My neighbor across the street had something similar happen to her lab. The dog that would eat ANYTHING stopped eating and if he tried, couldn't keep it down. Her vet was on vacation and so the sub diagnosed him with a virus. Huh?? A couple of weeks passed and he got worse and worse, at which point they took him to a specialist who ran (another? can't remember,) ct scan and found a wine bottle cork firmly lodged in his intestines. Surgery followed, and he's now right as rain.

I hope you find an answer for your dog's illness. How very difficult.

Gosh Lydia, this is such a hard issue when it comes to our furbabies.
You did not mention the breed of dog Kobi is. I think that may play some into his normal life span.
I have spent thousands on my animals over the years.
You don't by chance have snakes in your area do you? His symptoms and watery vomit describe a very real issue we went through with one of our dogs. it was too late by the time we discovered what it was.

Just a thought. I hope you make the best decision for Kobi, and it will be a tough one no matter which way you go. I guess you have to think how you would feel if you were Kobi, and take it from there.

Trin

Lydia, I'm sorry. I do have some experience with this. I just had my dog put down because he had cancer and I couldn't justify the cost of chemo for him and knowing it might not prolong his life very much and could cause him more discomfort. I made the decision to not prolong his life, and to let him go. I felt like he had a good life, and was a good dog and a big help to me, but I made the decision not to let him go any further. We never know how much an animal suffers, and like your Kobi, Bobby had quit eating. I know some people may disagree...but to me, that is always a guage and if I can't do something that looks like it will be a long term benefit to the animal, then I make the decision to put them down. I have owned many dogs in my life...always have multiples of them, but Bobby was by far one of the best dogs I've ever had. I have missed him so much and I have a pup that I am training now, but if she ever is half the help to me that Bobby was...well, it wll be a good while on down the road.

I always feel like we are going to have to let each of our animals go eventually, unless they outlive us, and that isn't something I want to happen either. We have to be prepared for that, and to let it happen in a way that is as humane as possible.

Hugs to you and your family and Kobi. I hope whatever your decision, you don't have second thoughts. Do what you feel like is the best thing for Kobi.

Lydia - I'm so sorry Kobi is ill. We've been down the same road with our dogs. Two of them died of cancer - one had lymphoma and the other gastric. Maybe if I tell you what our thoughts were it might help. We're very close to a major University vet hospital where our dogs could have received the latest available therapy. However these were our considerations - both dogs were 8 years old and their normal life expectancy was around 10. One dog would have tolerated treatment fairly well and would have been a fairly easy going patient. The other would have been very nervous and would not have tolerated medical treatment. Between going to our regular vet who ran several tests did XRays and then going to the University hospital for several days for the work up and final diagnosis the cost for one dog ran over $3000.00. My husband is a medical oncologist and even considered giving the chemotherapy here at home where the dog would have been more comfortable. But the cancer in both dogs had advanced enough that the outcome was less then 50-50.

After several days of hopefully thinking that he could swing this he finally came to the conclusion that it just wasn't fair to the dogs. He didn't want to put them through the treatment when there was a strong probability that it wouldn't work anyway. At times the side effects would cause additional problems for them - nausea, diarrhea, lose of appetite.

We loved them dearly and he realized that we loved them enough to let them go. It was so sad to take them to the vet for that last ride. Especially since they loved the vet and greeted him with lots of tail wagging and doggy kisses. It was the right decision and even though we miss them terribly we've never regretted it.

I wish you the best possible outcome for Kobi. I'll be thinking about you.

I'm so sorry, Lydia. I hope you find that it is something fixable, like an obstruction, but whatever happens I know you will make a reasoned and intelligent decision, no matter how hard it is.

(((((Lydia))))) I'm glad K is home right now. The more love he has around him, the better!

No advice, Lydia. Just some (((hugs)))!

Tammy

Oh Lyd!
I wish I could give you some advice! I have never had an animal with cancer. Our doxie Miss has lost 2 lbs (from 14.5 down to 12.5) just in a short time. Once we finally noticed it, then started watching her, she was not eating her dry food. Simple matter of soft food and to the vet. She also had a problem with an abcess last weekend. Antibiotics first,hopefully get the wound healed and then dental cleaning yet again. Our Miss is only 9 and has had so many vet visits in the past 6 months! Its hard to see them age.

I am sending my very best wishes for your dear Kobi. Mac and Miss are sending healing licks and soft hugs too.

