When Life Gets Real…Fast
Today’s post is simply an update on my life. No fashion, no controversy…just how life can get real, very fast. Our little dog Lucy had some minor health problems lately that have suddenly turned more serious.
Two weeks ago I found a strange lump in her paw. She was limping and seemed in pain so I took her to our regular vet. He decided she had arthritis. I insisted she had something in her paw but he didn’t believe me. Frustrating!
Three days later I took her to my friends vet who saw a growth and recommended surgery to remove it. I signed paperwork to pay for a biopsy of that growth but this vet decided it was not important and tossed the tissue with no biopsy. I was not happy. 
Two days after her stitches were removed she began limping worse than before. I took her back to the vet who’d done the surgery who decided Lucy needed to take fish oil and “let’s just do another round of antibiotics”. I was furious and frustrated.
We headed out for a few days of camping in our trailer but I was worried. Her paw began to swell dramatically, so we came home quickly and took her to the emergency hospital, who had no idea what was going on.
We finally took her to the UC Davis veterinary hospital yesterday, which is one of the best in the country. We were lucky to snag a cancellation with one of their oncologist’s who did a needle biopsy and admitted she’d never seen anything like it.
We’re driving back tomorrow to see a dermatologist and perhaps get a larger tissue biopsy. She’s almost 13 and was the picture of health 2 weeks ago. This is shocking and frightening. I simply want her out of pain and to get some answers.
She’s a darling little dog and it’s my responsibility to make sure she has the best quality of life.
Is there anything we wouldn’t do for our pets?
Thanks for reading and have a great day!
xo
So sorry to hear about Lucy. I hope that she will be able to fully recover. I have two small ones myself, and they are a part of the family.
Please take care of yourself – I am saying a prayer for you and Lucy.
Many thanks Melinda! All prayers welcome. We continue to pray for a miracle.
It’s so distressing to read of your’s and Lucy’s pain. I’m a little late with my prayers and good wishes, but I hope everything goes well.
Thanks for your good wishes and prayers CJ. We continue to hope for the best while we wait for some results. She’s on pain meds and just started an anti inflammatory so hopefully that will help her. It’s so hard not to know what’s wrong.
I truly hope you get answers for you baby girl. I really know how it would be if it were my baby girl Daisy. Take good care of her “Mom”.
Thank you so much! I’m doing the very best I can. It’s so heartbreaking to see her in pain!
So pitiful to see Lucy with a bootie on her little foot. At least it is a stylish bootie! I hope she gets well soon. Keeping you and Lucy in my prayers.
Thanks so much Cindy. We are grateful for all prayers!!
Oh, I hope you get an answer to Lucy’s health problem soon. So frustrating, and, yes, I totally agree with you that our ‘fur children’ do deserve the best care we can afford to give them at all times. Hope Lucy gets well soon!!
Thanks so much Sandy!
My cat had similar lump on her paw. She was not limping or showing any discomfort. My vet removed the lump and results showed very aggressive cancer with 3 to 6 mts to live. It was suggested her leg be amputated I said no as my cat was 17 yrs old. I took her home with out any medication and she lived a very good quality of life for 3 more years. And passed away at 20 years old. Go with your gut feelings Jennifer and keep asking yourself will this benefit my little dog or add to her discomfort. Good luck
I’m so sorry for your loss Lillian. You did the very best for your girl. Everything we do is to ease her pain and fund an answer but I won’t go through heroic efforts that compromise the quality of her life. She’s totally reliant on us and I take that. Dry seriously.