May have to replace our GSD - Page 2

Paul....check out "rescues" there are soooo many dogs that are great dogs and need homes...who knows you may see one and fall in love...all 4 of mine at one point were someone else unwanted problem...i have 2 perfect dogs and 2 work in progress (teenagers)....LOL..

Anyways, I would also suggest to get a new dog while Bessie is still around....you will be amazed at what she will teach a new dog and she will lay out the law of the household better and faster than you ever will....guarantee!

I ditto LadyFrost, I've always gotten my new dogs when I still had my older geriatric ones, and they taught the newbies the house rules in no time!

Well sorry it has been so long, the saga goes on.
Our Bessie has been through so much in the last few months.

After her first cancer surgery the Vet told us as a good preventive measure we should do chemo. So 4 hrs after her first chemo treatment she had a right frontal lobe stroke event  causing her to seizures every 5 minutes or so.
Worked through that and all is as normal as it could be, function, personality and all.

This past Sat. we took her back for a 3 month check and they discovered a 3 cm mass in her spleen. So we will find out today if it too is cancer and will have to come to grips with do we let nature take its course or ot be selfish and try to fight this as well in hopes of keeping her with us.


God could not have blessed us with a better dog than her.

If it turns out to be cancer in her spleen, I would encourage you to think of the dog.  A friend lost his dog to this and it was not a pretty death as the dog ultimately died of internal  hemorrhaging.

I'm sorry that you have to go through this.  Treasure the 11 years she's given you and cherish what little time you have left.

You already know your decision, I can tell by the way you worded your post. I let my girl go rather than let her endure more treatment. I have 3 other GSDs, but I'll never be able to replace her. She was perfect, the perfect dog for us. My other dogs are wonderful, too, but they can't hold a candle to her. We bred her, too, but didn't reproduce her, so don't regret that decision. 
I know a lot of folks have said get a pup while she's still with you, but only if you think she's up to it. And maybe this should be her special time with you. 
You will know when it's right to bring in a new pup. Don't expect your new friend to fill your girls paw prints, they never will. But hopeful your heart will mend enough to open it for
another little love.
God bless you , sir, & your sweet girl. May you both find peace.
jackie harris

I couldn't say it any better than Jackie.  I feel so sorry for what you and your sweet girl are facing.
I am inclined to believe that this should be your special time together, for it will never come again.  You will find another dog and in time he or she will become a wonderful special friend in their own right, but different. That is what makes each journey so special, the uniqueness of each and every one.

Cherish each and every moment you have left together, and rejoice that you have had 11 wonderful years.
 

Well this may be good news or at least better news.

The lab results of the 4 samples taken of the mass in her spleen by small needle aspiration came back as a collection of inactive or dead cells with small amounts of inflamation.
The only way to know for sure is to remove the spleen and biopsy the mass after it is out. This is extreme in this case when she is as strong as a horse and acts like any other normal dog. The Vet did say if she has HSA the norm would be several small tumors or masses in several organs, or even the spread of her first cancer would present in the same way.

Heart, Lungs & Liver considered normal with no sign of spreading of tumors.

So we monitor her close, watching her pinkness of her gums, and bloat or weakness , follow up with ultra sound and x-rays in a month and make sure she gets more exercise and a little less fatty diet to bring her down a bit from the 109 pounds she is now and go from there.

 

That is such good news Paul. Maybe the chemo she already had has killed off whatever it was.......anyway, it's a gift.

Anyway, I am glad you get to have more time with her, enjoy every single precious moment.

Hello Paul:
I am a member of an EPI dog health yahoo group and this notice came to my attention in case you are interested. 

http://search.petfinder.com/petdetail/25662430

Beautiful dog....... Needs a good home.