worst news

Naide

I am so sorry to hear that. Enjoy the rest of your days together. My lovely Lab died four years ago from his liver failing and it hurt like hell for me when he'd gone. But the memories of our lovely friends always are very sweet.
Take care xxxx

concerned43

I am sorry to hear your news. My lab was diagnosed with lymphoma last week and is on prednisone and the vet has given her about two months! yesterday I had to take my other lab to the vet and they said they thought he too has cancer (he scheduled for a biopsy next week):(
I have been giving both of them milk thistle for their liver and cottage cheese, omega 3 and flaxseed oil - all proven to reduce tumours.
I don't know how long I have got with them but I have made a bucket list for them and doing their favourite things everyday with them... chasing rabbits (sorry rabbit lovers), swimming in the river, visiting people they love etc.
I have decided that if the results of the biopsy come back as positive for cancer them I will put them to sleep together.
I am distraught and haven't eaten much since the diagnosis, I throw up every morning and can feel my heart breaking.
It is such a hard thing to go through and I don't think I will ever get another dog as its too hard to say goodbye.

GH

My 12 year old English Bull Terrier was diagnosed with colon cancer which has spread to the lung 6 weeks ago and the specialist at the animal hospital who made the diagnosis wouldn't give us any idea how long she may have to live. A nurse at our vets who spent 5 years as a cancer nurse in an animal hospital told us we could only expect to have her "until the end of the summer" but another vet I spoke to said she had no right to say that if the specialist wouldn't commit herself. I know I could go back and quiz the consultant again but having only just slowly got over the upset of discovering she has cancer I'm reluctant to do that. How long is a piece of string and all that but does anyone have an idea as to why the specialist wouldn't give us an idea of how long she's got left?

There_Goes_Trouble

GH wrote: »

How long is a piece of string and all that but does anyone have an idea as to why the specialist wouldn't give us an idea of how long she's got left?

For exactly the reason you said - how long is a piece of string?

The trouble with giving a timescale is that people tend to rely on it as a definitive answer, yet every animal is different and their bodies will react to the illness differently. She probably has known animals with similar illnesses to your dog, who have lived vastly different lengths of time after diagnosis.

I'm sorry you are having such a difficult time right now, and my sympethies go to you and all the other posters on this thread.

ameliarate

Thank you so much for all your replies. It feels better, knowing that other people understand how I feel. I think maybe non dog lovers think we are a bit mad.

I have "kind of " got my head around it now and am just making sure she is given as much love as possible every day. We are planning to take her to the coast for a good run, she loves going in the sea.

I have tried milk thistle but so far she won't touch it. I will try it with different foods to see if that helps.

I have spoken to the vet who confirms that he will come out when necessary so I don't have to take her there, she hates it and I won't let her be frightened for the last few minutes of her life.

Now I have the practicalities sorted out I can relax a bit and just enjoy each day with her.