PitterPatter
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Kmeiser sorry to hear about Honey. Love her and just do what you think is best. That is all any of us can do.
My Sheltie has osteosarcoma
- Thread starter kmeister
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I am so sorry about your little pal. I can only tell you the lesson that my beautiful setter taught me:
I did everything for him from top to bottom, I poured funds him into my beloved guy. I watched him in the end suffer, and I decided to put him down.
What he taught me, everything I did for him was for me, not for him, and he said it is time, I am having a hard time. I made myself feel good not him. He was only 7 years old.
I was offered chemo for him to live a few more months, the day I put my boy down, he was actually rotting and could hardly walk. I told the vet no way, he deserved better then that. He deserved to be without pain, and be at peace. His journey is etched in my mind forever.
This was my experience, not yours. You have to do your soul searching. No doubt its a hard situation to figure out what is right for your forever pal. I wish you well, and in your heart you will find the right thing to do eventually.
Prayers coming for you and your family.
I did everything for him from top to bottom, I poured funds him into my beloved guy. I watched him in the end suffer, and I decided to put him down.
What he taught me, everything I did for him was for me, not for him, and he said it is time, I am having a hard time. I made myself feel good not him. He was only 7 years old.
I was offered chemo for him to live a few more months, the day I put my boy down, he was actually rotting and could hardly walk. I told the vet no way, he deserved better then that. He deserved to be without pain, and be at peace. His journey is etched in my mind forever.
This was my experience, not yours. You have to do your soul searching. No doubt its a hard situation to figure out what is right for your forever pal. I wish you well, and in your heart you will find the right thing to do eventually.
Prayers coming for you and your family.
Another sleepless night. Honey woke me up at 5:45 a.m. as usual for her morning walk. She appears like her normal self but with a slight limp, so full of life. I'm so anguished at having to make this decision.
If anyone took the amputation route, can you tell me if you think it's worth it?
The 2nd vet clinic says she's a good candidate for the procedure and would not need chemo. This might give her 6 months. But from what I've read online, dogs doing the procedure without chemo generally survive about 3 months on average.
From what I saw from Honey this morning, I'm wondering if I should give her that extra time, or and I beginning to feel selfish and would do her an injustice. I certainly could use all of you as a sounding board on this. I just don't have enough facts.
She looks up into my eyes frequently. I don't know if she's asking me to fix her pain, or to let her go. I'm starting to cry now from typing this.
If anyone took the amputation route, can you tell me if you think it's worth it?
The 2nd vet clinic says she's a good candidate for the procedure and would not need chemo. This might give her 6 months. But from what I've read online, dogs doing the procedure without chemo generally survive about 3 months on average.
From what I saw from Honey this morning, I'm wondering if I should give her that extra time, or and I beginning to feel selfish and would do her an injustice. I certainly could use all of you as a sounding board on this. I just don't have enough facts.
She looks up into my eyes frequently. I don't know if she's asking me to fix her pain, or to let her go. I'm starting to cry now from typing this.
danisgoat
Moderator
I am so sorry to hear that your Honey has Osteosarcoma. My mom had a dog, Shasta, that had Osteocarcoma. It was such a devastating experience, because the dog remained OK in her mind, but she just was under such tremendous pain in her leg. Shasta did have surgery that helped her out for awhile. She did very well after the surgery (not an amputation). She was never on any type of chemotherapy or anything. There came a day that she just cried while she was laying in the family room. It was absolutely heartbreaking. My parents called the vet immediately and he came to the house and put her down. The best advise that I can give....is when it is time, you will just know. Big Hugs. Again I am so sorry to meet you under these circumstances.
Ohhh I am so sorry about your Honey. I can sympathize with the difficulty of this decision. Cleveland has just left us in July (stomach cancer). For 6 months, he slowed down and ate less a little more each day.
I can't tell you anything about amputations and chemo, for I didn't "live" that. What I can tell you is that, you, your wife and your Honey are a pack and you guys know best how that pack "lives." The three of you all have an adult mindset. That is important to know. Honey is an adult dog and has a voice in how she lives, and dies. Honey will tell you if your really listen what is best for her. She will speak through your heart and you will hear her in the small quiet times while she watches you.
Hear everyone's advice, the vet's, your extended family, your new forum friend here and then the three of you make a decision and "live" by it and when the time comes, stay with her as you all face the crossing to the bridge.
I am not trying to be a tear jerker here, but we learned so much and became better people because of the life we led with our Cleveland.
Now, we celebrate his life with McKinley (our 15 week old pup). McKinley has better friends to live with because of the Life of Cleveland.
We are here for you as you go forward. We are a place to rage against the injustice of cancer and a shoulder to cry on.
Peace be with you.
