almost 10 yo Fem Rottie, probably cancer

[Kev]

Hi all,

I haven't posted her much but read all the time. Marley will be 10 in August and yesterday we had her at the vet because she has developed a lump on neck she is/was having much pain in walking. What is going on is this tumor in pushing on the nerves on her left side. The vet gave her a shot to reduce the swelling which seemed to work for now and a prescription for codeine. He took fluid sample and has sent them off to a pathologist and we will have the result back on Friday. We he looked at the cells in the samples he said it didn't look good.

Maybe I'm jumping the gun a bit as the results aren't back yet but I have the feeling there not going to be good. My wife and I talked last night and we decided that we don't want to put her through treatment that will probably not do much good. I know it going to come to having her put to sleep but I have never had to make this type of decision before and I don't know what to do or when to do it. We rescued her 9 years ago from her abusive owners and she has had 9 very good and happy years with us and I am having a hard time with all this she has never really be sick before. Any thoughts would be great.

[observer]

I'm so sorry to hear this. Assuming that the news is what you expect and dread, know that there have been so many here who have been through what you are going through. There are some threads that you can look at that will help.

http://www.rottweiler.net/forums/vet...decisions.html

http://www.rottweiler.net/forums/vet...-dog-down.html

Rotties are very stoic dogs and eager to be with us and please us, so they don't show the pain they are really in. She has always trusted you to take care of her and do what is best for her. She has no sense of time, so she doesn't think, "maybe I will feel better tomorrow". Dogs live in the here and now.

Love her, spoil her, take some pictures, make some lovely memories, and when it is time, let her keep her dignity and go to the Bridge in the place she has always felt safest.... in your arms. You have given her a wonderful life, and she has returned that gift tenfold. Letting our beloved ones escape their pain is the one time we come close to showing them the selfless love they show us every day.

[Kev]

We just got the results from the pathologist, Marley has thyroid cancer, the vet said it is very aggressive and has probably already spread to her lungs.He says that if we do nothing but keep giving her the prednisone and a stronger pain killer as he said codeine will not be enough, she may last a week.

My wife and I can not ask her to bare this pain so we can have her longer. It's not fair to her. Even though this is going to kill us we have the last appointment for tomorrow to have her put to sleep so she won't have to suffer anymore that she has. God am I going to miss her but I can watch her suffer just because I don't want to loose her.

[BabyBrownz]

My heart goes out to you and your wife. Your pain will ease in time and may you find comfort knowing you did what was right for your girl and that one day you will all meet again!
Thinking of you today, tomorrow (especially) and the days ahead.

[brunie's mom]

So sorry to hear the awful news.
Make every minute count now. Take some pictures, make a paster cast of her paw, cut a lock of her hair...so you will have things to treasure of her.

Spoil her rotten...let her eat anything she wants...if she can. A cheeseburger at McD's seems to make them very happy.

Love her and enjoy your last times together.

You are doing the kindest thing, and ending her pain.

Gina

[Kev]

Thank you all very much, we ordered pizza, she loves it. My daughter and grandchildren are here to say goodbye and spoil her, not that she isn't already.

thanks again

Kevin & Julie

[AngelBunny]

I am so sorry to read your heartbreaking post, so very very sorry. Cancer takes so many of our dogs.

I am so sorry.

[Vista]

Please offer your support in the Rainbow Bridge forum:

Marley is now at the bridge