Hello everybody

I am new to this, so I apologise if I make any typing errors.

I am 68 years old and my name is as stated.

If anyone has any advice about my yorkshire terrier, it would be much appreciated :-

In 2005, the vet told me that they could not do anything for her and wanted to put her down. I refused to take this option and have looked after her myself without taking her back to the vet. She is now 15 (105 dog years) and still enjoying her life.

However, she now has 2 growths on her stomach. It does not appear to cause her any pain, and she is still as loving as ever, though obviously not quite as active. She runs up to any visitor and licks their hands at every opportunity as she always has done.

If I take her to the vet again, I am sure they will insist she be put down.

This is an emotional quandary for me, I love my dog but I don't want her to suffer.

Any advice greatly appreciated

Thank You for your time

Firstly I would advise you must go and see a vet there are many out there so if you disagree with the one you previously saw you can find another.

Medically only the vet can advise you but I will say if you feel you have to ask us then you probably already know in your heart what you need to do.

Whatever you do just remember PTS is not the worst thing that can happen to a dog although it feels like it to us. We have to make that last loving decision and need to remember it's not about us and how we feel but about the dog and how they feel.

Thank you Molliepops

She survived her 15th birthday and is happy, and in no obvious pain.

I will keep her with me for christmas and new year and enjoy our time together.

Then I will take her to the vet and expect the worst.

It will break both of our hearts.

Anny

Please feel free to keep posting most of us here have gone through what you are going through and will be here if you need to talk it all through. Even if it's just to have a cry we are here.

I personally would not take her to the vets to be PTS, if she seems in no pain, still eats and enjoys life.
But maybe a trip to the vets just to make sure she is in no pain would be advisable.
I have had to put many dogs asleep over the years (most of them age 15), but they all were very ill and it was the best for them. Age is no reason for PTS.
Hope your little doggie will be found ok from the vets.

I remember when my cat Smudge had a large lung tumour, she looked uncomfortable but it was not obvious how much pain she was in. Animals are very good at hiding their pain so I think it should be something to bear in mind.

Like mollipops has suggested, you can always ask for a 2nd opinion. I am sure there is more than one veterinary surgery near you.

If your dog is not in pain and still enjoying a good quality of life then I am pretty sure the vet would not suggest her being pts.
But it may be worth her having a check up to be on the safe side.
I have a 15 year old at home with a heart condition and who is blind. She's still eating, having daily walks and enjoying her twilight years

Good luck whatever you do

Hi Anny, one of our dogs has a very aggressive form of cancer the vets were talking about doing all sorts of invasive things to her, including amputation and told us she only had 4 months to live, Which scared the heck out of us

I managed to find a holistic vet (she is also a normal contemporary vet) we took Cass to her and she now works with the Glasgow vet school and our own vet to give Cassie the best possible care.

Cassie has managed to keep her leg and and is a very happy doggy living what she has left of her life to the full on all 4 legs with her ears perked up, a ravenous appetite and a very, very waggy tail.

Have a look on the internet for a homeopathic vet close to you. We have to drive 3 1/2 hours to get to ours but it is well worth it as she is fighting Cassie's corner with the other vets who's mindset is to cut of her leg & pump her full of drugs which will stop her eating and ruin her immune system.

When her time comes we have arranged for our vet to come to our house so Cassie goes to rainbow bridge with her loving family around her snuggled & cuddled in her own bed.

But, as least we know she had the best of care was given the best opportunity to life her life to the full, pain & trauma free.

If your in Scotland there is an amazing vet in Bearsden who can help you.

Sorry for such a long post

All the best to you and your wee one, paws and fingers crossed x

Would you consider starting a thread on holistic vet care I would and I am sure other too would like to know about it but don't want to hijack this thread asking questions ?

Absolutely, it's such a great way to help our fur babies get the treatment they need without invasive procedures Just need to figure out how to do it very new to posting on here

Is it osteosarcoma that your dog has? We lost our lad to that last year. I'm hoping you will say its something else as that means there may have been a chance

Sorry for not responding earlier

I was walking Tuppence, and having a think about what might happen

Thank you very much for all your replies

It makes me happy to know other people care about my situation.

I also hope other people follow whatever is written about osteosarcoma and holistic vet care.
BECAUSE
If Tuppence has to die in the New Year, at least my first message here will have helped other pets.

And that will be Tuppence's legacy

Thank you all

Anny

Anny replying to lurchergirls

Thank you for your mention of Rainbow Bridge.

I remembered part of that poem, and my son has told me how to find things and he has found all the words :-

Hopefully this poem brings some kind of real emotion in every pet lovers soul.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.

There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.

