Forumites, your opinions would be greatly appreciated.
Short version; our much loved dog is ill. Final test results came through on Saturday morning, basically confirming what we'd been told a week ago, in terms of diagnosis.
1) Chemo will give her a year. And a year to a dog is a long time. But the vet says it won't give a decent quality of life. He wouldn't do it to his dog.
2) Palliative care will give 2-4 weeks. During that time we have to watch her for side effects from the meds, and decide if they are limiting her quality of life further. We will also, with the vets help, have to determine when is best to "make her comfortable."
3) "Make her comfortable" now.
We've chosen option 2, but getting the balance right for her is almost a finger in the wind exercise. Yesterday, although not bounding with energy was a better day, and she ate exceptionally well. Late evening was uncomfortable for her and it was a bad night but she ate well this morning, and wagged her tail when I was prep-ing her breakfast.
She barked her displeasure when I left for work, for the first time in a couple of weeks. However, her uncomfortable times are worse than a week ago.
We have our head around the decision, but its the when we are struggling with... HID is in the sooner rather than later camp, and I'm trying to manage it on a day by day, minute by minute thing. But what we have to keep to the forefront of our minds is its what's best for Bess, not what's best for us.
Thanks for reading, and ALL opinions not matter how brutal are welcome.
Short version; our much loved dog is ill. Final test results came through on Saturday morning, basically confirming what we'd been told a week ago, in terms of diagnosis.
1) Chemo will give her a year. And a year to a dog is a long time. But the vet says it won't give a decent quality of life. He wouldn't do it to his dog.
2) Palliative care will give 2-4 weeks. During that time we have to watch her for side effects from the meds, and decide if they are limiting her quality of life further. We will also, with the vets help, have to determine when is best to "make her comfortable."
3) "Make her comfortable" now.
We've chosen option 2, but getting the balance right for her is almost a finger in the wind exercise. Yesterday, although not bounding with energy was a better day, and she ate exceptionally well. Late evening was uncomfortable for her and it was a bad night but she ate well this morning, and wagged her tail when I was prep-ing her breakfast.
She barked her displeasure when I left for work, for the first time in a couple of weeks. However, her uncomfortable times are worse than a week ago.
We have our head around the decision, but its the when we are struggling with... HID is in the sooner rather than later camp, and I'm trying to manage it on a day by day, minute by minute thing. But what we have to keep to the forefront of our minds is its what's best for Bess, not what's best for us.
Thanks for reading, and ALL opinions not matter how brutal are welcome.
