You may remember a while back I said that my dobermann had barrged into my greyhound in the garden, and knocked her over...well took her vets and nothing broken. Given pain killers and steroids. Took her back today as she is still lame. She now has to have xrays in the morning. Looks like bone cancer. She is 10 years old......if it is bone cancer......and I get the call from the vet....while she is still under anastic (sp) ....would you let her come back round?......dont know what to do......but want to be ready....hope you know what I mean.

Charley xx

im so sorry,you must be finding it hard to make a choice,me personally would proberly see what vet has to say and if cancer what her chances are,if not good i would have her pts or she may only suffer for longer,
hope i havnt upset you at all,i had the same choice to make with my cat earlier this year he was pts was a very hard choice but deep down i know i made the right choice,good luck and be strong.
take care
mandy.

I suppose it depends how much you trust your Vet. If she is reasonably fit and healthy and the lameness is not bothering her too much going into the operation, then she may well have more good weeks or months to go, with good medication to save her from any pain. As I am sure many will agree, you will KNOW when it is time to say goodbye

Will be thinking of you tomorrow, let us know how she gets on

Hayley

Hi Charley

I'm really sorry to hear your news - you must be having a terrible time at the moment and I really feel for you.

If I were in your shoes I'd probably wait and see what the vet says and if he thinks she could go on a while (with tablets and treatment) then I would probably give it a chance and then enjoy every minute we had left. If he thinks though that she might be in pain then although the decision would be horrible but I think I'd have to go wih letting her go peacefully.

Please keep us posted with how it goes, I know no words can possibly ease what you're going through but wish you both all the best.

Claire.

Sorry to hear your bad news.I would not want to advice you either way but I can tell you bone cancer is not pleasant as I have had first hand experience with this awful disease.My first Springer had bone cancer her leg effectivley snapped from under her it was terrible, the vet came to the house but it took three injections to put her to sleep the last one was injected into the heart as she did not want to leave us.Just writing this brings back the memory of that day it was so sad.

whisleblower..so sorry to rake up old feelings for you......she had had suh a hard life, before she came to us, but settled in as any greyhound with the second chance does...I dont know she is here half the time..just sleeps most of the day on the settee!!....cant help thinking it has been some thing I have done...maybe should have taken her to the vets sooner??

Charley xx

Sorry Charley, but "Should have done's" and "Might have been's" is a road you should not go down. I know, I think it about all the dogs I've ever lost. Really you can only think about the good times. Hind sight is something we were not blessed with. If you have done the best you can during the time she's been with you then that id the best anyone could have done.

Depending on where the bone cancer is, it is sometimes operable but even then it often comes back. As someone else said, if you trust your vet then you can only be guided by him or her.

Life is so hard sometimes, John

...yes i do trust my vet...and her words are...."I am very worried about her".....had one of dobermanns pts 3 years ago, slipped a disc in her neck.....that was so hard.....looking back I should have had her pts sooner, as her bowels went....dont want that again......it also led up to my break down.....which I have only just recovered from.....so lots of reasons why I am worried at this time.

Charley xx

hi, sorry to hear about your dog, i lost my lab 11 months ago, she was 10, she had a tumer at the top of her leg, on the bone, i was devestated when we found out, but she was still happy in her self, and went on for another 9 months, she got around fine, it didnt stop her in any way,

Oh Charley I do feel for you. You must look after yourself and I am sure, by what you have said, that you have a good vet and will you make the right decision for you both. John is right we could all look back and wish to do things differently but we havent got hindsight and really I am glad that we havent. You will do the right thing dont you worry and please keep yourself well too.

Take care Gina x

Charley
I am sorry to read this I went through this nearly 3 years ago, I was told by three vets that there was nothing they could do, even my family said let her go. I/ am was stubborn and insisted on a referral to cancer vet. She was excellent, told me that she could operate, remove the leg and my dog would be pain free for about 6 months, I asked her if there was any chance she could beat this, she said 1 percent, but to me that was a chance, and if it was to be just 6 months then it would be a good 6 months, she said if she operated I needed to let her chemo too, I agreed, Charley I STILL HAVE HER and she is still cancer free at the moment, we have her xrayed every three months to check that it has not returned (chest xrays as after bone normal route is chest). What she did say to me was the older the dog is when it gets bone cancer the better chance it has as it spreads quickly in a younger dog (mine was 8). If you want me to give you the name of my referral vet let me know and I will, she is very honest and does not give false hope. I know I was very fortunate and was extremely lucky to have found her.
Thinking of you both
Ruth

forgot to add that brackens was in the pelvis and she had to have all that and her hind leg removed and she could still run around like an idiot (labrador) last week I had to take her to have an operation on her remaining back leg as she damaged her cruciate ligament, and I am having trouble keeping her still whilst she recovers. Her quality of life is excellent

