Very sick Riley... Thoughts please

UnaB

UnaB

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Hi There,

I know I havent been on here much recently but hoping I can have those infamous HHO positive vibes for my Riley - I swear they helped little Evie when I was handrearing her!!

Anyway, things are a bit bleak here at the moment. Riley, my gorgeous labrador, went into the vets last monday, and is sadly still not home. Just went in because he was looking stiff and uncomfortable, first they thought it was a pulled muscle, sent him home, he got worse and stopped eating so he went back in again Tues. Found out his temp was through the roof and his red cell count was very low (he has leukemia that has been responding very well to treatment and he's been fine). Anyway, to cut a long story a bit shorter... He was admitted tues by our normal vet and he went very quickly downhill. He was struggling just to breath and they were baffled so referred him to another vets (a bit more specialist) and he went there last weds. They spent the whole day doing tests on him, and the results came back thurs - he had a tumour on his spleen. They also discovered he had something called DIC which meant they couldnt operate safely. But, then on friday we had the awful decision to make - his spleen was going to rupture at any moment. If that happened he'd die for sure. If they did the op to remove it, it was a very high risk of him dying, but in theory (depending on the type of cancer - they couldnt biopsy the spleen for fear of it rupturing) it should have fixed all the problems. To operate or not to operate? We decided to go ahead and he had the op friday afternoon which he survived - my boy is a fighter!! BUT, for some reason he has refused to eat since the op - we even went to visit yesterday with a variety of his favourite foods and he wouldnt touch it. He is so depressed there and very uncomfortable.

And to today. We had the preliminary results back from the spleen. It was lymphoma (i think??) and it is in his bone marrow as well so has spread through his whole body. He could have a few months left with treatment (which he has already started), but he needs to be strong enough to cope with it and he wont be if he doesnt eat.. :( The vets aren't giving up on him but have told us that if he doesnt start improving by the end of this week then we may have to put him to sleep. I will do that if its the best for him, but he's come trhough so much already and he is so tough, it breaks my heart to think of giving up on him now :(

I have asked the vets whether, if he hasnt started eating by weds, he can come home. I think he'll pick up at home, with his family. He hates being away from them. They want to continue on with the treatments to try to get his appetite to increase - i just want him home. Its a nightmare. Either way, the prognosis isnt good and theres certainly no long term. It could be days or weeks, but if we have to lose him, I think he should go at home, calmly and in a familiar place. I hated seeing him in the veterinary kennels, he looked so scared :(

Anyway, I have waffled on way more than i'd planned. Please send those positive thoughts Riley's way to get him comfortable, out of pain and eating again - thats all i want for him :(

My boy back in the summer last year:

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And yesterdays visit :(

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oh gosh poor you, that must be such a hard decision. I think I would get him home and then when he is settled you will find the strength to do the right thing. God bless you for being there for him.
 
Poor Riley. Sending loads of healing vibes, I agree with you about trying to bring him home. My vet was keen for me to bring Saffie home when she was depressed and not eating after her pyo, sadly it didn't really help but at least she was home with us. Keeping fingers crossed for you and Riley.
 
Thanks guys. It is awful at the moment, every phonecall from the vet I dread thinking they may be ringing to tell us they've lost him (they asked if I want them to ring at any time if that happens :( ) but he's hanging in there. If he's home, at least he's with us all then.

Riley was 7 in December.
 
I agree, get him home. Either he will pick up, or he will spend his last days in his familiar surroundings, which will comfort you in the long term. Either way, it's surely the best thing for him. What a lovely dog.
 
I would have him at home. We went through a similar scenario with our black lab a few years ago and it still really upsets me that he was pts at the vets without us being with him.

One thing my boy would eat when all else failed was little bits of minced steak hand fed.

Good luck with him, he is beautiful.
 
So sorry to hear this. Another one who agrees you should try to get him home. Years ago. Y vet sent my horse home after a surgical colic as he was not really responding yet perked up hugely after seeing me. Took the risk and it worked as he was stressing so much being away from home.

But really sorry you are going through this.
 
Thanks everyone. He's started chemo today, a bit of a worry with the op wound so soon after surgery but its the only chance he has so fingers crossed.

The issue of putting him to sleep is not one I'm going to talk about here, it is one we ARE talking about to the vets (they are against it until they've tried everything), I wants this to be a positive thread not negative. But I will say, I won't allow him to suffer unnecessarily, when that time comes I will make that decision. I would very much like him to be home for that though, the thought of the last place he sees being a vets table is heartbreaking. I want him home, comfortable, calm, surrounded by his family when that time comes, its the only thing I hope for - having him home for however long he has left. Those who feel the need to message me to tell me to put him to sleep (thanks for that....!), don't bother, I won't be responding. I have let my inbox fill up as I don't need to read those things, I'm trying to keep positive.
 
I really hope you can get him home for both your sakes...such a horrible situation to be in! You'll know what is right for your boy, not anyone else. Sending you lots of healing hugs xxx
 
Really hope he improves. If it was me, I would want him home asap - I hate having sick dogs at the vets - I always imagine they must think I have abandoned them! Could he have the treatment as an outpatient?
 
Couldn't read and not reply...

Massive hugs and good wishes for Riley and you, such a handsome boy, he doesn't look that old either :(

We lost our younger lab just over a year ago to kidney failure, vet's didn't think she would last much more than a week from diagnosis but she hung on in there for a month so I know how hard it is, here's hoping you get him home at least for a little longer (((hugs))
 
Have got quite teary reading your post. As any dog owner on here we know what you are going through and my heart goes out to you. Matty dog hated the vets and, although she was still quite ill after a cancer surgery, the vets sent her home with us. She did improve albeit slowly.
Take him home. He looks so sad in the 2nd picture, makes me just want to cuddle him...gently. Fingers, paws and hooves crossed for him. J x
 
not much i can add really, feel so bad for you, agree try and get him home a s a p then he may pick up. lots and lots of vibes for both of you, keep positive!!!!!!!!
 
How is he today?? I'm sorry you are going through this. Are you allowed to visit him, this may help perk him up especially if you take lots of nice things for him.

I hope he pulls through for you, that's alot for one dog to go through :-( at least dogs don't get the chemo side effects like we do xx
 
Really sorry to hear about poor Riley. I'm a first time dog owner (choc lab) and I can't begin to imagine how you are feeling. I hope you get some positive news soon. I think if it were me, I would like him home too.

I'm a bit gutted to hear that some people have taken to PM'ing you this way. You are doing the right thing ignoring them, a lot of people are wishing you and Riley well.
 
Very sorry to read this. And sorry you have received some unwanted messages.
I am sure you will do your best for him and if your vet knows you and your dog then the right decisions will be made at the right time. Someone on here told me I should PTS my little one recently. Luckily she is now doing well so I will keep my fingers crossed for you. It is so heartbreaking when you see them so very sad:( Best wishes to both of you x
 
I really hope things work out for you and only you knows him, if he was mine i would have PTS but i too would want him home for a short time. He does look so sad and fed up in the last photo. Sorry if thats not what you want to here and good luck.
 
Riley is coming home for the weekend today. He's eating better and doing well on his chemo but they think he's a bit depressed and homesick. They're hoping he might perk up at home. Fingers crossed! Will update this weekend!
 
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