I have a scary day ahead folks...my dog may have Lymphoma, and I go at 9am today to get a needle biopsy for him. That's why I have been scarce. Give him a thought or two if you can. His name is Shadow. I'll update you on this on monday/tuesday when results come back. This fall/winter has really sucked for health issues.

Many of you know I have been battling diabetes. I got a informed this last monday that I am having pancreas failure too. So life is a bowl of sour cherries at this moment, still...please think something positive fo my dog. He is a little treasure. He is Blue Heeler mixed with Lab and Shepard (*about 68 LBS).  And he will be 8 years old on the 8th of december! :)

But a little love goes a long way. So if you have a problem, and need a friend I am there too. Let's all have a happy holiday season, in spite of life! :)

HuggerZ!

Ariana 

I fully sympathise with you.  Our dog has had several operations this year, including the removal of a large tumour next to his anus.  They couldn't remove all of it because of where it was and it has started to grow back, but it's not bothering him at teh moment.  He's 10yrs old and the anaethetics from the 5 ops this year has left him with a bad cough too.  We have decided no more operations for him - while he's still in no pain or discomfort, bounding around like a puppy some days then we're happy.  We know the inevitable will come....just not yet.

I hope Shadow does ok - give him a hug from me.

Sorry to hear of your health problems too - life stinks sometimes :(

Hi Gill...

I really feel for your dog! Poor little guy. :(   It is so hard to know when you should stop and let life go it's course. I wonder if as much as we love our little ones if the cure/treatment isn't sort like a torture for them. We understand what is happening. Wonder if a pet does. I hope your dog has an easy next few years, and suffers not at all.

This just goes to show as well...I should be sleeping as the trip is a 100mile round trip(*we're rural). But I am so keyed up and worried for him, and us...life would be so empty without his presence. Someone said, what's the problem, get another dog.  :/    Yeah. I'll run right out and do that.  So I can only hope, Hubby has sat in the bathroom and cried...he puts on a brave face, but it is his baby.

ThanX, I guess I should go to bed. there are 127 1/2 tiles on the ceiling...shows how that will go! LOL!

HuggerZ!

Ariana

Some people treat dogs like children and it's just as painful to lose one as it would be a child.  For those of us, it's not just a case of 'old one broke, get a new one'    After our last dog died aged 14, it was over 12 months before we brought Tex home from a rescue centre.

Here's a photo of him...
http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/index.php?image_id=1431155&member

Now get some sleep :)

Hang in there Ariana, they are in many ways even closer than family and deserve all our love for the devotion they apply to us. My little girl Blue is turning 13 on Dec 9 so I know what it's like having a long time friend get sick...I'malways checking her stool etc. as that where you can monitor their health as the can't, and likely wouldn't complain like people do. Both you and tour friend are in my Prayers, hopefully there will be a positive resolution to both your problems.... so I reiterate....hang in there girl.. ...

Bobby*

Hugs to you and Shadow, although he'd probably think it was pretty silly. The great thing about dogs is they always do their best to enjoy whatever is going on at the moment. (And they let you know when it's time to leave.) The only thought that kept me going through 2 years of chemo for a very special little friend was: enjoy him while he's here, there will be enough time for sadness when he's gone. That was hard, but losing my goofy Black&Tan last year to nothing but old age was much worse. No illness to fight, just everything worn out. As for the diabetes, remember you control it, not the other way around. My mother had it from age 28 to her death at age 73, took multiple insulin injections every day, and could run circles around all of us, probably because she ate more sensibly. It's a major adjustment, though, and my thoughts are with you.

hugs for you Ariana!

I'm sorry to hear about your illness and about your dear companion.

Pets are part of the family, just like kids, and we get deeply attached to them because they really do love unconditionally.

I'll keep you both in my thoughts and will send out lots of good vibes your way.

Thank you all. I am sorry to say that Shadow does have Lymph node cancer, concentrated in the back of the throut(*sp?) and the hind knees. I have a new vet she is a full specttrum vet DVM, Oncologist, Herbalist, Accupunturist and  she is quite nice. We have blood work out to see if there is a systemic reason for the cancer, and that finding that may help to alleviate part of the healing. Shadow is a good candidate for Chemo, but money is a bit tight right now as my hubby's company is at an all time stock low, and we are maybe looking at it closing it's western division. So where that leaves us is debatable. She ordered some chinese herbs to help his immune system, and said he is a healthy looking dog. But that this often is associated with Lab's/Lab mixes. We now wait to see what the blood says.

You know just a few weeks back it was me waiting for blood results. I am pretty angry right now. Life is really crappy and it seems to pick the holidays to do it in! *sigh....

Thank you for your kindness and concerns. Sorry to whine here...

HuggerZ!

