I'm devastated to have to write this.  but, while i was at work yesterday, bailey somehow broke his remaining front leg.  my neighbor found him laying on the carpet by my front door and thought maybe he was just hurting since he was crying.  He was in the same place when she came back an hour later, so she called me.  I came home and tried to get him to stand by lifting him and while he was able to stand on his back legs, his front left just hung.  Rushed him to the vet where xrays showed he had some sort of "spiral" break in his upper leg, and by that time they'd also received biopsy results which showed he did in fact have osteosarcoma.  I asked them to give him some pain meds, and spent a little time with him then had to put him down.  Despite the obvious pain, he even wagged his tail at the guys who came in to put the final catheter in his leg.  He was the best puppy ever and i miss him so so much.  thanks to all for helping us get through the last week.  I am feeling so guilty about putting him through the amputation at all, and for the pain i put him through in forcing him to get up, and feel like if I'd stayed home with him he'd still be here … horrible time right now :(  I'm trying to tell myself it's better than he only suffered for a week but had some good days than had I put him down when the first leg was so unbearable, and maybe the cancer had weakened his front leg and it would have broken soon anyhow.  I just miss him so terribly and wish this past week had been so different …

I agree with Jerry, you did the best you could with the information you had.  You gave him instant pain relief when you got rid of his leg.  The pain from the bone cancer (from what all doctors have told me) is unbearable, the worst kind of pain.  Your Bailey was given relief with all you have done for him.  There is no way to see in the future, so you couldn't have known.

I would just about bet it all that he was glad for even just one more minute with you.   You gave him that.  I am so sorry for your having lost him so soon into the fight!  But, I hope there is comfort in knowing you gave him every moment you could.  My most heartfelt condolences (that isn't a good enough word for the sadness and empathy I am feeling for you both) and many prayers for Baileys journey to the bridge, and for you.

Elizabeth

I also posted over on the other thread, but just wanted to reiterate to try to not have any regrets. Don't beat yourself up. Bailey wouldn't want that at all.

I mentioned to you before that our last dog was also named Bailey. I'm sure our angel Bailey is there to welcome your angel Bailey. Ours was a girl, and I'm sure she is flirting with him mercilessly and trying to get him to chase her.

I know your pain has just really begun, but remember that his has ended. I hope that some day sooner than you think you'll be able to remember him with more smiles than tears.

We're all here for you!
Jackie, Abby's mom

thank you everyone.

Jackie, your point about my pain beginning while his ended was good for me to hear.  As much as I love him and as much as my  heart is broken right now, I will gladly take on all of this pain knowing that he doesn't have to now. 

He was "my monkey" and I'll miss him so, so much.  But will also cherish all the good things he brought to my life, like becoming a part of this family, for one.  Even though our time with you all was short, the love and appreciation for what you guys have done will last a long time …

Oh, poor Bailey. That is so very sad. But, as others have already said, you did the best you could with the information you had — and that's all you can ever expect of yourself. I know you are feeling guilty and second-guessing yourself right now, but try not to. You didn't have a crystal ball, and you couldn't have known this was how things would turn out. You loved him, and you always acted with his best interests at heart. He would want you to celebrate his life, his smiles, his energy, rather than beat yourself up over something you couldn't fix.

And as Jan said, once a Tripawd family member, always a Tripawd family member. We are here for you, and hoping that soon you will be able to remember your boy with a smile rather than tears.

Micki and Rio

I am so very sorry for your loss.  Sending you hugs and sweet Labby kisses.  I haven't been a Tripawd pawrent for very long, but this community has been amazing and I'm sure they will provide whatever support you need.

Stephanie, so sorry to read about Bailey.. I'm sorry I wasn't around to add to your other post and help with support earlier. I can't add much to what has already been said. Yes, this is a wonderful family in times like this and hopefully you can feel a sense of comfort from everyone here, but for those of us who have lost our buddies, there never seems to be the right something to take the pain away. I've always said the majic of time works better than just about anything else, and the whole journey of this crap  makes losing them that much harder, but your story adds an unfortunate twist, so lean on all of us here to help ease your pain. Don't feel you have to get back to  " normal" in a certain time frame, we all heal different, and with time you will be able to think of Bailey and smile, but for now, let the tears flow, it's a great relief valve. Our thoughts are with you, Spirit Gus and Dan 

you did everything you could for him and he knew how much you loved him. Rest easy Bailey pain free