Chocolate lab has blood cancer...

[barbie1]

Our beloved family lab has been diagnoised with advanced blood cancer, his body is ravaged by the bloody disease :-( there is nothing to be done for him now.
3 weeks ago he joined us in France after spending a few weeks in Dubai kennels after we relocated. He was fine when he arrived here. Then in the last three weeks we noticed he didn't enjoy his walks and was very slow. Took him to vets when overnight he could hardly stand.
Blood results confirmed the cancer.
They have given him a few days to a few weeks. Has anyone had any experience of this? Would my precious boy be in any pain. I'd rather have him put to sleep then let him suffer.
We have been given tablets, 16mg methylprednisolone. It perks him right up and he almost seems back to normal, but we know he isn't.

We are all devestated, my dd 2.5 dotes on him.

(weeps)

barbie1 get yourself over to this site and put all the info you have into your first post. There is an incredible amount of knowledge on the site which might help you - even if it's just to explain what is going on. Someone on there will know a bit about it.

Lizcat is a vet and I'm sure she'll be back to this thread when she can.

barbie1 - I have just been through this with my Staffie, Porridge, who was PTS on 26 June. He was a rescue dog and we had only had him just over a year when he just went off his food and didn't enjoy his walks. The vet couldn't find much wrong on examination, exept the possibility of a liver tumour but the blood tests showed he had chronic leukaemia with an acute episode too.

We were offered full chemo with blood transfusions etc. but as he was already nearly 11 and they could not hold out much hope of a remission we settled for Prednisolone and also oral chemo with Alkeran and Leukeran. We had 4 very happy months with him being reasonably well. He was only up to a proper walk on 2 days but was very content and loving pottering about th ehouse and garden, playing with his toys and being a real sweetie. Eventually he got very weak and although he could get out to the garden he fell over a lot and we decided on PTS once he decided not to eat.

I'm pleased we bought him a bit of extra time with the drugs - it was worth it for him and for us - especially as DS1 who was doing his finals at uni was able to spend time with him when he came home - he loved Porridge so much.

From what our vet said Prednisolone will do some good short term and if you want to add oral chemo it needs to be done soon after the Pred. is started as it doesn't work so well otherwise. There is another poster, Jellykat, sho had a dog with similar problems at the same time as me, she had Prednisolone for her dog and he was quite well for a while too. My thoughts are with you and your lovely lab. I found this experience devastating and I still get very weepy a few weeks on.

You see this is what's confusing us. We were told it's gone past being offered treatment, it's terminal and he should pass within no more than a few weeks...this we understand. Then get given these pills, we're told they can't cure him will just give him a pick up. So this pick me up makes him walk a little further, makes him wag his tail...thats about all.
He has refused all food, all treats and has drunk the minimum amount of water.
What's the point of the pill? He looks so sad but then don't labs always?
You say we will know when he is ready, but how? Once he is at the stage he can't walk at all, he is vomiting or messing. Surely this means we have let him go on to long.

I think we should put him to sleep, husband thinks not. It's draining and causing much anguish and hurt. We both want to do what is best.

Once the Prednisolone kicks in he should feel much better for a while - as a steroid it increases appetite and thirst. If he isn't responding well then maybe there is more going on. Our dog had an ultrasound test and it found a tiny tumour on his liver, so we knew the main problem was the leukaemia. Just to reassure you our wonderful vet also said our dog was not in pain, and it was clear that he was not. He had one little bout of diarrhoea when he started chemo, which was soon cured with normal medication and then he was 100% continent to the end. On the food front ours would eat tinned fish and the vet suggested warming up Chappie dog food ( which is really smelly) to tempt his appetite.

We made the heartbreaking desicion to put Freddie to sleep. We got the lab report back and things were very much worst then we expected. Dh has just left. I'm heartbroken

Oh barbie This is the worst bit. But you know, you are doing the very last loving thing you can for Freddie. You are a good owner. He was lucky to have you x

How long does it take? Dh has been there for half an hour. I just want to know he is at peace

He has gone. Sleep tight beautiful boy x

:( x

I am soooo sorry :( you have made a brave decision and the right one. Sweet dreams beautiful dog! Big {{{{hugs}}}} xx

Barbie so sorry for I have only just seen yr question .....+ now its too late .

Big hugs to you, our big boy went nearly 2 yrs ago now + we still miss him.

Take care.

Barbie, I am so sorry to hear this news. This is the hardest part of being a dog owner.

Please take comfort from thinking that your DH was there with him at the end, and it is very, very peaceful.

So sorry to hear of this heartbreaking event in your life, but you really did do the right thing, enjoy your rest Freddie xx

I am so sorry.

Sorry from me too, very sad - I will be thinking of you.

RIP Freddie

Sorry Barbie I didn't get back before you had to make the difficult decision. I don't have any kind of magic wand and I think you make the right choice for your lovely boy.

/so very sorry barbie to read this. He was clearly much loved, and you must take comfort from the fact that he had a loving family life xx

Thank you all for your kind wishes, we went back to the uk for the weekend. We just couldn't bare to be in the house. We are back now and the house seems so empty keep thinking I can hear him...