Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Ohhh my gosh I'm sorry about Tyson, I just now got to catch up on things, and my heart hurts for you. Cancer can be really mean and unpredictable.
It does sound like very textbook lung metastasis. I'm so sorry. Is he coughing at all or only showing lethargy? Human cough suppreseent medication (Robitussin DM can sometimes help, and other medication that your vet can recommend). Definitely ask the vet if he's having those types of symptoms.
You are doing everything humanly possible to help him stay comfortable. I'm glad our post could help a little. Just listen to your heart, and stay present, and watch for signs that he is ready to transition on. Did you see our Penny Jars post? This can help figure out quality of life, and help you feel better knowing when his time has arrived.
We are keeping you and Tyson in our hearts. Please let us know how things are going OK? 
Yes it sadly has been quite unpredictable but he’s been a champion through everything.
He doesn’t have a cough and is only showing lethargy right now. We help him go outside because it’s getting quite taxing for him to use the bathroom. He has to lay down to catch his breath and even fainted a few times for a few seconds after lying down out of exhaustion. He was doing a bit better last week on his meds but seems a bit restless and agitated yesterday after stopping.
We are quite unsure about the metronomic chemotherapy at this point even though the vet suggested we could try it and it might help. We just want him to be as happy and pain free as possible the coming weeks. I did read the Penny Jars post thank you, it definitely helps give us a bit more bearing. It’s just making that final decision seems like an impossible task.
Oh thats good he doesn't have coughing. Yes I can imagine how tiring it is to go outside, poor guy.
I think I'd feel the same way about metronomics right now. It's hard enough getting a dog to take pills when they are feeling good, much less feeling crappy from lung mets. There's a lot of emotional freedom when you say "enough" with medical intervention and just focus on helping your pup stay comfortable, which can keep you more present and in tune with his needs. But if you choose to move forward with the therapy, you can always stop if you don't like how he's handling it.
I'm glad the Penny Jars post helped. Keep us posted.
Sending sweet Tyson every ounce of our love and pawsitive energy.
You are doing, and have done, a lovely job of always keeping Tyson's quality at the forefront. He knows you always will.
FWIW my Happh Hannah never had a cough. However, she did tire easily and any exertion out to potty would exhaust her. I guess the "less bad" with lung mets is, for the most part, they don't cause pain. Maybe some discomfort or tiredness, but not any real pain.
You might ask about Prednisone. It helps reduce any inflammation the mets may cause, thus "freeing up lung space" so to speak. I feel like it helped keep her comfortable for a bit longer for more spoiling and loving.
Continue to stay fully present in the moment with Tyson and love in the NOW.
We are uour family and understand where you are now.....we understandand we are here for you.
((((((((Hugs))))))
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
It is with a heavy heart that I say Tyson passed today. He came into our family a bundle of joy and was the brightest star in our lives the last 8 years. We are devastated but also relieved he no longer has to feel any pain.
For anyone this may help, he was having good and bad days the last week with it gradually becoming worse. He seemed restless last night before but still managed to go out to use the bathroom this morning. It was shortly after one of his eyes started twitching (he developed an eye infection two days prior). However I feel this may have been the ear infection he had the week before acting up because he suddenly could no longer get up and keep balance. He also briefly had the twitching happen yesterday along with wobbling his head but it quickly subsided. Today however after it started and he tried to get up his legs would shake because he just couldn’t find his balance which made him quite distressed (even with us holding him). It was heartbreaking to see him like that and that’s when we knew it was time. We did not want to see him suffer any longer. We thought we would have more time and did not imagine that day would be today. It was a difficult day and he was agitated when we had to do that final step, but there were moments of joy seeing all the people he loved come to see him one last time. Even though he wasn’t so comfortable he’d wag his tail so happily seeing all of their faces. The final process happened very quickly and it was like he went to sleep (our vet did not want to use a sedative before because he felt it may cause a reaction).
I cannot put into words the sense of loss we feel. At the same time we feel a sense of relief that Tyson is no longer suffering and we got to have 8 1/2 happy years together. A champ till the very end like all the other brave tripawds. He will be forever loved and missed.
We would like to thank everyone here from the bottom of our hearts. Your help here was godsend and especially so after the surgery (the suggestions on different meds brought the Tyson we love back). We will be forever grateful to the tripawds community. Please do reach out if we could be of any help in the future, we have so much love and respect for you all!
Ohhhhh 
I am so sorry, my heart hurts for you guys. My deepest condolences and hugs are being sent to you across many miles. Thank you for thinking of us so we can all send hugs and love your way.
No matter how much we think we are prepared, or how much we know we are doing the best thing for them, there is nothing that glues our broken heart back together, other than time. Be kind to yourself, and know that his spirit will always be a strong presence in everything you do. Love is eternal, Tyson is too.
((((hugs))))
P.S. If you'd like to post some photos in a Coping with Loss Tribute just let me know, I'll help if you'd like.
Thank you, it's been a difficult week but better each day trying to think of all the happiness he brought to everyone he met. Feel some sense of peace knowing it was the right thing to do and that he's in a better place.
I'd love to post a few photos as a tribute, I was having some trouble uploading photos earlier so would definitely appreciate the help.
You are so welcome. I'm glad his happier times are bringing you some comfort.
Yes on the photos, you can send them to me here and I'll share for you.
So very, very sorry to read Tyson had to head to The Bridge. This disease is so cunning and sneaky and brutal. I’ve been off line for a couple of weeks and just now caught up. While I knew the enevitable was lurking, it was still a shock to knowledge quickly the disease took over.
Yes, you gave him the gift of release at exactly the right time. He let you know he was ready and yet made sure you had a good memory of seeing him wag his tail as his admirers came to see him.
We know how hard the void and break in routine are. We know the relief that his transition was peaceful and the calm in knowing Tyson is pain free and able to be Tyson again. And we know how your heart breaks right now and how it seems like it will ever be put back together.
The happy times with our beloved Tyson will soon help glue your broken heart back together again. It will take time, but it will happen. Tyson wants you to remember the wonderful tie he had with you. Just as you felt privileged to have Tyson as your BFF he felt just as privileged to have you and your family as his BFF.
And yes, please do send some pictures toJerry when you can. We’d love to see more of the snuggly fluffy gentle boy.
((((((((((((((Hugs))))))))))))
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too !
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Aww you are so welcome, it was my honor.
How are you guys holding up? He had such a big presence, I know it must be very difficult to adapt to life without him.
Oh gosh, have a few tears flowing over here. They are mostly Hapopy tears though for remembering our beloved Tyson. Loved every single moment of every single day. As always, any photo of Tyson makes me want to smooch his sweet face and snuggle those delight jowls.....drool and all.
The tribute video is so eloquently done and each photo shown perfectly captures the essence of Tyson. He truly is a smile maker.
(((((((Hugs)))))))
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
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