OT: Need help w/family dog situation - update on Baxter

[mericletwins]

Oh....I am so sorry. Our 13 yo lab had surgery on the 14th and had a tumor removed. On Thursday we found out it was cancerous. I looked up his kind of cancer online and it said average survival time after surgery is 18-60 days. It makes me sad. He is home with us now and I guess we just wait and give him extra love. I have told the kids he has cancer and won't get better. My DH and I are doing worse than the kids, but I think when he actually dies they'll be a mess also.

Bless your family and Baxter. My heart goes out to you.

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

Oh....I am so sorry. Our 13 yo lab had surgery on the 14th and had a tumor removed. On Thursday we found out it was cancerous. I looked up his kind of cancer online and it said average survival time after surgery is 18-60 days. It makes me sad. He is home with us now and I guess we just wait and give him extra love. I have told the kids he has cancer and won't get better. My DH and I are doing worse than the kids, but I think when he actually dies they'll be a mess also.

Bless your family and Baxter. My heart goes out to you.

So sorry to read about your lab. This is really the hardest thing I've ever been through. My sister told me a quote last night that she read on her dog's vet wall "the hardest thing about having a dog is we outlive them". All I can say is enjoy him and take lots of pics (I'm sure you have some already but the more the better). One thing I did before the vet came (he came right to our house) was clip some of Baxters fur. Later when the kids came home I gave a little bit to each child in a baggie so when they're missing Baxter they can rub his fur between their fingers. They looked at me like I was nuts but I know someday they'll be missing Baxter and it will help. I saved the rest of the fur for me which I've been holding a lot. It does help to have a little piece of him w/me.

I guess the biggest thing for me right now is the feeling of emptiness - our family in incomplete and I feel such a void. But I know this will get better in time but he will always be part of our family no matter what.

Sorry for rambling on but its so helpful to me to be able to "voice" my feelings. Thanks again - and the best to you and your family.

 

[#1 Pocahontas]

I am so sorry about Baxter.

This Friday we go in to discuss options about our cat, Fluff. She was recently diagnosed with fibrosarcoma. The tumor had brittled her hip and it broke. The options they gave us on the phone don't sound good at all. I am trying to brace myself for having to say good-bye. I don't want her to suffer yet I don't think I can hand her over to die. I HATE being in this situation, I do not want to make this decision. We have kids, 5 and 1. I know the one year old will not be sad, she will just search for Fluff. However, I have no idea how I will tell the 5 year old. She knows that Fluff is very sick, she heard the doctor tell us that Fluff might have to have a leg amputated. I know she isn't prepared to loose her though.

I know this sounds sappy but I really worry about my other cat as well. He is 11 years old, Fluff is 12, and they have always been together. I fear that he may pass away of a broken heart if/when he looses her.

I'm sorry, I am starting to ramble. I think clipping the hair is a wonderful idea and I will do that. Thank you for that idea.

Hugs to you, I am so sorry you and your family are going through this right now.

 

[Ellester]

First of all, many hugs to you and your family. Believe it or not, we also had our dog put to sleep yesterday. We brought Merlin home from the pound 12 years ago next month and he was a wonderful dog. In the past few months he had gone from 55 pounds to 42 pounds to 35 pounds yesterday. He was literally a skeleton with fur. The vet thinks he probably had something very wrong intestinally but the only way to find out was with exploratory surgery but he was 80-90% sure it wouldn't be something easy to fix. We didn't want to put him through any additional pain, so we said good bye yesterday. We let the kids say good bye before I took him to the vet (they are 9, 5, and 3). There have been lots of tears, but we all know that Merlin wasn't the dog he once was. Before we took him yesterday, he didn't even want to be petted anymore. The girls were stroking him and he would just painfully get up and limp away. It was so sad! But, now he and Baxter are playing to their heart's content in doggie heaven!

I agree about the emptiness feeling. My husband and I have had dogs continuously for 19 years, it is strange to not have a water bowl on the floor...

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

I am so sorry about Baxter.

This Friday we go in to discuss options about our cat, Fluff. She was recently diagnosed with fibrosarcoma. The tumor had brittled her hip and it broke. The options they gave us on the phone don't sound good at all. I am trying to brace myself for having to say good-bye. I don't want her to suffer yet I don't think I can hand her over to die. I HATE being in this situation, I do not want to make this decision. We have kids, 5 and 1. I know the one year old will not be sad, she will just search for Fluff. However, I have no idea how I will tell the 5 year old. She knows that Fluff is very sick, she heard the doctor tell us that Fluff might have to have a leg amputated. I know she isn't prepared to loose her though.

I know this sounds sappy but I really worry about my other cat as well. He is 11 years old, Fluff is 12, and they have always been together. I fear that he may pass away of a broken heart if/when he looses her.

I'm sorry, I am starting to ramble. I think clipping the hair is a wonderful idea and I will do that. Thank you for that idea.

Hugs to you, I am so sorry you and your family are going through this right now.

Sorry about Fluff and sorry that you and your family are going through this. Making the decision to have an animal euthanized is the hardest decision I've ever made - the anxiety and the roller coaster of emotions is exhausting.

And worrying about your other cat is not sappy. When I was little we had 2 collies Prince and Duke - Prince was sick had to be "put to sleep" and the Duke really grieved. He was very depressed so much so my parents got another collie - a few months later I think. Laddie didn't replace Prince by any means (2 completely different personalities) but Duke loved him and having Laddie really eased the pain for Duke. Now they're both gone but not forgotten. Getting another pet helped in our situation but every situation is different. Cats may be a different story - well at least w/our cats they were not too receptive to a possible kitten moving in when we found a stray a few years back.

