Well guys and gals, this morning did not go as planned. My Boxer named Tahoe is advanced in age and showing signs of it. He was full grown when we rescued him, but still very young and now guessing him to be in the 10-12 year range.
The vet said that the "average" life expectancy is 8-10years. He had a VERY hard life before we rescued him. But when we got him he was loved on all day everyday and continued today as he is sleeping on the couch beside me as I watch "Land of the Free" v2.0 on YouTube and typing this. He's a good dog. Lets us know when someone is knocking on the door and when squirrels are in the back yard. He has a hard time walking now, tripping over his back legs because the vet says he doesnt have feeling in has back paws and drags his feet. He is getting riddled with skin tumors which we had one real aggressive one removed last year and had another one scheduled to be removed in December. That appt has been canceled. The good vet says that with the amount of tumors that are popping up, its not fair to Tahoe to keep having procedures to remove them, which I completely agree with. The vet thinks that his cancer (GOD I HATE that word!!) has turned malignant. He wondered if he has tumors inside him as well as the amount that are showing up externally. Only way to know is to submit him to xrays and procedures. I just cant do that to him. I just want him to be happy and comfortable. He doesnt show any signs of suffering yet. The conservative approach is to give him steriod anti inflammatory to slow the tumors and arthritis and hip and/or back pain. However with that approach it can also mess up his insides. Darned if we do darned if we dont. The good vet says that with the loss of feeling in his back paws could be caused from a list of things in which either one there is nothing they can do for him.
So I asked the Vet what are the things that we need to watch for and what to expect, I cried in that office. This really sucks!! I love my Tahoe. He's good dog. So the Vet ran through the steps when the time comes to ease him of his pain. My wife and I have some tough decisions to make. My two oldest daughters 13 and 15 understand but its 6yo daughter that is going to be the hardest as Tahoe sleeps on her bed with her. Thats going to be the toughest. I am sorry for this long depressing thread on a friday, I had to get it off my chest. I'm a mess right now.
The vet said that the "average" life expectancy is 8-10years. He had a VERY hard life before we rescued him. But when we got him he was loved on all day everyday and continued today as he is sleeping on the couch beside me as I watch "Land of the Free" v2.0 on YouTube and typing this. He's a good dog. Lets us know when someone is knocking on the door and when squirrels are in the back yard. He has a hard time walking now, tripping over his back legs because the vet says he doesnt have feeling in has back paws and drags his feet. He is getting riddled with skin tumors which we had one real aggressive one removed last year and had another one scheduled to be removed in December. That appt has been canceled. The good vet says that with the amount of tumors that are popping up, its not fair to Tahoe to keep having procedures to remove them, which I completely agree with. The vet thinks that his cancer (GOD I HATE that word!!) has turned malignant. He wondered if he has tumors inside him as well as the amount that are showing up externally. Only way to know is to submit him to xrays and procedures. I just cant do that to him. I just want him to be happy and comfortable. He doesnt show any signs of suffering yet. The conservative approach is to give him steriod anti inflammatory to slow the tumors and arthritis and hip and/or back pain. However with that approach it can also mess up his insides. Darned if we do darned if we dont. The good vet says that with the loss of feeling in his back paws could be caused from a list of things in which either one there is nothing they can do for him.
So I asked the Vet what are the things that we need to watch for and what to expect, I cried in that office. This really sucks!! I love my Tahoe. He's good dog. So the Vet ran through the steps when the time comes to ease him of his pain. My wife and I have some tough decisions to make. My two oldest daughters 13 and 15 understand but its 6yo daughter that is going to be the hardest as Tahoe sleeps on her bed with her. Thats going to be the toughest. I am sorry for this long depressing thread on a friday, I had to get it off my chest. I'm a mess right now.
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