A Dog's Life

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The Larry

climber
Moab, UT
May 20, 2013 - 09:52pm PT
Anastasia

climber
Home
May 20, 2013 - 10:04pm PT

For all the dogs and handlers at work today. I salute you.


David Knopp

Trad climber
CA
Jun 13, 2013 - 09:13pm PT

beautiful day at the beach!
bluering

Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
Jun 13, 2013 - 09:33pm PT
Special place in my heart for Beagles, as I had 2 growing up. Good dogs.

And Ana's special-ops dogs are incredible dogs in their capability. I think most of them love the work, as they are all work-dogs traditionally.

A shout-out to their handlers too. They love them!

This guy, Kevin, is THE MAN for getting retired military dogs to help disabled vets recover from injuries and PTSD.

http://khanrahan.com/2013/05/07/military-dogs-for-loan/

Against PTSD, dogs are a huge help. A lot! Many of you dog owners out there understand how this is possible, having a loyal friend by your side when you're fighting war depression.

Side note: This was very touching about a fallen Police handler and his buddy

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/31/figo-jason-ellis_n_3367374.html


You have no concept of dog loyalty if that image doesn't make you cry.
Bob D'A

Trad climber
Taos, NM
Jun 13, 2013 - 10:34pm PT
Amazing how we all love our dogs and the love they return to us.

Eva having fun today.

apogee

climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
Jun 15, 2013 - 12:39am PT
It's back.

Maddie had surgery about 2 months ago to debulk the tumor in her mouth...much to the surprise of all, she did very well and had a rebound of energy and personality reminiscent of 5 years her junior.

Of course, we knew this would, at best, buy her some quality time. The growth has gradually returned, but up until about a week ago, she still showed appetite & vigor. For the last several days, though, her energy has degraded significantly, she's not eating much, and the infected, foul-smelling drool has returned in force.

Last time we were at this point, it was very conflicting...I was really struggling with deciding when her 'quality of life' had been degraded, and the best course of action to take. Taking responsibility for the very real likelihood that surgical intervention could kill her, balanced against her general demeanor, was very confusing. I'm not sure that the fact that she came through it positively to have created any better clarity for me. No, it probably just confused me even further.

Of course, the big change in her condition occurred late this afternoon, after the vet's office had closed for the weekend. I'm sure she's gonna need surgery again, though I have a bunch of guilt for not having recognized her need earlier.

This time around, though...assuming she makes it through the weekend....I'm not sure that another round of 'tumor debulking' is the best course. It's possible it would be successful again, but for what purpose? She's destined to have it grow back again, and be at this same place in a month or two.

Much as I need her in my life, I'm feeling that this is a pretty selfish motivation. And yet, the prospect of making the decision to stop this for good is confounding & inconceivable.

Writing this stuff is therapeutic. Believe it or not, I don't share it anywhere else (or with anyone else). Thank you for bearing with me.
SCseagoat

Trad climber
Santa Cruz
Jun 15, 2013 - 09:44am PT
Oh dear, it's hardly "bearing with you". Whatever it takes to make your decision everyone is with you.

Love to Maddie, strength to you


Susan
Bad Climber

climber
Jun 15, 2013 - 10:00am PT
Damn, Apogee, that's hard. We know you'll make the right choice, whatever that is. Be strong.

BAd
bluering

Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
Jun 15, 2013 - 10:02am PT
Apogee, I really love dogs, and just said a prayer for Maddie.

It's time to let her go. I do not say that lightly. I can tell you know what to do but you love your friend. We all do. I wept like a child when I had to pet my last dog as she was injected.

Spend a good day with her, wear her out, feed her well, and take her home to doggie-heaven.

It's really hard. They use muscle relaxants nowadays to numb the dog before they issue the lethal injection. It's somewhat "humane".

Sorry to be harsh, but it sounds like Maddie needs to go to the doggie playground of the Gods.

God bless!
10b4me

Social climber
Jun 15, 2013 - 10:04am PT
Sorry to hear that, Apogee. Is radiation an option?
apogee

climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
Jun 15, 2013 - 10:25am PT
Not realistically, no. She's 13, and when she was diagnosed last fall, chemo/radiation was an option, though not expected to have a good outcome, and would have been very traumatizing at her age. I opted against this, and the two surgeries she's had thusfar have simply de-bulked the tumor to make her more comfortable (esp. eating).

