Doggie decisions
Sep. 10th, 2016 07:37 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)

Well, my poor dog Daisy has been diagnosed with cancer. She is 13. Sonograms and x-rays revealed a tumor in (near?) the bladder, as well as nodules in the chest.
I couldn't bring myself to ask how much time they think she has left, not with her sitting right there. :-)
The vet prescribed an anti-inflammatory to help her pee more easily. I'm glad to say it appears to be working. I'm not glad to say, it's generally working up and down my hall carpet.
She doesn't seem to be in pain yet, weirdly, but we are all keeping a close eye on her (still lively and trouble-making) behavior while we go through the steps to decide whether to permit chemo or let her illness run its inevitable course.
Chemo and surgery seem so extreme for someone who would not understand why she was being made to suffer through them. And they will really only buy her some time. I don't know. If you have any thoughts, I welcome them.
If I were in your position, I would ask the vet for pain relieving/symptom relieving medications for her and then just keep her with me until the time came when she was obviously no longer comfortable or getting any enjoyment out of life.
At her age, treatment will be a short term fix more likely than not along with being uncomfortable for Daisy. Like you said, she will have no idea why these things are happening to her, just that they're painful and/or making her feel badly.
There's also cost considerations but I realize that's not always an issue for people even if it's one for me.
You're in an unenviable position and I'm so sorry that you are. These choices are difficult and everyone's answer will be slightly different depending on their view of life extending measures. For me though, with such an elderly lady who doesn't seem to outwardly be in pain (aside from the urinary issues which are being addressed) I would do what I could to keep her comfortable and happy for as long as possible but not choose to go the route of surgery/chemo given her age and the probable prognosis because of it.
Of course, I would want to ask the vet what the prognosis with treatment is just to be sure.
*hugs* Take care. I hope you can come to a decision that you feel at peace with.
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Date: 2016-09-11 03:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-09-10 03:16 pm (UTC)If you need to talk or anything, I'm here.
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Date: 2016-09-11 03:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-09-11 03:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-09-10 03:31 pm (UTC)*hugs* Thinking about you.
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Date: 2016-09-11 03:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-09-10 04:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-09-11 03:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-09-10 05:00 pm (UTC)So, as an oncologist, I definitely have ~views. Of course, this is just my opinion.
It sounds like she has metastatic disease, which would be incurable. If there was a chance of cure I think it would be a harder decision (not that it's not difficult now) but in this case I think I would recommend keeping her as comfortable as possible since the treatment will only make her sick and weak (and she won't understand why she's being made to suffer) and it won't cure her anyway.
Yes, it may give you a bit longer with her, but at the expense of her comfort.
My heart goes out to you. This is never an easy decision and no matter what you decide I'm holding you both in my thoughts. *more hugs*
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Date: 2016-09-10 06:38 pm (UTC)She reminds me of my lil Samantha Bones when he was on his last legs. I chose the comfort route and knowing it was near the end, I had the chance to lay with him in his little doggy bed and sing "You'll Be In My Heart" to him every night. It was quite a comfort to me as well.
💛💛💛
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Date: 2016-09-11 03:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-09-11 03:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-09-10 11:03 pm (UTC)We call it the "final kindness" when putting down an animal; it helps, a little, to remind us that we're doing our best for a beloved, suffering friend.
I'd make her comfortable, spoil her rotten and spend whatever time with her you can for as long as you think reasonable, and then pay her that loving, final kindness. I'm certain you've given her a good life; giving her a good death, no matter how heartbreaking, is also right. *huge big hugs*
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Date: 2016-09-11 03:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-09-10 11:31 pm (UTC)I faced a similar issue with a beloved cat -- 14 years old when she developed cancer. In the end, I did not put her through chemo. As you say, animals can't know the purpose or goal of extreme medication; they can't make informed choices about what they might want. All they know is that they are sick and in pain. I felt that giving my cat chemo would have been something I would have done for my sake, not for hers (the vet said we could buy her perhaps six more months, and I thought, what good would six months be if they are filled with scary vet visits and side effects?) So I elected to let her go while she was still feeling pretty good.
Still, putting her down was very painful, and I have had caring friends who have made the opposite decision: they've given their pet chemo, and the pet came through it well, and there was over a year of happy life added.
So I don't want to try to push you in one direction or the other; everyone has to do what they think best, and each animal's situation is different.
But I'll be thinking of you.
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Date: 2016-09-11 03:57 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2016-09-11 04:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-09-11 04:06 am (UTC)I agree with you that chemo will only make her suffer more. Enjoy her, spoil her and be there for her.
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Date: 2016-09-11 04:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-09-11 04:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-09-11 04:05 pm (UTC)