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UPDATE September. Scroll down for puppy picture! Our old girl crossed the bridge in July, in the most peaceful way possible. And now we have a new puppy...not peaceful, but a joy!

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Our lovely dog (lab mix we got from the shelter when she was a baby) is 14. She is obviously getting up there in years. She's had some sore hips and stiffness, but on Thursday, everything changed. She more or less couldn't get up. And when we got her up, she then couldn't lie back down. She just kind of...fell. We took her to the vet right away, and they have given us some meds for inflammation, joints, etc. and also did some blood work. Since then, she's been able to get up and down and doesn't seem to be in pain, but is by no means spry. She's eating just ok and drinking normal.

The vet called last night to say that her white blood count, which should be at about 5,000-7,000 is about 47,000. Not good. They are sending the blood off to a bigger lab in case that is an error, but we all know it's not...

Because of the 4th of July, we won't know anything for a few days, so I'm grasping at straws in my impatience. Could this be from anything else? Tick bite? Infection? No, right?

I think I know the answer. When she couldn't get up, the look she gave me seemed to say it all. It is just so sudden.

Sorry to hear, not sure and I'd be impatient to know more as well.

Maybe a tick borne disease?

Thanks, Chisamba, that's what I'm hoping.

My kitty had Lyme disease, so it could happen. Probably the happiest possible outcome...

Jingling for you that it's something easily treatable!

Healing Vibes coming your pups way.....

It's so hard to wait for answers. Be sure to communicate with your vet...if she is only eating "ok" and still not getting up/down like she was, they may want to increase her pain meds and possibly give her a tummy med or appetite stimulant while you wait for results. Especially with offices closed for holiday tomorrow, try to get ahead of it so you know you have tried everything. It may be time, but drugs may give her more quality time...we've had it happen with a couple of our oldsters.

Hugs and jingles.

I don't want to sound callous, because I've been in the position of having to decide when to euth and it sucks, but I do think its smart to consider that it might be time and prepare yourselves for it, but still wait to hear what the lab says. It might be something relatively easily treatable, or it might be cancer. In the meantime, give her whatever you can to make her comfy and enjoy the time you have left.

High WBC is usually a sign of infection, if that's what it is she might feel much better after some antibiotics, and fluids or anti inflamms if she needs them. I wouldn't say it's hopeless, but it's good to be open to different outcomes with older animals. Hope she feels better soon.

Vet called back; looks like it's either lymphoma or leukemia. We will go to an oncologist on Friday. But even then, I'm not sure we want to do chemo on a 14 year-old dog. My husband (it's really his dog), is more inclined to do so; he thinks she could possible make it to 19-20 years, but that seems a stretch for a mid-size dog (lab mutt just a hair smaller than a border collie). We will see what Friday brings. I would much rather euth her a month too early than have her suffer even a few extra days, if that makes sense.

She has been SUCH a good dog.

I know how you feel, I'm the same way. I'm glad you have a diagnosis, best wishes with making a decision re treatment etc. Hugs.

I am so sorry. Glad you have a diagnosis. Hoping the consult with the oncologist will give you and your DH the info you need to make the best decision for your girl.

Moonshine wrote: I would much rather euth her a month too early than have her suffer even a few extra days, if that makes sense.

She has been SUCH a good dog.

Of course it does and of course she has been. IMHO, to do otherwise is cruel and disrespectful of her dignity and our role as caretakers of our pets. I'm sorry for you all, especially your pup.

You have my heart felt sympathy for whatever path you take. We are all animal lovers here and we have all been in similar positions. It is never easy. Enjoy your animals every day you have with them.

Just jingles.

So sorry to read this tough update. FWIW, I agree with you over you husband, though I understand his heartache.

Sorry to hear

I'm so sorry to hear about your pup. Hoping that the oncologist has better words of wisdom than anything I can provide, having had two pets with lymphoma . Cancer sucks.

That said, try to get calories into her, no matter what form. Cancer drains their energy and takes all the calories away, so you've got to replace it and add more. If she'll eat raw food, all the better - but if not - seriously - feed her cheeseburgers if that's all she'll eat. If she refuses to eat anything...you'll know it's time.

Also, look into CannaPet. I've heard it really does a good job of relieving pain in cancer patients (it wasn't available yet for my two furkids ).

Better a day too early, than an hour too late.

Tarlo Farm wrote:Better a day too early, than an hour too late.

Yes! We went to the oncologist today; it looks like it is stage 5 lymphoma. They gave us some steroids, but that's just short term. We are probably looking at days rather than weeks. A friend is going to come out this weekend and take some final portraits of her in her grizzled beauty (lovely black dog with graying face).

So she gets some last warm sweet summer days.

