My Dog has Cancer
Discussion
I had to take big Ted to the vet last night, he is a 9 year old Golden Retriever, as hard as nails, as annoying as you can imagine but with a cracking personality.
The long and the short of it is he had to have an emergency operation to remove his spleen, which had a cancerous tumour in it. We have been told he only has a few months left.
He is going to leave a big hole in our family, Barney my 4 year old Retriever will miss him like hell and my 2 year old daughter adores him. How do I explain it to her?
I feel so unbelievably sad today, but at least I have a few extra weeks with him, and they will be so special, I will make sure of it!
The long and the short of it is he had to have an emergency operation to remove his spleen, which had a cancerous tumour in it. We have been told he only has a few months left.
He is going to leave a big hole in our family, Barney my 4 year old Retriever will miss him like hell and my 2 year old daughter adores him. How do I explain it to her?
I feel so unbelievably sad today, but at least I have a few extra weeks with him, and they will be so special, I will make sure of it!
Dont want to raise your hopes but my dog was diagnosed with Prostate cancer at 12 and we were warned he wouldn't last long but somehow or other he lasted another 2.5 years much to the vets amazement (and much emptying of my pocket for various potions). Make the most of while he's here... They are a blessing.
So very sorry to hear that. My old girl had the same. Came like a bolt out of the blue as we had no idea she was ill until the tumour bled. We decided against having her operated on as we do not think it would have done any good, but instead opted to put her on steroids, which gave her a fantastic quality of life for the time she remained with us.
Spoil him and spend time with him until it is time to let him go. He will leave an enormous hole in your life as both my two did when they went, but I am grateful for the time I had with them.
Do you have a photo?
Spoil him and spend time with him until it is time to let him go. He will leave an enormous hole in your life as both my two did when they went, but I am grateful for the time I had with them.
Do you have a photo?
becksW said:
Had it spread? Have they sent it off for testing. If benign, which a lot of splenic tumours can be you would hope he may have longer. I have known dogs to surivive much longer, it all depends on spread etc. I hope they are wrong for yours and teds sake, best wishes to him.
She doesn't think it has spread yet, but she is almost certain that it is cancerous, so I am prepared for the worst. As I said he is as hard as nails so hopefully he will fight on for a good while, but I will know when it is time to let him go.My condolences, but I had to laugh at the name Big Ted in the same sentence as 'Hard as nails'.
There are some good kids books on pet death -worth considering as it helps them understand it.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/pet-death-Books/s/qid=1240...
There are some good kids books on pet death -worth considering as it helps them understand it.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/pet-death-Books/s/qid=1240...
I have just been to see him at the vets, there were signs of his old self but he was still a bit groggy. The only thing the vet is a bit concerned about is he has developed a really chesty cough over night so they are keeping an eye on that. Hopefully he will come home tomorrow, ready to be treated like a king!
Yup enjoy him and spoil him rotten.
My dad had to get my 12.5 year old Staffy put down a few weeks back, I got her for Christmas when I was 12, I miss her like mad and just wish I could have spent more time with her towards the end, but as I don't live with the folks it wasn't possible...
Actually welling up when I write this, jeesus!
My dad had to get my 12.5 year old Staffy put down a few weeks back, I got her for Christmas when I was 12, I miss her like mad and just wish I could have spent more time with her towards the end, but as I don't live with the folks it wasn't possible...
Actually welling up when I write this, jeesus!
That's horrible. I lost Ollie, my jack russell to cancer. His spine was riddled with it and you couldn't touch his back without him yelping. Poor chap was only three years old, still wanted to do everything a young dog does, but couldn't. We took him down to a specialist place in the west country, but we didn't bring him home. I still have his tags and a rose bush we planted in his honour thrives every year. Enjoy your time with him, he looks lovely.
DOnt forget (stating the obvious) that your dog has no idea....he's a dog, he lives for the moment and has no concern about 10 mins from now....let alone months! All he knows is that he's feeling ok...or not.
All these emotions are yours....i also doubt that your kid will be anywhere near as bothered as you think.
