I lost my baby 1 week 2 days to a tumor on her heart

GemBem · 09-01-2010, 03:56 AM

My beautiful Ebony, a flat-coated retriever got up and started limping on her front left leg, after around 5 minutes she had collapsed on the floor. I called the vet and he said to wait 15 minutes to see if she comes round. I said shes on the floor panting strangely, I don't think shes going to get up..the vet eventually arrived after half an hour, saw Ebony on the floor and then said...this don't look good, we need to get her into the surgery and on some fluids. We got her down to the surgery and he couldn't get a line in as she had gone anemic, the vet at this point was panicking, about what seemed a life time he said he would call his brother. The brother turned up about half an hour later and got the line straight in her leg. At this point the vet offered euthanasia. I couldn't let my girl go like this, I had to find out what was wrong first. Ebony was left at the vets over night having fluids. I found out later on she was on her own all night. The vet said he was happy for her to come home the following day in the view that he would open her up to see what was going on. I said to my son I'm not happy with this, how can she have an operation when clearly her bloods were so low at 15 when they should be 38...she wouldn't cope. So I called my old vets and they said to bring her to them. They scanned her and x rayed her chest. Nothing was showing up at this point. He said that I could bring her home with complete rest, which we did. We kept going back to the vets and she was improving, the vet was really pleased with her progress, her bloods had risen to 35.
There was hope and we thought she was going to be OK. Then 1 week to the day, I got up and Ebony was acting really slow. I checked her gums and eyes which had gone white again. I rushed her straight to the vets again. They explained that they were going to put her on a different fluid as the first one would have diluted her blood stopping them from seeing the bleed. I came home...One hour later I had the call from the vet saying they had found a tumor on the lower part of her heart which is bleeding into the sac around the heart and he was pretty sure she had one on her spleen and the blood test had suggested it, he said he was sorry but there's nothing they could do for her. I just broke down...it wasn't sinking in very well, I said to him, so are you saying to put her to sleep. He just replied, there is nothing we can do. I told him I would call my sons and then we would be over.

When we got there they asked us if we wanted to spend some time with her until the vet had finished in theater. Of course we did. They brought her out and she was so pleased to see us, she had perked up because of the fluids they had given her, I just couldn't believe we was left with this option, we went into the vets examination room and I sat on the floor, both my sons at my side. She wondered round the room, a little bit slow but she didn't look in any pain, she had picked her lead up and looked as if to say...come on then lets go ..Eventually the vet came in and I asked him again to tell us what was going on which he did and he said it wasn't operable.

Ebony went to sleep with her lead in her mouth, very peacefully.

God bless everyone who is going through or has gone through something similar...I cant bring her back but I do have her daughter, hopefully I have learn t a big lesson and will know the signs sooner if ever it happens to my other flatties

TJandDante · 09-01-2010, 07:07 AM

You did the very best you knew how for your dog. That is all you can do, and your dog knew every second how much you loved her. You decided not to let her suffer and didnt wait until she had such horrible pain. You loved her enough to let her go where there is no pain, where she has her lead in her mouth all the time.
Its so hard to keep from second guessing yourself and your decisions when your dog is gone. Dont fall into that trap. Nothing you think or say can bring her back, so its just going to be hurtful to you to think that way. You know how much you loved her and would have given to save her if you could.
We are her for you to help get you through this time. The pain does lessen each day-trust me. It has been 9 months for me and I have peace knowing I did the best I could for my dog, and so did you.
TJ

GemBem · 09-01-2010, 07:26 AM

Thank you for your kind words, I know it will take time and the pain will ease over time. She was such a calm flatcoat...so clever and biddable. Together we had 2 wins at crufts in 2004, in the BASC section, that was an experience, not knowing for the life of me that we would end up in the main ring

She was a brilliant mother whom had 2 litters, 14 puppies in each one. We kept her daughter GEM...who is missing her terribly and LENA whom is not related. My main worry now is will it happen to my others and can I do anything to prevent it..
I dont know how to feel, I am ok some times but the rest of the time I am in a bad way because I keep replaying that day like a video. Am crying again now

Benpaws · 09-01-2010, 07:43 AM

Dear Friend,

I just responded to another post and also commented on your recent very sudden and sad loss of your beloved best friend Ebony.