Aside from the impacts on eating, as the tumor grows, it sheds tissue that becomes necrotic & literally rots in her mouth- thus the ungodly drool & smell.

I haven't run her latest condition by the vet yet, but I'm guessing he'll tell me something similar: surgery might buy her a couple more months, but it's also possible she'll bleed uncontrollably, and have to be put down in the middle of the procedure. I think we'll probably give it a try again, though this time I feel a bit more ready to make the hard decision.

Or perhaps it's just plain time to make the hard decision.
Brandon-

climber
The Granite State.
Jun 15, 2013 - 10:29am PT
I haven't been in that situation yet, but as my older dog slows down, I see it coming in the next few years.

Sorry to hear that you're in this situation again. Dogs are pretty special.
nita

Social climber
chica de chico, I don't claim to be a daisy.
Jun 15, 2013 - 11:14am PT

Apoogee, damn, i'm so sorry...

give Maddie an extra hug and kiss for me..

Take care...

Saludos.
nita...)-;
FRUMY

Trad climber
SHERMAN OAKS,CA
Jun 16, 2013 - 12:44am PT
SavageMarmot

Trad climber
Nederland, CO
Jun 16, 2013 - 01:20am PT
Why is it okay to put a dog down when there's such a fervor over putting a human down? Seems like apples to apples to me.

I don't live much differently than my lovely pups.
apogee

climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
Jun 16, 2013 - 02:00am PT
Those are truly great names.
apogee

climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
Jun 16, 2013 - 11:34pm PT
Last Friday, things were on a downhill trajectory...not eating, lots of malaise, staying in bed...

Then she started eating a bit more over the weekend, and though the malaise is still present, she jumped up to see me when I got home today, and did her excited belly-drag across the carpet.

While the tumor grows, her energy & appetite goes up & down, no doubt paralleling the affects of the associated infection. This is the crux of the matter for me...the hard decision would be much clearer if her condition was consistently negative, and she was obviously suffering most of the time. But that's just not the case.

Ironically, it's the damn medications (antibiotics & anti-inflammatorys) that fight back the infection that are probably creating a more stable condition, and less apparent degradation of quality of life, and therefore, a less clear decision.

That doesn't make any sense, does it?

I'm going to take her to the vet tomorrow- hopefully he's got time for her. I just don't think I can make the decision to put her down when she excitedly did a belly-drag to greet me the day before. Another debulking surgery will carry the risk of uncontrollable bleeding (requiring immediate euthanasia), but I can deal with that decision- at least I tried to improve her quality of life. I'm comfortable with doing my due diligence & providing every reasonable opportunity, and the possibility it may not work out for her. I'm not comfortable making a death decision without even giving her the chance.
Ricky D

Trad climber
Sierra Westside
Jun 16, 2013 - 11:43pm PT
Very few experiences in life crush the heart as much as having one's puppymutt pass away from your life. My freeway rescue Aussie mix Nellie was put down two days before Christmas after Mast Cell cancer kicked her to the curb of life.

A year and a half later and I still miss that goof every day.
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
Jun 17, 2013 - 01:48am PT
The face that launched a thousand ships...

apogee

climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
Jun 17, 2013 - 01:25pm PT
Maddie has an appointment with the vet late this morning.

There are definitely conflicting views on how best to handle her at this moment- while all are generally supportive of the difficulty, some lean towards providing every chance at life, while others (including family that I am very close to) seem to feel that she's already well past the line of due diligence, and it's time to put her down.

While I tend to lean towards the former, there are the practical realities that she has had two surgeries thusfar costing over $1000, and has been on medications since December that cost about $100/month. She requires these meds 2-3 times a day, and they have to be hand-fed to her. When the condition worsens, her bedding has to be washed 2-3 times per week.

I feel full responsibility for this animal from start to finish, so I try not to let these practical realities skew my judgement- but they are real, and others who were in a similar situation probably wouldn't have gone this far with it.

I'd definitely fall into the latter camp if she was suffering more than enjoying life. But today, she's sitting in the sun smiling, wagging her tail at me, wondering when she gets to eat again. If I put her down today, I'll always remember & question that.
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