My Dog In Hospital

[jeffisonline]

It's a really difficult time for me and my dog...My boxer named Orson is just 9 years old, and developed a bump on his rib-cage behind his right leg...I took him to a local vet, and they x-rayed the area, and discovered it was a large mass inside, and connected to his ribs for blood supply.
Orson then started getting bloated, his belly and chest filled with fluid, and he started getting hives...I took him to the University of pennsylvaina for futher tests and relief of bloat...The picture they painted was grim, giving Orson about 3months to live...they also dicovered a heart based mass, and another mass on his pancrius (sp).
they sent him home and booked a biopsy a month later! Which was very odd considering his condition...two weeks later he was bloated again, and since they didn't give him any medication we just had to wait it out, until yesterday, when we went back into the hospital.
He is currently going through a battery of tests, and scans...he is in good condition considering how sick he is, he hasn't lost his spirit at all, but gets tired, and sleeps a lot because of the bloat.
they removed all the eccess fluid from him, which was about 3 liters, and the tests are trying to find the source of the fluid build up.
I was informed that I should maybe just bring him home, and let him live out his days, while spoiling him, and making him as happy as I can for the next couple of months, but I really can't accept the current advice.
I really wanted to explore other options, but the doctors (who in my opinion don't really know what's going on with him) keep advising me to just stop and let orson die with dignity.
I feel as though I need to explore more options before I just accept that as my only option.
Orson just had a biopsy today, so maybe I should know what he has before I make any decisions.

If anyone has any advice or thoughts, please share...my writing and spelling are blured by my emotions...thanks you for reading
Jeff

 

[Draymia]

Jeff,

I am so sorry to hear about Orson. It does sound very serious. I have been in your position too many times. I have an old girl with Degenerative Myopothy now, that I will have to be making that sad decision for. :(

One thing you want to keep in mind. If he is suffering and the prognosis is very poor, you don't want him to be in pain. It is very hard to tell with our boxers, as they are not like other breeds. Have you had a serious talk with Orson's regular vet? He will probably be honest with you about how Orson is feeling.

It is never easy. If Orson is still fighting it, that is great, but you want to do what is best for him.

I know how terribly heartwrenching this is. Please know my thoughts are with you and Orson.

 

[Barb_IA]

So sorry to hear that you Orson is so ill and in the hospital. It's never easy when our boxers babies are sick. Making decisions and wondering what to do is so frustrating....especially when the doctor's aren't sure what's wrong. I've been there before. Hope your able to get some of the answers your looking for. Maybe someone else has gone through a similar experience with their boxer and can be of more help to you.
Take care and I hope Orson comes home soon.

Barb

 

[Jewel]

My heart aches for you..........

I do understand the pain you are going through and it's just awful for both of you to bare. I was lucky enough to be owned by a brindle girl, JoJo, she lived to be 10 and 1/2yrs. She taught me to love a boxer and to never want another breed as long as I live. At 8 yrs old a growth began to grow on the underside of her tummy near the bottom of her rib cage. They took a needle aspiration when it was a little smaller than a golf ball. Said it was fatty fluid and really at her age and with surgery that endangered her a few yrs back we should just leave it until it hindered her lifestyle. It continued to grow and she never seemed bothered by this awful looking mass that finally took her life. We had it tested again when she was just 10 yrs old and I was standing there when blood filled the syringe and the vet couldn't stop the panic look that crossed her face and I knew that wasn't good. Have you talked with Orson? I told JoJo the night before she went into heart failure how much I loved her and what she did for me and how much I appreciated it and if she was tired she could go that I did not want to ever see her suffer. It was the very next morning that her organs started to shut down and I had to decide to put her down. I will nver get over that but she was brave until the very end. Just the night before she woo-wooed at hubby to get off the couch and get her a cookie. They just stay tough til the end. My point in sharing is to ask you to talk to Orson. Lookinto his eyes. Be brave. You owe it to Orson to keep him from pain. I hate this for you and all animal lovers. I am sorry. Hugs to you and Orson. Jewel

 

[Jan]

I'm so sorry to hear that Orson is not doing well. Deciding when to let your boxer go is very difficult. We all want our babies to live forever. I know I do. You need to consider quality of life. It's more important than longevity of life. It sounds like the vets don't think that there is anything that they can do for Orson. I would be inclined to follow their advice and bring him home and love him and spoil him for the time that he has left.

 

[Linda/NJ]

Sorry to hear Orson is ill. I don't have any advice either but to make every day that he has left with you very special. You and Orson will both be in my thoughts.

Linda & Ginger

 

[jeffisonline]

Follow Up

Orson's Biopsy results should be back by monday, than we will know for sure if this is something we should pursue or if it is beyond treatment.
I get mixed signals from the vet handling Orson...she states that if it's one kind of tumor then it's possible treatable, if it's another kind then it's beyond treatment.
so, I am praying that he has a treatable kind of tumor.

They aren't sure if the heart based tumor is on his heart or near it, and the test from the pancreus growth came back normal...we feared it was cancer.

Either way, he is home for the weekend, he has a biopsy, and is in a little pain from the incision, he also had a probe from his leg to his pancreus to test that growth for cancer, so his leg is swollen a little.
he has mild bloating due to fluid build up casued by the growth, but the thinking is that once the growth(s) are removed the bloating will stop.

We will know Monday what type of cancer this is, and if it is treatable...aside from bloating, Orson is in good spirits, and I pray he will survive and get to go to the beach again this spring and summer since he loves the waves and the sand.

 

[jeffisonline]

Thanks you all

Also, I wanted to thank everyone who posted a reply, your words and thoughts mean more then you could possibly imagion!
I'd also like to thank Boxer World for having such a great web site, and complete message board, this is a very good support network, and I am greatful to you all for everything.

Bless You all!

Jeff

 

[jeffisonline]

Thank you all

Also, I wanted to thank everyone who posted a reply, your words and thoughts mean more then you could possibly imagion!
I'd also like to thank Boxer World for having such a great web site, and complete message board, this is a very good support network, and I am greatful to you all for everything.

Bless You all!

Jeff

 

[matilda8255]

I so sorry Orson isn't feeling well. It's nice that you were able to take him home from the weekend. Sending positive vibes for good biopsy results and a speedy recover ...

Stephanie & Gang