To continue treatment or not? your advice - PLEASE

[cushti]

I know that everyone on this site are boxer lovers, so I would be very grateful if any of you could give me your opinion and/or advice on my situation.
I have the most beautiful brindle and white boxer girl (cushti) who is nine years old, and my best friend.
Last June I found a lump on her hind leg which turned out to be a mast cell tumour. That was removed along with another small mast cell tumour and the lymph node in her hind leg, she then had a course of radiotherapy. The vet then advised a course of 8 treatments of chemotherapy and prescribed prednisolone to be taken at the same time.
Two days before her 7th one was due (on the 27th November), she seemed to have some sort of stroke. The vet said it was probably vestibular disease and to leave things as they were until after Christmas when her situation could be re-assessed. Meanwhile to carry on with the prednisolone.
I took her back to the vet last week and was told that although the condition hadn't worsened it hadn't improved either.
I was told that the facial paralysis (on one side) is probably permanent and could be due either to a brain tumour or the vestibular disease. The only way of knowing would be an MIR scan. If it is a tumour, another course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy would give her a possible 10 - 12 months of life.
Should I put her through all that again (4hr car journeys, sickness, etc.) or should I say enough is enough. Although she has put on weight, cushti is coping well with the head tilt and still loves life.
She has been going to the best vets in the U.K. (Cambridge Vet School and The Animal Health Trust). Please tell me what you would do.
PLEASE

 

[buddy'smom]

You know what? I cannot tell you what to do, you are the one living with Cushti, and you are the best advocate for her quality of life right now. You say she seems to be coping well so that to me says she is not at this time in any real pain nor is she unable to continue on with some dignity.

If it were me, I would most likely weigh the pros of continuing on to the quality of life she would have should they be able to give her 12 months of pain free life. I dunno. I know two years ago I made the hard decision to let my male Journey to the Bridge. He was diagnosed with non operable cancers, was bleeding internally, and did not have long really. I was at one time offered by the University, to put him on meds to prolong his life for a month maybe two, but I looked in Buddy's eyes and I saw the answer. He was tired and could no longer fight to stay alive. So, based on what the vets told me, and what I saw in Buddy's eyes we did what we had to in order to allow Buddy his dignity. But that was us, not you. Cushti I am sure will let you know when she has had enough and it is up to you to listen and make the most loving yet hard decision you can make for Cushti. Talk to your vets for opinions and express to them how you feel, but most of all pay attention to Cushti, she will tell you. Please keep us posted.

Jean

 

[Boxer_21]

First of all, I'm so sorry that you're in the most difficult spot. I had to put my dog to sleep at the age of 15 this past March so I understand how you feel.

Secondly, I definitely agree with Jean in that you have to decide what's best for Cushti. The main thing to consider is her happiness and of course her quality of life. If her quality of life is still good and she's still acting normal and happy, then I personally would go on. As Jean said, she will show when she's had enough and when it's her time. However, if her quality of life basically consists of sleeping and pain then I would definitely let her go, for her sake.

Again, I'm so sorry that you're in this spot. Whatever you decide, just remember that you have a lot of people here who will help you through it. Good luck with Cushti and please do keep us updated.

~ Mandy ~

 

[sammy7]

I read a book by a vet who wrote about euthanasia and when to decide it is time. He wrote that 98% of the time that someone comes in and asks his opinion about whether to put their pet down, they are not yet ready. I believe that when you and Cushti are ready you will know! Jean related looking into Buddy's eyes and knowing. I also knew the time had arrived for my Darby last February 9th.
Because you are asking, the two of you most likely are not ready.
I will tell you though that with animals bodies, things change rapidly. Often these guys are doing really well and a day or two later they just cannot take anymore. I am so sorry that your friend is ill.
Remember that death is not a concept that she knows. She does however know that you love her.
You have so much support here from those of us who have been where you are.
I know the pain and struggle that you are feeling and I wish you peace during this difficult time!
Samantha

 

[boxers4life2001]

