Around the 'Shoe

Aww man....sorry to hear that.

I'll pray for your dog. Miracles can happen!!

That's horrible, I grew up on a farm and one of the horses I grew up with and loved just died a few weeks ago, it was like losing a family member. I hope things aren't too bad for your dog.

Best wishes to you 3yd. I wouldn't amputate - would be tough for an older dog to get used to it just to gain a few months. Just treat him well and enjoy him while you have him. Don't make him suffer. Not to give you false hope but I had a 17+ year old Beagle that had a lot of internal cancer (organs and lungs) and the vet gave him a few months to live. We decided to just give him a cortisone shot every 3-4 weeks - he lived comfortably for a year and a half and nearly made it to 19.

Everytime we get a new dog (or other animal) I always remind my wife that God willing we are going to bury it someday.

Just remember all the good times you've had and will have until the day arrives, then shed a tear and be happy you had him.

On a clear night, I love to go outside when the current two Beagles are chasing rabbits around the farm, and imagine the old guy is out there running and barking with them. Izzy's been gone 4 years this month. Best dog I've ever had.

no plans on amputation; just no real upside in it for him, and it wouldn't be fair.
got a new medication for pain today, so we have to see how that goes.

just been a tough day; been crying like a child...

The entire dog latter-aging/health issue time is very wearing on a person that loves their pet. I am a dog person, and nothing separates us besides losing them. But (the signs of losing them) it eventually does happen and you have to accept it and be thankful that they blessed your life in more ways than 99.9% of humans do.

Prepare yourself in whatever decision you make down the road. Just allow him to understand that you are fully aware of what he is going through and love and support the dude until the next step has to be efforted. Hang in there with him, if affordable. He's a pretty boy.

And, remember one thing after his time on earth is over - - you will eventually see him again down the 'road', so to speak. It is more comforting in knowing that much.

It is truly man's best friend! How amazing how become attached. Over my adult life I have had to put one dog and three cats down. I hated it but it was best for them. Currently I have two American eskimo dogs and they are so much apart of family I couldn't imagine not having them.

Sorry to hear about your angst. Just put a cat down yesterday and feel a void.

nothing like the bond between a man and his dog. I wouldn't know what to do if something happened to mine.....wish all people was as loyal as a dog.......sorry to hear what you are going thru

Words can't even begin to describe how sorry I am to hear this. This is truly heartbreaking. I'm sure Pork has meant more to you than any of us will ever know. A dog truly is a man's best friend because besides his wife, they are the most loyal companion a person could have. I will say a prayer for Pork, for you, and for your family in this difficult time while you are having to make a difficult decision. About a year and a half ago, the same thing happened to my neighbor Dan's dog. Maggie was a German Shorthair Pointer and a heck of a bird dog. She had to be put down because of a cancerous growth on her right front leg. It was really sad and he has said that he will never get another dog because he will never be able to share the same love and bond with a new one as he did with Maggie. I have two dogs of my own, both of them are black labs. They are twin brothers, Shadow and Samson. They are going to be 11 come this May. I just hope I get to have them for as long I can. It hurts me inside that I don't get to see them everyday because I am in college. Whenever I return home for a break, they go nuts and start jumping all over me with excitement. It's one of the best feelings ever. I just hope that nothing happens to them while I am away at school. About a year ago, my third dog, Grace passed away. I'm not sure what the cause was. But that was extremely sad too, she was an older dog as well. She was a English Setter/Pointer mix and a very good bird dog. I just recently learned that my favorite cat, Callie passed away after having a seizure. She was 12 years old and I used to love seeing her around every day and getting to pet her. It broke my heart to hear the news from my mom, even more so because I wasn't home and was back at school only a few weeks into the new semester after Christmas break. I know cats can't understand human talk but I looked her in the eye and told her that I hoped that she wouldn't pass away while I was gone. But it's good that she isn't in any more pain and is no longer suffering.

So sorry i have 2 rescue dachshunds they are my little babies. I know the time will come when they pass. But the loss of a pet is like losing a child. I am hoping for a Buckeye miracle here.My prayers are with you.

Tough situation. By the time a dog is symptomatic with osteosarcoma the odds it has already spread approach 100%, so amputation is for pain relief and to prevent pathologic fractures, nothing more. And large, heavy dogs don't do as well on three legs as smaller lighter dogs. As tough as the ultimate decision is, he will reach a point where it is the only kindness you have left to give to him.

We lost ours 7 years ago, we are huge dog lovers but can't get another one. I'm not going through that pain again.