Was the other place this topic was posted deleted?  Along with my post, maybe??  I'll post again later … I am super late now.  Augh!

bethieb said:

Oh no… there were no posts on it that is why I thought maybe I put it in the wrong place. I am sorry to make you late!!!

 

The last thing I wanted was for you to think you made me late … I am sorry.  I was just upset, because I was rushed and had written a response that disappeared.  When I wrote my response, I did see this topic had been posted twice, and after I wrote my response, I could only find it posted once.  Anyway … nothing for you to be sorry over; I was late because I am always running behind and am always late.

First, I would like to point out we were dealing with a different type of cancer than you are, so our experience could not mean a thing.  I pray Max has just hurt a remaining leg, and all will be fine soon.

That being said … and I'm sorry to write this and I don't want to scare you … but what you wrote, is pretty much what we experienced in Harley's last couple days.  Harley first showed signs of trouble getting up and it was harder for him to hop.  Then he became picky with his eating … eating very little his last two days.  I, also, noticed that his "bump" on his head was more pronounced.  I googled the crap out of this "bump" … which, if I remember right, is called an "intelligence bump".  From what I read, it seems the most likely cause is muscle wasting.

So, I hope I didn't scare you.  I pray Max has just injured a leg, but when I read about Max's "bump," I wanted to share our story, as we had the "bump" that seemed to grow, as well.  After I had read about muscle wasting being the most likely cause, I could then see less muscle tone on Harley in other places.  We did not have the heavy, agitated breathing … so Max could definitely be dealing with something entirely different!

You and Max are in my thoughts and prayers.  Wishing you many, many more Ampuversaries to celebrate!!!

I'm so sorry to hear about Max.  This cancer is just so unfair – he's just too young to be going through this! It's heartbreaking.  I just wanted you to know that you are in my thoughts and prayers and I really hope that  it's only a sprained leg and that's all that it is.  As for doing further testing, you have to do what's comfortable for you.  If theses pain meds don't seem to be helping in due time, maybe you might reconsider doing more testing.  As Jerry said, and it's been my experience too, that having the knowledge of whatever it is that could be causing him pain, can also bring relief to you because you know now what to expect.   It's taking it one day at a time, like we all have to do, and keeping the faith.  I really really hope that Max gets better soon.

Sending you lots of hugs.

Kami (Mackenzie's Mom)

I'm sorry to hear that Max is having a rough time. It's so hard to see our fur-kids not wanting to eat, and having such trouble moving around. The fine line between not letting them suffer and giving it the benefit of the doubt – hoping for the best – is indeed a difficult place to be. I firmly believe, having lost both of my golden retrievers within the past 6 months, that you know beyond a doubt when it is their time to go. If it's something from which they can recover, and it's a matter of time and pain management for healing, then that's what you do. If it's something from which they cannot recover – and it will only get worse – then you have the very difficult decision of determining when to end the fight. Only you and your dog (and your vet) really know that. 

My most sincere hopes and prayers are with you that Max comes out of this and celebrates more ampuversaries. 

As for the bump – I'm not a vet, so this is a guess, but I know my goldens both had that bump, too – it can certainly become more pronounced when the dogs are dehydrated. I don't know that it actually gets bigger – I think it's more likely that the tissue around the bone structure is losing muscle tone, or is becoming dehydrated. 

Tana and Spirit Sophie