Pets/ dogs

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Pets/ dogs

Blue_Belle · Strong Club Player

Awww poor Luna Jon. I think that's a wise decision.

My cat is now 14, I spent a fair whack of money flying her over from the UK to NZ (she was 12 at the time). Anyway, we've had a few vet visits over the last year; two months ago she had cat flu and lost quite a bit of weight. We've since been back to the vet again for weight loss and investigation which set me back another bit of money (which we don't have). If there's anything else going on, it would mean scans, specialist vets and stuff which we just cannot afford. We've agreed that if it is anything serious, that we will just let nature take its course since chemo in a cat can be very brutal (dogs can tolerate it better) and she is 14 - she's had a good life.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Blue_Belle wrote:
Awww poor Luna Jon. I think that's a wise decision.

My cat is now 14, I spent a fair whack of money flying her over from the UK to NZ (she was 12 at the time). Anyway, we've had a few vet visits over the last year; two months ago she had cat flu and lost quite a bit of weight. We've since been back to the vet again for weight loss and investigation which set me back another bit of money (which we don't have). If there's anything else going on, it would mean scans, specialist vets and stuff which we just cannot afford. We've agreed that if it is anything serious, that we will just let nature take its course since chemo in a cat can be very brutal (dogs can tolerate it better) and she is 14 - she's had a good life.

Thanks BlueBelle and for the support - yes, we have booked her in for Monday to have the operation and let's see where it takes us. We have a holiday booked in early July and the discussion now needs to take place about whether we go, not sure of insurance situation for "my pet is poorly" so I need to look into that and see where we would stand.

Sorry to hear about your cat and , you are right, and we think the same - if they have been loved and cared for, they have done well in this world. I think Dogs do tolerate chemo ok, but at her age we feel it is too much and with no guarantee of results; plus, it is expensive. We took the decision when I lost my job at some point to uninsure her, to save money, and when I looked at it again I couldnt get her insured due to age and history. So we are left with massive bills, which I dont begrudge but also am swallowing very hard at.

I hope your cat lives the rest of her life well and happy, I am sure she is!!

Tennpar · Strong Club Player

Jon, I've got a Luna dog as well (named before it became such a popular name of all those ****erdoodly sort of dogs biggrin )

Information is key to decision making so good plan to investigate further - the vet will have more of an idea on Monday about what the mass might be and then it'll likely be a week or so for the biopsy results to come through.

Prognosis and options will very much depend what results come back. Dogs can tolerate chemo well, depending on the type, but you have to balance it against potential outcomes and quality of life, especially in the older pet.

Thinking of you and the family at this tough time and will keep my fingers crossed.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Tennpar wrote:
Jon, I've got a Luna dog as well (named before it became such a popular name of all those ****erdoodly sort of dogs )
Information is key to decision making so good plan to investigate further - the vet will have more of an idea on Monday about what the mass might be and then it'll likely be a week or so for the biopsy results to come through.
Prognosis and options will very much depend what results come back. Dogs can tolerate chemo well, depending on the type, but you have to balance it against potential outcomes and quality of life, especially in the older pet.
Thinking of you and the family at this tough time and will keep my fingers crossed.

Hi Tennpar and thank you - hello to your Luna - ours is 12 almost and named after a certain Harry Potter character who we were into at the time, haha. fin crossed and thank you !

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Sadly Ive just come back from the vet - shes at dangerously low blood levels consistent with severe anaemia which means her cancer has probably spread to the spleen or some such part.

Weve decided we are going to take her along and let her go to sleep Monday evening. Very sad day and lots of tears. And its raining here as well.

Christine · Intermediate Club Player

JonH comes home wrote:
Sadly Ive just come back from the vet - shes at dangerously low blood levels consistent with severe anaemia which means her cancer has probably spread to the spleen or some such part.

Weve decided we are going to take her along and let her go to sleep Monday evening. Very sad day and lots of tears. And its raining here as well.

So sorry Jon - it's heartbreaking to lose a well-loved member of your family. Sending love

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Christine wrote:
JonH comes home wrote:
Sadly Ive just come back from the vet - shes at dangerously low blood levels consistent with severe anaemia which means her cancer has probably spread to the spleen or some such part.

Weve decided we are going to take her along and let her go to sleep Monday evening. Very sad day and lots of tears. And its raining here as well.
So sorry Jon - it's heartbreaking to lose a well-loved member of your family. Sending love

Thank you Christine. Yep, shes my best buddie really, heartbroken. Thankfully shes ok enough to be aware of whats around her and happy at the moment so I think we are making the call at the right time. Still so upsetting - my daughter is beside herself.

DF · Tennis legend

JonH comes home wrote:
Sadly Ive just come back from the vet - shes at dangerously low blood levels consistent with severe anaemia which means her cancer has probably spread to the spleen or some such part.

Weve decided we are going to take her along and let her go to sleep Monday evening. Very sad day and lots of tears. And its raining here as well.

I am so sorry to hear your news. xxx

indiana · Tennis legend

So sorry to hear, Jon. All the best to you all.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Thanks DF and Indy - I didnt mean to spill my personal stuff here, sometimes you just feel better sharing , you know. Sat on sofa with our lovely little dog next to me, just chilling whilst she rests. Had planned to go to watch the Take That musical at the cinema this evening but weve canned that - probably the only silver lining , I dont need to sit through that loads of Take That music, haha.

Tennpar · Strong Club Player

Sad, sad news Jon, and so hard to make the decision, but the right one for Luna, and for you all. Thinking of you.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Tennpar wrote:
Sad, sad news Jon, and so hard to make the decision, but the right one for Luna, and for you all. Thinking of you.

We knew straight away. The cancer has spread to her spleen and she has gone dangerously anaemic to the extent she would need a blood transfusion. no point putting her through that, shes got metastatic cancer. She just needed love and care for the weekend. The vet gave some steroids and she has actually been in good form, tired but happy and comfortable and very aware. But it just masks it of course and she cant stay on steroids. Weird to think this is her last night, Im going to sleep downstairs with her , just because.

thank you for your kind thoughts , its appreciated

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Thinking of you and Luna today.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Bob in Spain wrote:
Thinking of you and Luna today.

Thank you Bob, that's really appreciated. It is going to be a long day; she is seeing the vet at 7.15pm. We decided to do it later as my wife is working until about 4.30, she is an exam invigilator and exams dont stop for anyone. It feels very surreal and I feel quite calm this morning but I know it will be a long and very tough and emotional day.