You really did everything you could for Ebony and some things are just out of our hands.

She sounded like such a smart girl and loving and certainly a huge part of your heart. Find joy and comfort in Gem who will definitely grieve the loss of her mother. Perhaps now is the time to change diet and give only filtered water and look into ways to keep the immune systems of your other dogs strong.

It is particularly difficult for you to grasp the reality of Ebony's passing since it was so sudden and gave you little time for making the final decision to have her pass over Rainbow Bridge, but you made the decision out of selfless love for Ebony and she would have done the same for you if she she could have given the same circumstances.

I understand how painful it was to be told that the time had come. We had the same thing happen to another schnauzer Willie. He was sick for one night and the next morning had complete renal failure and died in our arms at the vets. Then we got Benny and did everything right with him (we thought) and he lost his battle with cancer at age 6. I guess God just needed those special dogs for some unknown reason and our hearts break when we lose them.

You did all that you could and please try and find peace and don't blame yourself for anything. This demon cancer comes so quickly, seemingly out of nowhere and "takes the best of the best." Godspeed Ebony!

Blessings,
Joanne & Shadow

nailtek · 09-01-2010, 04:08 PM

I am so sad to hear the news of Ebony. We are all going through this horrible dreaded disease together and I know how hard it is for all of us. My lil boy is still with me (dont know for how long) and I cherish each day more than ever. I dont know how long it will be but I do know I will never be ready. Time heals although we will never forget our beloved pets for they too are family.

TJandDante · 09-01-2010, 05:30 PM

I got a dog Memorial Day weekend and the thing I am doing to prevent cancer in her is grain free diet and immune system supplement and when I brush her, I am feeling carefully for lumps and bumps. She gets only filtered water and no table scraps that arent meat.
I can't go through again what we went through last year.
TJ

GemBem · 09-01-2010, 11:06 PM

No I know exactly what you mean, the first thing I need to concentrate on is getting there food right and also getting them insured. I say I couldn't afford it then, same circumstances but now I know I should have. The thought of loosing another dog to this awful disease just terrifies me as I knew nothing about it and what it does, the medication, the signs. When your dog collapses like that...all reason goes out of the window. Then to have a vet that really didn't know what he was doing didn't help, I'm thankful that the vet I returned to whom I didn't have any reason for leaving other than distance what there to help. He was kind and loving to Ebony and he made her passing as gentle as possible. Still early days ...trying to concentrate on her memory now other than my loss. I have comfort in knowing that one day I will reunite with her and all the dogs I have lost over the yrs.
Any advice on food and supplements for my dogs are welcome. I am from the UK so I don't know where to start.
God love you all and all of your poorly pets past and present..

Kind regards

Joanne

GemBem · 09-02-2010, 01:28 PM

Its comforting to read that im not the only one going through this, I just wished I had known more about it...I have 2 other flatcoats so am concentrating on them now....Ive panicked a bit...filtered water...new dog food...and fish oils..i feel like im in a race against time.....
.Cant accept that I cant have Ebony back......its just a dis-pare feeling that wont go away...I know its early days and im gonna grieve some...

Just also want to give all my love to everyone for there support and advice, it does help alot...just ina bit of a mess right now

Benpaws · 09-02-2010, 03:01 PM

We understand. Take your time! We aren't going anywhere!

