I thought I'd give an update on my girl...For starters, she is better than ever!!! She has had a full appetite, has NOT needed hardly any pain meds, and getting around awesome.  I was prepared for the worst during the first 2 weeks and she has had zero problems.  I haven't had to help her do anything!! Today is 1 week since her surgery so she went back to have her staples removed.  The surgeon was amazed at her progress and she even gained a couple pounds which he was very happy about. Now comes the problem... The "green stuff" tested positive for deep tissue melanoma cancer.  The surgeon said in his 38 year career he has never seen this.  He said it also seemed to have stayed in one isolated area (below her elbow).  An xray was done of her chest the day of her surgery and it all looked clear.  My regular vet agrees that this is very, very rare.  He called FVS (Florida Vet Specialist) and they said the same.  It has been very, very slow growing and does not appear to have spread. Obviously it could have spread and she had an appt with FVS on Monday so they can go over the pathology report, xrays, etc... FVS told my vet that if it is deep tissue melanoma cancer then it is extremely rare and there is a melanoma vaccine that she may be a candidate for. So on that note if anybody has had this same situation, I would love to hear from you.  Thanks, Kristen & Brandy

I want to thank you for suggesting I re-read your post detailing the last days with Jerry.  At first, I thought to myself that his situation was so different from Brandy's...He was still chasing balls and very active, had never wet himself, was 10, etc...Brandy's almost 15, has been incontintent since she was 5 and hasn't chased a ball since I don't know when.  Denial.  Then I read some more loss stories of the dogs in pain that had to be let go to their eternal resting place.  So Tuesday, Dec 21 at 2a.m. Brandy began pacing the house, breathless, drinking tons of water, had 2 mistakes in the house, and seemed more tired than usual to me.  I layed with her on the bathroom floor and she looked at me sooo tired and tried to bark (her fav thing to do..lol) and couldn't.  She was so tired.  I picked her up and put her in my bed and she slept soundly through the night.  Later that morning I woke up to her barking, wanting to get down and eat.  She ate like normal, hopped outside to go potty like normal.  Everything was the same as every other day.  I just couldn't stop thinking about how tired she seemed the night before and about the last days with Jerry.  So I hesitantly decided to make an appt with my vet and have him evaluate her and give me his opinion.  She happily went for a car ride (another fav thing to do), hopped into the vets office greeting everyone as usual.  Nothing was different.  Then she stepped on the scale.  A dog that, at one time, weighted 95 lbs (too heavy I know) now only weighed 52 lbs.  Guess I wasn't being so crazy saying she was sooo skinny.  At that point I pretty much knew.  After the Dr. examined her he agreed seemed to be painfree and great spirits...BUT something was brutally attacking her internally for her to be losing the weight she was.  She had lost another 15 lbs since June.  She was tired and brittle.  He felt her quality of life wasn't the best right now.  Of course he offered tests, etc.  I didn't want her to go through more tests, pain, another restless, tired night, falling anymore, losing anymore weight and so on...So with the Dr and two assistance that have known and cared for Brandy since she was 6 weeks old, my two daughters and my ex husband (he and I got Brandy together) all there we said goodbye to our angel.  She was happy, painfree and I'm sure wondeing why in the heck we were all staring at her crying when she was happy...lol  She went to sleep in my lap.  It was truly the hardest decision I've ever had to make in my life.  But I know she is chasing balls and swimming and playing again and smiling down on us.  My first post to this forum was titled ..."The right decision???" That was in reference to her surgery and yes everyone here helped me make "the right decision."  Again about 20 months later I found myself posting again "The right decision???" and once again you helped me make "the right decision."  Thank you.  Kristen and Brandy