We went to the vet last night, and Ruby's cancer has spread to her lungs and probably other places. She is desparately ill at the moment and unless she makes a drastic improvement in the next 24 hours, it's time to let her go. Her appointment is at 7.30pm tomorrow evening. We wanted a late appointment so that if she wants to fight it she has a chance. If she improves a lot, she will be going on preds to keep her more comfortable until she passes over. She is very tired, depressed, but not in any pain that we can see. She is rattly and coughing/panting a fair bit. Please think of her.
Thanks
Kathy
xxx

Hi Kathy

Oh im thinking of you and ruby! I wish you luck... not really sure if luck is the right word.. i guess im kind of in your shoes right now. So please dont give up hope untill Ruby gives you that look.
Sending you some positive thoughts and ruby some healing thoughts
Many hugs
Donna and charliex

Oh dear Kathy

I am so sorry to hear the news. Give her lots of hugs and cuddles and will be thinking of you tomorrow.

Lucy
xx

I am so sorry to hear about poor Ruby, my thoughts are with you back in the summer we lost jake to fibrosis it was a short illness which we did not have any time to prepare ourselves for the worst and I had a lot of trouble dealing with the fact that I would have to have him put to sleep but I could not sit there are watch him struggle to breath as he was gasping for every breath but was fit as a fiddle in every other way he was only 3 years, I know its hard and its taken me time to now see that it was the best for him if we had not of done the kindest thing he would have only lasted and 48 hours at the most.  Discuss this at detail with your vet if Ruby has a good chance of pulling through a making a good recovery then of course you need to give her the chance you say it is in her lungs and probably in other areas you have to ask yourself are you being selfish to prolong this as the outcome will be no different this is not meant to be a slagging off but we did everything for Jake in total spent £2,000 on specialist fees to make sure that there was no cure as the vet did not know it was fibrosis but we had to give him that chance and I would give my right arm for him to be hear today.

Love and hugs and all the best all my throughts are with you.

NikiH

Thinking of you both xxxxx

So sorry to hear that Kathy. :( I hope the vet can make her more comfortable. I know you'll do whatever is right for both you and her. Thinking of you.

Thinking of you. I wish I could do more.

I'm so,so sorry for you,we lost old granny to that about 6 years ago,stupid vet kept saying she had kennel cough.I know how hard it is,thinking about you both,sandra.:(

Dear Kathy, so sorry to hear about Ruby. Am thinking of you.
Gina xx

So sorry to hear this, thinking of you both

Praying for a peaceful end to her suffering. :(

So sorry to hear this Kathy.

Christine, Spain.

Thinking of you both.

Kath. xxx

So sorry to hear this.  Thinking of you both.
Best wishes
Alex
xx

Right well, Ruby's had a change of plan. She's decided she's not ready yet, has shaken off the cough and has been playing like a puppy today! :D Taking her back tonight and getting her the preds - if she's not ready to go, we arent ready to let her! :D
Fingers crossed!!!

Excellent news Kathy!
Im a firm believer that they tell us when they are ready ... and rubys not!

Much love
Donna and charliex

Great to hear that Kathy!!

Thinking of you and Ruby......(going thro' the same sort of thing here with a dog with leukaemia.....but she's like Ruby.....not giving up yet!!)

Have a great Christmas together

Sami

Thank you all so much!
Right, we're back and you'd better get the tissues ready *smiffle*. Sorry this is so long!

Ruby is definitely much better. The vet had heard the nurse booking Ruby in for her appointment and had assumed the worst. He got the surprise of his life when he saw her. Ruby's chest is much clearer, although he can still hear what he calls "obstructions" in her lungs, telling him the cancer is there, and still a bit of fluid. So for that, she has antibiotics (oh bloody marvellous *lol*).

Then he checked her tummy for any signs of probs, and he hummed and haaaed for a bit.
He stood back up and said that there was the option of running a full blood test on Ruby, which would give a rough idea of how each organ is coping. He said he is particularly concerned about her liver, kidneys and intestines, so I assume he felt something there (but may be a hunch? Should've asked). I asked him what that would mean with regards to her treatment and we had to have a discussion that I thought wasnt likely to happen - and I dont think he did either! Basically, if Ruby stays as well as she is now without fluctuation, there is the chance that we could support any organs that need help with diet and/or medication, which would probably prolong things. However, this wouldnt be a bad thing if she was as comfortable as today, as she is in no pain whatsoever. The only reason we didnt want any treatment to prolong her life before was because we thought she may be sore/unhappy, but as we can all see today, she isnt.

He did say that there was no point in doing the bloods today, as because Ruby has had 3 or 4 poorly days vs one good day, it could be a waste of time and unnecessary distress to her. He also said it'd be £50 wasted if we did the test today for her to go downhill tomorrow, but he didnt mean it as a cheap treatment tactic for us, but as an honest judgement. I quite admire the fact he was so blunt about it! I bet their head vet would've had every test in the world run by now and a million and one other drugs as a "just in case" to line his pockets *lol*

Ruby was great for him - she lay down on her tummy so he could listen to her chest, but when he put the stethoscope on her, she rolled onto her side trapping his hand and slobbered on his face (nice advice Stanley!). When he listened to the other side, she rolled onto her back and he tickled her belly while he did it (she was nearly asleep, obvious bliss!).
She didnt even move when he felt her tummy, and he had to use a fair bit of pressure - it lasted a good couple of minutes.
So basically, she's got her last minute reprieve, and is home for a fortnight (well 15 days actually, but who's counting - oh yeah! Me!). AND, if she keeps happy and lively, she can go on for a fair bit longer than anyone expected. Rui (vet) said that because they cant do extensive diagnostic tests due to her risk factors, its a guessing game as to how long she has. She definitely has cancer, and she cant be cured, but the prognosis on her life expectancy is far better now than it was!

A final word from the vet: "She is a true Christmas miracle - I am very happy". Final word from me: "Naaaa, she's just like her mum, she doesn't want to miss Christmas dinner!" :D :D

Kathy my friend in doibes had two bitches, both had Cancer, one worse at that stage than the other.  they advised with her heart murmet qnd very diffuse nature of the tumours that surgery was not an option and calculated her life expectancy in weeks.

Th other wa very fit and strong, and had some well defined masses which were removed, with smaller secondary onews left alone.

The second bitch did well for a year, and suddenly went painfully lame (on x-ray it was found to have spread into the bone), and was put to sleep as pain killers did not ease it.

The first went on for 18 months from the time she was given a few weeks.

I hope Ruby outwits death for a god while yet. :)

Very Very pleased for you and obviously Ruby :D

Happy Christmas Karen

I hope you both have a lovely Christmas together ! Enjoy every moment ;)

Lucy
xx

we lost our dog rosie this year she was 18yrs old, we knew we where going to loose her she had a tumour, so last christmas we spoiled her rotten, hope you Ruby and your family have a great christmas and best wishes for 2004
Heidi