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OT - my darling furbaby has cancer

Aniki-Moderator's picture

My darling boy - the best-est, sweetest, most loving, smartest dog in the whole universe - was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in his left, front leg. My world is on the brink of collapsing.

Mr. P is my forever love and my guardian angel and has literally saved my life twice. The first time was when I was going through severe depression and didn't even want to get out of bed. I HAD to so he could be fed and go outside to do his biz and get some play time. And since I was up, I decided to go ahead and get ready for work and go in.

The second time was when my psycho ex was stalking me. I opened the door to let Mr. P out and psycho grabbed my arm, yanked me out the door, and starting hitting me. 100 pounds of teeth-bared, snarling canine came FLYING through the door and sank his teeth into the arm of the bad man hurting his Mommy. Psycho is in jail for attempted murder. Mine.

This is the dog everyone absolutely loves. He is so well-behaved and happy and sweet. And SMART! DH says Mr. P is smarter than he is (and DH is a freakin' genius). When we went to the hospital, no less than 6 people said, "Why is Mr. P here? Is he okay??" Everyone loves him.

The radiologist will read his x-rays on Thursday (he makes rounds to clinics and hospitals and that is the earliest he will be able to read them). So I will find out some time Thursday is my darling boy's lungs are clear so he can have surgery to amputate his leg and get rid of that nasty cancer. The waiting is making me crazy.

I cry at the drop of a hat. I hate leaving my sweetheart for even 5 minutes. I just want to lie down and snuggle with him and pet him and love him and tell him it will be okay. When I'm not crying, I'm praying that he can have the surgery and it will go well and he will adjust to being a tripod. My clever darling has already been compensating for his ouchie leg when pooping by moving his right leg more to the center and closer to his back legs. So the smartest boy in the world can obviously make it work with 3 legs - he's already practicing.

I'm here at work, looking at a project that MUST be done today and all I am seeing is gibberish on the screen. My world is upsidedown right now and I cannot make sense of anything.

Comments

NoWireCoatHangarsEVER's picture

I'm so sorry. I once spent $4,000 to save my dalmation, Fox Mulder. He had some kind of blockage in his urethra but it worked and he lived to 15. You can start researching ways to help him adjust to being a three legged dog right now. I just know he can beat this!

Monchichi's picture

Oh Aniki, I am so sorry. I'm sending love, prayers and healing thoughts for special little fur baby. He has to have the surgery and he will recover. He will manage as a tripod (hugs)

yolo222's picture

Oh no! I'm sorry to hear this. Poor thing. Hang in there:)). It's so hard when our doggies get ill. I wish they could live forever.

Aniki-Moderator's picture

Thank you all so much for your kindness and sympathy and prayers and well-wishes.

Acra, I will definitely do what is best for my sweet boy. My sister is a veterinarian and has already reached out to many people. If he can have the surgery, I will have THE best surgeon. She has arranged with another doctor at an emergency clinic for my darling to have his surgery there AND recuperate. Her dog had this surgery several years ago and lived for another 2 years.

If he cannot have surgery (praise God that he CAN), a friend of my sister's works at a cancer institute and he will be able to have some alternative treatments that will alleviate pain and help with the cancer.

I will NOT let my darling suffer. As much as I love him, I will let him go out gently and NOT wait until he is in agony. I love him too much to do that. This morning, he was happy and frisky and playful and ate all of his breakfast. As long as my baby is like this, we will keep going. It will break my heart to let him go WHENEVER it happens, but I will NEVER allow him to suffer needlessly. I love him too much to do that.

Acratopotes's picture

Is this the same baby who attacked skid with it's tail? We will have to find you another baby.....

Aniki-Moderator's picture

Yes, this is the skid-beating dog who damn near sent PrincASS (that pussy) to the emergency room with a few wags of a tail.

Aniki-Moderator's picture

Everyone comments on how me he loves me. 10 people can be talking, but the minute I speak, his focus is completely on me. DH will be playing with him. I can COUGH, and Mr. P's attention turns to me.

I was on vacation with my parents, oldest sister, and 2 nieces and had to run into town for something. My sister said every time a car came down the road, Mr. P ran to the door to see if Mommy was home. When the car drove on, he would sigh heavily and flop back down.

DH says that, to Mr. P, I am not just Mommy, but Mr. P's Goddess. LOL. We have such a strong bond... I can LOOK at Mr. P and he knows what to do/stop doing.

Last night, I laid down next to him and stroked his handsome face and head and told him how much I loved him.

I have already run out of tissues today and have had to switch to napkins. Ugh. I so want to go home and love on my baby. Sad

2Tired4Drama's picture

My best wishes for a diagnosis which allows him to remain as healthy and happy as many years as possible.

If it's any consolation, my little bit of a dog has cancer. When she was diagnosed, the vet thought she would have maybe 3-4 months before it spread. She could not be operated on due to her advanced age and a heart condition.

Well, here it is almost 15 MONTHS later, and she's still toddling along. Cancer isn't quite as aggressive as they thought, and her overall quality of life is good - eats, drinks, wanders around, enjoys the sunshine outside, etc. She is in no visible pain and everyone at the vet (including him) is amazed.

I hope Mr. P will amaze all of you, too!

AJanie's picture

I am so sorry. I have a bulldog and a doberman and they are my world. I am especially close to my bulldog and she has gotten me through some very hard times in my life. I understand completely how pure a dog's love is and how hard it is to see them sick.

