Good news and bad news

[carriej22]

Hi Folks,

Well I have good news and bad news.. I will go for the good news first.

Good news is; I am down to 2.5mg pred and doing alright. Still sore some days; but really not too bad. I can breathe and all the important things work; just tired and sore feet sometimes. After this month; my bloodwork will only be once a month. WOO HOOTIE! How exciting is that?

Now, for the bad news. Awful, terrible news...

My sweet dog Freeman has been diagnosed with osteosarcoma (bone cancer) and I am heart broken. He spent all this time keeping me company and now I soon have to say goodbye to him too. My heart is so broken; and I don't know what I'm going to do. I just hate the world right now; and it is so unfair. He is 8 years old, and we thought for sure we would get to enjoy at minimum another 2-4 years with him, if not more. Span is 12-14... So I'm even assuming on the low end.

You know, I have been through so much crap I really thought something good was going to happen. This was the absolute last thing I was expecting and I am so angry that I can't help him.

Here is his sweet face. My god I am going to miss him so much :(... I have cried so much the past two weeks; I am questioning my sanity.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v709/zygirl22/ReefStuffs/IMG_0131_zps9cc510fc.jpg

[whatthewhat]

Oh, those sweet eyes! I am so very sorry, Carrie :sad:

[NikkiNicole]

Oh my heart goes out to you. My little Loki kept me such good company through the beginning of all this. Dogs, well animals in general actually, are better friends than people ever will be/ There's a completely different bond there.
Sending all my love and prayers and hugs your way!!!!!

[marylz]

He does look like such a sweetie! Sorry Carrie!

[annekat]

Carrie, I'm glad your WG news is so good, but so very sorry to hear the news about your beloved Freeman. He's a beautiful dog and his sweetness comes through in the photo. I hope he is not in much pain and when the time comes, it will end whatever suffering he is enduring. Unfortunately, it will not end YOUR suffering and grief. My thoughts and prayers will be with you both.

[carriej22]

I am just so angry and heart broken. I wish I could fix him; but it's just not feasible. Animals hide their pain, and by the time they end up showing pain it's generally too late and the cancer usually spreads. My poor, sweet, noble and gentle boy does not deserve this. I am so heartbroken for me, and him.

[zizzcat]

I'm so sorry to hear about your pup. Mine have been and are so loyal and such good company when I am sick. They also keep me going because I need to feed them and take them outside.

My prayers and thoughts are with you.

Hope.

[mishb]

It really is a terrible thing to see happen and a worse thing, to have to make a decision on when or how to ease the pain of someone you love.......especially a much loved family member. I wish we could all have a magic wand for such situations.

I believe that now Freeman knows that he doesn't have to watch over you, every minute of the day, that he will be ready to go to sleep peacefully knowing that you will be alright. That doesn't mean that it will be any easier for you and my heart is aching for the three of you.

On another note - Congratulations on getting to 2.5 of pred. That is a wonderful effort, considering where we saw you 12 months ago.
I have been trying to get to 2.5 for the last 6 months (and the drop was only from 5), but I can't seem to make it past 3mg.

I pray for you to have the strength to get through these next few days/weeks. It will be very hard and I am glad that you have Eric to support you and your cats and the aquariums, to help you find some inner peace. Please know, that you and Freeman will be in our thoughts and he will forever remain in your heart.

Give him some big, gentle, hugs from all of us.

[chrisTIn@]

I am just so angry and heart broken. I wish I could fix him; but it's just not feasible. Animals hide their pain....

Your dog is beautifull, and has very sweet eyes indeed...
I can understand what you're going through, I lost my 'West Highland White' Terrier Humphrey a few years ago, he also had cancer that took him away from us quite soon.

The love of an animal, especially a dog that's your best friend, means so very much!
Wishing you a lot of strength.

Hugs and gentil kisses for Freeman. :hug2:

[Alysia]

Dear Carrie,
my heart is with you. last year we lost our cat "blue". it was very painfull. we burried him in a wild place where he liked to escape to. I told him: "now you are free". my little son said: "we will miss you". we all cried. it is still bringing tears in my eyes. even now. your's dear Freeman will be free. from suffering. from pain. he will go when he knows how much you love him. he was gifted.
Im sending you big hug :hug2:

[BookNut]

I am so very sorry to read your news. Have you thought of taking him for a second opinion? I have a friend whose dog was diagnosed as having cancer, but another doctor said no - and he was right. Just a thought. If you do have to eventually make the hard choice - I have another friend whose vet came to the home to euthanize her dog, so he could pass on in familiar, non-scary, surroundings.

