Probably putting one of my dogs down tomorrow (April 9, 2022)
Posted: 2022-04-08 01:33pm
near end of August 2019, a lump appeared on my dog, Dash. Specifically on his rear right leg near his hip.
It got bigger, we went to the vet, schedueled surgery to remove it, it broke, and drained out before the surgery.
It came back, testing, and yes, it's Cancer.
He had the 'replacement/regrown' tumor removed early January, 2020. Cost alot, but we were not ready to let him go yet.
He barely noticed, as when he got home after his recovery, he did a running jump onto the footstool that is between the couch, backdoor and my computer desk. (Scared my wife half to death).
The lump regrew about a month into Canada's first Covid-19 lockdown. By then, we had decided 'no drugs' for the little guy. At $500 a month for the rest of his life, it just wasn't viable.
Now, let's fast forward until Feb 2022. He's now at 25 months post removal. (That's very high end post Cancer operation for most dog breeds, let alone an American Eskimo)
He's still in good health, good spirits, if a little more clumsy now. Over the pandemic he finally figured out how to walk in the kitchen (something he never did for the 10 years we'd live here prior to his surgery, as he's a klutz), but now, he's slipping again. We also has taken to sleeping under the dinning room table (it's against a wall). We get some mats for under the table, and then in March, for the kitchen, as he's now having trouble getting up off the kitchen floor (and the dining room is confined so he's either got to wiggle around, or stand up on rugs).
Mid Feb, we noticed a bump on his belly. (Might have been in January, but it was not there during Christmas). In retrospect, my joke at him that 'the cancer regrow your balls' over something he did is almost prophetic.
About 2 weeks ago, he started to have even more trouble. We have also noticed bumps on his shoulders (both) a new one near his right ankle, one on the inside of his left leg near his groin, on his right hip half way up his chest, and left front leg has one on where the bicept would be on a human.
He also gets really anxious (to the point of almost snapping), depending on things, if we touch anywhere near his hips. He's growled at our other dog twice when she was in his way. He's having trouble getting into the house from outside (as in he starts heavy breathing, and he's nearly fallen on several occasions). He also has trouble getting up even on the area rug. Last few days, he's needed 'extra motivation' to bother with breakfast. (Fortunately, a drop of BBQ sauce, and he hoovers up the bowl)
All in the last 2 weeks.
His attitude and personality are otherwise unaffected. Last night, we did what we call a 'short walk' (roughy 230 - 250 meters each way), and he kept trying to keep going on the way back. Not 'stop i'm tired'. more like I can/want to do more!' (The other dog, Tia, she don't care. She got out, pooped, and doesn't argue).
So, I called the vet today, and it's gone from his regularly required Check-up and Vaccines to 'quality of life assessment.' He turned 14 in Feb.
I'm not expecting Dash to come home with us.
It got bigger, we went to the vet, schedueled surgery to remove it, it broke, and drained out before the surgery.
It came back, testing, and yes, it's Cancer.
He had the 'replacement/regrown' tumor removed early January, 2020. Cost alot, but we were not ready to let him go yet.
He barely noticed, as when he got home after his recovery, he did a running jump onto the footstool that is between the couch, backdoor and my computer desk. (Scared my wife half to death).
The lump regrew about a month into Canada's first Covid-19 lockdown. By then, we had decided 'no drugs' for the little guy. At $500 a month for the rest of his life, it just wasn't viable.
Now, let's fast forward until Feb 2022. He's now at 25 months post removal. (That's very high end post Cancer operation for most dog breeds, let alone an American Eskimo)
He's still in good health, good spirits, if a little more clumsy now. Over the pandemic he finally figured out how to walk in the kitchen (something he never did for the 10 years we'd live here prior to his surgery, as he's a klutz), but now, he's slipping again. We also has taken to sleeping under the dinning room table (it's against a wall). We get some mats for under the table, and then in March, for the kitchen, as he's now having trouble getting up off the kitchen floor (and the dining room is confined so he's either got to wiggle around, or stand up on rugs).
Mid Feb, we noticed a bump on his belly. (Might have been in January, but it was not there during Christmas). In retrospect, my joke at him that 'the cancer regrow your balls' over something he did is almost prophetic.
About 2 weeks ago, he started to have even more trouble. We have also noticed bumps on his shoulders (both) a new one near his right ankle, one on the inside of his left leg near his groin, on his right hip half way up his chest, and left front leg has one on where the bicept would be on a human.
He also gets really anxious (to the point of almost snapping), depending on things, if we touch anywhere near his hips. He's growled at our other dog twice when she was in his way. He's having trouble getting into the house from outside (as in he starts heavy breathing, and he's nearly fallen on several occasions). He also has trouble getting up even on the area rug. Last few days, he's needed 'extra motivation' to bother with breakfast. (Fortunately, a drop of BBQ sauce, and he hoovers up the bowl)
All in the last 2 weeks.
His attitude and personality are otherwise unaffected. Last night, we did what we call a 'short walk' (roughy 230 - 250 meters each way), and he kept trying to keep going on the way back. Not 'stop i'm tired'. more like I can/want to do more!' (The other dog, Tia, she don't care. She got out, pooped, and doesn't argue).
So, I called the vet today, and it's gone from his regularly required Check-up and Vaccines to 'quality of life assessment.' He turned 14 in Feb.
I'm not expecting Dash to come home with us.
