Bad News for Jack

targa911S · 01:04 PM

My 7 year old Airedale Jack was just diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma. He was fine happy and healthy a week ago. Now they are telling me that without chemo he won't live out Thanksgiving. First MJ now this ..I don't know how much this old guy can bear. Trying to stay strong but I admit I have cried a lot in the last 24 hours. As I am MJ's rock, he has been mine and my ever companion. Feeling devastated. Anybody have any experience with canine lymphoma?

Ayles · 10-28-2015, 01:04 PM

Not lymphoma that I know of, but my in-laws do have about 40 yrs of Airedale ownership and may have delt with it at some point. I can connect you if you are interested. my FIL is also on Pelican but doesn't post much.

targa911S · 10-28-2015, 01:10 PM

thanks this is #4 for me as well so I guess I have 40 years of ownership as well. Wonderful dogs. will own another for sure. Just so sad to lose Jack as he is only 7. My others all went at 12.

oldE · 10-28-2015, 01:15 PM

David,

Damn, Man I am sorry to hear this. I have buried three companion animals this summer and it isn't getting any easier.
They're saying weeks without chemo. Any guestimates about prognosis or timeline with?
What will the chemo do to him?
All you can do is try to do the right thing for him.

Best
Les

KFC911 · 10-28-2015, 01:19 PM

Very sorry David...sometimes life just sucks

But you'll get through this....take care brother.

targa911S · 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldE

David,

Damn, Man I am sorry to hear this. I have buried three companion animals this summer and it isn't getting any easier.
They're saying weeks without chemo. Any guestimates about prognosis or timeline with?
What will the chemo do to him?
All you can do is try to do the right thing for him.

Best
Les

$7 to $10 K for chemo and it will buy him maybe a year...I love Jack but for that kind of money I could own a herd of them. They are putting him on high dose prednisone and Elspar, an enzyme type of chemo drug at $250 a pop that will buy us some time. Maybe 8 weeks and then he will decline and we/I will have to have him put down..I will do what is right for him when the time comes. we selfishly and literally are buying some time to say good bye.

gacook · gacook's Garage

I'm sorry to hear about this, and I don't mean to sound insensitive, but...wouldn't putting him to sleep before he really starts to suffer be the more humane thing to do?

oldE · 10-28-2015, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by targa911S

...then he will decline and we/I will have to have him put down..I will do what is right for him when the time comes. we selfishly and literally are buying some time to say good bye.

I'm right there with you, my friend.
We did the same thing with a female tabby this spring who developed a bowel tumor at age 8. Her two boys (our last cats) are curled up beside me as I type this.

Best
Les

rfuerst911sc · 10-28-2015, 01:48 PM

So sorry to hear this what's with dogs getting cancer ??? In my opinion make his remaining weeks the best you can and you'll know when it's time to put him down. They are there for us we need to be there for them right to the end. Never easy and good luck. Pat him on the head for me and give him an extra treat ! Good looking dog.

herr_oberst · 10-28-2015, 01:50 PM

I'm sorry to hear this David.

targa911S · 10-28-2015, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gacook

I'm sorry to hear about this, and I don't mean to sound insensitive, but...wouldn't putting him to sleep before he really starts to suffer be the more humane thing to do?

I will. He won't suffer. I won't let that happen. I have been through this before..

targa911S · 10-28-2015, 01:55 PM

thanks guys. This is never easy. I'm glad I have my brothers here to share my pain with.

gordner · gordner's Garage

I have a friend who breeds and raises golden retrievers for show....She has run into a similiar situation with one of her dogs and she went the homeopathic route to treat her. She was initially diagnosed with a similiar potential life span as Jack, however her dog is still kicking almost a year later and the cancer has significantly regressed. I know that is one case and one case only, but she swears by homeopathic veterinary care and has great success with it. The deciding factor between the two was that she could not justify the Chemo cost, similar to yours. The homeopathic remedy she subscribed to ran her about 1k for the year.....

Jim Richards · 10-28-2015, 02:01 PM

That's sad news about Jack.

targa911S · 10-28-2015, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

So sorry to hear this what's with dogs getting cancer ??? In my opinion make his remaining weeks the best you can and you'll know when it's time to put him down. They are there for us we need to be there for them right to the end. Never easy and good luck. Pat him on the head for me and give him an extra treat ! Good looking dog.

Stats say 50% of dogs get cancer. Who knows why. We gave Jack the best of everything. Spared no expense on foods and vet care and boom......it just happens. Airedales are one of the breeds that are prone to this. All three of his predecessors died of some form of cancer or organ failures. They were older dogs though and you expect that. This just blindsided us. He is so young. I have told myself I need to put my sorrow behind me so he doesn't sense it and celebrate the time we have left. Bacon, donuts, lunch meat, whatever he wants. Play ball, go for car rides and runs in the woods like nothing is happening. He will let me know when the time is up.

targa911S · 10-28-2015, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gordner

I have a friend who breeds and raises golden retrievers for show....She has run into a similiar situation with one of her dogs and she went the homeopathic route to treat her. She was initially diagnosed with a similiar potential life span as Jack, however her dog is still kicking almost a year later and the cancer has significantly regressed. I know that is one case and one case only, but she swears by homeopathic veterinary care and has great success with it. The deciding factor between the two was that she could not justify the Chemo cost, similar to yours. The homeopathic remedy she subscribed to ran her about 1k for the year.....

we are considering that as well. The treatment they are giving him is buying us some time to not only be with him but to dry our eyes and make clear decisions.

Rikao4 · 10-28-2015, 02:22 PM

[QUOTE=targa911S;8854865I need to put my sorrow behind me so he doesn't sense it and celebrate the time we have left. Bacon, donuts, lunch meat, whatever he wants. Play ball, go for car rides and runs in the woods like nothing is happening. He will let me know when the time is up.[/QUOTE]

this...

Rika

MBAtarga · 10-28-2015, 03:06 PM

I am sorry to hear this. We put down our 15 yo sheppard mix (county pound rescue) the Friday after Thanksgiving just last year. Dogs certainly do become part of you.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

Sorry to hear. I've never advocated extraordinary measures for my pets, though I did end up spending about $1500 on Twiggy (pound rescue tabby) when she got very sick. In her case she's easily got another 5-10 years in her, and it was treatable. The cancer thing - much less so.

It sounds harsh but sounds like you've made the right choice. Manage the pain, enjoy the time you have with Jack. The reality is we only have today anyway. And when you're ready, there are a lot of other dogs that would love to have a home.

DanielDudley · 10-28-2015, 03:21 PM

A full and happy life isn't measured in years.