My boy (nearly 6) has been a little off but nothing you could quite put your finger on as I have  two girls in season at the moment. We have just moved to France and normally he would go to a friends house for 7 - 10 days when the girls are getting near their height. This time there is no-one that can have him so you expect that he will be a bit different. However, he has been weeing a lot so when he actually weed in the house this morning right in front of me I knew that this was definitely not something he would do. Had him at the vets this afternoon and she has found  a large mass in his abdominal area, she believes that it would be inoperable due to the size of it. The only saving grace is that he also has a high temperature and so could possibly be a large abcess. Most of his signs are within normal ranges. She administered an intravenous antibiotic (so that he could come home with us) and we have a scanned booked for 8.45 at one of their other surgeries. Please keep my boy in your thoughts as not only is he so young but he really is the most beautiful natured dog you could ever wish to meet and really doesn't deserve this (do any of our pups?) On a hopeful note I took his temperature a few moments ago and it has dropped by .5 of a degree. Keep your fingers crossed please.

Fingers and paws crossed here and hope it is an abcess and the antibiotics do the trick x

Fingers crossed here too, I know it's going to be a long night for you till his scan, my thoughts are with you.

Sending positive vibes and really rooting for your boy.  Fingers firmly crossed.  I do hope it is good news.

Fingers & paws crossed here, good luck to you both. Best wishes.

everything crossed here for your boy

Keeping everything crossed for a good outcome

fingers crossed here xx

Well he is in now. They scanned him while we were there and he is pretty sure of cancer. The bladder looks clean and the prostate but may be connected to the spleen but until they go in they are not sure. It could also be gasto intestinal Lymphoma. I am praying that it is the spleen and that they can remove it all then we will do chemo after that. We have sat up with him all night and he has been quiet. His temperature was 40.2 this morning and yet he has had biscuits and water and has wanted to chase his ball when he went out on the garden. Wonderful dog, this can't be happening.

Fingers crossed they can get it all out and that he recovers. Sorry you are having such a horrid time. Let us know how he gets on. Jane XXX

Elderly Bearded Collie here sending positive vibes!   :-)

In June 2005 she collapsed, and ended up having a splenectomy.

It was touch and go, and recovery was long, but the tumour was attached to the spleen, so it had to be done.

She is looking old now - she was 14 years in October, but she has a waggy tail, and that's what counts.  I sincerely hope that your boy is as lucky.

Good vibes being sent Alison, hope all goes well. I have a friend going through the same thing today, her boy is older though, at 13 ... so double good vibes going out from this household today xx

Sending positive vibes you way.

Sheila xx

Hello AlisonGold
I have everything crossed for you and your young boy today, I will be thinking of you today!  One of my Golden girls had to go through this surgery and I know how difficult the day was for us.

best wishes

Jan

Sadly it looks like time is very short for my lovely boy. The aggressive tumor is from a gland in his stomach. Surgery was not an option as the tumour was so  fragile that the Vet believed that to do a biopsy would cause a bleed and they would lose him on the table. We are going to speak to the Vet at 2pm to see if it is worth having the MRI scan but even the Oncologist is saying that it is looking very bad for our boy. He will come home today, the Vet thinks his prognosis is terribly poor even after an MRI scan so don't know if I want him messed with anymore. This dog has not got one bad bone in him, why would anyone allow this to happen to him? Heartbroken as I am sure we have very little time

I am so sorry to hear that news. You will have to be very brave. Your dogs are lucky to have you. Cyber hugs. Jane XX

Thank you for your good wishes and thoughts on my boy. A once in a lifetime dog and my first ever boy. Don't think I could ever keep another boy as he is too hard an act to follow.

:-( I'm so sorry, what horrible news. :-( Make his time at home as happy as you can.

So very sorry to hear this news, he sounds like a very special boy, enjoy the time you have left with him!

Jan

What a terrible shock for you but I am sure you are right with your decision to stop the investigation, make sure he is kept pain free and let him enjoy you and what he has left of his life.

