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If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

My gorgeous golden retriever

35 replies

lovemydog · 26/04/2011 21:16

had a large malignant tumour removed from her mouth six months ago. She now has malignant lumps in the lymph nodes. She seems to be well in herself, eats and drinks well and enjoys short walks (well, she is 15 1/2 . . . ) Does anyone have any advice? My vet says take each week as it comes, she genuinely sems to be happy and pain free.

OP posts:
coccyx · 26/04/2011 21:19

think your vet is correct, one day/week at a time. Enjoy your old lady in her vintage years

Original poster
lovemydog · 26/04/2011 22:05

Thanks coccyx. I am just so sad. I know 15 1/2 is a great age for a goldie, I want to keep her for as long as possible but don't want her to be in pain. So hard when she can't tell us!

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coccyx · 26/04/2011 22:17

We had a wonderful 16 year old labrador who we had to say goodbye to 6 years ago. Still brings a tear to my eyes now but i look back and remember fondly the time we had with him.
I do believe you will know when she has had enough and no longer enjoying life

midori1999 · 27/04/2011 11:35

I'm so sorry to hear this. Sad

I also agree with your vet and it's very important to make sure you can deal with the most difficult decision when it comes in a timely manner. The biggest thing we owe our pets IMO, is to know when it's the right time and let them go. 15 1/2 is a great age for a Golden and it sounds like she has been well loved for all of that.

I've been lucky to never lose a dog to illness, I can't imagine what you must be going through.

throckenholt · 27/04/2011 11:40

You can tell by the look in their eyes when they have had enough. If she looks really sad then you need to think about if you are prolonging it for her or you.

It is tough when they get old - concentrate on the good long life she has already had, and don't push it further than reasonable.

Vallhala · 27/04/2011 11:47

All I can say is what others have... take it day by day, week by week, enjoy your time and be brave in making the right decisions at the right time, as much as it hurts.

Thinking of you.

Val x

Lizcat · 27/04/2011 18:38

Enjoy her while you have here, take pleasure in every little thing and spoil her rotten - my advice to owners in your position. I have to say I did all of this with my (lowers her voice) old cat he ate salmon, prawns and all things good for the last weeks of his life and when the bad days got more than the good days I sat him on my lap DH stroke him and I gave him the jab we then both cuddled him and cried while he drifted off, purring away. Whilst we all miss him we smile when we think of him tucking into fresh salmon.

Original poster
lovemydog · 27/04/2011 20:58

Oh, such lovely messages, thank you! She has indeed been very well loved - we got her when DS2 had just started playgroup and he will be off to Uni in the autumn so can't remember a time without her. I am under no illusions that we shall have to have her put to sleep - but I'm happy to say that,
after a huge dinner of chicken and rice, she is lying at my feet sleeping peacefully. She genuinely looks like an 8 year old, not almost 16! DS1 had a day off work today and took her on (a shortened) version of her favourite walk - he said she seemed to be smiling throughout as if she knew she wouldn't be doing it many more times . . . I can't imagine life without her.

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bemybebe · 27/04/2011 21:03

Wow, 15 1/2!! Good girl Grin Take the vet's advice love and enjoy the beautiful time with her.

wannaBe · 27/04/2011 21:05

it is hard. I lost my almost fifteen year old lab in december 2009. She was my first guide dog and the one that had changed everything.

One thing that helped me was that I had a very supportive vet, and we had a very frank discussion a few months before she died, during which I asked her to honestly tell me if she thought it was time. As it happened, the day before I had her put to sleep I'd taken her to the vet for a check-up. for the first time she didn't want to walk there, and I almost took her home and just made the appointment. But I took her to the vet and she said that the lump she had had ulsorated and it was probably only a matter of days. I asked if it would be better to let her go now rather than wait and she said yes, so I made the appointment the next day.

