Update: 5/31
The ultrasounds of his body were negative. His foot definitely looked like it had a tumor at the end of the toe, but the vet wanted to take a cautious approach, and see if that could heal with medications. A week of antibiotics and nearly two weeks of changing the dressing daily and cleaning the affected area gently looked promising for the first few days, but recently turned bad. Calling the vet tomorrow, to schedule surgically removing the visible tumor and part or all of that toe, depending on how deep the tumor goes.
But what really has me worried is that a second sore has developed, higher on that leg. A bleeding spot that looks less like an abrasion or having been chewed, and frighteningly like another tumor, erupting from within, on the leg and just above the foot.
We will see what the vet thinks he can do, but... this dog loves to walk, it is his favorite activity. If he loses the entire foot, or even more of that leg, his quality of life would be abysmal. So, after talking it over with my daughter, we have agreed that if the vet is not fairly certain he can save enough of that foot and leg for him to walk, well... that will be the end of it.
Yes, I know some dogs survive just fine and learn to walk on three legs, after losing one leg. And yes, there are mobility assist devices which give a dog with impaired ability to use its rear end a chance at continued life. But I can not imagine this dog having a good life that way. He is too active.
*sigh*
Original post:
My ten year old Bernese Mountain Dog, Porter, is at the vet today, and his life is hanging in the balance, subject to the results of a diagnostic ultrasound scan of his body. This means today is a really intense emotional meat grinder for me. I rarely ask for such sentiments, but I would appreciate it if any of you could spare a moment for a prayer, kind thoughts, a spell, good vibes or any other positive actions aimed toward his survival.
The problem is that a Bernese his age is prone to dying from a fast-moving cancer, which often has the whole body involved, before it can be detected. It is how I lost my two previous Bernese, and at this age. Porter’s recent paw injury developed a very fast growing tumor, instead of scar tissue. He has been in a lot of pain since the injury to his paw - more than seems right just for a sore foot. If the ultrasound is clear, with no tumors inside him, then he will get the tumor and the toe it is on amputated, to remove the cancer we can see, and he stands a reasonsbly good chance of surviving.
But if the ultrasound shows multiple tumors, it will be time to send him to the rainbow bridge. My past experience tells me that such a bad diagnostic result is all too likely. And the thought of having to make that choice to end his life, and having to ask for it to be done, is ripping my heart to pieces. I have had Porter since he was a puppy, just over ten years ago. For the past 26 years, I have always had either one or two of these intelligent, beautiful, and loving dogs as my constant companions. I love him like he was my own child. But I can’t bear to see him in such pain.
I am going to be trying to ignore the world today, until I hear the results. When I know his fate, I will update things here, and reply to any comments you left. But I probably will not be on-line or up for chatting until this is resolved.
Update: Well, I just brought him home again. X-rays showed some issues, but no clear indications of bad cancer. One thing that ‘might’ be a large tumor, or might just have been his spleen, at a weird angle. Ultrasound looked okay to the tech that did that, but still needs an expert opinion on what it does or does not show. Should get that info tomorrow. If they agree there is no invasive cancer, then we go with operating on his foot, to remove the suspected tumor there.
Not celebrating yet, but not crying waterfalls, either.