Im so sorry the news isnt good :( (((hugs)))

So sorry the news is so awful for your lad. All you can do is keep him painfree and comfortable till the time comes when you look into his eyes and know it's time to let him go. In the mean time spoil him rotten and enjoy the time you have with him.

Thank you everyone. We collected Luke from the Vets at 2pm. He is very whacked out as he was so stressed in the cage after he woke for the anaesthetic that they sedated him. Vet agrees that the MRI scan would not show anymore or be of any help as the tumour is around his aorta, attached to his intestine and attached to his ribs so most definitely not operable. He has sent him home with us with painkillers but feels he has days or maybe 2 weeks but won't be here for New Year. This has happened so fast and I cannot believe that we are losing this precious boy at such a young age. I cannot keep praising him enough he is a superb boy and there will never be another in this household.

So very very sorry to read of your news, have a boy here who came to us called Luke & he is my sole mate. Will be thinking of you all, find words difficult at such times. Hugs, Lacy

How awful for you and hope what ever time you have left will add lovely memories of your lovely boy x

Oh Alison I'm so sorry, take him home and spoil him for whatever time you have left xx

Sorry to hear what you're going through. Sadly there's no rhyme nor reason when it comes to young beings becoming ill and taken young. I lost my 18 month youngster just 4 weeks ago, unexpected and a great shock - a true powerhouse of life and vitality. I understand how you're feeling at the prospect of possibly losing an amazing dog - my girl was just that, one of the most amazing dogs I've ever come across, in character, looks and her future prospects in the line of work we follow, the likes of her I will never see again ... and ALL my dogs are very special and truly remarkable in their own right.

Miracles can and DO happen, I will keep everything crossed that one will come along for you. The only words I can pass to you is to enjoy the time that you have with him, forget the illness just cherish the moments now that he's home. My girl was rushed into the vets and she stayed there for her last 4 nights ... I did go in and see her, but I so wish I'd been able to have her home.

There is no fairness at times, whether it's with much loved ones with 4 or 2 legs. But, if worst comes to worst, don't discount another boy in your life. You wont compare, but you will be pleased you had what you had. Every dog deserves an amazing home and when you have one to offer when the time is right, if it happens to be another boy ... think just how lucky that boy would be to have a wonderful home with you, all because you had such a wonderful experience with your first boy.

Lots of collie hugs heading your way, and I will hope for that miracle - I'm trying hard, the hopes are heavily tear stained at the moment, but I hope they get through.

I am  so, so sorry to read this :-( Enjoy the time you have left with him and know that your life has been richer for having him in it. Wishing you peace and courage at this difficult time.

Alison,  I'm so shocked and saddened to hear your awful news about Luke, just can't believe it. Luke is the most beautiful boy, so kind and full of love and fun. You were so supportive to us when we had a two week old litter to Luke and we lost one of our goldens, Sam,  to a very similar sounding illness which turned out to be hemangiosarcoma. Sam was 12 when we lost him, for Luke to be so young is unbearable.
We are so, so sorry and will be thinking of you and Mike and of course Luke,
Tracy and Graham x

So very sorry it wasn't a better prognosis.
Hope Lukes' life continues to make him happy for however long you are blessed with such a lovely boy.

I am so very sorry,,,   what a tragedy.

I'm at a loss to find the right words, because of your pain.

So sorry that the news wasn't better, thinking of you!

So very sorry to hear of this very sad situation,awful shock for you.

