Just T
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,814
Jun 26, 2014 1:20:09 GMT
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Post by Just T on Sept 11, 2020 18:10:14 GMT
I have the sweetest old guy for a dog. We adopted him from the Humane Society when he was a year old, he is now 13. He has always been the absolute best dog. Well, with the exception of when he was younger and would try to get outside and then run like a bat out of hell. LOL
He's struggled for a few years with arthritis in his hips, but he has still been pretty feisty. He is pretty playful with my daughter's dog (who lives with us), and still likes to go on short walks.
The past couple of weeks, he has started not eating as much. He used to inhale his food when he is fed in the morning and evening. Recently, he stopped eating in the morning, but still ate a bowl of food at night. This week though, he has suddenly gone downhill so fast. First, I woke up Sunday morning, and he had pooped on the floor right next to his bad. That is so unusual for him---in the years since we have had him, he has only pooped in the house once, and that was the day we got him. Then, Tuesday, I let him outside, and as he was walking down the stairs of our deck to the yard, he was pooping on his way down the steps. Yesterday morning, when I got up I discovered he had a really nasty poop on the kitchen floor right by the door where we let him outside from.
Also, he hasn't eaten at all since Tuesday night.
I called our vet yesterday and got him in this morning, and the vet thinks he has lymphoma. All of his lymph nodes are swollen, he had a fever, and he has lost so much weight. I noticed he had been losing weight, but I thought it was because he was old and not eating as much.
UGH This sucks. The vet said the only way to know for sure is to biopsy his lymph nodes, but he said he really doesn't want to do that.
Has anyone else experienced this with their dog? My kids are going to be crushed.
UPDATE 9/13
Thank you all soooo much for your kind thoughts and prayers and all around support. I will try to respond to each of you who reached out, but please bear with me. I have been overwhelmed by it all.
Our vet called with Rudy's blood test results yesterday, and the only thing that showed up is that he is severely anemic. He said there are various things that can cause this. He is on an antibiotic twice a day, and I have been feeding him hamburger and rice, which he is eating. He still has a fever (Yeah, that has been fun! LOL)
Logically, I do know that dogs hide their pain and illness. But it is still hard to wrap my head around that. Again, I thank you all! UPDATE 9/25 I thought I would update that we had our sweet boy put down this morning. He went downhill so fast over the past two weeks. When the vet told me two weeks ago that he was anemic, he said it could be from a couple of things: a bacteria attacking his red blood cells, an autoimmune thing, or cancer. We treated him with antibiotics for a week, and he didn't improve at all. So last Saturday, the vet gave me prednisone to give him twice a day. Again, no improvement at all, in fact, he got so much worse over the week. To the point where he barely moved at all. A few days he laid in the same spot for over 8 hours. I took him in this morning, and in the past two weeks, he has lost 5 pounds, and he had already lost quite a bit before that. The vet said there is nothing else to do for him, he is sure he has cancer, but he wouldn't put him through any surgery or biopsy; he said as weak as he is, he wouldn't survive it. Yesterday, he was breathing so fast and hard, and last night he was panting in his sleep. So we made the decision today to put him down. I know it was time, but still so hard. He was a great dog. My 26 year old son went with me, and he was just sobbing.
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Just T
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,814
Jun 26, 2014 1:20:09 GMT
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Post by Just T on Sept 11, 2020 18:14:32 GMT
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Post by curiouscrafter on Sept 11, 2020 18:17:17 GMT
So sorry I don’t have any advice.
Big hugs as having a sick dog is the worst as they can’t tell you what’s wrong.
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peabay
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,891
Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
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Post by peabay on Sept 11, 2020 18:21:53 GMT
Oh, I'm so sorry. I don't know what else to say. It's heartbreaking to see them so uncomfortable. And even more so to let them go.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Sept 11, 2020 18:34:20 GMT
oh, I'm so sorry. It is tough. I don't have experience with lymphoma, but when Krista went downhill in June, it was frighteningly fast. She had a slight cough earlier in the spring, and we took her in- they said it was nothing. The cough hung around, and when it got progressively worse, we took her back and she had congestive heart failure and pneumonia. Her lungs were so full of fluid they could hardly hear her heartbeat. From that diagnosis to when we finally decided to put her to sleep, it was only about a week- I bought every kind of baby food imaginable to get her to eat something, but eventually she wouldn't eat, and I didn't want to give her the meds on an empty stomach... soon after that, she wouldn't even drink any water. You'll know when it's time. (((((HUGS))))) big hugs to you and kisses and skritches to your dear, dear Rudy.
