It is a sad day. I took Tai in for her 9 month check. She has been very energetic and playful, full of life, I didn't expect to hear anything bad. The xrays reveal 2 or more lung mets. We are going to stay on the current metronomic protocol and recheck her with chest xrays again in a month to see how fast they are growing/spreading. She seems so healthy. My Vet just broke down when she told me. I don't think any of us saw this coming. As she said, and I believe, Tai is the same dog today as she was yesterday, she doesn't feel any different, she doesn't know she has mets, she's loving life just the same. I am trying to be strong and only show her happy postitive me. No idea what the future will bring but I know I will love her everyday and in everyway just the same as always.

I'm so sorry to read this Hugs to you and Tai.

As your signature reads: 

"Loving life to the fullest and being spoiled beyond belief."

Keep on doing that!  For you and for Tai!!!

Many hugs,

Tracy & Maggie

Your dog sounds like much healthier than my dog when we found out she had lung mets!!! Keep enjoying every moment (like everyone else has said)!

-Chloe's mom

I'm sorry to hear this news.  But Tai doesn't know so you are right to keep your chin up and smile.  And give her lots of hugs and ice cream.

Tail wags,

Pat, Angel Ruthie & Tess

My sister and I were talking about Tai yesterday and so sorry to hear about the mets (and MacKenzie, too) - Tai and MacKenzie are lucky to have such great pawrents. Kami's post sounds really hopeful and we hope Tai keeps doing well and loving life! Kami, hoping MacKenzie has good results next week!

Alice

I was at the vets office today and was told that this disease almost always spreads.  That means that there is only really a slim chance of remission.  She said if we manage to keep it from going to the lungs it usually attacks another bone, or spleen and liver.  With the attack of the lungs at least you get more time than the others.  This is the harsh reality of of cancer.  So what we are doing is buying quality time with our furry family.  We can hope to beat this, but we would be one of the really rare lucky ones. 

She said she knew of a rottie that lived 4 years with a very vicious form of osterosarcoma, and a golden retriever that lived only a couple of months with a mild form. It is a horrible pot luck!  I am so sorry you have had another blow, but you are right, Tai is still here so enjoy every moment you can.  We understand how this can rock your hope, bringing saddness and pain.  Give yourself a time limit on that feeling, then go out and take Thai on a special day. 

When I first understood about Sammy I couldn't stop grieving.  Then somebody explained that I was missing him before he was gone.  I gave myself 30 minutes to be devistated, then forced myself to start playing with him and trying to be happy with him.  It kept coming over me and I would fight it back.  Pretty soon I saw that my boy was still here and I wasn't going to let cancer steal that day with him from me.  He did something that made me laugh, and then it got better.

Elizabeth and Sammy

I am so sorry to hear about Tai (and also sending good wishes for MacKenzie's next pics)….I remember well the day I took Magic in and we just took xrays as really an afterthought because it was so early on…I had absolutely no clue anything was going on from his behavior and there they were….It was so aggressive it just ate one organ after another….and on the other hand, look at the ones who do well!!  You just never know and I had quite a time with that anticipatory grief….don't let it eat up the time….because that's what it does…you spend all the time anticipating the "bad thing" and you forget that your tripawd is right there, loving you and perhaps wondering why you are distracted!!

It is such a crap shoot, you do the best you can and enjoy every minute you have.  Realize there will never ever be  enough minutes, and go on from there.

sending hugs and pawsitive thoughts…

THANK YOU EVERYONE!!! As usual, your words of wisdom and support were just what was needed. Tai and I spent the weekend at a horse show, she was digging moles, getting lots of pets and treats and generally having a great time. I will NOT let cancer steal whatever time we have left! I was sad and I cried, now I am stronger and living "Dog" as much as possible. Your input was truly appreciated. I know the future will be difficult again, I pray that I will have the strength to give her the final gift of compassion when that time comes, but for now….lets go dig up some more moles!!!! By the way, for those of you with new front leg amputees…one front legged dogs can still dig really fast!!!

I also owe a HUGE THANK YOU to Kami and Brett for their information and insight as well as to a tripawd friend who had the signature line "if you start missing what isn't gone, you lose what's left". I can't remember who you are but that phrase is truly inspirational and I have it written on my fridge. Thanks for the reminder.

Laura and Happy Hoppy Tai