Please keep us posted, so many of us will be wondering about Kobi.

I lost two dogs to cancer. The first was hemangiosarcoma of the spleen. My dog was 11 at the time. He went off his food so I took him to the vet. X-rays showed nothing. A few days later he was back to his old self eating and playing normally.. Just a week later when I woke up he wasn't on his usual spot on the bed. He was on the floor and when I called him he couldn't stand up. To make a long story short his spleen had ruptured. That is how fast these cancers grow. Unfortunately when I got him to the vet the radiologist for a sonargram wouldn't be available until afternoon so we did an exploratory surgery and the doctor removed the spleen. Max went into seizure just before I was to take him home so we took him to the ER facility to be observed through the night. I stayed with him until his pain was under control and left him resting quietly. I called an hour later and all was fine. no more seizures. I took a shower and was about to go to bed when I got a call. he's aspirated some food from the previous nights meal and had acute pneumonia. So we went back with the kids and the other dog to say our goodbyes. I felt so guilty for putting him through that day even though their was no way to know. I promised him never again would I make that same mistake.

A year later my other dog (aged 6) started to exhibit the same weakness of bleeding out. When a dog has a growing tumor the tumor can bleed out several times before it the host organ such as the spleen ruptures or the dog loses so much blood at once they their system shuts down. Knowing what I knew I took her to the vet. After running tests for things like Cushings etc. it was determined her tumor was on her heart. Since my experience with Max I was ready to say goodbye to her then and there. The vet told me we could try draining the fluid from her myocardial sac to buy some time. I was assured it would be quality time. It was. I had 3 months with her until her next collapse at which time I was ready. In fact I saw the early signs and we had an absolutely wonderful last day together.

I have to tell you. When I was at the specialists for the fluid removal procedure there were many other clients there with some very ill and weakened dogs. Some kept asking me why I was refusing chemo for my dog. I didn't have the heart to tell them they were putting their animals through something that most often would only buy them a few extra months with much of that time spent hauling the poor beast for it's procedures. So I just let them think I was a cheap and selfish owner who didn't care about my dog.

There are some cancers that are treatable. But many are not. At least not to the dog's benefit. That's my take on it.

Your post hits really close to home for me. A similar thing happened with Dakota, although there was nothing leading up to her illness. She'd been completely fine. She stopped eating and was vomiting and her WBC was up also. They did an x-ray, then an ultrasound, then ultimately surgery where she died that same evening and it was determined she had lymphoma causing her liver to fail.

In my case, they originally thought she had a blockage, which is what prompted the x-ray to begin with. Everything kinda spiraled from there.

What makes them want to do an Endoscopy vs an ultrasound or xray to see if there are any masses? It seems that could maybe give them some insight and not be as expensive.

I'm very sorry you are faced with this. At 10 years old, I'd probably do what I could to make sure my dog lived the best life possible in his remaining time and let him live out his life, unless he needs medical attention right away because he's suffering.

I hope your dog is okay. I really know how you are feeling right now. It's so hard!

Our Allie has Cushing's disease, was on a 10 day course of meds, then started vomiting, vet took her off meds. Her back legs are really weak, she has a hard time getting up, and now and then she falls up the step. Vet is giving her a small dose of steroids to see if it'll help. She's eating ok, doing her business, but I can see her going downhill. She's so loveable, and we love her, but we can't afford a lot of expense, and will make her comfortable. I don't think her time is that near, but who knows. Hope they find something simple for your dog, I know how it hurts you.

I'm very sorry you're having to face this, Lydia. It's just heart-breaking sometimes, to be a mommy to our furbabies.

((Hugs)) to you while you work through this situation to make your decision.

So sorry you and Kobi are going through this difficult time. I agree with Steph..."What makes them want to do an Endoscopy vs an ultrasound or xray to see if there are any masses? It seems that could maybe give them some insight and not be as expensive."

Both of my Greyhounds had osteosarcoma, and they had a grim prognosis...with or without aggressive treatment. We opted for quality of remaining days and good drugs for pain management. When the drugs were no longer effective, I knew when it was time to let each of them go. Terribly sad, but as others have said, the kind thing to do for your much loved furbaby.

I hope your outcome is good...know you have lots of understanding and compassion here at The Table.

