[bazaar1]

Originally Posted by Normandie

Peppa has eaten three eggs over the course of today - raw, and lightly whipped, and he's eaten them out of a bowl himself, voluntarily. YAY !

I'm sure many of you can understand how pleased and relieved we are.

We're still having to syringe in recovery food and liquidised chicken but when blobs of either fall onto the floor, he will lick them up himself.

We had tried white fish (first post) VitN, but that had been refused.

Yes Bazaar, thyroid had been discussed (post 18) so I wasn't ignoring that suggestion.

And finally re sense of smell - no, he hasn't lost it because we have plenty of rabbits and hares around and in the field we've realised that he still he picks up scents easily and, nose to ground, follows them.

But, we're hoping we've turned the corner and Pep is due back at the vet for another examination tomorrow.

Pugamo, thank you for the link on dog anorexia - it never occurred to me to search for such a thing but I will definitely research it now.

Aww glad he's looking up. Didn't think you were ignoring me, just didn't want to miss some thing

Sounds like he's headed in the right direction, fingers crossed for you

[moomsie]

Your heart must feel a bit lighter, hopefully things are going to improve each day.

[Normandie]

Even better, his heart is improving. The vet checked him this afternoon and he has not lost any more weight (dog not vet) and his heart is sounding better so the new antibiotics appear to be subduing the infection. Our vet is lovely, she was as pleased as OH with the improvement! Now we just need to get Pep eating enthusiastically again.

[Muze]

So glad to hear he's improved so much.... keep it up lad

[StressMonkey]

Sounds like he's on the mend Fingers crossed for a full recovery x

[Normandie]

Bit of a crap update.

Pep still isn't eating much though is more interested in food than he was. However, he's also still being sick intermittently and yesterday morning at 6am ejected most of what (little) he'd eaten the night before. Worryingly, the bits of chicken etc hadn't been digested in the previous 8 hours.

So today we took him back to the vet and Pep had a barium meal (equivalent) plus ultrasound at various stages. He has a "mass" at about the point the food exists the stomach causing a "restriction" and probably is preventing proper digestion taking place.

We could have an endoscopy done by a specialist which would tell us whether the tumour is operable but this would have to be done under full anaesthetic and, of course, his heart is dicky and our vet regretfully feels that he wouldn't survive the anaethetic. And if he did survive that anaesthetic and the tumour did prove operable, he probably wouldn't survive the second anaesthetic. As well as his heart, of course, he's quite frail having not eaten well - or digested well - for a while now.

It would appear that the heart problem has been picked up because of the reluctance to eat which was caused by the tumour as opposed to the heart problem being contributory to the eating problem - which was our first assumption.

So we're mulling things over but having lost several dogs (healthier than Pep is now) when we've had them operated on for tumours, we're really not convinced about putting him through the interventions. It's not as if we can get him stronger and ready to face the op... because he won't / can't eat. And we're still having to syringe food into him.

I'm not really asking for advice or anything because I know that only we know the dog and only we (with our vet) can best assess the situation and make the right decision. But so many of you have helped and suggested and sent your best wishes that it seems fair to update you.

But it's not a very cheeful update.

[Muze]

So sorry to hear the news, poor guy, what a difficult time for you all.

Take care x

[moomsie]

Sorry to to read your latest news. I was wondering how you were getting on. Unfortunately sometimes it takes a few visits to the vet to get to the bottom of a health problem with animals. My best wishes to you in whatever you decide to do.

[StressMonkey]

Sorry the news isn't better.

[pugamo]

so sorry for you all x

[bazaar1]

I'm so sorry to heat that. My advice for what's its worth is to try, I presume your options are 1)operate 2)euthanise 3)let nature take its course, now personally I doubt you'd sit there and each him starve to death, you seem far too caring. So that leaves options 1 & 2 - if you are considering euthanasia then perhaps give the op a go, even if he does die on the table, it's painless and you know you've tried, plus he may surprise you, my 17 cat did, he went in for 2 op when having liver problems, and both times we were prepared for the worst, he came out of both and lived another. 3 years,

You of course don't have to take my advice, I don't know all the facts and there may be other options, but I know if it was me, I'd try the op if those were my only 3 options,

[Normandie]

Originally Posted by bazaar1

...personally I doubt you'd sit there and each him starve to death, you seem far too caring.

Well deduced.

[blossom24]

I'm so sorry to hear about you baby boy.
I was in a similar situation to you at the end of November, when I lost my little girl after 13+ wonderful years, so I can almost feel your pain.
We all know that which ever decision you make, will be the right one for your boy.
Great big hugs for you all xx

[blossom24]

Just dropped in to see if there is any update, Normandie.

Hope things are ok x

[whoopsadaisy]

Just like Blossom, dropped in to see if there was any news - hope all is ok. xx

[blossom24]

Popped in again to see how things are....I've got a feeling things aren't too good because of the thread not being updated; or things are great and you are spending loads of time with your baby!
Hope its the latter....thinking of you xx

[Normandie]

It's taken me till today to come back to this thread - I felt too sad to do so before.

Thank you all for your thoughts but Pep deteriorated before we had the appointment for the exploratory op and wasn't strong enough to take the GA. So sadly we said our farewells and the vet did her thing - very kindly and compassionately.

Pep was the first cross-breed we've had - we've always had pedigree labs, several that we bred ourselves. He was a lab x retriever. We rather thought that he'd go on forever, or certainly for another 3 or 4 years (he was 10) because he wouldn't have hip problems etc - x-breeds usually miss out on the bad genes. We didn't reckon on a well-hidden cancer.

We miss him dreadfully - he'd have loved the snow we've had recently - but we remind ourselves he had a very nice life with us (he was a rescue who came with lots of baggage - we took him on when he was about 5 and he arrived on doggie Prozac which was treating his stress / anxiety issues) but over just a few months he settled into a very relaxed and content dog. And he was so well-behaved... guests adored him. He just deserved longer with us - and we deserved longer with him.

We will get another rescue / re-home... someone will make him / herself known to us at some point... but we're not rushing into it because my OH is having the first of both hips replaced at the end of the month and running a b&b, looking after my OH and integrating a new dog to the family this spring seemed a challenge too far...

But anyway, RIP Pep... walks on the beach won't be the same...

[Muze]

So very sorry for your loss, it must be so difficult.

FWIW, it sounds like he had a wonderful time with you

Do take care x

[ejm]

I'm so very sorry

Sweet dreams beautiful boy xx

[StressMonkey]

Sorry for your loss. He sounds like he was a fantastic dog & you sound like fantastic owners.

I'm sure the right dog will come along at the right time & will be lucky to have you.xx

[Lost_Soul]

I'm so sorry for your loss, that is a beautiful photo.

i wish there was something i could say to make you feel better
take care xxx

[bazaar1]

So sorry normandie. Sounds like you gave him a wonderful life, and that's all we can do. Rip pep.

[blossom24]

So sorry normandie, I know how you must be feeling.

He looked like a beautiful, happy boy.

Thinking of you xx

[SupernovaNebula]

Edit - just read the above posts. I'm so sorry for your loss

[molliepops]

So sorry for your loss normandie, we had a loss ourselves recently so know exactly how you are feeling. Take care of yourselves and early days yet but we are getting a pup at the weekend and that is helping us cope, perhaps in time .........