There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again.

The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

That poem eases my forthcoming pain.

Thank you all, and especially lurchergirls for reminding my of that special poem.

Anny

Oh! JJ75 I'm sorry to hear about your loss they are such a huge part of our lives and I'm sorry but yes it is Osteosarcoma that Cass has.

She was only diagnosed 2 1/2 months ago but she is doing fantastically. We have to be very carful of her leg as she forgets she is ill, and has her bloods checked every 4 weeks but they are improving slowly. She is not out of the woods by a long shot but is doing better than she would be if she had lost her leg and been put on chemo. She would not have been able to walk at all as she also has arthritis in her hips, so we had to find another way for her to be pain free and comfortable. (((hugs)))

Hi Anny, thanks you so much for the poem, I'm very spiritual and believe our pets will all be there to meet us on the other side. It looks like I'll need my very own field over their for all the pets I've had in my life but at lease we will all be together again for cuddles

Anny, it's my opinion that you should take your dog to the vet as soon as possible. No vet will recommend euthanasia unless they think the animal is suffering. On the other hand, it may well be that you dog IS actually in pain. Animals are, for reasons of survival, masters at hiding illness and/or pain. Whatever the vet says, ultimately it will be your decision to do what's best for your pet.

A friend rescued a young blind collie. The vet said it would never settle and putting it down was the best thing. That dog is now the happiest dog you could imagine.
It sort of shook my confidence in vets.
Actually a former pet had a huge lump on his neck. It wasn't cancerous but the vet removed it as it was getting in nthe way! My current 13 year old has a couple of fatty lumps - ie not cancerous. These are quite common in older dogs. So far they are not hindering anything and there is no point in putting her through surgery.
Anyway just to echo it is your decision. The vet can't tell you what to do. They can only give an opinion and recommend. And don't be afraid to get a second opinion. Please let suffering be the deciding factor rather than age or even prognosis.

I've got to agree. Tumours don't automatically mean a death sentence. But it's always better to be safe than sorry...

I really wish you both all the love in the world. This is such a difficult time but give your little girl loads of cuddles from me

Only have to see the words Rainbow Bridge and Im in

My little dog had lumps and I dreaded taking her to the vets but in the end I did and they turned out to be nothing but fatty cysts. She had about 5 nipples removed because they were growing there. Just get xmas and new year over with and take her to another vets. Or if you have friends with dogs ask them where do they take theirs to. You will soon find out which is the good ones. I always say vets are a bit like dentists there are good and bad.

And if it should come to to the worse shes had 15 good and happy years with you. She was lucky she could have got a bad owner.

Anny,if your little one seems happy,is eating then id leave her be for now.when the time comes she will let you know and you sound like a lovely responsible owner who wouldn't let her suffer unneccasarily.Enjoy her

Thank you everybody for your very kind comments and thoughts.

I will enjoy Christmas and New Year with my Tuppence, and then decide.

Love to you all, and your pets

Anny

xxx

Holistic is not the same as homeopathic. Homeopaths are just witch doctors with magic water that has no scientific basis. Avoid like the plague,

I have no experience with holistic medicine (i.e. treating the whole animal), but it's possible as in Lurchergirl's case that it can help.

Anny, you will know what's best for your dog, and I'm hoping for a Happy Christmas and New Year for both of you.

Thank you JeffG1

Kind comments

We will indeed enjoy our christmas and new year

With the same wishes to yourself, your family, and your pets.

Anny

xxx

Haha I felt the same about homeopathy ( the jury's still out) but at this stage I will try anything to help our girl.

We just wanted to give her a fighting chance without any invasive drugs and surgery so she can live out the rest of her life happy and pain free.

One of our vets is a traditional, homeopathic & holistic vet as she treats the whole animal and uses natural supplements, homeopathic treatments and if the owner wants will also prescribe traditional medicine.

Her view is as that as long as the animal is not suffering then she will try anything & everything to give them a long and pain free life in the least invasive way.

So far Cass is thriving and her original vet and the oncologists are in awe (and a bit confused ) at how well she is doing

Have fun with tuppence at Christmas & Hogmanay Anny, we will be thinking about you x

Thank you Lurchergirls

Sorry for being late to respond, I had to dig out an old diary for a phrase (see below)

I don't know much about Scotland, as I've never been there unfortunately

However, I was chatting to a Scottish bloke in our local pub on New years eve a few years back.
He told me it was traditional in Scotland to say Slanje Var on Hogmanay (I wrote it down as he spelt it)

I hope he wasn't having me on, and that is actually a good thing to say!

If it is a good thing then Slanje Var to you and all of your friends on Hogmanay

Anny

xxx