I had to have my English Bull Terrier put down a couple of years ago (age 10)...at the time it was hard for me (he was my 21st birthday present) especially the actual process it's self....but my kids (1,3,7,11 at the time where all fine after a 5 min cry...they're kids, they are also pretty "live for the moment" as well)
The one thing i learnt is that i would NEVER keep a dog that was poorly and terminal....the dog doesnt care if he's put to sleep...YOU do. To have kept my old dog plodding on in ill health (which was a possibility) would have been grossly selfish.
One of my current dogs (lurchers) had a cancer on his leg joint 2 years ago....if there had been any possibility that it was likley to spread (after amputation) i'd have had him put down, no question. Even if they offered "a few extra months of life" (as it was the tumor was non spreading a fast lurcher that outruns 90% of other dogs on 3 legs is rather cool!)
All these emotions are yours....i also doubt that your kid will be anywhere near as bothered as you think.
I had to have my English Bull Terrier put down a couple of years ago (age 10)...at the time it was hard for me (he was my 21st birthday present) especially the actual process it's self....but my kids (1,3,7,11 at the time where all fine after a 5 min cry...they're kids, they are also pretty "live for the moment" as well)
The one thing i learnt is that i would NEVER keep a dog that was poorly and terminal....the dog doesnt care if he's put to sleep...YOU do. To have kept my old dog plodding on in ill health (which was a possibility) would have been grossly selfish.
One of my current dogs (lurchers) had a cancer on his leg joint 2 years ago....if there had been any possibility that it was likley to spread (after amputation) i'd have had him put down, no question. Even if they offered "a few extra months of life" (as it was the tumor was non spreading a fast lurcher that outruns 90% of other dogs on 3 legs is rather cool!)
Edited by Tiggsy on Wednesday 29th April 12:43
Tiggsy said:
DOnt forget (stating the obvious) that your dog has no idea....he's a dog, he lives for the moment and has no concern about 10 mins from now....let alone months! All he knows is that he's feeling ok...or not.
All these emotions are yours....i also doubt that your kid will be anywhere near as bothered as you think.
I had to have my English Bull Terrier put down a couple of years ago (age 10)...at the time it was hard for me (he was my 21st birthday present) especially the actual process it's self....but my kids (1,3,7,11 at the time where all fine after a 5 min cry...they're kids, they are also pretty "live for the moment" as well)
The one thing i learnt is that i would NEVER keep a dog that was poorly and terminal....the dog doesnt care if he's put to sleep...YOU do. To have kept my old dog plodding on in ill health (which was a possibility) would have been grossly selfish.
One of my current dogs (lurchers) had a cancer on his leg joint 2 years ago....if there had been any possibility that it was likley to spread (after amputation) i'd have had him put down, no question. Even if they offered "a few extra months of life" (as it was the tumor was non spreading a fast lurcher that outruns 90% of other dogs on 3 legs is rather cool!)
Am really sorry to hear about Ted but Tiggsy is spot on, if there are any signs at all that Ted isn't happy, don't hang around and postpone the inevitable. All these emotions are yours....i also doubt that your kid will be anywhere near as bothered as you think.
I had to have my English Bull Terrier put down a couple of years ago (age 10)...at the time it was hard for me (he was my 21st birthday present) especially the actual process it's self....but my kids (1,3,7,11 at the time where all fine after a 5 min cry...they're kids, they are also pretty "live for the moment" as well)
The one thing i learnt is that i would NEVER keep a dog that was poorly and terminal....the dog doesnt care if he's put to sleep...YOU do. To have kept my old dog plodding on in ill health (which was a possibility) would have been grossly selfish.
One of my current dogs (lurchers) had a cancer on his leg joint 2 years ago....if there had been any possibility that it was likley to spread (after amputation) i'd have had him put down, no question. Even if they offered "a few extra months of life" (as it was the tumor was non spreading a fast lurcher that outruns 90% of other dogs on 3 legs is rather cool!)
Edited by Tiggsy on Wednesday 29th April 12:43
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