Sheila xx

So sorry for you with such sad news, just keep looking into those eyes they will tell you everything. Xxx

Thank you Tracy, you know how special he is to us and what a lovely dog he is so that really means a lot as you know him. Really can't believe this is happening, my poor boy. We have already had phone calls from people who have either known him or have had pups by him and they too are devasted for him

Alison, I am so sorry to read this. Luke is such a special boy, I can't quite believe it. I know you will cherish every last moment you have with him, he really is a once in a lifetime boy. Our thoughts will be with you over the coming days. Please give him a kiss from me. xx

Oh Alison, I am so sorry to hear this news.  A beautiful boy and obviously a wonderful member of the family and will be sorely missed within the breed.  Hope the time he last left with you is peaceful...  What more can I say?  Thinking of you all,  xxx

Thank you for those kind words. I know I am biased but I have always thought that he been a wonderful ambassador for the breed because of his demeanour and presence. I am delighted that he has left a few lovely dogs that are shown and has passed his temperment on to but I still wish that he was staying to share some more years with us. We are with him 24/7, sleeping on the floor in the Lounge so that he can come and cuddle up with us if he wants rather than us being up on a bed and him down on the floor, but last night he ended up walking to our bedroom and getting up on our bed whilst we slept on the floor in the Lounge, told you he was a special boy. Wish I could smile more about it though.

That made me smile about him going to your bed - he wants life to be normal.  It's these memories that make them so special.  Will be thinking of you often over the next few days.

Thinking of you both.

So very sorry, my thoughts are with you.

Alison I was devastated at the news  on Luke  when we spoke this morning  He is that once in a life time  special boy I know every one whom really knows him will be sending  Luke  Mike and you all the vibes of the good kind
Luke     Special huggles from me and Mr Myalls  a huge liiiiccckkkkkkk

Thank you Shirley. you know Luke so well and know what an utter gentleman Luke has always been. There are so many people who have been touched by him, friends that are as devasted as we are who are too far away to come and see him. Superbly he is at this moment trying to play with the girls (having Eve in season is probably part of that behaviour), is eating well, not dog food but what the heck, and in our opinion has bizarrely put on weight and although not his bouncy self appears comfortable. Every day is precious with him and yet torture because we are helpless and unable to take this away from him. We have found a lovely river walk near us that we didn't know about and Mike and I are taking him every day without the girls so that it is special to him. As I say he is not bouncing but is having a lovely trot, drinking from the river and sniffing all the new sniffs. He can't go in for a swim because of the stiches in his stomach though. Wish miracles did happen!

sending enormously good vibes to you and luke, and hugs for this difficult time .there is nothing so special i think as a heart boy...

Sending love and best wishes to you and your family.  It must be heartbreaking for you all

These special boys really get a hold on your heart don't they    xxx

I'm so sorry that you are having to deal with this.

I wish you the strength you need to cope over the coming days & weeks. What a horible thing to have to deal with :(
It doesn't feel like a comfort to us, but our dogs do not know that they haven't lived as long as we wished they would.

Thank you mastifflover. You are so right, Luke doesn't know he is ill. I was hoping that he would have the biggest Christmas dinner ever and it looks like we have our wish. He is having the most lovely walks with just Mike and I and enjoying all our undivided attention instead of always being overshadowed by the girls on the walks. Had him at the Vets yesterday just to have him checked out and he has put on 3 kgs in a week so is looking good again (that concave look over his spine has disappeared) and basically is back up to just under his normal weight. I am pumping all sorts of immune supplements into him (shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted) but what the heck. People have been so nice and if it was a case that good thoughts that people are sending was enough to kill the cancer then he would be cancer free. At this moment it is as though we have our Luke back with us, long may it continue. Thank you for thinking of us today. Merry Christmas. Alison.

Having been offline for a week I've only just caught up with this thread. I can't begin to tell you how sorry I am about poor Luke. These boys are just so special. I will be keeping everything crossed that a miracle will happen. x

Pleased to hear he is enjoying life, weight gain is a good sign, long may it continue.

More Healing Vibes being sent your way

Alison

Just reading about your devastating journey the last couple of weeks with Luke has brought tears to my eyes. I have always admired him, a beautiful boy but as you say most importantly has a wonderful temperament and such an important member of your family.

I'm so very sorry to hear the prognosis is so poor for Luke. You are making whatever time he has left so special, I hope it will make the next few weeks/months more bearable.

So hold him tight, make every moment special, and I for one will be praying that a miracle may happen.

I just love the boys...

Tanya