Again I'm sorry for what you and your family are going through. Best to Fluff & his buddy.

Just wanted to add that we told our kids that Baxter was not going to get any better. The kids witnessed Baxter struggling to stand and falling down and they knew that we couldn't let this go on. I didn't tell them exactly what happened to Baxter yesterday just that the vet came, Baxter died and the vet took him back to the hospital. I mentioned we were there w/him when he died and that hes ok & in doggie heaven. They haven't asked anymore questions but I think the truth is the best way to go. If they want more info I'll tell them more but easily. Best wishes to you.

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

First of all, many hugs to you and your family. Believe it or not, we also had our dog put to sleep yesterday. We brought Merlin home from the pound 12 years ago next month and he was a wonderful dog. In the past few months he had gone from 55 pounds to 42 pounds to 35 pounds yesterday. He was literally a skeleton with fur. The vet thinks he probably had something very wrong intestinally but the only way to find out was with exploratory surgery but he was 80-90% sure it wouldn't be something easy to fix. We didn't want to put him through any additional pain, so we said good bye yesterday. We let the kids say good bye before I took him to the vet (they are 9, 5, and 3). There have been lots of tears, but we all know that Merlin wasn't the dog he once was. Before we took him yesterday, he didn't even want to be petted anymore. The girls were stroking him and he would just painfully get up and limp away. It was so sad! But, now he and Baxter are playing to their heart's content in doggie heaven!

I agree about the emptiness feeling. My husband and I have had dogs continuously for 19 years, it is strange to not have a water bowl on the floor...

Oh I am so sorry about Merlin! I hope everyone is doing ok - well as much as can be expected. My family has been calling me to see how I'm doing and the only words I think of is "this really sucks!" Today has been lots of tears for me - just the usual schedule of putting Baxter out, feeding him, medicine, fresh water - all the stuff I did every day. I have to catch myself and then I remember "oh yeah hes gone". Kids wanted to go out in play in the sprinkler and I thought I'll try and get Baxter to go out w/us for a little while (he loved the water) and I stopped in the middle of the stairs and just lost it - hes not there.

Our kids are 8, 4 & 2 and they said goodbye to baxter before the vet came and DH took them to Grammie's house. It was heart wrenching but I think we made the right decision.
I know you didn't ask my opinion but I think you made the right decision, you did right by Merlin. It sounds like he was ready and grateful. The emptiness is so hard - I hope it gets better soon for both of us. Hugs to you and your family.

I must tell you that last night I was sitting in the chair after the kids went to bed and thought I bet someone else is going through the same thing as we are - I'm not alone. I hope Merlin & Baxter are having a great time up in doggie heaven - they deserve it for all the happiness they have us. Hugs to all of you and take care.

 

[Schmeck]

Darn, I'm in tears now - I'm so sorry for everyone who has had to say goodbye to their beloved 4 legged family member. We've been expecting to do the same with our 14 yr old black lab Cubby (named after the Winnie the Pooh song, "tubby little cubby all stuffed with fluff") but he keeps bouncing back, miraculously. Rimadyl is holding off the effects of the nerve disease, but his kidneys are starting to go, according to the last bloodwork done.

My husband and I were with our cat Rufus when we had the vet euthanize him when he had lymphoma. That day was tied as the most difficult day of my life, the other most difficult day was when my daughter's friend died of bone marrow transplant complications at age 12.

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

Darn, I'm in tears now - I'm so sorry for everyone who has had to say goodbye to their beloved 4 legged family member. We've been expecting to do the same with our 14 yr old black lab Cubby (named after the Winnie the Pooh song, "tubby little cubby all stuffed with fluff") but he keeps bouncing back, miraculously. Rimadyl is holding off the effects of the nerve disease, but his kidneys are starting to go, according to the last bloodwork done.

My husband and I were with our cat Rufus when we had the vet euthanize him when he had lymphoma. That day was tied as the most difficult day of my life, the other most difficult day was when my daughter's friend died of bone marrow transplant complications at age 12.

I hope Cubby hangs in there a little longer - love his name by the way! Enjoy him! So sorry for Rufus and your daughter's friend - I can't imagine losing a child.

 

[eliza61]

Just wanted to thank all those that replied. Baxter was "put to sleep" today - just about an hour ago. It was the hardest decision we have ever made but we know it was the right one. Baxter was a newfoundland - majestic, dignified, & beautiful dog that will be in our hearts forever! Thanks again for all the responses to this post it was very helpful rereading them during the past 48 hours.

Oh JJ,
I'm so sorry and I'll give our mutt hobbes an extra doggie bone in Baxters honor. I think both your family and baxter were really, really blessed to have each other. That's the great thing about love, it always stays with you.


Eliza, family and "hobbes"

 

[poconoboatniks]

I'm sitting here in a puddle. I'm so sorry for all of your losses. Our yellow Lab will be getting an extra chin scratch and Scooby snack in your pet's honor.

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

Oh JJ,
I'm so sorry and I'll give our mutt hobbes an extra doggie bone in Baxters honor. I think both your family and baxter were really, really blessed to have each other. That's the great thing about love, it always stays with you.


Eliza, family and "hobbes"

Thank you. We were really blessed to have Baxter and he loved his bones. He would be honored for hobbes to have an extra treat! Thank you!

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

I'm sitting here in a puddle. I'm so sorry for all of your losses. Our yellow Lab will be getting an extra chin scratch and Scooby snack in your pet's honor.

Thank you! Baxter loved his treats!