2/15 Tiki AMPS 253, +6 226, PMPS 289, +4 200,

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Re: 2/15 Tiki AMPS 253,

I just saw your post for yesterday.

We had a sheltie (Strider) just a few years back who had similar symptoms. It turned out he had a mass growing between his lungs and heart and inoperable. My DH made the decision it was time when he was brushing him and his legs were so weak he could barely stand. He wasn't playing any more.... we could throw the toy and he'd retrieve it once.
It is so hard.

Do the things that are most special with Sasha, special foods, get a paw print, even record the sound of panting or barking if you need any of it.
You'll know when it's time because you love her.
It is so difficult... I know.
Just remember that she will be waiting for you until you are reunited some day. Your love lives on...

Sending you big hugs!
prayers too....
 
Re: 2/15 Tiki AMPS 253,

Recordings! Brilliant!!! I have thought about that many times but haven't actually done it. This is so weird but one of my favorite noises in the whole world is that sound she makes when she eats her dog food. CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH!!! It's such a great sound. Will have to record that sound for sure (hopefully I can get her to eat). Hearing it will likely kill me on the other side of this but at least I'll have it. And her panting, definitely! Oddly, she hardly ever barks. Not even when someone comes to the door. She always associated a knock on the door with Take Out so to her it's a good thing. Now she has lost all of her hearing so it doesn't really matter, she can't hear the knock anymore.

Sadly, even with all the fluid they removed last night it doesn't seem to have improved things greatly for her. I'm trying my best not to be an absolute basket case as they are so in tuned with us and I don't want her stressed out even more because I'm a mess. When I lose it completely is when I think about what it will be like without her here with me. The emptiness. Sigh...
 
Re: 2/15 Tiki AMPS 253,

hahaha that was so cute! love the dogs that showed their teeth - but the first one who was groaning and complaining was the cutest. i have one cat, anya, who LOVES to be kissed on her forehead. she wants multiple kisses, not just one. it calms her down. but my kittens McGee and Frodo, they'll move away and don't want to be kissed. too hard to sit still, i guess.

thinking about you and Sasha today and sending you the best!
 
Re: 2/15 Tiki AMPS 253,

Julie - FRODO? What a funny name, I love it!!! LOLOL

I laughed out loud several times watching this video. And yes, the teeth were definitely the best ones. Tiki lets me kiss him, but he's generally not happy about it. Afterwards I catch him giving himself a bath as to wash off my cooties! LOL
 
Re: 2/15 Tiki AMPS 253,

hehe he got the name Frodo because he's quite the adventurer/explorer. we brought him & McGee home from the pound at the same time. both were 4 months old.

McGee is the "sit and watch the action" kitty (named after NCIS's McGee) and Frodo was the "i'll provide you action to watch" kitty, named after Frodo on the Lord of the Rings. We got them in August and they are very fun. Kinda a lot of work, though! and they eat like you wouldn't believe. i'd forgotten how much work kittens are - they get into everything (and i quilt, so i have to watch every thread and needle), they get on the counters and Frodo is a furniture scratcher too.

McGee is quiet and wants to mostly be attached to my lap. This week i got into the coat closet for something, then maybe a half hour later I opened the door to put something in there, and there sat McGee on the floor. just looking at the door. not complaining or scratching, just waiting. he's got a gentle soul.

Anya has been very bent-out-of-shape about them, but now, after 6 months she is finally relenting and tolerating them a little better. we've had several months of her attacking them, but finally Frodo started giving it back and now she's softening.
 
Re: 2/15 Tiki AMPS 253, +6 226,

Tonya

I'm so very sorry to hear about Sasha. I have a little experience with CHF. My Sitka, who was 21 when she crossed, had it.

I am all for not letting a beloved companion suffer and it is true that, generally speaking,once you start tapping the chest to get rid of fluid, it just fills up again. However, have you asked your vet about using Lasix? If Sasha does not have any kidney issues, Lasix could help.

When Sitka was younger (18), she had to have a dental and get a broken tooth out and the long time she was under anesthesia caused fluid to build up in her chest...long story I'm just making simple. At any rate, the Lasix worked wonders. She did not have heart issues at that time. When she was 20, she was dx with CKD so I had her heart ultra sounded (echocardiogram) before we started daily fluids and it was within normal limits. But two months of daily fluids and she developed CHF. Because of her CKD, Lasix was not an option. They tapped her chest three times and after the last one, the vet said we couldn't continue it even though she did great after each time....but the time between taps was getting shorter. We had made the decision to help her cross but she decided on her own before the appt and crossed peacefully in my arms at home. I don't think it was CHF...I think her little heart was just tired because she did not have any of the tale take signs that her chst was filling again.