Hugs and Prayers,
Joanne & Shadow

GemBem · 09-02-2010, 03:23 PM

Thank you xxxxxx

09-01-2010, 03:56 AM	#1 (permalink)
GemBem Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: northamptonshire, UK Posts: 24	I lost my baby 1 week 2 days to a tumor on her heart My beautiful Ebony, a flat-coated retriever got up and started limping on her front left leg, after around 5 minutes she had collapsed on the floor. I called the vet and he said to wait 15 minutes to see if she comes round. I said shes on the floor panting strangely, I don't think shes going to get up..the vet eventually arrived after half an hour, saw Ebony on the floor and then said...this don't look good, we need to get her into the surgery and on some fluids. We got her down to the surgery and he couldn't get a line in as she had gone anemic, the vet at this point was panicking, about what seemed a life time he said he would call his brother. The brother turned up about half an hour later and got the line straight in her leg. At this point the vet offered euthanasia. I couldn't let my girl go like this, I had to find out what was wrong first. Ebony was left at the vets over night having fluids. I found out later on she was on her own all night. The vet said he was happy for her to come home the following day in the view that he would open her up to see what was going on. I said to my son I'm not happy with this, how can she have an operation when clearly her bloods were so low at 15 when they should be 38...she wouldn't cope. So I called my old vets and they said to bring her to them. They scanned her and x rayed her chest. Nothing was showing up at this point. He said that I could bring her home with complete rest, which we did. We kept going back to the vets and she was improving, the vet was really pleased with her progress, her bloods had risen to 35. There was hope and we thought she was going to be OK. Then 1 week to the day, I got up and Ebony was acting really slow. I checked her gums and eyes which had gone white again. I rushed her straight to the vets again. They explained that they were going to put her on a different fluid as the first one would have diluted her blood stopping them from seeing the bleed. I came home...One hour later I had the call from the vet saying they had found a tumor on the lower part of her heart which is bleeding into the sac around the heart and he was pretty sure she had one on her spleen and the blood test had suggested it, he said he was sorry but there's nothing they could do for her. I just broke down...it wasn't sinking in very well, I said to him, so are you saying to put her to sleep. He just replied, there is nothing we can do. I told him I would call my sons and then we would be over. When we got there they asked us if we wanted to spend some time with her until the vet had finished in theater. Of course we did. They brought her out and she was so pleased to see us, she had perked up because of the fluids they had given her, I just couldn't believe we was left with this option, we went into the vets examination room and I sat on the floor, both my sons at my side. She wondered round the room, a little bit slow but she didn't look in any pain, she had picked her lead up and looked as if to say...come on then lets go ..Eventually the vet came in and I asked him again to tell us what was going on which he did and he said it wasn't operable. Ebony went to sleep with her lead in her mouth, very peacefully. God bless everyone who is going through or has gone through something similar...I cant bring her back but I do have her daughter, hopefully I have learn t a big lesson and will know the signs sooner if ever it happens to my other flatties Last edited by GemBem; 09-02-2010 at 01:31 PM.

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09-01-2010, 07:07 AM	#2 (permalink)
TJandDante Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 355	You did the very best you knew how for your dog. That is all you can do, and your dog knew every second how much you loved her. You decided not to let her suffer and didnt wait until she had such horrible pain. You loved her enough to let her go where there is no pain, where she has her lead in her mouth all the time. Its so hard to keep from second guessing yourself and your decisions when your dog is gone. Dont fall into that trap. Nothing you think or say can bring her back, so its just going to be hurtful to you to think that way. You know how much you loved her and would have given to save her if you could. We are her for you to help get you through this time. The pain does lessen each day-trust me. It has been 9 months for me and I have peace knowing I did the best I could for my dog, and so did you. TJ

09-01-2010, 07:26 AM	#3 (permalink)
GemBem Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: northamptonshire, UK Posts: 24	Thank you for your kind words, I know it will take time and the pain will ease over time. She was such a calm flatcoat...so clever and biddable. Together we had 2 wins at crufts in 2004, in the BASC section, that was an experience, not knowing for the life of me that we would end up in the main ring She was a brilliant mother whom had 2 litters, 14 puppies in each one. We kept her daughter GEM...who is missing her terribly and LENA whom is not related. My main worry now is will it happen to my others and can I do anything to prevent it.. I dont know how to feel, I am ok some times but the rest of the time I am in a bad way because I keep replaying that day like a video. Am crying again now