Again - I am so sorry. I know how hard this is, having lost our 4 kitties to old age in the past few years. It is so hard - even if they have lived their full life-span.

[Debbie C]

Carrie, I'm happy for you on the pred thing but so sorry for you to hear about your dog.I know how hard it is,I had a German Shepard that had cancer and I spent ALOT of money on her surguries and meds and she was fine but it came back again and the vet said there was nothing to do this time. I had her 15 yrs and I can still see her face when they had to put her down.She is now buried in my back yard with a flower garden around her and I still go back there and say Hi to her. Just love her alot while she's with you that's all you can do.:sad:

[rebekah]

I’m so sorry to hear about your poor puppy, Carrie. He looks so precious in that picture you shared. A few weeks ago my cat passed away, he had cancer too. It’s so hard because pets become part of the family. I know it is hard, but I hope you can spend some quality time with him while he's still here.

I know it doesn’t make things better, but I’m glad to hear you’re down to 2.5mg Prednisone.

[carriej22]

Thanks guys. Means a lot to me. I have no children, so the pets are it... Oh what I wouldn't do to save him.

We had several different vets look at the X-ray. It's on the head of the femur bone where it hooks into the hip socket on the left back leg. 25% of greyhounds die from bone cancer; but you hear it in older dogs.. 12+... Sometimes 10. But rarely 8. I am so mad at the world. Why take such a beautiful soul from me... :(

[BrianR]

So sorry to hear this Carrie.

I know how you must be feeling as Marta and I had to put our black lab, Ben, down when he contracted cancer. He too was only 8. It was very hard for us but was the best thing for him. We had the vet come to our house so we could be with him when he went for the big sleep. I am not sure if you have this option or not but if you do, you may want to consider it.

I took Ben, all 75 lbs. of him, (35 kilos) to a remote location in the forest where we would often run together. I spent about two hours digging a hole under a spruce tree for him. At one point the shovel hit a rock and jarred my shoulder. To this day I still get the odd jabbing pain in my shoulder and am of course reminded of my buddy Ben who ran hundreds of miles with me on the trails through these mountains.

You will have wonderful memories of your big buddy and please know that we are thinking of you.

[annekat]

All these posts about losing animal companions bring tears to my eyes. I've been through it with several cats, who are also buried on my property. Having them with us in the first place comes with such a high cost eventually. I also worry about what will happen to them if I go first. But there are so many that need us, and we need them! In any case, Carrie and Eric, and anyone else having to lose a beloved pet this way, my heart is with you.

[Debbie C]

My vet mentioned to me they used to come to peoples homes so put their animals to sleep but no it is illegal to do because some lady vet in S.C. I believe he said, brought the medicine home and killed her husband with it. I thought that was pretty funny ( in a sick way !n ) but I don't know if it is legal in all states.

[annekat]

My vet mentioned to me they used to come to peoples homes so put their animals to sleep but no it is illegal to do because some lady vet in S.C. I believe he said, brought the medicine home and killed her husband with it. I thought that was pretty funny ( in a sick way !n ) but I don't know if it is legal in all states. That sounds crazy. I would think the lady vet could bring home the medicine anyway and kill her husband with it, whether bringing it home was legal or not. I guess I'll do a little research on this. To me, having the vet come to the home seems the most ideal, and I've heard of vets who do housecalls for other things, too, not just for euthanasia.

[annekat]

Did a quick search.... home euthanasia by vets is available in my area and I found a recent article about one in SC who does it, too. There were also some items about pet owners, non-vets, acquiring the drugs or whatever methods to do it themselves... I did not spend much time on that because it creeped me out, but am wondering if that's where some of the controversy would be, possibly making that illegal in some areas. Maybe someone knows more.....

[Marilyn]

I'm so sorry about your dog. I have 2 and I wouldn't be able to stand what your going through. I am praying for you now. Marilyn

[HopeinTN]

I'm happy for your good health! That's so sad about your sweet Freeman. I can't imagine how I will deal with it down the road. My sweet Scott is 12 and I know we can't have them forever. Try and focus on the good memories and how he made your life better if only for a short time. You are his everything too and he's lucky to have had you!

Hugs your way!

[drz]

I think only a pet owner can appreciate the loss of losing a pet that has been your friend for years. Sorry to hear about your friend's cancer.:sad: