Tough life decisions

DoWhat

DoWhat

Deplorable
PREMO Member
Our 13yr old Black Lab was diagnosed today with a large mass on her liver.
The Vet was able to take a sample of the tumor with a needle, but she said that she could not confirm it as being cancer.

We are still waiting results of her urine analysis to check the kidneys functions.
I can’t remember all the medical terms they used, that’s why I’m married to a smart woman.

This morning I couldn’t give my pup her morning treat or feed her breakfast, because it could interfere with the ultra sound.

We finally get home (from Bowie), she is happy (but still tired), but will not eat or take her favorite treats.

The decision:

• Let my pup who has been happy as hell, live her life?

• Get an operation, costing thousands of dollars, to possibly give her a few more years?

13 great happy years for a large dog, I think is a nice life.
She is not in pain, has been running and playing with our other dog, but she has been losing weight.

I know that I am the one that has to make the decision, but it’s tough.
 
pixiegirl

pixiegirl

Cleopatra Jones
DoWhat said:
Our 13yr old Black Lab was diagnosed today with a large mass on her liver.
The Vet was able to take a sample of the tumor with a needle, but she said that she could not confirm it as being cancer.

We are still waiting results of her urine analysis to check the kidneys functions.
I can’t remember all the medical terms they used, that’s why I’m married to a smart woman.

This morning I couldn’t give my pup her morning treat or feed her breakfast, because it could interfere with the ultra sound.

We finally get home (from Bowie), she is happy (but still tired), but will not eat or take her favorite treats.

The decision:

• Let my pup who has been happy as hell, live her life?

• Get an operation, costing thousands of dollars, to possibly give her a few more years?

13 great happy years for a large dog, I think is a nice life.
She is not in pain, has been running and playing with our other dog, but she has been losing weight.

I know that I am the one that has to make the decision, but it’s tough.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry. That's super sucky. 13 is pretty damn old for a lab so you've done good by her. :huggy:
 
P

Pandora

New Member
If it isn't cancer, it really shouldn't cause any issues. Humans can have liver cysts and it doesn’t interfere with their normal life functions but if it is cancer, I personally feel she isn’t going to have a long life expectancy beyond surgery that would warrant spending $1,000’s of dollars. I think I would not intervene and when I saw my dog’s quality of life decline to the point where suffering supersedes, then I would have my dog put to rest.
Tough choice, either way!
 
oldman

oldman

Lobster Land
It's only something you and DidW can decide. Be the man and do what you think best and don't cry to much.
 
J

jsouthan

New Member
DoWhat said:
Our 13yr old Black Lab was diagnosed today with a large mass on her liver.
The Vet was able to take a sample of the tumor with a needle, but she said that she could not confirm it as being cancer.

We are still waiting results of her urine analysis to check the kidneys functions.
I can’t remember all the medical terms they used, that’s why I’m married to a smart woman.

This morning I couldn’t give my pup her morning treat or feed her breakfast, because it could interfere with the ultra sound.

We finally get home (from Bowie), she is happy (but still tired), but will not eat or take her favorite treats.

The decision:

• Let my pup who has been happy as hell, live her life?

• Get an operation, costing thousands of dollars, to possibly give her a few more years?

13 great happy years for a large dog, I think is a nice life.
She is not in pain, has been running and playing with our other dog, but she has been losing weight.

I know that I am the one that has to make the decision, but it’s tough.
Click to expand...

While I do not know you, I want to say first off, how very sorry I am. We had a golden retriever/lab mix that we had to have put down last January. She was always very slender, but within just a couple of weeks, she lost enough weight that you could see her ribs, although she was still very active. The vet did some blood work and diagnosed her with kidney failure. We never found out the cause of it, but the vet told us that she would only have at most a month to live. Within a week, it was clear that she was deteriorating quickly, as she was sleeping almost all the time and began whining so we knew she was in pain. At that point we made the very difficult decision to let her go. She was 12 years old and hubby and I got her as an 8-week-old pup the day after we bought our first home together. We still tell the story about that day, how she licked hubby's face the whole way home and when we had her in the cart at PetSmart to get her some supplies she climbed up the front of me to get at my face to be able to give me kisses too. She was such a gentle and loving dog. Can you tell I still really miss her?