And you know what? I think she knows. Ever since that "look" she gave me last week when she hit bottom (before the meds), I think she has known. If dogs can detect cancer in other people, I'm sure they are not ignorant about themselves.

I'm so sorry, I'm glad you get to enjoy a few more days with her. Please post a pic when you can. Hugs.

Enjoy those sweet summer days with your girl. If you're willing to share, I'd love to see the portraits sometime. Hugs in this difficult time....

I am sorry. At least you can say goodbye. Sometimes things happen so fast that you just don't have time to.

Enjoy every minute with her. Our animals give us so much.

Thinking of you.

I'm sorry

I'm so sorry. I hope you'll share your photos, I would love to see your girl.

I believe so deeply that a merciful passing is the gift we can offer them for all the years of love they give us.

Hi, everyone,

Sorry I've been away: we high-tailed it to the beach last week to recover.

Last Tuesday morning, my husband took her in to put her down. He said it was peaceful and beautiful. I truly believe it was the perfect time: not a day too early, not a day too late. She had a wonderful last weekend around her little girls, and a last warm summer evening on her porch the night before. It's odd how comforting it is to me that she went when she did: if we had waited another week, I think it would have been a mistake.

Thanks SO MUCH to all of you for your support and advice; it has meant the world.

Funny how much we can't get into a dogless routine: every time I open the door, I wait to let her in or out, and at dinnertime, there is no pup to feed! This will take some getting used to.

I have a sweet picture to post, but I need to remember how to do it. Since I don't have Facebook or any photo sharing sites, I'm a bit behind the times...

I hope I did this right...it's probably HUGE, but so was her heart! This picture was taken one week before we put her down. A friend came over and did a final photo shoot for us.

What a beautiful and happy dog. I'm so sorry for your loss, but thank you for sharing her with us.

What a great picture! So sorry for your loss, they really do take a piece of our hearts with them when they go.

{{{{HUGS}}}}

Susan

We PTS our 5 yr old Sparky on July 11 from lymphoma. I took lots of pictures but still am unable to view as too painful. I'm sorry for your loss. (Hugs)

My sincere sympathy for your loss

What a beautiful girl! I am so sorry for your loss. They certainly leave a hole in our heart.

What a lovely smile. I'm sorry for your loss. She looks like such a nice girl.

Take comfort knowing that you gave her a great life and a peaceful passing.

When I put my last dog down - it was peaceful for both of us. The vet office gave us a lot of time before the injection and time after to hold him.

It does take a long time to get over the daily routine of caring for them when they are no longer with us.

Hugs and healing vibes to you and your family.

I love her spirit and happiness in that photo. Peace to you and your family as you start to figure out life without your girl....it is so very different, even in cases where you have other critters in the family.

Godspeed sweet girl. You sure were loved.

What a beautiful picture of your gorgeous girl. I would frame that if i were you.

Thank you for sharing her last days with us. Sending all the cyber hugs i can to you and your husband.

Beautiful picture! She looks so happy and part of the family.
So sorry for your loss but glad that it went as well as much as these things can.

What a jaunty look she has about her! And surrounded by loving hands. . . she was lucky to have found such a good home, may your memories of her warm your heart.

Awwww, what a sweetie! She'll be waiting for you on the other side.

We didn't think we'd get another dog quite so soon, but a nearby rescue had some pups, and you know how it goes. So meet the mighty Thor:


I can't seem to post it rotated the right way, but seeing as he spends half of his time sideways or on his belly, it's a pretty apt likeness.

Any guesses to the breed? The rescue simply said "shepherd mix," but I see a lot of Pittie in the face. The brindle color suggests that to.

what part of the world are you in, could he be catahoula? so cute, and i believe taking on one in need is a great way to honor the love of your old dog forward

I am in NC, so could be Catahoula or Plott Hound mix (state dog of NC). He was the only brindle of his littermates. They were more tricolor or fawn with black muzzle. Here is the whole litter (he is the guy in front). I see the shepherd a lot more in his brothers and sisters than in him:

yes there is a lot more shepherd in his littermates. I had a pit shepherd cross who was brindle and a stunning beautiful and so easy to train pup. could aslo be shepherd plott hound x, or shepherd catahoula x. i do see the shepherd in the others though so i agree there must be shepherd there.

He's gonna be a big boy judging by his paws. Congratulations!

Don't forget there can be more than one baby daddy in a litter! That coloring could also be Rottie, the one on far left has a Rottie look. Have to say, you really cannot determine the genetic components just by looks. Two of my fosters came back with totally wild crosses that I would never have guessed! You can always run a DNA test on him to see. Regardless he is adorable! Congratulations on the new family member!! Rescues ROCK!