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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 39. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dinah on August 18, 2006, at 17:13:01
My little puppy is likely dying. And I have to decide whether to spend a fair portion of my post tax yearly income trying to find out why. Or on the slim chance she's not.
It's so d*mn sad. She's only two.
Life's just not fair.
Posted by Racer on August 18, 2006, at 17:52:45
In reply to Bad news, posted by Dinah on August 18, 2006, at 17:13:01
You have my heartfelt sympathy, Dinah.
Posted by Glydin on August 18, 2006, at 18:09:41
In reply to I'm so sorry to hear that » Dinah, posted by Racer on August 18, 2006, at 17:52:45
I'm so very sorry.
Posted by Phillipa on August 18, 2006, at 20:13:07
In reply to Dinah, posted by Glydin on August 18, 2006, at 18:09:41
Oh no!!!!!Love Phillipa
Posted by wildcardII on August 18, 2006, at 20:23:29
In reply to Bad news, posted by Dinah on August 18, 2006, at 17:13:01
i'm so sorry Dinah. we're here for you xoxoxo
Posted by wishingstar on August 18, 2006, at 21:08:00
In reply to Bad news, posted by Dinah on August 18, 2006, at 17:13:01
Dinah, I'm so sorry. I lost both of my dogs a few years back and even though they were old, it is so hard. They become like family. I hope the vets are wrong and your little puppy is okay. Thinking of you.
Posted by finelinebob on August 18, 2006, at 21:40:31
In reply to Bad news, posted by Dinah on August 18, 2006, at 17:13:01
Posted by llrrrpp on August 18, 2006, at 22:44:37
In reply to Bad news, posted by Dinah on August 18, 2006, at 17:13:01
Dinah,
that's so sad. I'm so sorry-- I hope that the vet is wrong. I really do. Did the vet tell you what the possibilities are? Anything about the statistics? Well, it's a gut-wrenching decision, even with the best information out there.I guess in the end, we just want our loved ones to live a good life. Satisfied with walks in the park, a human friend to scratch behind the ears, and a nice bone to gnaw on. It's not fair that your pup only got 2 years of this kind of love.
hugs to you and your family...
-ll
Posted by Fallsfall on August 18, 2006, at 23:22:42
In reply to Bad news, posted by Dinah on August 18, 2006, at 17:13:01
No, life isn't fair.
Give her a hug and a kiss from me.
Posted by ClearSkies on August 18, 2006, at 23:46:13
In reply to Bad news, posted by Dinah on August 18, 2006, at 17:13:01
Posted by NikkiT2 on August 19, 2006, at 2:14:06
In reply to Bad news, posted by Dinah on August 18, 2006, at 17:13:01
Oh hun..
All I can say.. for you and for me.. is 2007 *will* be so much better than 2006..
nikki xx
Posted by Dinah on August 19, 2006, at 9:06:20
In reply to Re: Bad news » Dinah, posted by NikkiT2 on August 19, 2006, at 2:14:06
Best guess is necrotizing meningoencephalitis.
Part of her brain tissue is already dead, and more is dying. Even with treatment maximum life from first symptoms is six months. She's clearly already got significant brain tissue loss so less than that.
Most of the other possibilities have similarly poor prognosis.
There's a small chance it is something they can fix, although the present brain damage wouldn't be fixable, from all I can tell.
Also, she's got a serious heart problem that may interfere with the treatment. That one we knew about, and we took her in knowing she wouldn't have a very long life. But we didn't think this short, or this way.
I'm trying to fight the impulse to do the testing. I don't think it's a wise choice to test, but it's the one I want to make.
Thanks for the hugs everyone. I welcome them and I'll also pass them along to the little princess, and to my son and husband.
I'll miss her. She is such a sweetie. She's always flirted with my husband, who is not all that fond of the dogs, and has him wrapped around her little paw. It's fun to watch. She does the play bow, and then when he smiles, she looks to the side until he looks away and then she play bows again. Then she'll come close and spin in a circle before letting him pet her. But she sleeps right by his side.
Posted by wildcardII on August 19, 2006, at 10:28:38
In reply to Re: Bad news, posted by Dinah on August 19, 2006, at 9:06:20
losing a pet is losing part of your family. it hurts and takes time to grieve also. but always remember people love you and are here to support you. make these days the best you can xoxoxox
Posted by llrrrpp on August 19, 2006, at 10:44:10
In reply to Re: Bad news, posted by Dinah on August 19, 2006, at 9:06:20
Aww! She sounds like such a sweet doggy :)
I'm so sorry to hear about her prognosis.I really don't want this to stress you out, but I just want to find out where you are at this point.
What are the pros and cons of further treatment & tests? Are they stressful or painful for your doggy (or for you?) Are they really expensive? I'm guessing that brain surgery on a dog does not come cheaply.
Well, whatever you decide, I hope that you can enjoy the time you have left. Especially when I hear about her heart defect, I know that this dog is very lucky to have such a loving family.
We had to put our cat down, and it was really really sad. We felt better about it, though, because she had a happy life with us. She was fed, and loved, and had a nice place to live. If we hadn't taken care of her, well- bad things happen to abandoned kittens. Our intervention in her life is much more than the decision at the end-- it's the story about her whole life. No matter how hard these decisions are, (when there are no 'right' answers), you've already made the most important decision. That was the decision to give her two wonderful years as part of your family.
hugs for your family and a belly rub for your doggie.
-ll
Posted by Dinah on August 19, 2006, at 11:59:41
In reply to Re: Bad news » Dinah, posted by llrrrpp on August 19, 2006, at 10:44:10
If it's any of the things they think most likely, all there is is prednisone treatment that won't significantly extend her life, but will make her life good enough to be worth living for longer.