The last thing we can do for our animals is to help them to die peacefully.

x

herladyship · 27/04/2011 22:20

Sad sorry to hear this, just want to repeat what others have said & hope that you can enjoy some quality time with your gorgeous girl before the time comes to say goodbye. i think you will know when the time has come, x

Madondogs · 30/04/2011 00:56

Nothing to add to what has already been said, just feeling very sad for you and your family . It is 2 years ago this week that we had our darling, Beau, PTS,he was 15.....as you say a good age for a goldie. Thinking of you and your lovely dog, and may all your happy memories help you through this sad time x

SoloIsApparentlyACougar · 30/04/2011 01:01

Very sad for you lmd, and whilst she cannot tell you in words, you will know. You just have to be brave enough to 'listen' to her :( all the best.x

kid · 30/04/2011 08:36

Like others have already said, enjoy your time together and use it to spoil her rotten. When the time comes you will know as you know your dog so well.
When her time does come, you will have many find memories of your time together and you'll know you gave her a long and love filled life.
Thinking of you x

Original poster
lovemydog · 30/04/2011 20:19

Thank you all. I took her to the vet yesterday as her annual jabs were due and I wasn't sure whether it was 'worth it' or not. Vet tells me her lungs are clear and her heart is strong and amazingly the lumps in her lymph nodes seem to have gone down! - so yes, the jabs were 'worth it'. We had a lovely walk today and she still seems happy and pain free - so we shall continue to take things day. Agree that when the time comes I will just 'know'.

OP posts:
kid · 30/04/2011 20:27

Glad to hear she is coping well. Hope she continues to have lots of happy, pain free time with you ahead of her x

Original poster
lovemydog · 02/05/2011 20:40

Sadly, I got up this morning and found my gorgeous girl dead on the landing. Sad I went to bed at midnight last night and she was fine - we walked round the block at 9pm and she came home to chicken, rice and veg. In some ways I am pleased that I never had to 'make the decision' - but I am in bits right now . . . God bless Molly and thanks for 15 happy years.

OP posts:
minimu1 · 02/05/2011 21:16

Sad You will miss Molly after 15 years - she sounds a happy loved girl bless her. I am so sorry for you

BettyTurnip · 02/05/2011 22:06

Sorry to hear this...we have a goldie boy, they're gorgeous dogs. Thankfully Molly died peacefully at home.

kid · 02/05/2011 22:12

I am so sorry to hear Molly passed away. Maybe it's a blessing in disguise that she went suddenly. I know you are going to miss her terribly and will need loads of time to come to terms with her loss and the way you found her. I hope you can take some comfort in the fact she had 15 happy years with you and that you didn't have to make the decision to let her go xxx

Scuttlebutter · 02/05/2011 22:16

I am so, so sorry to hear this news. At least you and she were spared that last decision. And it sounds as though she had fifteen wonderful years with your family. Unfortunately, that makes the grieving even worse at the beginning.

ChippingInLovesEasterEggs · 02/05/2011 22:16

lovemydog :( I'm sobbing like a soft thing here for you, DH & DC. What a terrible shock for you when she seemed so well the past few days. So very, very sad. However, for Molly, what a way to go - lots of love, lots of lovely food, a walk in her favourite place... no 'final trip' to the vets, just a peaceful transition in her sleep...

((Big Hugs to you all))

Vallhala · 02/05/2011 22:20

I'm so. so very sorry lovemydog. Please take comfort in knowing that she passed away in her sleep knowing that she was loved and cared for until the very end.

My heart's with you and I feel for you so much.

Val x

SoloIsApparentlyACougar · 02/05/2011 22:25

Sorry for your loss lovemydog. For Molly; what a wonderful last day with her family, bless her.x

midori1999 · 02/05/2011 22:32

I am so, so sorry to hear Molly has gone. It sounds like she had a wonderful life with you and had lots of spoiling in her last days, as well as went peacefully, so hopefully you can take some comfort in that.

People often under estimate the loss of a pet, I hope those around you understand your loss.