Stay positive, everything will be okay. A friend's dog was diagnosed with cancer (at an older age, too) and is still going strong over a year later.

My thoughts are with you and Mr. P.

Aniki-Moderator's picture

I have hope, anotherstep. My sister's dog had the same surgery several years ago and he lived another 2 years. I will do everything in my power to keep him going. I'm praying for a successful surgery. Regardless, I will do everything I can to spend as much time with him as possible. To let him know he's loved and adored, give him his meds and lots of attention and comfort, and make whatever adjustments necessary for him to thrive on 3 legs as long as possible.

Thank you so much for your prayers!!!

Tuff Noogies's picture

oh aniki. i was in the same place emotionally when i had to rush grandpa to the furbaby ER in august. i hope and pray with all my heart the radiologist has positive news come thursday.

grandpa is my world, furbaby-wise. he hates to leave my side and stands sentry at the door whenever i'm on the back or front porch. he licks my tears - if i'm sad crying, he'll lean on me and console me; if i'm frustrated/mad crying, he'll turn around and sit to guard me from anything that's hurting his momma. he gives the bestest hugs in the world. my heart will shatter when he goes. most people have never experienced that kind of bond.

i sit here in tears for you and the pain you are feeling, and will keep you and mr. p in my thoughts and prayers.

Aniki-Moderator's picture

I hear you, Tuff. Mr. P is my baby, my protector, my faithful companion, my comforter when I'm blue...he is always at my side. We are so close that I can give him a look or a nod or point and I swear he reads my mind because he does EXACTLY what I'm thinking. I don't even have to speak. I sat on the floor last night with his head in my lap and massaged his precious face and rubbed his head and tummy. I could see the love coming from his eyes and he grunted a couple of times with sheer happiness.

Tuff Noogies's picture

that rare bond. the unspoken communication. it's so special. he knows mommy loves him and will do whatever it takes for his wellbeing. be strong, hun. easier said than done, i know. but try. you've got a lot of thoughts and prayers in yall's behalf.

Aniki-Moderator's picture

The unspoken communication... DH is absolutely floored by it. He has never seen this between a human and a dog and it amazes him. "Baby, how on EARTH does he know you wanted him to do that??" I dunno...psychic bond.

I trained him with voice AND hand commands because I'm prone to severe laryngitis and have had periods when I cannot even whisper for weeks. Mr. P still understands hand commands we haven't used for several years - it's crazy. I swear, my sweet angel is a super genius on the canine IQ scale.

Tuff Noogies's picture

voice and hand commands was how i trained grandpa. good thing too since he went deaf. my dh was also astonished at seeing that type of bond. dont get me wrong, he's cherished his past furbabies, but he never had the experience of such a bond. and truly, up until the moment grandpa i met him and we locked eyes, neither had i. he hugged me around the waist so tight as if to say "MOM! you finally came to bring me home!" it was absolutely amazing. ten years later, that bond has only gotten more special.

mr p knows. just by your eyes. he knows his mommy loves him.

Aniki-Moderator's picture

Thank you, LadyFace. I haven't done a lick of work. Our roof at work is under construction and it sounds like the bloody thing is about to fall on our heads. I have a project I absolutely MUST complete within the next 4 hours and I haven't typed a single letter. :?

Aniki-Moderator's picture

I had to tell my boss what is going on. I lost my sh!t and bawled all over the place. Thankfully, she is VERY understanding and loves animals.

robin333's picture

Sending you lots of hugs Aniki. I think Mr.P was meant for you. Please give him a treat and hug from me later today.

Aniki-Moderator's picture

Thank you, robin. I think you're right. It was true love from the moment we met. He was a sick little boy who needed a family. We took one look at each other... poor sick baby wagged his tail and licked my hand and I fell in love. It's been Mommy and Mr. P for 10+ years. DH knows he (DH) is just a playmate when Mommy is not home or busy doing something. Smile

Aniki-Moderator's picture

Thank you, Outlaw. I plan to do exactly that. Last night, we spent some quality time with his head on my lap and me massaging his handsome face and head, giving him tummy rubs, and me cooing to him how handsome and sweet and precious he is and how Mommy will do everything she can to take care of her darling boy.

This morning, he was perkier than yesterday. He's been on pain meds for 2 days, but he seemed very happy this morning.

Aniki-Moderator's picture

Mr. P's doctor called and said his bloodwork is clear for surgery. Now we need the okay for the radiologist (some time tomorrow in late afternoon).

Daddy (DH) was home last night so he took Mr. P outside. To the front yard. To the backyard. Again to the front yard. LOL! We don't care. Wherever Mr. P wants to mosey, we're happy to let him do so. Neither of us can stand to leave him outside alone for even a minute.

Mr. P has never been big on being brushed - doesn't care for it. Last night, I brushed his back and his back legs and stroked his precious face and professed my never-ending love. For the first time since he was a puppy, he licked my hand. He was trained to NOT lick because I'm terribly allergic to his saliva and he hasn't lick ANYONE in 10 years. I let him lick me. The hives were worth it.

Aniki-Moderator's picture

Thursday; not tomorrow. I have NO idea what day it is - had to look at my computer. FFS.

moeilijk's picture

Poor you and poor Mr. P. Wishing you the best of news. And at least Mr. P. doesn't understand about the future. He's just interested in those cuddles and treats right now!