I am so sorry my old gsd who was 11 got an osteosaracoma back in July started off as slight lameness then 2 weeks later tumour appeared my thoughts are with you, I know how hard it can be Emma had enough I could see it in her face I bred her, and handreared the litter she was my life and it was an awful descion to have to make but the best one for Emma quality not quantity is what counts and you know your dog better than anyone, as someone told me then "BETTER A DAY TOO SOON THAN A DAY TOO LATE" and there has never been a truer word spoken, thinking of you

Janines

Very sorry to hear. I no deep down you will do what is right for your furbaby :) Don't ever blame yourself by saying what if ect ect, that only makes things harder then they have to be. I too would wait and see what your vet has to say and go from there.

Thinking of you and your furbaby :)

She didnt eat or drink anything yesterday, and no water this morning. She cant have anything now because of the anastetic (sp) ....vet asked if she had been off her food...but I said no, thinking she has just been a bit fussy lately. Anyway, I will keep you posted, have to drop her off at 8am. She is having the pre op blood tests, I dont normaly bother, but have been advised that she should have it. Let you know later.

Charley xx

Hi Charley,

I hope you are holding up well under the stress.

As someone else said, "better a day too soon than a day too late". Dogs do not show pain and suffering like humans. I had my beloved Moxie put to sleep a year ago August .. and waiting too long is my only regret about it. You will know when it is time to say good-bye.

Warm regards,

Stacey

Charley - what a difficult day this is for you - hope it helps to know that many here are thinking of you and hoping for the best outcome. Whatever happens, whatever decisions have to be made, it goes without saying that you'll do your very best for your beloved friend.

Joyce

Just had the call from vets, it is bone cancer, they are just xraying her chest now to see if it has spread there, if not, I will bring her home today.

Charley xx

Hi Charley

I am sorry to hear that she has bone cancer and hope her chest is clear - thinking of you

Christine

So sorry, will keep everything crossed that the chest is clear, I know that was my biggest fear. thinking of you both and willing a happy outcome.
Ruth

Fingers crossed, Charley

Fingers crossed here too Charley.

fingers, toes, paws, and hooves all crossed here charley

Charley

So sorry to hear this. Will keep my fingers crossed for a positive Xray.

Lucy
xx

Everything crossed here too xxx

im hoping that its good news...
I know how terrible it is waiting for a phone call such as yours, i wish you both luck.

Love Donna and charliex

Fingers crossed and wishing you good luck.

Kath. xx

Thinking of you Charley, and good luck.

Lesley

hi

if my dog was diagnosed with bone cancer i would let her go under the anaisthetic she would'nt live for very much longer and her quality of life would'nt be good ,bone cancer is very painful towards the end ,its a great shame, i hope you have good news

good luck

hi i know my query isnt as serious as charleys (good luck by the way) my white german shepherd has a large hurnia by her belly.it can be pushed back in but im worried. shes had it since birth.i have included the hurnia in the pet insurance cover i have.the vet we saw said she wasnt in any pain, will it make any difference if i breed her and will it have any long term effects? should i get it operated on? also she has a gravel area of which she spends her time on outside and she has really dry paws,it looks like they are starting to split.
oppinions and info appreciated.
thanks pearl.

I'm very sorry about your greyhound. Hope your vet had good news for you today.

It hadnt spread to her chest, but, dicided to let her go under the anastetic. Her back leg was nearly hollow, and could have snapped at any time the vet said. The words from earlier stuck in my head...better too soon than to late......quailty not quantity....the vet said it would have been a matter of weeks not months. Went down to pay and asked to see her. They had to get her out of the freezer, but she was still warm.....gave her kisses and a hug. Having a bottle of wine now. Kids are gutted................