I'm not a big believer in using X-rays to determine if there is a cardiomyopathy issue. Depending on how the dog/cat is positioned on the table, you might not get the best view. I've also had this happen.

Sending prayers of strength for you. Please know that I know you will do what is best for Sasha but just wanted to give you something to ask the vet. It might not be something that would help Sasha.
 
Re: 2/15 Tiki AMPS 253, +6 226,

Hi Marge,

Not sure if this has anything to do with CHF, although ultimately that's what it will likely end as. Sasha started having UTI's last Oct and the last one flaired up in the early part of January. Just about the time the antibiotics were done she started to bleed like she was in heat and her urine was really dark and stinkie. This was really strange as she had just finished a whole course of antibiotics AND her follow up urine sample showed no sign of infection. So they gave her another round of antibiotics and by the very next day the blood was gone and by the end of the second round of antibiotics there was no sign of any issues. They thought maybe a kidney stone so they took all kinds of xrays trying to find one, but none showed up. However, on one of these xrays we discovered a mass in her lung. The vet ruled out any kidney and bladder issues and felt the problem was in the urethra, and said if it wasn't an infection, it could be cancer. At yesterday's visit, the vet said these two issues (mass in lung and possible problem with the urethra) could be related or have nothing to do with one another but said if it was cancer of the urethra, the issue with her lungs NOW could just be that is is spreading. The vet also noted that there is still evidence of a discharge (very slight) from her vulva.

The xrays didn't show any issues with her heart contributing to the liquid in her lungs. They removed over a liter of liquid last night and about half way through today I noticed she had finally stopped panting as badly as she had been all week (I thought it would be more immediate). We are treating her with antibiotics for the possibility of an infection in her lungs to rule that out first. The vet is leaning towards cancer, but at least by doing this first I wont have any woulda coulda shoulda's. I don't really think I could afford to keep going with treatments to have the fluid removed (last nights was over $200.00 on top of all the other things they did) and I don't think it would be fair to her if only just keeps coming back. That course of action feels like it would be more about me and less about her and the quality of her life.

This is the price we pay to love our furbabies. There is always that inevitable day where you know you are going to have to say goodbye, and it ALWAYS comes far too soon. I try to look at it as the last act of love we can do for them even though it's utterly turmoil for us. God has let me have her for longer than I could have imagined, and I will never be ready to send her home to him so I pray he gives me the strength to get through it.
 
Re: 2/15 Tiki AMPS 253, +6 226, PMPS 286,

Tonya

Thanks for taking the time to explain. I knew Sasha had the possible kidney stone issue and they said a mass in her lung. I still wonder if she's getting fluids in her lung if they can use Lasix. I'm glad she seems to be breathing better now. Sorry I fixated on CHF when really I meant to just focus on the Lasix :roll:

I'm very sorry she's not well.....it's so hard when we love them so much.
 
Re: 2/15 Tiki AMPS 253, +6 226, PMPS 286,

Thanks for the info on the drug. I will ask the vet if that's anything that will help. She is supposed to call me tomorrow with Lab results.
 
Hi Marje,

Just to follow up on Lasix (it sounds like it should be EYE related) the vet called today with her blood labs so I ran it by her. She said Lasix is mostly used with regards to a heart issue but it's something we could try. She worries that a side effect could be harsh on her kidneys as the drug is dehydrating in nature but because sasha's kidneys have been and ARE currently strong and healthy that's it's a possibility. We have a follow up on Thursday to see how things have progressed (more liquid, same, less etc) and will see from there how to proceed. All of her blood labs came back exactly as they were 6 months ago and on all other fronts she is strong and healthy. Vet still suspects cancer mostly due to that mass in her lung so I think in the long term things are still kind of bleak, but will try to manage things for comfort and quality for as long as I can. She's 15, I don't expect a miracle, but will try to squeak out as much as I can from the situation. :YMSIGH:

In the meantime, I have made homemade spaghetti sauce for a little bit of happiness and joy for her. I'll do what I can! :smile:
 
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