The tests won't hurt her. They'll do some tests on her heart and some bloodwork to make sure that she can take anasthesia, then do an MRI and depending on the findings, a spinal fluid tap.
It'll run about $3000.
My thought is that it probably shouldn't be done, and we should just be happy that she had as long as she did with us, and make her as comfortable as possible for as long as possible, and pamper her enough for a lifetime.
But it's kind of against the grain for me to be so reasonable.
Posted by Dinah on August 19, 2006, at 12:03:30
In reply to Remember those good times » Dinah, posted by wildcardII on August 19, 2006, at 10:28:38
Thanks Wildcard. The funny thing is that we took her in knowing she wouldn't live a long life because of the heart, and I've tried to keep that in mind and not get too attached to her. All along I've reminded my son that we just need to enjoy her while she's here, and be happy that she has a good home with us.
Easier said than done though.
My vet thinks I'm nuts, I think. I've always had a soft spot for the wounded little critters.
Posted by wildcardII on August 19, 2006, at 12:16:09
In reply to Re: Remember those good times » wildcardII, posted by Dinah on August 19, 2006, at 12:03:30
i have accumulated about 10 cats that i feed every day that are not mine, just strays...i have 6 of my own but only one inside kitty (potty trained). i just can't see them hungry. having a soft spot is having a good heart and i know that your puppy appreciates having ya'll love her. i know it hurts you right now to see your 'child' sick but she got the chance to be loved and that's the most wonderful thing...xoxox
Posted by annierose on August 19, 2006, at 14:05:34
In reply to Re: Bad news, posted by Dinah on August 19, 2006, at 9:06:20
So sad Dinah. It's just not fair. Not one bit.
Posted by rainbutterfly on August 19, 2006, at 14:23:25
In reply to Bad news, posted by Dinah on August 18, 2006, at 17:13:01
:o( ((((((Dinah and puppy))))))
Posted by finelinebob on August 19, 2006, at 14:53:48
In reply to Re: Remember those good times » wildcardII, posted by Dinah on August 19, 2006, at 12:03:30
It's so hard for me to post, because this just cuts too close to the bone, twice. Even given a "full life" we live so much longer than our pets, which led someone to say "dogs are born to die" -- a stark truth, really about all of us, but a truth we have to face several times if we cannot live without the company of our furry friends.
You're right -- the best you can do is love your dog as much as you can in the time she has left.
I adopted a puppy from the ASPCA, who supposedly had given all their animals up for adoption thorough medical exams. She died five days after I got her. For the first three days she had so much fun -- we spent a lot of time in Central Park and she got to do so many things dogs should be able to do that she probably never had the opportunity to do before. The last two days ... well, I don't want to describe them. But after she passed and I was having so much trouble dealing with the grief I had for a dog I'd known for five days, a very wise person reminded me that instead of dying in some anonymous cage, I gave her a home and a lifetime of love in just five days. Realizing the truth of that was the only comfort that mattered.
In the second case, well, some I hardly knew from the dog run gave me a picture he had taken of my dog and a copy of the Rainbow Bridge. If you don't know that story, your can find it at http://www.petloss.com/poems/maingrp/rainbowb.htm
One more resource that I found to be a great source of healing is this book: "Goodbye, Dear Friend: Coming to Terms with the Death of a Pet" by Virginia Ironside. It's sappy, it's light, it's just the sort of stuff I needed to lift a heavy heart.
'Nuff said. I'm going to go give my Leyna a hug for you and yours ... it's her fifth birthday today, and she needs to be told (again) how special and important and loved she is.
Posted by Dinah on August 19, 2006, at 18:24:50
In reply to Re: Remember those good times, posted by finelinebob on August 19, 2006, at 14:53:48
A very happy birthday to Leyna!
You had a very wise friend, I think. I'm very sorry you had to experience the pain, but it was a wonderful gift you gave to that dog.
As the shock wears off a bit, I'm starting to think more how fortunate we've been to have her in our lives for however brief a time it will be. She brought so many smiles, and opened my husband's heart a bit wider to joy.
Posted by Phillipa on August 19, 2006, at 19:17:41
In reply to Re: Remember those good times » finelinebob, posted by Dinah on August 19, 2006, at 18:24:50
I have two urns in my bedside table one for Brandy the othe Sheeba they will be buried with me. My final request. The love they gave to me I can take over the Rainbow's Bridge. I had that poem on my wall in the other house with their pic. Only now 3 and 2 years later am I grieving them. Love Phillipa
Posted by Gabbi~G~ on August 19, 2006, at 23:02:50
In reply to Bad news, posted by Dinah on August 18, 2006, at 17:13:01
oh no.
oh no.
Dinah, I'm so sorry.
Posted by Poet on August 20, 2006, at 0:32:05
In reply to Bad news, posted by Dinah on August 18, 2006, at 17:13:01
Oh, Dinah, I am so sorry. I am the same way with pets, I would never spend that kind of money on myself, but I'd remortgage the house for one of the cats.
I am surrounding you and your puppy with the white light of healing.
(((((((Dinah & Pup)))))))))
Poet
Posted by All Done on August 20, 2006, at 1:59:01
In reply to Re: Bad news, posted by Dinah on August 19, 2006, at 9:06:20
I'm so sorry, (((Dinah))). She sounds like such a wonderful dog.
It seems her purpose in life is to open your husband's heart to the love of an adorable furry one. And she's doing quite a job.
I'm glad you found each other, even if only for a (too) short while.
Hugs,
Laurie
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