09-01-2010, 07:43 AM	#4 (permalink)
Benpaws Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Oakville, ON., CANADA Posts: 1,696	Dear Friend, I just responded to another post and also commented on your recent very sudden and sad loss of your beloved best friend Ebony. You really did everything you could for Ebony and some things are just out of our hands. She sounded like such a smart girl and loving and certainly a huge part of your heart. Find joy and comfort in Gem who will definitely grieve the loss of her mother. Perhaps now is the time to change diet and give only filtered water and look into ways to keep the immune systems of your other dogs strong. It is particularly difficult for you to grasp the reality of Ebony's passing since it was so sudden and gave you little time for making the final decision to have her pass over Rainbow Bridge, but you made the decision out of selfless love for Ebony and she would have done the same for you if she she could have given the same circumstances. I understand how painful it was to be told that the time had come. We had the same thing happen to another schnauzer Willie. He was sick for one night and the next morning had complete renal failure and died in our arms at the vets. Then we got Benny and did everything right with him (we thought) and he lost his battle with cancer at age 6. I guess God just needed those special dogs for some unknown reason and our hearts break when we lose them. You did all that you could and please try and find peace and don't blame yourself for anything. This demon cancer comes so quickly, seemingly out of nowhere and "takes the best of the best." Godspeed Ebony! Blessings, Joanne & Shadow

09-01-2010, 05:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
TJandDante Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 355	I got a dog Memorial Day weekend and the thing I am doing to prevent cancer in her is grain free diet and immune system supplement and when I brush her, I am feeling carefully for lumps and bumps. She gets only filtered water and no table scraps that arent meat. I can't go through again what we went through last year. TJ

09-01-2010, 11:06 PM	#7 (permalink)
GemBem Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: northamptonshire, UK Posts: 24	No I know exactly what you mean, the first thing I need to concentrate on is getting there food right and also getting them insured. I say I couldn't afford it then, same circumstances but now I know I should have. The thought of loosing another dog to this awful disease just terrifies me as I knew nothing about it and what it does, the medication, the signs. When your dog collapses like that...all reason goes out of the window. Then to have a vet that really didn't know what he was doing didn't help, I'm thankful that the vet I returned to whom I didn't have any reason for leaving other than distance what there to help. He was kind and loving to Ebony and he made her passing as gentle as possible. Still early days ...trying to concentrate on her memory now other than my loss. I have comfort in knowing that one day I will reunite with her and all the dogs I have lost over the yrs. Any advice on food and supplements for my dogs are welcome. I am from the UK so I don't know where to start. God love you all and all of your poorly pets past and present.. Kind regards Joanne

09-02-2010, 01:28 PM	#8 (permalink)
GemBem Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: northamptonshire, UK Posts: 24	Its comforting to read that im not the only one going through this, I just wished I had known more about it...I have 2 other flatcoats so am concentrating on them now....Ive panicked a bit...filtered water...new dog food...and fish oils..i feel like im in a race against time..... .Cant accept that I cant have Ebony back......its just a dis-pare feeling that wont go away...I know its early days and im gonna grieve some... Just also want to give all my love to everyone for there support and advice, it does help alot...just ina bit of a mess right now

09-02-2010, 03:01 PM	#9 (permalink)
Benpaws Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Oakville, ON., CANADA Posts: 1,696	We understand. Take your time! We aren't going anywhere! Hugs and Prayers, Joanne & Shadow

09-02-2010, 03:23 PM	#10 (permalink)
GemBem Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: northamptonshire, UK Posts: 24	Thank you xxxxxx