Frustrated and afraid

As I have spoken in another email recently I found out my sweet Nash girl has bone cancer. For the past 3 days she has been throwing up 2-3 times a day. I have taken off the drugs she was on that is supposed to slow the cancer and has the pain meds in it and putting her on another alternative today, per the vet recommendation.

I am just so frustrated and am having a hard time keeping positive when you are spending alot of time cleaning floors in the house and trying to keep your friend from bounding around or sitting by making sure she eats something.

Anyways this is a vent more than anything and just wanted someone to listen.

-Nibbles

The new drug that she is going to take won't have the same cancer suppressing components in it either. But atleast she won't be ill all the time.

*sigh*

-Nibbles

I hope your pet responds to the treatment.

Thanks. What scares me most is not knowing if she is in alot of pain.

-nibbles

I'm really sorry to hear about your dog. :(

Is she expected to survive? If not, I'd put her down. Why let her suffer. My bud's great little wire hair Jack Russell "Fleetwood" had to be put down a few weeks ago for renal failure. The sweetest little baby I ever met!! :(

I supposed it depends on what your definition of survival is? We are all going to die at some point. What is her prognosis? Best case 6 months. Median 3 months. She is still doing okay and wants to be loved and I am hoping that the new drugs will better help control the pain. The drugs she is on now are VERY hard on the GI system. I am not ready to put her down. I realize that that statement is very selfish. I am plagued with guilt and depression over this.

-Nibbles

Don't feel guilty. It's an extremely difficult decision to make. IF you have to make that decision, you will know when the time is right for both of you.

I don't know where you live but accupuncture might help your pup's pain. There are pet accupuncturists out there but usually only near bigger cities.

Nibbles, please don't feel guilty for not wanting to put her down. If she's in pain and wants to go, I'm sure you will be able to tell and you'll KNOW it's time then. Until then, just enjoy the time you have with her and do the best you can to help her.

I had a vet and friends suggest I put down my girl when she'd stopped eating for a month and was obviously not happy. I selfishly wasn't ready to let her go, but also felt hope that I could do something, so instead I kept on trying new things to help her. She survived and is now happy again - if I'd listened, I'd have missed out on the last 2 years with her.

Good luck and if you ever need to talk, feel free to PM me.

Cabin Fever, you have the BEST pet posts!

Nibbles, sorry to hear what you're going through. There are people who do not believe in euthanasia (I'm not one of them) that have lots of ideas for caring for a dying dog. Some of them are very simple, such as, keeping the dog confined to an area where cleaning up is not so difficult.

I am NOT saying that you are fed up with your dog, NOR am I saying that you express anger at your dog when he/she vomits, has diarrhea, etc., in the house, but I think some of it depends on the dog - call me crazy, but I think it distresses some dogs terribly to soil in the house, and others, not so much. When people ask me how they will know when it is time to euthanize a terminal pet, I say, "When they no longer enjoying living or when you no longer enjoy them."

As for pain, I struggle with the same question with my dog ... animals process pain differently than humans do, so it is difficult to judge, but I think, in general, if they are still willing to get up and go, even if it takes encouragement from us and effort on their part, the pain is tolerable. When the pain is intolerable, they stop. That's my opinion.

In the meantime, go ahead and vent, any and all of us that have lived through losing a dog that is sick and dying know how difficult it is and that we have good days and bad days the same as our beloved pets.

BIG BIG BIG HUGS ((((((((((((((((NIBBLES)))))))))))))))))

Nibbles . . . I have so been where you are and I feel your pain :(

My shih tzu was 15 when his cancer was diagnosed and he was so special because I had had him from the moment he breathed his first breath. I had his mother and had bred her to produce his litter. It was a real devestation to us when he was diagnosed. We did what we could for a while, but it came down to quality of life for him. I finally realized that I was being selfish wanting to keep him alive for me, when his quality of life had deteriorated to nothing.

One of the hardest things I ever had to do was drive him to the vet on that last day, but I know in my heart I did the right thing. I'm sure he is bounding around Doggie Heaven right now!

I hope and pray that you won't be faced with that difficult decision with your loved one, but know that whatever happens, we are here for you.
http://bestsmileys.com/dogs/3.gif

Thank you everyone for your kind comments and encouraging words. She seems a little better and the new meds are not quite so hard on her stomach. On a good note she is eating well and romped around the yard yesterday(I try to limit this). Thanks again!

-Nibbles

Nibbles - - -

I'm glad to hear the new meds are agreeing with her better and it sounds like she is coping quite well . . .and who knows, miracles do happen! :D Hopefully one with happen with her. :)

Thanks Peach! Two days and counting vomit free! Okay that sounds gross.

-Nibbles

Nibbles - - -

I'm glad to hear the new meds are agreeing with her better and it sounds like she is coping quite well . . .and who knows, miracles do happen! :D Hopefully one with happen with her. :)

Yes they do! And I wish a miracle for your doggie Nibbles. I am glad she doesn't feel sick on her stomach anymore.:)
If she is going on maybe she can at least have better quality days without the med making her sick.

LOL . . . not nearly as gross as cleaning up dog puke! :eek: I bought one of the Bissell Spot Bots and it is a wonder cleaning up the carpet on the places where I have had to clean up puke.

Hope today is another puke-free day! :)

Ah Nibbles...I'm so sorry about your baby's illness. :(

I have not had experience with this before, but I do know how difficult it must be and that one day, whether from one thing or another, I too will be in your shoes.

I'm so glad that for now she seems to be feeling better and holding her food down. I'm praying for you both...