GaryE
Platinum Member
Thank you...
Gary
Gary
Losing my beloved Tetley
- Thread starter Boondox
- Start date
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NIXON
Veteran Member
Pete , It's very hard for Me to put down in words my sympathy for
what You must be feeling. I know that it's of very little comfort now , but in time the loss of Tetley will be less painful . And, the memories of Him will be comforting . I'm truely sorry to hear about Tetley . All the best , John
what You must be feeling. I know that it's of very little comfort now , but in time the loss of Tetley will be less painful . And, the memories of Him will be comforting . I'm truely sorry to hear about Tetley . All the best , John
OP
Boondox
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Gary -- I've been doing a ton of research and might be in the same boat. And I'm so torn by what seems like the cruelest choice in the world. Do I have fun with Tetters while we can, and say goodbye when his time comes? Or do I possibly give up that precious time and send him in for surgery NOW, knowing he has less than a 15% chance of coming out alive?
If, as is common with the breed, the mass is a malignant hemangiosarcoma, he has only a couple months left and surgery will probably only give him a couple months more -- time to say goodbye. But if it's a benign hemangioma, removing the entire spleen could give him years more quality life. But the malignant form is far more common. Doing nothing either will kill him.
Gary, best of luck with Sam. I hope it turns out for the best for both of us. And if not, I pray it at least goes easy for them. Pete
If, as is common with the breed, the mass is a malignant hemangiosarcoma, he has only a couple months left and surgery will probably only give him a couple months more -- time to say goodbye. But if it's a benign hemangioma, removing the entire spleen could give him years more quality life. But the malignant form is far more common. Doing nothing either will kill him.
Gary, best of luck with Sam. I hope it turns out for the best for both of us. And if not, I pray it at least goes easy for them. Pete
alan40
Platinum Member
Hi Pete and Gary, sorry to hear about your dogs. We just got back from Maine and both dogs jumped us before we got out of the truck. My wife is the lucky one Belle only weighs 28lbs. Star on the other hand is a 85lbs golden lap dog. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif If the world was as friendly as most dogs we'd be alot better off.
Star's new trick this year is eating sweet corn out of the garden. She rips off a ear and eats the corn. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Wife's not to happy with the competition thou.
Both of you take care, our best wish's and prayers are with you both.
Take care
Star's new trick this year is eating sweet corn out of the garden. She rips off a ear and eats the corn. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Wife's not to happy with the competition thou.
Both of you take care, our best wish's and prayers are with you both.
Take care
dmccarty
Super Star Member
Pete,
Just got off the phone with the wifey. Tetley has the same thing that Chase did. Chase's was not typical though and the vets had a hard time deciding on the diagnosis but they ended up with malignant hemangioscarcoma. In Chase's case it was growing in her liver which is why they stopped the operation and asked if we wanted to just put her to sleep. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
My wife is going to look and see if she can find the websites and vets she used for info. Our local vets where talking to vets in the North East and out west as well. She won't be able to do this until this weekend though.
How much time do you have before you have to make a decision?
That 15% chance really makes the surgery decision very hard.... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Later,
Dan
Just got off the phone with the wifey. Tetley has the same thing that Chase did. Chase's was not typical though and the vets had a hard time deciding on the diagnosis but they ended up with malignant hemangioscarcoma. In Chase's case it was growing in her liver which is why they stopped the operation and asked if we wanted to just put her to sleep. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
My wife is going to look and see if she can find the websites and vets she used for info. Our local vets where talking to vets in the North East and out west as well. She won't be able to do this until this weekend though.
How much time do you have before you have to make a decision?
That 15% chance really makes the surgery decision very hard.... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Later,
Dan
GaryE
Platinum Member
Pete,
Six hours ago I was sure I was making the wrong decision. But the vet just called and he made through the surgery. This was a BIG question being his enlarged heart. He has not come to yet, but the vet feels confident. It is like a whole new day!
I can’t tell you whether or not to go with the surgery, my thinking was go for it and instructed the vet unless there was a good chance for him to have a good quality life don’t bring him back. At least he would not suffer. I was so sure he would not have made it this far.
Hang in there …
My best wishes for both you and Tetley
Gary
Six hours ago I was sure I was making the wrong decision. But the vet just called and he made through the surgery. This was a BIG question being his enlarged heart. He has not come to yet, but the vet feels confident. It is like a whole new day!
I can’t tell you whether or not to go with the surgery, my thinking was go for it and instructed the vet unless there was a good chance for him to have a good quality life don’t bring him back. At least he would not suffer. I was so sure he would not have made it this far.
Hang in there …
My best wishes for both you and Tetley
Gary
OP
Boondox
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Dan -- Tetters' mass is in the spleen where they typically start. The next logical places for metastaces because of the way the blood flows are the liver and kidneys, and from there to the lungs and heart. His renal and hepatic enzymes look normal, so if the tumors have spread that far they are not yet large enough to impact those organs. The limitation for Tetters right now is blood loss. The spleen is a very vascular organ and his hematocrit is already very low. My bet is there is some internal bleeding going on.
Basically the hope at this point is that the mass is a benign tumor (like a regular hemangioma) and not a malignant neoplasm. 85% chance it's bad news, though. pb
Basically the hope at this point is that the mass is a benign tumor (like a regular hemangioma) and not a malignant neoplasm. 85% chance it's bad news, though. pb
kensfarm
Veteran Member
"the hardest decision of my life."
My old college buddy "Mickey" had a bladder tumor.. I did all I could(medication) but didn't opt for surgery because of her age & the low %. I had called the vet and made arrangements ahead of me going. I couldn't even talk once I was there.. just knodded my head. It's been almost 10 years.. even today.. I still get choked up thinking about it.
The only relief is thinking that you gave the dog the best life you could while in your care.. and the memories of fun times will always be w/ you. God's speed.. & God bless!
My old college buddy "Mickey" had a bladder tumor.. I did all I could(medication) but didn't opt for surgery because of her age & the low %. I had called the vet and made arrangements ahead of me going. I couldn't even talk once I was there.. just knodded my head. It's been almost 10 years.. even today.. I still get choked up thinking about it.
The only relief is thinking that you gave the dog the best life you could while in your care.. and the memories of fun times will always be w/ you. God's speed.. & God bless!