Thank you to you all......its been good knowing I could come back here, and get it in writing helps.

Charley xx

I'm so sorry!
It was very brave of you tho, it took guts to let her go. Remember the good times and i am thinking of you!
Twig x

So sorry Charley. Give the kids a big hug.

Kath xx

oh charley im so sorry for your loss
think of the good times you all had together dont know what else to say apart from im really really sorry
mandy.

Oh poor you, Charley - and of course the rest of your family. :( I'm certain you have saved her a lot of pain and suffering, so you did the right thing. Bless you for being unselfish.

im new to here but im sorry to hear about your friend because they are more than dogs im sure u will agree.all the best in the meantime.pearl.

So sorry :(

Autumn Rain

Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there, I did not die.

by Mary E. Frye

:( so sorry

The trouble is i do feel selfish....cos I didnt want to have to look after her...when things stopped working.....maybe I did do it too early...maybe, what, if,......had my dobe put to sleep too late....only a day......and her bowels had gone....didnt want to go through that again.

Charley xx

Charley, don't start beating yourself up. It's very easy to do - I'm probably one of the worst offenders at finding something to feel guilty about. It's quality of life that matters (yours as well as hers), not quantity. If she was going to be in discomfort, and you and your family in distress, waiting for the inevitable, then you did right to draw a close before anyone suffered.

Thinking of you.

Oh Charlie, life is full of what if's.....we all beat ourselves up when the time comes and we lose a much loved dog, I have learnt over the years it is part the natural greiving process to feel guilty. It will pass and you will remember the great times you had together and know you made a brave but correct decision.

You know in your heart that it would have only been a matter of time and 'what if' that leg had broken, she would have been in so much pain. It is never easy to find the right time, but you have let her go peacefully, knowing absolutely nothing about it and that is all we can ask for at the end of the day.

The pain is yours, not hers.

Take care
Sandra

The pain is yours, not hers.

Gosh...so true...thank you

Really sorry to hear your news, I am in floods of tears here, have been watching this thread with dread, you did the right thing, you have saved her inevitable pain, and she would have known she was loved, I hope you and your children soon remember the wonderful times she gave you. I only hope I can be as brave as you when the time comes for my dogs, why oh why do they have such short lives ....

Love and hugs

Hayley xxx

(Sorry to ramble, for some reason this post has really hit me :( )

Charley, I'm so sorry you lost your girl.
I have sighthounds, and know that they do not cope with pain well, as you know they are very sensitive and dignified dogs. Becoming incontinent would devastate them.
You definitely did the right thing, you may have doubts now but as time passes, you should feel proud that you let her go with dignity, blissfully unaware.
Thinking of you,
Liz x

Charley, I'm so sorry for your loss. As everyone has said, you have done the right thing and you should be proud that you had the courage to make the decision to let her go with dignity and in peace.

Take care

Lesley
xx

Thank you all....really needed to hear that I had done the right thing today.

Charley xx

Thinking of you. ((((((())))))))))

Oh charley, i am really sorry to hear your news. When i read the thread earlier it made me think back to when i was in your shoes... My staffie 'charlie' has lymphoma and had to undergo xrays etc to see it he had anymore tumours etc. The vet asked me if i wanted him pts while he was under anastetic. I acctually said no way bring him round so i can say goodbye.... How selfish would i have been? (It wasnt bad news for me on that occasion.)
You are so brave, amber would be proud that you put your dogs life first. Dont feel guilty, (im sitting here with tears streaming down my face) like lesley said you let her go with dignity and in peace.
I hope the pain you feel right now is replaced with smiles soon.

Much love
Donna and charliex

Hi Charley, I am so sorry I have been there with bone cancer in July like I said in my previous post to you, and I meant what I said about "A day too soon is better than a day too late" I am so pleased that you had the courage to do the last thing that you could Its not easy and at times we feel evil for having done it something like judge and juror was what I said back in July and I truly felt evil, but dogs do not show us how much pain that they are in sometimes we feel fooled into believing that theyr,e not that bad after all but who are we fooling just ourselves I think because we cant bear the pain of losing them. BE GRATEFUL for the years that you had together, and take gratitude that YOU did the very best for her until the end came and did not suffer any longer than she had to
GOD BLESS THINKING OF YOU ALL this brings back some memories I can tell you

Janines