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 Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 8:17 pm
Hi. I'm Karo and I'm a dog lover. For those of you who don't know, dogs get cancer too. In fact, some research shows that there are links between finding a dog cancer vaccine and finding cures for childhood leukemia or lymphoma in humans.
So, anyways, about my dog: she has canine lymphoma. She is a nine year old border collie. Her lymph nodes have swelled a lot. The cancer started in her lymph nodes. My dad was the first to notice this when he was petting her neck. By the time we got to the vet they had swelled up enough to concern the vet. The vet put her on amoxycillin and said that it could either be an infection or cancer. So she was put on amoxycillin and the vet ran a series of tests and some blood work. The tests came back three days later and the vet determined that she had stage 4 canine lymphoma. There are 5 stages, the last stage is pretty much death by organ failure. The vet said that none of the normal treatments/therapies would work at this point and that she had 3 months. I remember what happened when we got the call. My dad cried. He actually cried. My dad never cries. I think the last time I saw him cry was years ago when we visited the cemetery where my grandma's ashes are buried and my dad's best friend is buried. They both succumbed to cancer as well. My mom is a breast cancer survivor. But that's not who I wanted to talk about. It was so painful. We all cried. I remembered I was doing the dishes and I just paused what I was doing and I sat down, waiting for my dad to hang up the phone so that he could tell us what was going on.
After we all cried my mom called my brother, who is in college now. I still don't know how he took the news. This pup is practically a member of our family! She has served as a marathon training partner, a playmate, and a good companion. She was my first and only dog so far. Our family has had her for 9 years, ever since she was a 10 week old pup. She is still doing well and she has a lot of energy. I'm terrified about what we're going to do in a week and a half though. We have to leave her behind for thanksgiving. We are going to visit family. The problem is, well, these extended family members have a cat that doesn't get along with dogs. I think that the woman who has boarded her in the past will provide excellent care though, as she is a former vet tech. She knows what do in an emergency.
So this is not just a thread where I tell my story. It is also for my fellow animal lovers whose beloved animals have suffered from cancer.
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Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 10:16 pm
My aunt's first black lab had cancer. They took her to UC Davis, near here, and they did chemo and radiation. That extended her life about a year, and they thought the cancer was gone, but the tests were done at just the wrong time, as it metastasized, so the cancer wasn't picked up in the tests. A few months later, she became lethargic again, and they did tests again. They found it all over her body instead of just in the places it had been before. She made it a few more months more, but they didn't make her suffer though the end of the cancer. It was heart wrenching. My aunt had had custody battles over Suds, in court, during her divorce (in the 70's) because she was her child. My aunt can't have kids, and never could, so Suds WAS her kid, as well as my grandparent's other grandchild. Had they caught the cancer sooner, the chemo and radiation would have worked. But she was 14 when she passed, and that's a good life for a lab.
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Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 9:20 am
Thank you for sharing that. We do often forget the animal side of it. I am glad to hear you have a safe place for her to stay while you are away for the holiday.
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Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 7:31 pm
We have been talking about what we intend to do once she is gone. Mom wants to take her to a friend's veterinary practice to have her put to sleep soon. She also wants to make a memorial of sorts in the backyard. It is hard to believe that we are discussing this right now.
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Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 7:50 pm
Karo Kiba We have been talking about what we intend to do once she is gone. Mom wants to take her to a friend's veterinary practice to have her put to sleep soon. She also wants to make a memorial of sorts in the backyard. It is hard to believe that we are discussing this right now.
Her happiness is important. Can it wait until after the holidays, or is she suffering?
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Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 12:03 pm
We put her to sleep today. She was suffering so much. She couldn't sleep and she was just wasting away.
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Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 12:30 pm
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Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 10:15 pm
Poor thing. She's not hurting any more, though. Not that that helps with the loss. sad Is the family ok?
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Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2009 1:05 pm
It's just hard living life without a dog.
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Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 9:59 am
Karo Kiba It's just hard living life without a dog.
I've been without my dog for about 4 years now. It's incredibly difficult. I can't get one, since my apartment won't allow pets other than fish (I have those), but fish don't help you feel better when you're sick. I know what you're going through. You'll get to where you can get another dog without it hurting too much.
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