared of water (rivers, lakes & the sea), scares of umberella's & walking sticks.

My Dad came to visit today, he loves in Cornwall but works all over the country. My OH & I said he had come to see Chester & not us as the two of them have always been very close.

foreign_correspondent

It sounds like he has had a great life, and certainly sounds as if he landed on his feet with you!

You may want to take lots of photos whilst you still have him, I regretted not having many of my old dogs, and its so easy now with digital cameras.

p.s It made me smile that your dad 'loves in cornwall' - what a lovely typo!

jackomdj

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

p.s It made me smile that your dad 'loves in cornwall' - what a lovely typo!

PMSL - if you had ever met my Dad you would know why it is so funny!

We have a lot of photo's of him (& will take more). We had some venture ones done a while back & took him, one of the photo's they took was just him & it is brilliant.....so good that they have it on the studio wall.

CFC

So sorry to hear about your dog. The pain of loss is the price we pay for loving furries with shorter life spans. He's had a lovely life with you - taking lots of pics is a good idea.