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Just T
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,814
Jun 26, 2014 1:20:09 GMT
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Post by Just T on Sept 11, 2020 18:40:11 GMT
oh, I'm so sorry. It is tough. I don't have experience with lymphoma, but when Krista went downhill in June, it was frighteningly fast. She had a slight cough earlier in the spring, and we took her in- they said it was nothing. The cough hung around, and when it got progressively worse, we took her back and she had congestive heart failure and pneumonia. Her lungs were so full of fluid they could hardly hear her heartbeat. From that diagnosis to when we finally decided to put her to sleep, it was only about a week- I bought every kind of baby food imaginable to get her to eat something, but eventually she wouldn't eat, and I didn't want to give her the meds on an empty stomach... soon after that, she wouldn't even drink any water. You'll know when it's time. (((((HUGS))))) big hugs to you and kisses and skritches to your dear, dear Rudy. I read once that it is hard to know how sick dogs are because it is their instinct to hide it, but still... The vet told me to cook ground beef and rinse it in hot water and mix with white rice. I had a zoom meeting right after I got home, so I haven't had the chance to go buy hamburger yet, but I am getting ready to do that. The vet had a hard time even drawing blood...he had to take some from both front legs because he said Rudy's blood pressure was so low, the blood wouldn't flow into the tube. So far, he is drinking water. I am sorry about your pup.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Sept 11, 2020 18:44:04 GMT
I am sorry about your pup. thanks. I agree with the 'hiding how sick they are' instinct. I hope he eats the ground beef / rice, and you get to spend some good quality time with him for however much time he has left. We had some nice times with Krista on the patio brushing her and enjoying the fresh air... (she *loved* being brushed, since she had been a show dog). I would recommend spending some time with him and giving him some extra-special (maybe not-so-healthy) treats, if there's anything special he likes. (we missed our window of opportunity to do that with the previous dog; by the time we wanted to give her a cheeseburger, ice cream cone, etc. she couldn't even eat it.)
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peasquared
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,682
Jul 6, 2014 23:59:59 GMT
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Post by peasquared on Sept 11, 2020 18:46:55 GMT
OHHH, that made me cry. I am so sorry! We went through the same thing last summer with a rescue we had for 11 years. It all happened so fast. He was fine one day and could not move his back legs, the next. He had tumors pressing on his spine. We lost him on August 30th of last year.
All I can say is just make as comfortable as you can and love him up.
My heart hurts for you and your kids and your much loved pet.
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Post by peasapie on Sept 11, 2020 18:51:46 GMT
Awww sweet baby. Don’t feel bad. Dogs often show no symptoms at all. It’s part of nature so that other animals don’t prey on them when they are sick.
I hope the shots help and that maybe he just has a passing sickness. Big hugs.
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Post by Basket1lady on Sept 11, 2020 20:43:18 GMT
It’s so hard to see our pets fade away. We had a lab who was chasing a tennis ball on the baseball field on Sunday and was gone by Wednesday. Dogs just have an amazing ability to keep going.
I hope your Rudy rallies and I proved. Hugs.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 7, 2024 3:31:18 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2020 20:49:24 GMT
Ugh, I'm SO sorry!!!!!!!! It's traumatic no matter how long you've had them!!
Last year our beloved kitty, Felix, SUDDENLY flopped over and was listless. We whisked him away to the animal hospital and we urged them to check him out carefully. He was fine up until then--eating, sleeping, playing like a baby! Turned out he had cancer "all over his body" and they gave him up to a month to live. I couldn't live with him in pain and limited like that. We gave him all weekend with the hospital and he was getting worse and worse. We opted to put him down and it was the toughest decision. I've never cried so much in my life!!!
Praying you have more time with your baby. Sending you lots of hugs and furbaby love. xoxo
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Post by lisacharlotte on Sept 11, 2020 21:36:25 GMT
I am so sorry. We lost our dog in January, she was 15 1/2 years old. She really started going downhill fast after a certain point. As hard as it was to watch it happen, I had to remind myself that she was old and she had a wonderful full life. Our vet has always been honest with us when quality of life is gone and it's more humane to send them over the bridge. It does tear your heart out though.
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jayfab
Drama Llama
procastinating
Posts: 5,591
Jun 26, 2014 21:55:15 GMT
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Post by jayfab on Sept 11, 2020 22:19:13 GMT
I'm so sorry. I can feel your heartbreak in your post. (((hugs)))
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Post by Skellinton on Sept 11, 2020 22:25:11 GMT
I am so sorry. Seeing your fur baby sick is just the most awful feeling. Would he eat cottage cheese? That isn’t too terrible and when my little dog had cancer and was passing away that was all he would eat.
Hugs to you and your handsome Rudy.
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iluvpink
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,370
Location: Michigan
Jul 13, 2014 12:40:31 GMT
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Post by iluvpink on Sept 11, 2020 22:55:20 GMT
Oh (((HUGS)))
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Post by originalvanillabean on Sept 11, 2020 22:55:31 GMT
(((hugs)))
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sassyangel
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,456
Jun 26, 2014 23:58:32 GMT
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Post by sassyangel on Sept 11, 2020 23:17:50 GMT
I’m sorry. Don’t feel bad, I didn’t know my dogs had cancer or kidney failure till it was too late. My vet said often, they unfortunately don’t show real tangible symptoms you can notice, till it’s end of life. Which really sucks.
