When the News Is Bad It Is All Bad

tabs · 03-16-2008, 04:46 PM

Well this is a redux of my Airedale Misty. Saturday morning the new little dog threw up and you could tell as the day wore on that she was in increasing pain. So this morning I took her in to the ER Vet. The diagnoses is that she has Pancreatitis. Hopefully she will stabilize and I will get her back. I have had her for 3 weeks, and only in the last week did she start getting any fatty food. I have a hard time believing that the onset of Pancreatitis is anything so sudden?

This afternoon my friend Sandy called and told me that she has Ovarian cancer that has metastized to the Spleen. Ouuuuu...She had told me a couple of weeks ago that they found something and needed a Hysterectomy. She had a Pap-smear last year, so this has been quick. This is BAD!

The line that strikes me, is from the Johnny Cash rendition of the song "Hurt."
Everybody goes away in the end." The longer you live the more people you love and know go away and your left with the sorrow.

This morning in the ER Vet, it struck me how much people love their little creatures and the grief they feel when that beloved little creatures time is up. There were 2 people broken up opn the reef of loss this morning.

Buckterrier · 03-16-2008, 04:54 PM

I'm sorry to hear all that. It is unbelieveable how our pets enrich our lives. Non-pet people have no idea what they are missing. I loved my mother dearly but I think I had a harder time of it when my manchester terrier of 15 years had to be put down.
A prayer will go out for your friend and your friend.

Joeaksa · 03-16-2008, 05:09 PM

Tabs,

This has been a tough 6 months for us down here as well. Lost a good friend in October, WW2, Korea and VN vet. Then 29th of December lost another very close friend, VN and Gulf War vet. Just last week had another good friend "head West" and went to the funeral yesterday.

While there ran into an old friend for the first time in years and he looks terrible. He was looking about 10 years over his age (73) and how you probably feel after doing all that he did. He pulled me aside and said "To tell the truth I would almost rather be with Don right now (the friend who passed) because with the pain and such I am in most of the time its just not worth it." The two of them had been in Viet Nam together, both with the US Army then with a civilian company and been through hell and back before coming home.

There is a reason why we are here and the gent upstairs has the master plan. Wish He would give us a peak at it from time to time. Hope your pup and friend gets better and soon...

Joe

tabs · 03-16-2008, 05:14 PM

Just had a call from the Vet and Zoe is responding well. There won't be anymore table scraps in her future. I just would hate to have that little dog for 3 weeks and that would be it.

pwd72s · 03-16-2008, 05:21 PM

When I think back...all the dear friends and loved pets who have left me through death? Well, maybe that's the penance you pay for living long?

Yeah...it hurts.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Tabs,
I'm so sorry to hear this! We just got a Golden Retriever puppy 2 weeks ago and it's amazing how fast you get attached to these creatures.

RANDY P · RANDY P's Garage

Sorry to hear it Tabs...

What a crappy weekend.

rjp

speeder · 03-16-2008, 08:21 PM

Hey Tabs, sorry to hear about the scare w/ the dog and about your friend. You are right that when it rains, it pours at times. I hope that it all works out and take care of yourself.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

Aww man, sorry to hear. Hope she recovers well. I'm extremely sympathetic to people's issues with their pets - especially after the sudden and tragic loss of Charlie this past January. Follow the advice of your vet and read up, educate yourself and be there for her. All the best to you both.

911Rob · 911Rob's Garage

Sorry to hear about your bad news Tabs, your pups in good hands with a care provider like you, I wish you well.

As for Cash, I just listened to that song.
My grandpa is 93 now; he's outlived everybody he knew.
He stays happy by having things to look forward to.

Stay happy Tabs!

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

Next time get a PPI.

Just kidding, hang in there - sorry to be hearing this about your pet.

Don't let the dog suffer too much.

As hard as it might be don't get too attached, if you can help it.

You will have to decide when it's time to pull the plug, be as rational as you can.

KFC911 · 02:09 AM

That's great news Tabs, now keep that dog away from the buffet line

! I finally had to put my 14 yr old yellow lab down several days ago after a long healthy life. I don't think she ever "knew" what people food was, but she was spoiled rotten, and had me trained very well. I'm an advocate of nothing but high quality dog food for mine, imo it pays off in the long run.

gchappel · 03-17-2008, 03:00 AM

I am sorry to hear this, I wish them all good luck.
BTW, a pap smear will not detect ovarian cancer. It is a screen for cervical cancer. Ovarian is often silent until it is too late- like so many other processes.
Gary

Dottore · 03-17-2008, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tabs

Well this is a redux of my Airedale Misty. Saturday morning the new little dog threw up and you could tell as the day wore on that she was in increasing pain. So this morning I took her in to the ER Vet. The diagnoses is that she has Pancreatitis. Hopefully she will stabilize and I will get her back. I have had her for 3 weeks, and only in the last week did she start getting any fatty food. I have a hard time believing that the onset of Pancreatitis is anything so sudden?

Tabs,

Pancreatitis is very common in some breeds of small dogs. (Schnauzers etc.) Low-grade pancreatitis can usually be completely managed with a good low-fat dog food. We use Hills Prescription diet t/d – for our little guy who has had low grade pancreatitis all of his life and who does very well with it. But you absolutely must avoid giving him fatty table scraps (sausages etc) because that will kill him very quickly.

We also give him boiled chicken breast, and boiled salmon and halibut - which he loves and which have none of the bad fats.

Let me know if I can help with this. We have spent a small fortune on vets talking about the pancreatitis issue, and now have a fairly good handle on it. Bottom line: this can usually be brought under control with a strict low-fat diet.

tabs · 03-17-2008, 01:30 PM

Picked the dog up from the ER Vet this morning and transfered her to her regualr vet...She can come home tonight if all goes well.

When I picked her up at the vet do you think that dog even recognized me? She walked right past me, and when I called her she took one look at me and started whimpering with the look in her eyes that I was the one who fking tried to kill her.

The best way for me to learn a lesson is the hard way..through the wallet.

tabs · 03-17-2008, 07:06 PM

Well the little girl is home and is alert and bright...and at themoment is sleeping next to me on her doggy bed.

dtw · 03-17-2008, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tabs

Picked the dog up from the ER Vet this morning and transfered her to her regualr vet...She can come home tonight if all goes well.

When I picked her up at the vet do you think that dog even recognized me? She walked right past me, and when I called her she took one look at me and started whimpering with the look in her eyes that I was the one who fking tried to kill her.

The best way for me to learn a lesson is the hard way..through the wallet.

Heh...we had a terrier mutt that would absolutely give us hell when we picked him up from the kennel and/or vet. I think the dog picked up on our Catholicism, he could throw a guilt trip better than any of the women in the family. It was usually 48 hours before he'd get over it. He was such a dumbschit, we really miss that fool dog...

Glad to hear the little girl is bounced back.

tabs · 03-20-2008, 04:46 PM

The little gurly gurly is doing well...she really is a grate dog.

However my friends news just keeps getting worse. She told me OVarian Cancer that has spread to the Spleen. At first she said it hadn't gone to the lymph system, but now she says it has.

One MD told her she was Stage 4, the other said more like 3C. That it responds well to Chemo. My friend says that she wants to be realistic, that her deceased attoney husband had once said that he doesn't fight battles where there is no hope of winning.

I wind up feeling like I am watching the Titanic go down, knowing there is nothing in the world I can do to change it.