Pray for my dog? *Pictures/update #30*

[LoveIsGentle]

We just lost our other dog before Christmas, and now our other dog is going downhill fast. She had a clean bill of health at her normal checkup at the end of March. At the end of April, we took her back to the vet because she had a huge lump on her side, was barely getting around, and just acting miserable. All of her bloodwork was completely normal, except her ALP level, which was off the charts. The vet was very vague. He said he thought it might indicate a liver blockage, and all we could do was wait.

She's just gotten worse. Her breathing is labored, she can barely make it outside, and she's lost a ridiculous amount of weight from hardly eating. She's been living with my parents because we're in an apartment, but we brought her back with us over the weekend, and I couldn't believe how bad she had gotten. :(

She goes back to the vet (a different one) this afternoon. We need to make decisions. Either they can give us definite answers and a way to fix it, or we'll likely be putting her to sleep soon. I'm sad.

[3PeasInAPod]

:hugheart:pray4

[MudPies]

:pray4

[mamamonkey]

Oh Sarah, I am so sorry. :hug :pray4

[KLin]

:pray4praying:pray4

[Llee]

Oh hon, so sorry.


Lots of :hug and :pray2 your way.

[Amber]

:hugheart How did the appointment go?

[LoveIsGentle]

This vet seemed to think all of her problems are completely unrelated to her liver. She has no obvious signs of liver problems. He also discovered two of her legs are swollen and she has a fever. He guessed possible Lyme disease (which seems unlikely to me, since she hasn't really been around areas with ticks lately), but also based on her breathing, guessed the main problem was something in her chest cavity (which still doesn't sound good). They kept Roxy overnight to give her antibiotics and do x-rays and bloodwork. I'm supposed to call back tomorrow morning to go get her and hopefully get some results.

I just want answers. I don't want bad news, but I'd rather know one way or the other instead of being stuck in limbo.

[LoveIsGentle]

This morning, they're saying they have two possibilities in mind, based on how bad her chest sounds. They think it's either a chest tumor or a diaphragmatic hernia, causing her organs to be pushed up into her chest cavity. They're doing an ultrasound this morning, hopefully with results this afternoon. I'm hoping for the best, trying to prepare for the worst.

[domesticzookeeper]

:pray4 :hugheart

[graceandmercy]

:hugheart and :pray4

[Amber]

:pray4

[LoveIsGentle]

It's a massive tumor in her chest cavity. :( I brought her home tonight. She barely made it in the door. When dh is home tonight, we're going to make a final decision, though it's a matter of WHEN, not IF, we'll be putting her to sleep. The vet said (and I agree) that it will likely need to be in the next day or two.

:cry

She's laying here, wagging like crazy whenever I look down at her or pet her, but that's all she can manage.

[domesticzookeeper]

I'm so, so sorry :bheart :hugheart

[DoulaClara]

:pray4

[DolphinMemae]

:hugheart and :pray4

we faced a very similar situation w/ our kitty not long ago. I'm so sorry.

[curlymopmom]

:cry I'm so sorry. :hugheart :pray4 for peace.

[Amber]

I'm sorry :hugheart

[Llee]

:pray2 for your peace and heart. And feel free to share some pics with us. :hug

[LoveIsGentle]

Thank you everyone. I'm having a harder time today than I thought I was going to. I need to make the call this morning and get her in this afternoon. She can barely walk more than a couple feet without having to lay down and was up all night gasping for air. :cry It was such a dramatic difference in two days time. My husband piled up blankets and slept with her on the ground all night, and her breathing was a little better when he was there. I don't want to do this, but I know it's time. DH bought her for me a few months after we started dating, so we've had her all nine years we've been together.

I'll try to share pictures tonight or tomorrow. I appreciate all the prayers.

[curlymopmom]

:hugheart Oh, hun. I am in tears for you. It is so hard to lose our pets. They are part of the family. :pray4 for you today.

[Amber]

:hugheart

[LoveIsGentle]

We go in tomorrow at 4:00. :cry

[Llee]

:hug

[LoveIsGentle]

:mad A truck from a remodeling company just showed up to repair our neighbor's roof, parked his truck directly behind my car, and disappeared. I can't get out. DH is coming home to take ds1 to a friend's house, but if I can't track these people down and get them to move, I can't go with Roxy when she's put to sleep. Ds2's car seat doesn't fit properly in dh's truck.

I know this is silly, but would you please pray they move their truck in time? We're supposed to leave in about half an hour. I really need to be there for my dog.

[Llee]

Father, help them to get their truck MOVED asap. :pray2

[KLin]

:pray4

[believer]

:pray4 :hugheart I am sorry. I am praying for ya'll.
My friend Jessica is having to have her dog put to sleep today too. He did something and injured himself the night before last - slipped disc - and they could do surgery for around $5000 and it still might not help and he is more likely to get reinjured. She is so sad today.

[sweetpeasmommy]

:pray4

[LoveIsGentle]

Thank you everyone. We finally got the truck to move just in time. It was peaceful and quick. She was really bad off today...it was time, but so hard to watch her wag like crazy at us just before they put her to sleep. The house feels lonely. :(

A few pictures...

http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/busymama04/roxy1-1.jpg
When we first got her

http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/busymama04/6roxy-1.jpg
She never quite grew into her legs...or any other part of her body ;)

http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/busymama04/IMG_1314.jpg
Taken last week when she was doing a little better

http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/busymama04/IMG_1582.jpg
Sleeping by ds1's bed this morning...you can really see the tumor on her side :(

And on the lighthearted side, we affectionately referred to Roxy as the "Original Simple Dog"... http:// hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/07/dog.html . She was this cartoon through and through. Loyal and sweet, but not exactly brilliant. A lovable klutz. ;)

[Llee]

She is such a sweetheart. And how is it that those fluffy balls become such big dogs?!?

:ty2 for sharing her with us.

[Amber]

:hugheart I'm so sorry. It really hurts to let our furry ones go, they are truly a part of our family :hugheart

[curlymopmom]

:cry Thank you for sharing with us. She looks so loveable. I'm so glad you got to be there. :hugheart I'm a stupid crying mess over here for you! :-/ :hugheart :pray4

[DolphinMemae]

(I must confess, I couldn't bring myself to look at the photos) my heart goes out to you. It takes time to grieve the loss of our dear family members with four feet - give yourself time to heal. :heart:pray4:heart

[Damselfly]

:hugheart She looks really sweet. I'm sorry for your loss.

[LoveIsGentle]

Thank you so much everyone. :heart

[3PeasInAPod]

she looks like a sweetheart. I'm so sorry! :heart

[Michellecmf]

I'm so sorry! Praying for you & your family.