I don't really want any advice, I just needed somewhere to pour my heart out.

My Springer, Bailey will be 10 in January, so he isn't old. I love him more than life. He is my puppy dog.

In May he started coughing a little, but not really noticeable. In June is got worse so we popped him to the vet. They diagnosed a problem with his throat - and they duly gave use a massive pot of medicine. The medicine worked a bit, but he was still coughing. After calling the vet they said to wait until he had finished the medicine in its entirety and see how he was then. If the problem hadn't corrected itself he would have to have an Xray to see exactly what the problem was.

August came along and the medicine finished and he got worse again. So, we booked him in for an Xray. That morning the vet called and said he had a massive tumour on his abdomen and that is would be an expensive operation and dependant on what the tumour was clinging onto ... it might be better to put him to sleep while he was already knocked out. We said we would pay whatever it costs for the operation, and we wanted to try and save him.

A couple of hours later the vet called and said the operation had been a success . The tumour was definitely non cancerous and it weighed .... 3Ib !!!! It had been pushing onto his lung causing (they thought) pneumonia. They did say there was a slight shadowing of his lungs, but pneumonia was the diagnosis.

Bailey was kept in overnight on a drip and the next morning we picked our boy up. He had been cut the entire length of his undercarriage in order to get the tumour out, but the vets had done a wonderful job with the stitches. He was on antibiotics for 6 weeks in order to clear up the pneumonia.

But - three weeks on and the cough hasn't improved at all. It is more phlegmy, but he is still coughing about 50 times a day. We have been back to the vet twice and were told to complete the course and if he is still coughing we would have to take him back to be re Xrayed.

I am soooooo very scared. I have this feeling that there will be something on his lungs and that the shadow is another tumour and this time they won't be able to remove the lump. I keep telling myself to be grateful - I mean, I would have had another 6 weeks with my glorious boy ..... but dear god, how can I live without him.

Oh you poor thing. It must be horrible for you every time he coughs. I have a 'senior' springer too, and they are such lovely affectionate dogs.

My boy got bloat and he nearly died a week after my mum had died, (May just gone) it was absolutely the worst time of my life. He spent 3 days at the vets after having his stomach opened up. Luckily he came through it and has recovered well.

Really hoping that your Bailey improves and makes a good recovery and you get to spend another few years with him

Thank you Moonlily. Its odd how you get the year from hell isn't it. You with your poor Mum and doggy - who I am really glad made a full recovery.

For me, this year has been horrid. Thank god no one died (well ... there is still a lot of year left) but my other dog started getting epilepsy earlier on this year and is on medication, plus she got an infection which made her so poorly she couldn't move and just lay on the floor in blankets shivering and moaning (although she is now tickety boo), now Bailey. Plus, to top off the wondrous year I fell and broke my foot in two places and all my toes. I have only just come out of plaster.

Roll on 2016.

Oh crumbs, yes it does sound as though it's been a bit of a year for both of us. Lets hope we've had all the bad stuff and things improve now.

oh bless you, what a horrible time you and your dog are having at the moment

all you can really do it take one step and a time and one day at a time, take the vets advice and see how he is once the medicine has been finished.

If there was anything else lurking in his chest would they not have seen it when they opened him up.........

I am sending positive thoughts to you and hope everything turns out ok - Bailey sounds like a little fighter tho so fingers crossed

Thank you very much Katt. When they did the Xrays and removed the large tumour they said there was a shadow on his lungs. But as the tumour was so large and it was in effect squashing one of his lungs in a weird position, their initial diagnosis was that it was pneumonia. He had a long course of antibiotics to try and clear the pneumonia - 6 weeks worth. But my fear now is that, in the 3 weeks he has been on the antibiotics the only change is that his cough is a little phlegmy. He is still coughing a lot.

He has been back twice to the vet, primarily to check on his stitches. We also have asked on both occasions how long it will take for the antibiotics to kick in, and they have said it could take a while. But surely some improvement would have been made by now wouldn't it ? The last time we went we saw a locum vet and he asked if we had been offered another xray just to check the status of his lungs. We told him that we were only informed to finish the antibiotics, and if he is still coughing we then take him back for another scan.

I just worry that the shadow they saw originally is something more sinister, and we have just prolonged the agony and put him through a long operation for nothing. He has been such a superstar and takes his tablets twice a day with no quibble whatsoever. I also made him some fluffy slippers for his back feet as he was trying to scratch the stitches - and he allowed me to put them on him every evening when he was alone without so much as a scowl. He is a poppet - and I feel like I have wronged him.

Edited to say, I am assuming that, if it isn't pneumonia and he does have something horrible in his lungs ... they wont be able to do anything. I don't know anything about the human body, but his lungs much be under his rib cage which to me sound horrendous. How do they get to the lungs ?

