Very bad news...

Yes, I have known people to create a bucket list of all the great things they wanted to do with their dogs.
When they know time was growing shorter a sense of urgency took over.

All the fun he can safely tolerate will be great for you both... Going to the beach sounds wonderful!
I know Cindy and Gavin visit quite often. It does wonders for them both physically and mentally...

So good to hear the prednisone is working... keeping them eating is certainly high on the agenda!
Have fun, play, enjoy...
 
mmcginty said:
I almost wish my heart would stop beating when his does... in a way, it will... it might as well, it's already broken.
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I wish I had words. I am so very sorry to hear this and my heart is breaking for you. It's the price we pay for love, they say, but oh my gosh when one of our furbabies is sick or crosses the rainbow bridge, the pain is so heavy. Keeping you in my thoughts through this time.
 
Oh gosh, I am so sorry. I understand how absolutely devastating it is for this news, your heart must be breaking.
If it helps at all Deska's 'brother from another mother' had lymphoma, he was diagnosed just before his 10th birthday and with Chemo he lived another 18mths. He was very, very sick when he got the diagnosis but handled the chemo quite well..
 
mmcginty said:
Labs came back today on aspirate from a small mass on Jake's abdomen near his hind legs... he has lymphoma. Vet said prednisone could keep him comfortable for 1 - 6 months. Vet said we should have a conversation about chemo, I don't know if I want to put him through that.

I just want to pick him up and hold him all day long... but he doesn't really like that too much... I want to treat him as normally as I can, and spend the time we have left doing the things he loves the most, the beach, the dog park

I have no idea how I'm going to make it through this. Just trying to keep it together is all I can focus on. I'm "in" a work meeting at the moment because my attendance is required, but it's a facade, like a crash test dummy... or a deer in the headlights, the semi is coming but nowhere to run...

I almost wish my heart would stop beating when his does... in a way, it will... it might as well, it's already broken.
Click to expand...
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
 
Benefits to posting obsessively to SheltieNation during this time

1) we understand, many have been there, and no one will ever downplay your concerns or get bored with you talking about your dog.
2) you have a log of how Jake is doing and can loook back to see when things happened
3) people here care...we really do (as someone with some seriously long threads on Gavin.. I can attest to how responses can cheer me up!)
 
ghggp said:
I am so sorry to hear of Jake’s cancer diagnosis. I understand your reluctance to go through chemotherapy.

How old is he? My Laddie was 13 and when got his cancer diagnosis I just made him comfortable with pain relief. They said only a few months. He lasted 9 months.

I would be a basket case if I had to go to a meeting just learning of the diagnosis. Please take care and post when ever you need to. We are here for you what ever the future brings...

Nothing saddens us more than knowing our time is limited with our beloved shelties.
Click to expand...
Jake turned 10 last September.

I'm trying really hard to put the time frame out of my mind. In reality, all we ever really have is one day at a time, and each one is a gift. Grieving for him while he's here seems pointless, and it's torture... Of course, truly finding solace in those words is not as easy as saying them.

Well, the motorhome is all packed and we are off to the beach!
 
mmcginty said:
Labs came back today on aspirate from a small mass on Jake's abdomen near his hind legs... he has lymphoma. Vet said prednisone could keep him comfortable for 1 - 6 months. Vet said we should have a conversation about chemo, I don't know if I want to put him through that.

I just want to pick him up and hold him all day long... but he doesn't really like that too much... I want to treat him as normally as I can, and spend the time we have left doing the things he loves the most, the beach, the dog park

I have no idea how I'm going to make it through this. Just trying to keep it together is all I can focus on. I'm "in" a work meeting at the moment because my attendance is required, but it's a facade, like a crash test dummy... or a deer in the headlights, the semi is coming but nowhere to run...

I almost wish my heart would stop beating when his does... in a way, it will... it might as well, it's already broken.
Click to expand...
So sorry to hear this
 
I'm so sorry. But don't be scared of trying chemo if it can be used, dogs tolerated it far better than humans. A dear friend lost her sheltie boy and put him on chemo - he had another happy year and the only really noticeable side effect of the chemo was the loss of fur. Tully has actually been on chemo drugs for her IBD, although there was one she didn't tolerate. Although it can be expensive and maybe just pred is the best protocol.

You might be interested in this podcast - I just happened to be listening to it today. It's a podcast for vets and this one is on treating lymphoma. She talks about how they work out a protocols for treating lymphoma, doing it on a budget, the types of lymphoma and stats about treatment or not.
https://drandyroark.com/cone-of-shame-episode-31-the-happy-lymphoma-dog-hdytt/
 
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