I can't tell you anything about amputations and chemo, for I didn't "live" that. What I can tell you is that, you, your wife and your Honey are a pack and you guys know best how that pack "lives." The three of you all have an adult mindset. That is important to know. Honey is an adult dog and has a voice in how she lives, and dies. Honey will tell you if your really listen what is best for her. She will speak through your heart and you will hear her in the small quiet times while she watches you.
Hear everyone's advice, the vet's, your extended family, your new forum friend here and then the three of you make a decision and "live" by it and when the time comes, stay with her as you all face the crossing to the bridge.
I am not trying to be a tear jerker here, but we learned so much and became better people because of the life we led with our Cleveland.
Now, we celebrate his life with McKinley (our 15 week old pup). McKinley has better friends to live with because of the Life of Cleveland.
We are here for you as you go forward. We are a place to rage against the injustice of cancer and a shoulder to cry on.
Peace be with you.
Shelties are not complainers.
Shelties are HUGE empathizers. She can sense that you are upset and she's probably trying to comfort you.
You are also probably watching her more...you look at her, she looks at you, etc. The big sign for me is that they don't come to greet you in their normal pattern i.e. waking you up in the morning, running to the door when you come home, etc. Its a big indication then that they don't feel well enough to START the interaction.
As I said in my earlier post here, dogs that have an amputation are just fine afterwards. They really don't know the difference.
In fact, Narmowen, a member on this forum, has a sheltie Sally that had her leg amputated. Here is the link to that thread:
http://www.sheltieforums.com/showthread.php?t=1384&highlight=Narmowen+sally&page=4
and here is a link to the thread with her picture after the amputation:
http://www.sheltieforums.com/showthread.php?t=2124&highlight=amputation&page=2
In fact, Narmowen, a member on this forum, has a sheltie Sally that had her leg amputated. Here is the link to that thread:
http://www.sheltieforums.com/showthread.php?t=1384&highlight=Narmowen+sally&page=4
and here is a link to the thread with her picture after the amputation:
http://www.sheltieforums.com/showthread.php?t=2124&highlight=amputation&page=2
I am so very sorry to hear of a onther loved sheltie with cancer. We lost our 8 year old to lymphoma in April. Actually it was from the effects of the chemo, it started effecting her liver and kidneys... but we did have months longer then we ever thought we would, of course we would of loved more time but we were blessed with what we had. This is a hard decision you have to make for all of you. We have seen several dogs playing at the beach with a leg amputated and we are amazed at how well the adapt.
Dogs are very reslilent much more than we most likely give them credit.
Dogs are very reslilent much more than we most likely give them credit.
So sorry to hear about Honey.
My sister and her husband went through something very similar with their golden retriever, Alley. I know it was a choice they wrestled with but in the end they decided on the amputation. I know for them it turned out to be the right choice. Alley may not have quite as much get up and go as she used to but she still has a very good quality of life and is doing very well. Its been about a years since the surgery. I know every case is different but they are very pleased with the choice they made.
My sister and her husband went through something very similar with their golden retriever, Alley. I know it was a choice they wrestled with but in the end they decided on the amputation. I know for them it turned out to be the right choice. Alley may not have quite as much get up and go as she used to but she still has a very good quality of life and is doing very well. Its been about a years since the surgery. I know every case is different but they are very pleased with the choice they made.
BarbV
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Oh dear! This is very close to home.
First off, let me talk about the amputation. My parents had a border collie mix that had her leg amputated when she was about 2 or 3 years old. This dog could outrun any 4-legged friend. She certainly was not impeded by the loss of her leg.
My Timber died last year from tumour in his chest. He was diagnosed and died the same day. He was 12 years old. Shelties have very strong pain thresholds and will normally endure much more than the average dog would endure. For this reason, we think they are fine, when they are not.
The day that he was diagnosed, they started talking about chemo, etc. I never got to put it to the test because he died only hours later, but while the doctor was talking I already knew that I would not do it. To put him through that kind of invasion to prolong his life for only a few months seemed selfish and cruel.
This is going to be the toughest decision that you ever have to face. Ultimately, you can only look into your own heart and decide what feels right. I will not presume to tell you what I think would be the right thing to do.
Hugs to you!
First off, let me talk about the amputation. My parents had a border collie mix that had her leg amputated when she was about 2 or 3 years old. This dog could outrun any 4-legged friend. She certainly was not impeded by the loss of her leg.
My Timber died last year from tumour in his chest. He was diagnosed and died the same day. He was 12 years old. Shelties have very strong pain thresholds and will normally endure much more than the average dog would endure. For this reason, we think they are fine, when they are not.
The day that he was diagnosed, they started talking about chemo, etc. I never got to put it to the test because he died only hours later, but while the doctor was talking I already knew that I would not do it. To put him through that kind of invasion to prolong his life for only a few months seemed selfish and cruel.
This is going to be the toughest decision that you ever have to face. Ultimately, you can only look into your own heart and decide what feels right. I will not presume to tell you what I think would be the right thing to do.
Hugs to you!
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