An update on our dog ...

[I_am_a_cucumber]

I posted a couple of weeks ago about our old dog not eating and generally not being very well.

It's now been confirmed by x-ray that she has secondary tumours in her lungs. She has lost a lot of weight in a relatively short time. She really is very, very thin. She has now been on steroids for a week which have made a huge difference: she is more comfortable, less 'dopey' (I thought she was becoming senile, but it seems to have been the effect of the tumours) and her appetite has returned a bit.

She is eating again, but it's still a bit hit and miss. I'm trying all sorts of things. She was on a raw diet, but at the moment I'm just giving her whatever she will eat - including 'wet' dogfood, catfood, tinned fish, mince meat. Typically she'll have something once or twice and then refuse it. But, on the whole, she is definitely eating more. I'm still really concerned about her not putting on weight. Last weekend she lost weight, despite having eaten reasonably well. I've got another vet appointment next Tuesday, hopefully she will have put on some weight on by then.

Realistically, she only has a few months left anyway, but if she doesn't start putting on weight it will be a lot less. The steroids have made her a lot more comfortable, but obviously we will 'do the right thing' if she is suffering. I am dreading it though, to be honest.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

How old is she? The steroids may shrink the tumours and may also make her put on weight, so it will be difficult to judge whether it's the food or the tablets. If the tumours are in her lungs and she's not eating, you may need to make a very very hard decision quite soon.

We were offered the steroid route but refused because the dogs mobility was very badly compromised.

I hope you are coping ok. Bloody difficult situation.

 

[Dobiegirl]

I am so sorry about the latest diagnosis and Im sure this was your worst fear.

The only advice I can give you is enjoy every precious day you have ,dont start mourning now hard as it may seem but concentrate on your time together. You are doing the right thing as regards food anything they want but a further drop in weight, any pain should be your cue to call it a day.

You sound a very caring owner and I am very sorry for what you are going through, it is so heartbreaking when you get this situation.

 

[I_am_a_cucumber]

Thank you for your replies. Cinammontoast, we're not sure exactly how old she is (she is a rescue), but we reckon around 10-12 years. Unfortunately she has stopped eating completely and even doubling the dose of steroids has not made a difference. She doesn't seem to know what to do with the food. I think the tumours might have spread to her lungs as well, it was certainly a possibility mentioned by the vet.