Ariana

I"m very sorry to hear about your dog. My beloved cat was diagosed last Thursday with lymphoma on a lobe of her right lung, and has started chemo. She was also recently diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, and was suffering from pancreatitis. She is so unwell right now, was in hospital for 2 weeks, but luckily is home now, so I am nursing with medicines, feeding tube, etc. We will be talking with our vets and feline oncologists regarding quality of life, since she will never be cured and the chemo should give us a few months more with her, but it's hard to see her so unwell and not quite her usual sunny self, so I"m not sure a.t.m. how long we will go on with this. But it's so hard when someone so close, 2-legged or 4-legged, is so ill. So you do have my sympathies, I hope things improve for you.

My sweetie:
http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/index.php?image_id=426848

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/index.php?image_id=427650

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/index.php?image_id=427694

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/index.php?image_id=488219

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/index.php?image_id=1052467

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/index.php?image_id=1096110

Djeser, my heart goes out to your family and your little fluff baby Lucia! She is both regal and sweet looking. I'm sure that you are feeling so sad, I am so very sorry your family is having this happening. I truly know how you feel.

I lost my "Lucia" in 2000, his name was Tai Pan, and he was 18. He passed at home in my arms of plain old age. Shadow is my husband's dog, I brought him home from the shelter at 6 weeks for Don, and I was never a dog person...until he came along. I think both my husband and myself worry that he picks up on our sadness.

We also have 5 cats...I know, but each came for different reasons. Jr, the second to the youngest worships Shadow, eats with him, sleeps with him, loves him more than anything. And will be devastated without him. Jr is my "Lucia" now. So I guess I also fear that when Shadow goes, Jr. will also, from a broken heart. Already all of the cats react more sweetly towards the dog, laying near him and rubbing him. When before they basically just ignored him, like cats do so often when they have to share affection.

I want to apologize to everyone here for the last few months I have been unbearable, due to my illness, anger, and hurt. Now with Shadow also ill, I have even been more so. Life has been very bad for us, me and in general over this last year end. So I am sorry. I will try to be less snarky, and better.

ThanX, for everything.....

HuggerZ!

Ariana and Family

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/index.php?image_id=1581252

**Important message concerning my dog Shadow!!!

Ok, I have been told by 3 different vets that Shadow has inoperative/NoChemoStyle Lymphoma. Today Vet number four just told me that he is showning all the signs of being bitten by a Tick! We do not have a lot of ticks in Nevada, and it is not a common enough thing for many vets to check on here. So, even tho all of his lymph glans are swollen and his white cells are elavated. It is Possible that he is not dying of cancer! I am so (insert bad word here) shocked. We almost put him down on those 3 vets advice. Now this is no guarentee that it isn't lymphnoma. BUT, it is a slight possibillity that it is a condition that has been grossly (not intentionally) misdiagnosed. Now we are not positive, but the vet put him on an agressive type of anti-biotic called, Doxicycline. We should know some results by this Friday. I know to some he may be just a dog. But please could you put him in your prayers and thoughts? We thought he was going to be put down today. Instead we have new hope. Please wish us luck. 
Thank you all.
Ariana

http://www.vintagegoldens.com/tick.htm

Info on the way it works and the symptoms of tick bites!

Oh you have all the luck I can muster coming your way. Just a dog? I don't think so. My pup has a history and she is now disabled with a bad lung. We were advised 4 and 1/2 years ago to put her down when she was a puppy. I couldn't do it.

Hey, I believe in miracles and my prayers are one has come yoru way

o.k. ariana, we'll keep our fingers crossed that the dog will be o.k. you'll know soon if the tick diagnosis is correct. there are several tick-borne diseases which are treatable and which may cause symptoms that mimic more serious conditions.

Yes and after 2 weeks of vets saying put him down, just hearing a possible hopeful thing is what our Xmas really needed too! I think I see a reaction to the meds already, but I know that is my hope, and maybe that is what is perking him up also. I will let you all know. I know I have been weird these last few months what with my own illness and then my dog. But life is a part of us all. And I appreciate everyone who cared to offer support and love during this crisis.

HuggerZ!

Ariana

Yeah I hope it all works out good for you and your doggie. The real bummer is that their lives are so short in any case.  Maybe we should keep elephants as pets?.. (but think of the doorflap you'd need, not to mention the litter tray).

Best wishes ;)

LOL! Pierce I can always use a good laugh!

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Love

Ariana, Don and Shadow and the 5 act insane asylum(*cats) 

I wanted to let you know that altho we were hopeful, it does appear that our dog dose have Lymphoma and our holiday will be very bittersweet. *sigh We had hoped. but tonight he turned for the worse. So I wish that your Xmas is wonderful, and there is peace and harmony at your homes. We most likely do have to put him down tomorrow, as he cannot breath and his tongue is slightly blue from lack of oxygen. I don't want to be the reason for more suffering for him. So this time we know we did all we could. Chemo to get another possible year, is almost as cruel as the desease. At this point poor Shadow is so afraid of going to the vet because of all the needle asperates. I think he just wants to let go...  That in and of itself is a type of peace.

Love to everyone...

Ariana 

:-(

He goes knowing he was, is and always will be extremely loved. Soft hugs for you

I'm so sorry Ariana :-(

I'm so sorry to hear this, Ariana.

May God bless you and yours.