Tumour

[cuddlepop]

Connie,my beautiful 12 year old collie has terminal cancer and today the vet told us she has a few months left.
In January she had a growth removed from her side which was very nasty.Unfortunatly Alan never managed to get it all out and its returned with avengence.Its unbelievable how fast this thing is growing.to look at her you'd think she was fine,all that gives it away is her scratching her side.

Decisions have to be made and to be very honest I've never had to do this before.
Connie's not in pain at present,the tumour has not broken through the skin and ulcerated,so we wait.

Has anyone had to go through something similar and how did you cope.

To lose my mum in March was bad eneogh but to lose Connie too is going to hurt like hell.

[KCI]

I am so sorry to hear about Connie.

It's so hard, to hear news like that. Our pets are family, often like children to us, and this is the news we all dread hearing.

Our old cat was in her 20's when she died. We had been told that she had growths in her ears, but because of her age, they couldn't do anything, but they might spread. They said she wasn't in much pain, so we left her for a while, as I couldn't bear to lose her.
After a while, she really began to suffer, and when I called the vet, they said she would need to be put to sleep, as she was suffering.
It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, and I was so upset for months after. I felt so guilty for letting them put her to sleep, but after a while, I realised that it was the best thing for her. I had looked after her for so many years, and this was the last thing I could do to take her of her.

You always do the best you can for your animals, and I am sure they know how much we care.

I don't have any advice for you I'm afraid - I wish I did. I will be thinking of you all, because I know how hard it is.

[cuddlepop]

I am so sorry to hear about Connie.

It's so hard, to hear news like that. Our pets are family, often like children to us, and this is the news we all dread hearing.

Our old cat was in her 20's when she died. We had been told that she had growths in her ears, but because of her age, they couldn't do anything, but they might spread. They said she wasn't in much pain, so we left her for a while, as I couldn't bear to lose her.
After a while, she really began to suffer, and when I called the vet, they said she would need to be put to sleep, as she was suffering.
It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, and I was so upset for months after. I felt so guilty for letting them put her to sleep, but after a while, I realised that it was the best thing for her. I had looked after her for so many years, and this was the last thing I could do to take her of her.

You always do the best you can for your animals, and I am sure they know how much we care.

I don't have any advice for you I'm afraid - I wish I did. I will be thinking of you all, because I know how hard it is.

It is unbearably hard KCI.
I woke 17 years ago to find my last collie dead in the porch,he was only 5 and the vet suspected he'd eat poison of some sorts.It was a gradual decline with him refusing his food and then water,
In the end the only way he would drink is if you took him to the river and through stones for him to catch.
Just now the old girl is sunnying herself in the back garden after finishing off fresh kidney for her tea.I must love her as the smell of that cooking is revolting.

We want to be able to take her back up to her favourite beaches in caithness but arent due to come up till September
will have to decide if we can make a weekend of it soon.

Thank you Torvaig for your kind words.

[carasmam]

Aah Cuddlepop, I have no words of advice I'm afraid. You, your family and Connie have been through the mill lately. I am thinking of you and of course the healing light is always pointed in your direction. I know you will make the most of every day with her and a collie couldn't ask for a better person to spend her time with.
Lots of {{hugs}} to you and Connie x

[cuddlepop]

Aah Cuddlepop, I have no words of advice I'm afraid. You, your family and Connie have been through the mill lately. I am thinking of you and of course the healing light is always pointed in your direction. I know you will make the most of every day with her and a collie couldn't ask for a better person to spend her time with.
Lots of {{hugs}} to you and Connie x

Thank you Carasman .Connie's not just a dog she's part of our family and this feels so painfull but like Liz said maybe the vets wrong and its benign.
Maybe i'll get a miracle too.

[carasmam]

Thank you Carasman .Connie's not just a dog she's part of our family and this feels so painfull but like Liz said maybe the vets wrong and its benign.
Maybe i'll get a miracle too.

I do hope so. And I know she's not just a dog, they are our bairns. (and your due a miracle )

[Fran]

cuddlepop, I am so saddened to hear about connie so soon after losing your mum. Its a pity animals cant have chemotherapy like humans to shrink a tumour. The best you can do is enjoy the time you have left together and this will give you great memories after she has gone. Go places together, take photoes, cuddle her a lot, tell her you love her and what a great pet she has been. A bit like you would be with a terminally ill loved human. Make the most of this precious time. She obviously knows there is something wrong with her, they are so intelligent.
I am thinking of you and sending lots of hugs x

[binbob]

cuddlepop, I am so saddened to hear about connie so soon after losing your mum. Its a pity animals cant have chemotherapy like humans to shrink a tumour. The best you can do is enjoy the time you have left together and this will give you great memories after she has gone. Go places together, take photoes, cuddle her a lot, tell her you love her and what a great pet she has been. A bit like you would be with a terminally ill loved human. Make the most of this precious time. She obviously knows there is something wrong with her, they are so intelligent.
I am thinking of you and sending lots of hugs x

hi fran..actually ,dogs can have chemo....it is the cost that could be the stumbling block,might be worth asking though,cuddlepop.