You just need to think about what is best for your family and for the dog. It is always hard to let a beloved family member go, but sometimes it is for the best. Best wishes to you, whatever you decide.
 
belvak

belvak

Happy Camper
DoWhat, we had to make the decision to put one of our cats down about 8 years ago. He had multiple problems, but probably could have had his life extended with surgery/medication, but there was no guarantee as to the quality of life he would have. We talked it over and after much thought, decided it would be better to have him put down rather than let him suffer. You have a tough decision to make, and I would not even think about trying to tell you what to do. Just know that I do know what you are going through, and you and your Lab are in my thoughts. :huggy:
 
C

CalvertNewbie

Guest
Pandora said:
If it isn't cancer, it really shouldn't cause any issues. Humans can have liver cysts and it doesn’t interfere with their normal life functions but if it is cancer, I personally feel she isn’t going to have a long life expectancy beyond surgery that would warrant spending $1,000’s of dollars. I think I would not intervene and when I saw my dog’s quality of life decline to the point where suffering supersedes, then I would have my dog put to rest.
Tough choice, either way!
Click to expand...

I was typing pretty much the same thing as Pandora. We have a black lab too. I know how much animals become a part of our families.

Sorry your family is going through this. I probably wouldn't subject a 13 yr old dog to surgery unless he/she was guaranteed a much longer, happier life. But this is a tough decision that only your family can make. Whatever you decide, I'll be thinking of your family. :huggy:
 
DoWhat

DoWhat

Deplorable
PREMO Member
I finally got my Ginger to take her treat.

The only reason that we found this is because we took her in to get blood work done, we have been giving her Rimadyl for her arthritis.

The results came back wacky, so the Vet sent us to a specialist to get some more testing done, because she knew there where other issues and needed an ultra sound to confirm.
That is what we did today.

Before today (this morning she was running around in the yard), you would never have known that there was anything wrong except for a little weight loss.

They had to sedate her to do the ultra sound, so hopefully she will feel better tomorrow.
 
DoWhat

DoWhat

Deplorable
PREMO Member
Thank you all for the replies.
My pup will be very well spoiled rotten until the day that she the pup, lets us know that she has had enough.

(You all better hope that you never see a DoWhat, in your lifetime cry)

And thanks for letting me type some of my longest ever posts.
 
Lilypad

Lilypad

Well-Known Member
DoWhat-I'm sorry to read this but bottom line, you know your fuzzy face better than anyone (w/exception of Mrs. DW) let her live out her life, you'll know when the time is "the time." Enjoy every moment w/her!
 
Crashpupty

Crashpupty

havoc is havoc
DoWhat said:
I finally got my Ginger to take her treat.

The only reason that we found this is because we took her in to get blood work done, we have been giving her Rimadyl for her arthritis.

The results came back wacky, so the Vet sent us to a specialist to get some more testing done, because she knew there where other issues and needed an ultra sound to confirm.
That is what we did today.

Before today (this morning she was running around in the yard), you would never have known that there was anything wrong except for a little weight loss.

They had to sedate her to do the ultra sound, so hopefully she will feel better tomorrow.
Click to expand...

only you can make the decision. It was hard for me when Crash had total kideney failure and I could keep him alive by him being at the vets office more than with me. Neither of us would accept that arrangement so regretably I had him put down. The quality of life is all that matters. Keep an eye on her only you will know when it is time. It is never easy and you can"t let her suffer because you are not ready.
 
Loper

Loper

Animal Poor!
DoWhat.. this is the hardest part of loving our 4 legged family members! :huggy: Yet, I'm sure we all know this. I would take it day by day until you have all the results back and know exactly what you are dealing with.

13 is a very long life for a Lab and you have obviously made the right choices for her to get her there. Keep making the choices for her and what you think she can deal with and you will know in your heart what to do.

My thoughts are with you and your family! :huggy:
 
R

rhenderson

Guest
DoWhat - One of the big worries we have in times like this not the what but the when. Several years ago my wife and son had to make that decision for her 17 year old toy poodle. Essentially, our decision was to let the veterinarian tell us when.

If you have confidence in your veterinarian as a caring animal physician, you can rely on his expertise
 
Dupontster

Dupontster

Would THIS face lie?
Dayumn DoWhat...I feel for ya man...We just went through the same thing in January...Our Black Lab Molly was getting sicker and sicker...She got to the point where she wouldn't eat and just laid around...We held out as long as we could but we finally had to make that dreaded decision....She lived 13 years almost 14 and they were good dog years...We spoiled her and she lived like the princess she was....When she could no longer get up and walk, we knew what we had to do...She never whimpered or showed any signs of pain but we knew...I picked her up and took her to the vet where he graciously put her to sleep...I have tears in my eyes right now just thinkin about her...We had her cremated and her ashes are right in the family room proudly displayed in a box with her name on it....It's tough man but you will have to do it for her...Think of all the good times she had and how she was treated...Now we have another Lab that is spoiled worse than any child could ever be...He misses Molly too...
 
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