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janeliz
Drama Llama
I'm the Wiz and nobody beats me.
Posts: 5,641
Jun 26, 2014 14:35:07 GMT
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Post by janeliz on Sept 11, 2020 23:22:05 GMT
I’m so sorry.
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Chinagirl828
Drama Llama
Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 6,650
Jun 28, 2014 6:28:53 GMT
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Post by Chinagirl828 on Sept 11, 2020 23:30:59 GMT
I'm so sorry. I went through this recently with one of my cats. She had lost some weight which I also put down to old age (she was 19 1/2), then suddenly she lost weight quickly, barely ate, and just spent most of her time sleeping. Our vet said she had enlarged lymph nodes and likely had either cancer or lymphoma. We decided not to do any further tests as it was obvious it wouldn't change the outcome. We probably only had a couple of weeks with her from the point we realised she was unwell to when we lost her.
It's never easy to lose a furbaby and I hope you and your family can take some comfort from the time you have left together.
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Post by mom on Sept 11, 2020 23:44:04 GMT
I am so sorry.
Please know you are NOT a bad dog mom! You have saved him and given him a great life with a family that loves him!
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Post by stampnscrap1128 on Sept 11, 2020 23:49:12 GMT
Animals tend to not show pain so please do not think you did anything wrong. You've done everything perfect - giving him a long life and so much love. He is beautiful and I share your tears. It's never easy to lose a beloved pet.
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Post by mnmloveli on Sept 12, 2020 0:03:48 GMT
I’m so sorry. It’s hard to know when it’s time. Try & make his last days as happy and peaceful as can be. Extra hugs and kisses are always comforting for you and your furry loved one.
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Post by lavawalker on Sept 12, 2020 0:33:57 GMT
Yes I’ve been through this. Our corgi mix Charlie was only 8 when he died from cancer. It was thanksgiving, and we were in a camping trip. DH was petting him around the neck and noticed the glands there were very enlarged. We took him to the vet when we got back, and our vet basically said there was nothing he could do. Hs mentioned chemotherapy, but said that would probably just buy 6-7 more months. He did prescribe some prednisone though, which got us though another 8 weeks, through Christmas. It made him so much better, but once we had to taper it off, he went downhill fast, and we had to put him down It’s just difficult. We love our furbabies so much......
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Post by hop2 on Sept 12, 2020 0:35:25 GMT
Im sorry
Hugs
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Post by peano on Sept 12, 2020 0:55:20 GMT
I’m so sorry you’re going through this. I need to tell you about my experience with my previous dog. I was snowshoeing with her on Sunday and we ended up euthanizing her the following Tuesday. This was the year of the Sandy Hook murders and so needless to say, I was distracted. I didn’t realize she had lost a lot of weight, and so felt incredibly guilty when we found she had cancer that had metastasized to her liver and spleen. Be gentle with yourself. Dogs do hide how they are feeling, and yet I still feel so much guilt that she may have suffered because I was distracted and in mourning.
So now I’m worried about my dog Posie, who is 11, and late last week, suddenly had a lump on her upper hind leg. The vet took cells for a culture and I’m now waiting for the results, and I’m nervous, because it doesn’t seem to be a cyst or a fatty tumor, and because she’s lost a significant amount of weight since her last visit.
There’s nothing else to do but hope for the best for your sweet old guy and my Posie.
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edie3
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,631
Jun 26, 2014 1:03:18 GMT
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Post by edie3 on Sept 12, 2020 1:01:02 GMT
I am so sorry. Hugs to you.
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FurryP
Drama Llama
To pea or not to pea...
Posts: 7,220
Site Supporter
Jun 26, 2014 19:58:26 GMT
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Post by FurryP on Sept 12, 2020 1:46:19 GMT
I am so sorry. Please know you are NOT a bad dog mom! You have saved him and given him a great life with a family that loves him! Yeah that. I can tell you with 100% certainty that Rudy does not think you are a bad mom. I'm sorry for what you are going through.
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Post by alexa11 on Sept 12, 2020 2:32:48 GMT
I'm so sorry! It's so hard to watch them age and get sick. Hugs to you and Rudy.
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kate
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,583
Location: The city that doesn't sleep
Site Supporter
Jun 26, 2014 3:30:05 GMT
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Post by kate on Sept 12, 2020 2:51:19 GMT
Awwww, he is a handsome boy! I hope his remaining days are longer than you expect and give you happy memories.
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Post by scrappintoee on Sept 12, 2020 3:02:03 GMT
Awww.....I was already sad just reading what you wrote, but didn't expect to see his pik in the next post. I just wanna ((( hug )))) him, what a sweet boy! I am SO very sorry! I do not have experience with lymphoma ---but I have experienced our doggies' other serious/ fatal illnesses-- so I know how difficult it is to get that shocking news. I'm sending you and your kids many (( hugs )).
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