[cuddlepop]

Thank you all for your kind words.

chemo would just be too expensive and even if I could afford it I'm not sure I could put her through all the side effects.
Our other dog who we've only had to stay for a year is very close to her and i'm sure between them they know somethings up.This younger dog just doesnt like it when we split them up.

Its been wonderful these past few weeks and the pair of thenm have been swimming down at the beach in Glen brittle.....I've some beautiful memorys allready.

Going to get my friend to do a charcoal drawing of her asap.She has this talent for capturing the true personality of the subject that a photo cant.

[jean]

one of my dogs recently had a cancer scare.. it turned out to be negative thank doG, but I did consider chemo. what put me off was that for my dogs type of tumour, had it been pos it would not have cured the cancer just delayed things. it would only have bought months.
I was prepared to treat him palliatively , for comfort until the time came for him to be put to sleep.
He also would have had to go to edinburgh,. I work full time and would find it impossible getting time off for this.
they say dogs dont suffer like humans with chemo they dont loose their fur just sometimes their whiskers they dont tend to vomit. It affects them differently from humans. Or maybe they suffer in different ways that we cant detect?
anyway I had made my choice and I was so relieved that it didnt come to that.
Im thinking of you as I know exactly worried you are. Rolo is only 3. too young to die, I was distraught, perhaps you will get a wee miracle too.
My thoughts are with you ((hugs))
x jean.

[cuddlepop]

one of my dogs recently had a cancer scare.. it turned out to be negative thank doG, but I did consider chemo. what put me off was that for my dogs type of tumour, had it been pos it would not have cured the cancer just delayed things. it would only have bought months.
I was prepared to treat him palliatively , for comfort until the time came for him to be put to sleep.
He also would have had to go to edinburgh,. I work full time and would find it impossible getting time off for this.
they say dogs dont suffer like humans with chemo they dont loose their fur just sometimes their whiskers they dont tend to vomit. It affects them differently from humans. Or maybe they suffer in different ways that we cant detect?
anyway I had made my choice and I was so relieved that it didnt come to that.
Im thinking of you as I know exactly worried you are. Rolo is only 3. too young to die, I was distraught, perhaps you will get a wee miracle too.
My thoughts are with you ((hugs))
x jean.

today hasnt been a good day as Connie has ,when she thinks no ones looking, biting at her fur where those nasty lumps are.
The skins sore ,hot and red now.In the space of 3 days these lumps are harder and reder.
Vet hoped it would be a while before we needed the topical cream but it looks like we'll be visiting Tuesday.
I'm so glad your dog had a false alarm jean.
Thanks for the hugs .

[kriklah]

May seem an odd request however......

I believe we should all take a moment of silence on the org at 11am out of respect for cuddlepop and Connie. Anyone following the thread on the pets corner will understand what a heartbreaking time it will be for them and their family.

All our thoughts are with you today cuddlepop

XXXXXXX

[Kevin Milkins]

For sure
God bless you both.

[TBH]

Can we extend that and have a moments silence for the 278 British Troops killed so far in Afghanistan and Iraq.

[cuddlepop]

May seem an odd request however......

I believe we should all take a moment of silence on the org at 11am out of respect for cuddlepop and Connie. Anyone following the thread on the pets corner will understand what a heartbreaking time it will be for them and their family.

All our thoughts are with you today cuddlepop

XXXXXXX

Thank you for such a lovely thought.
Thats how I feel now because it hurts so much that Connies gone but Know Connie is free from pain.

[teenybash]

Each tear shed is a tear of healing for yourself and your family.............Your beautiful giving little Connie will be resting quietly in the world of spirit till she too has healed...............Bless you all........................

[poppett]

"Memories have a special way of holding friends together, so memories of the times you shared will stay in your heart for ever"

For "Connie" the pain is past, for poor Cuddlepop the grief is just beginning.

Thinking of you and your family at this sad time.

[ciderally]

thinking of you all at this sad sad time....