I am so sorry you and Cushti are going through this difficult time. It is so extremly hard and stressful when someone we love so much is sick. I can only agree with what everyone else has said. You know Cushti the best out of everyone in her life, you will know when it is time. It is hard to explain but I had to help 3 of my babies to the bridge in the past and you just get this feeling when the time has come. You see your little girl everyday and know her quility of life, if she still is enjoying life, comfortable, happy, etc ...then continuing could be an option. Although you have to way the risks of a MRI, I believe they have to go under ansthesia and with her not being quite so healthly at this point it might be more of a risk to go under. How did she do in the past with the car rides, radiation, and chemo. Do you think she would be able to handle another round of this? Is there anything they could do to help her but not be as hard on her as the radiation and chemo. Are they giving her any meds right now to treat the possible vestibular problem? It can take awhile for them to recover from that and some dogs can still have a slight head tilt forever. If it is a brain tumor, they usually seem to progress pretty fast and I personally don't think radiation or chemo would be much help if thats what it showed. I do agree you need to sit down and think of the pros and cons of pursuing her potential other problems. You need to ask if it would be in her best interest and would it benifit her to continue? One thing I promised myself and Candy (my furbaby with lymphoma) when I started her chemo protocal was if I thought it was getting to be to much for her and she was starting to not enjoy life as much then I would stop the chemo and just let her live her life and keep her as comfortable and happy as possible. She did really good for the first year or so but after that I could see how it was taking alot out of her so I made the difficult decision to stop the chemo drugs and just try steroids alone, which she responded to for awhile.
The best advice I can give you is to dig deep into your heart and search for the answers, you will find them. It is a very difficult choice to make but I believe if you look into Cushti's eyes you will know what to do one way or another. If you look close enough at Cushti she will let you know if she had enough or if she is still full of life and ready to try anything. Please know you and your little girl are in my thoughts and prayers. Please keep us posted on her. I hope within the next couple of weeks she is back to normal and it was just a little stroke and vestibular problems that she was able to beat!!!! ((((((hugs to Cushti))))))))

~Carrie~

 

[cushti]

Thank you all for replying so quickly.
I think maybe that I'm trying to rush myself into making a decision so that I get more time to get used to it.
Whether its a tumour or vestibular syndrome, when the time comes, as Jean and Carrie say, I'll see it in cushti's eyes, and she'll let me know like Sam's darby did.
Cushti has coped really well with all the anesthesia she had last year (4 operations and 4 lots of radiation), and she loves it in the car anyway.
She was a bit under the weather with the chemo, but that only for a day or so each time. The biggest problem she seemed to have was the weight gain. Cushti has always been quite small and her weight had been steady at 21kgs, but due to the steriods she now weighs 27kgs and for her its a bit uncomfortable, so coming off the steriods will be good in a way for her.
My feelings are that if this is a brain tumour, the chemo doesn't seem to have prevented it, so what would be the point of putting her through it all over again?
Mandy asked about her quality of life, and it has got better since the chemo stopped.
The vet said that the steriods could have been slowing the tumour down, but it not a good idea to continue them if the chemo's not continuing at the moment. She said that if her condition suddenly deteriorates then radiotherapy is a definate option.
I'm going to take each day as it comes and not think about the posibilities until I have to face them.
The friends I have already asked seem to think that I'd be throwing good money after bad, thats not to say there callous, they just don't understand how I feel, I'm lucky you all understand.
Why do we do it to ourselves?
My dad bought Cushti for me 9 years ago, after I'd lost my best friend (the gentlest pit bull you could ever meet) Missi, and I still get blubbery whenever I talk about her. I said then I'd never get this attached to a dog again - and hear I am, dreading the thought of losing another.
Thank you all so very much for taking time to reply and thank you for the advice you have given me. I have taken great comfort from it.
I will definately keep you updated on cushti.

Janice xx

 

[buddy'smom]

The friends I have already asked seem to think that I'd be throwing good money after bad, thats not to say there callous, they just don't understand how I feel, I'm lucky you all understand.

Oh I know this only too well. You have No idea, or maybe you do, the things that were said when we had Buddy in Guelph University. Yes the testing was VERY expensive, but you know what? if he could have been saved, I would have spent the thousands he needed to do it. I was soo hurt by family and others asking how much it was costing us, and to not waste the money.

Why do we do it to ourselves?

Because we love our Boxers, and we are dedicated to them as we would be to any person we loved. We view them as members of our family, and we take our commitment to their lives very seriously. LOVE that is why.

Please keep us posted. You and Cushti will be in my thoughts.

Jean

 

[Boxer_21]

Originally posted by cushti
The friends I have already asked seem to think that I'd be throwing good money after bad, thats not to say there callous, they just don't understand how I feel, I'm lucky you all understand.

You know, I have some friends and even family members who don't understand how passionate I am for my pets. They don't understand how I could so matter of factly pay x amount of dollars for something "just for the dog". At first it really bothered me and I tried to explain and possibly try to get them to feel the same as me, but I soon realized it was a battle that I would never win. :( Now, I just accept their words and I do as I want to for my animals. If they have a problem with it or don't agree with it, oh well. At least I know that mine are taken care of. They're my life, my number one priority, and I honestly would do whatever it takes to keep them happy and healthy.

~ Mandy ~

 

[cushti]

Thank you Jean.
I have already told my friends that if theres any possiblity of a cure for cushti, they'll have to visit the pair of us in the tent that we'll end up living in.
Best wishes
Janice xx

 

[cushti]

Well said Mandy.
I notice that you live in Manchester, please feel free to visit cushti and me (with all your pets), in our tent.
I'll pitch near the M1 so you havent got too far to travel.
Best wishes
Janice xx