Lydia, your post flooded me with memories of my sweet boy, Bear. He had the same symptoms. The first vet did an x-ray, but then said Bear was too large for it and he needed to go to another vet with a larger machine. He was a german shepherd. We took him there. They saw a mass in his spleen and said if it had not spread to his liver he could be treated and most likely recover well. They couldn't tell if it had spread without surgery. We did the surgery, hoping for the best. After putting him thru that we found out it had spread to his liver. Since then I have told everyone if I had to do it over again I would not have put him thru the surgery. He was my baby and they kept him at the vet for 3 days. They said it would be best if we didn't visit during those days. I did on the second day anyway. It was upsetting to him and to me to have to leave him. He had a few good days after the surgery, but he also had some days where he didn't want to move. Less than 2 months after putting him thru the surgery and spending $4000 we had him put down to end his suffering once and for all. That was 4 years ago today.
I wish you and Kobi the best. You are in my thoughts.

My lab had cancer in her mouth.On her gum about the size of a 50cent piece.The vet removed it left it hang open,she died,The vet said a lab or this size dogs only lives 8=10 years.She was 15.This was during the 3 mile island disaster.6 dogs on our road died at that time.we were within the 75 mile radius of tmi,were closer now, yikes

Lydia, I hope the best for you. We had to put our dog down due to lymphoma June 6th of last year. She was my wife's dog she had before we met. She got sick the day after our wedding day and it progressed fast. We made the conscious decision that we weren't going to put her through treatment since it wouldn't make her life better. She had to be put down 20 days after we found out. It was soo hard to make that decision, but we didn't want to see her suffer. I told my wife that Molly was her angel and was there to see that she was happy. Once we were married her work was done. Still hurts a lot to think about it, though. We ended up getting two dogs to replace her with, from the shelter. That was the silver lining for me, that we got to rescue two dogs and give them a forever home.

Linda, I'm so sorry to hear Kobi is not well.

My sister had a 10 year old Golden and spent $20,000 trying to save him from heart cancer (mesothelioma--in the lining of his heart). She had the lining of his heart removed (the sac) and had fluid drained from his chest once a week for over a month. In the end, she had let him go. It was very sad for my sister, who is single and her dogs are her life.

I know all of these stories may not help you feel better, but may help you make some tough choices coming up.

I wish you the best and will keep Kobi in my thoughts!

Thank you all for the kind comments and for sharing your own stories. Hugs to those who have lost a precious furbaby.

Trin - we do have snakes here, but I'm sure the vet would have noticed a bite. Kobi is a Corgi/Basset? mix.

Steph and HoundsXtwo - I'll call the vet and see if a ultrasound would work. He's already had x-rays and no tumors were visible. I think the vet wants an endoscopy since the problem seems to be in the intestines.

I had a long reply typed out last night, but lost my internet connection before I could post it.

I'll keep you all updated. Thanks again for the kind words.

My great sympathies, also. I'll just toss this in--- if you intend to spend more money, talk to a specialist first. Just like you would with a human. The vet wants to do an endoscope because he has no untrasound in his office, probably. Many times, specialists are more realistic, and your local vet just will try anything to make you happy.

Were I in your shoes, I'd make my next call to a specialist and press about getting an U/S. Not a lot of vets have U/S machines or any experience with them.

I hope you get some answers. I completely understand what a terrible time this is for you. For right now, give Kobi lots of love, and enjoy every day.

(((Lydia)))...keep us posted...I hate that you're having to make these decisions...their never easy and all we want is for our furbabes to be healthy and happy...

I hope it all works out for you and Kobi. Animals give us much joy AND much pain.

I am sorry you have to deal with this, it's so hard. We lost our Boxer girl to probable cancer, and one of our kitties has an intestinal tumor. He had exploratory surgery last year June, and the vet closed him right back up because the tumor is intertwined with his intestines. He has been doing fine though, he eats grassfed beef every day and is quite lively, his arthritic hips seem to be giving him more trouble than the cancer. Hopefully your Kobi will do well for a long time too.

Lydia, we lost our beautiful Basset Hound, Hannah, a few months ago. Her symptoms sound much like your Kobi. She had many tests at the vet, but nothing showed up. I got up one morning and she had passed away. I called the vet, and they asked to do an autopsy at their expense, which we let them do. It showed, that what killed her was her gall bladder, and it was buried deeply, and didnt show up in any of the tests they did. I have since heard of other Bassets that have had the same or similar problems, since your dog is part Basset, please have your vet check the gallbladder. Cat