I totally understand how scared you are but it sounds like you are doing everything right, and no, you certainly havent wronged him at all!!!

to be honest, I dont know how long antibiotics take to kick in with dogs, I guess it depends how sick he was before he was put on them - my cat had to have a course of antibiotics as she actually caught a cold - no idea how - but the vet put her on these antibiotics, not to fight the infection she had but to prevent it from getting any worse - apparently its like when we get a cold/cough, you have to let it run its course and the body will fight it - it COULD be the same with your little one - I didnt get that explanation from the vet when she first gave my cat the antibiotics - I rang her a few days later to say the cat was no better and should I bring her back in, it was then that the vet explained what the antibiotics were doing

try not to worry (really hard, I know) but you really are doing the best for your dog, just take it one day at a time *hugs*

^this^

Had a bit of a scare with mine earlier this year, so I know exactly how you feel and exactly how awful it is. Hugs to you both.

Thank you for your support - which is why I posted here in the first place. I try and talk to my husband, but then I get emotional ... and he clams up (he struggles to deal with emotions). I knew I had to get it off my chest, so decided to post here.

I appreciate all your thoughts .... I really do *hugs*

i can't say i really have an answer except that i wish him well. i'd be gutted if i was in your position. good luck for a positive outcome

Thank you confuddled (great name by the way). I hope its a positive outcome too

hi Porcupine, just wondered if you had an update?

Awww, thanks for asking. I am still terrified - and I keep bursting into tears ... which is very embarrassing. Bailey is still coughing, although my husband keeps trying to convince me that the cough has changed tone and velocity. Bailey also nicked his armchair yesterday and my husband sat on the floor in front of the chair .... and he could hear him wheezing. He said it sounded like when I had bronchitis a few years ago. He really does believe that it is pneumonia and the cough will go very soon.

He has less that 2 weeks of tablets left, so we are going to see how he is this weekend ... and then make a decision. He will definitely have to go back and have another xray if the cough hasn't gone. I only hope that a miracle will happen. I feel very very negative all the time. Normally I am an optimistic person, but on this occasion I feel very DOOM AND GLOOM. I feel wretched really.

I appreciate you asking after him.

Oh - and to add insult to injury the pet insurance have refused to pay up .... as apparently I didn't disclose a 'pre existing condition'. I got the email on Saturday and just burst into tears again. Seriously ... I need to get a grip. I am an emotional wreck.

Completely understand how you feel, it's a very emotional time, love the oldies but they do worry us when they get sick. I can't say anything that would help just offer my prayers and hope all will be well for you.

Stay strong for a good outcome. Bloody insurance companies not what you need at the moment

Yep, despite all their 'warm hearted, reassuring Tv ads, they are there to make money and will find any way not to pay out. I paid insurance for one of my cats for his first ten years - never claiming, then when he reached ten, they didn't want to insure him anymore.

Don't be so hard on yourself, of course you're an emtional wreck, someone you love is poorly. Hope he makes a full recovery.

Thank you everyone. You're all being very kind. Bailey is going back to the vet Thursday morning for another xray. I am so bloody scared. He is still coughing.

My husband and I have had a chat in case the worst happens as he will be talking to the vet on the phone after the xray (I can't as I will go to pieces). I needed him to know what I wanted.

But, hopefully that won't happen and they will turn around and say they still think it's pneumonia and send us away with more drugs. But, after five weeks if he had pneumonia we should have noticed a difference ........ shouldn't we.

The last few days he hasn't been eating like normal. He has always loved meal times. He is still drinking, pooing and in himself he his normal gorgeous self. But he seems to not really want his food. He does eat, but slowly. I wonder if his throat is sore from the coughing?

Poor Bailey, the shadow could be scar tissue from the pneumonia. With a good vet and such a loving family he is getting the best care he could get, and he will know that.

We'll all be rooting for him.

Thank you very much. I will update on Thursday. I do appreciate the support ..... as I am falling to pieces. I am quite strong when Im busy, but its the moments alone when I crack. I love him (and his sister) sooooooo much, too much.

I know its daft, but if anything happens to him I will miss him everywhere I go at home. When Im washing up or ironing he lies next to my feet. If I sit on the floor to dust the TV stand ... he lies next to me. I always say he is helping me with the chores. He will only go outside for a wee if I go with him, he climbs on my lap for a cuddle every night when watching the telly. He is my shadow, whereas his sister is more independent.

I hope he pulls through.

Still in my thoughts and prayers

Bailey was put to sleep this morning. I can't quite believe it. He had more xrays this morning and they diagnosed lung cancer.

Can't stop crying right now, it's too hard.

Thank you again for your support x x

I am so sorry Porcupine, we have all been there at some point in our lives so we do understand how you are feeling, only consolation is you did your best right up to the end and have loved him so much he has had a great life with you and his sister.
Just try to look after yourself now and allow yourself time to grieve.

oh, I am so sorry I really dont know what else to say that will make it any easier for you

sending a virtual hug your way

So sorry Porcupine - take care