yorkie

Question
Beth,
thank you for your opinion on my beloved yorkie.  My husband and I agree that we can't let her suffer in any way, so we are basically waiting for the biopsy results and will make our final decision then.  The hard part is she is acting so normal, playing and eating and has her own great personality.  We know that deep down we have to make the decision so she does not suffer.  The specialists have been extremely great, but have also said that they feel this is an agessive cancer.   We are leaning toward just letting her spend her limited time with us as happy as she is and when she seems to be suffering to do the right choice.  Thank you so much for your input.  Pat
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I purchased a yorkie 8 months ago from a pet store (which I have purchases all my dogs from pet stores) and approximately 3 weeks ago her one eye became very swollen and red.  Took her to vet and he prescribed an antibiotic cream which we used for 10 days and did not work.  Took her to a specialist last week and they found a 99.9% malignant tumor on the bone behind her eye.  We had ct scans and ultrasounds done and are not waiting for the results.  We are so confused as what to do.  They can remove the eye and treat with chemo and radiation which does not mean the cancer won't come back or they can remove the tumor and just do radiation, which means she is blind.  My question to you is what is best for the dog?  She has a wonderful disposition and is great with people and kids and is very smart.  we love her so much but don't want her to suffer.  Please give some advice.  Thank you
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Pat -

I'm going to assume you don't want to hear me rant about pet store dogs, their sources, and the treatment of the parent dogs...

But, I am going to say something about our commitment when we assume responsibility for another life that cannot speak for itself.  When we bring a pet into our family, we enter into the obligation of caring for them as well as possible, and preventing suffering at every turn.  Even to the extent we are not able to do the same for each other since we have the option of euthenasia for our beloved fur friends.

Now - as to your yorkie's situation, my advice would be to take the route which has the least amount of suffering.  I have seen dogs truly suffer during these cancer treatments, so I have my own take on diseases with these odds.

On the other hand, I have fostered, and am currently fostering a partially or completely blind dog. They adjust amazingly well, and there are some good tricks to teaching them their way around the house again.... So - blindness in and of itself is not suffering for a dog - they don't get upset because they remember being able to see.

I guess what I'm trying to tip toe around is that I would want to know a couple of things:

1.  Will she have any suffering during radiation, and if it works, will she be healthy again (albeit blind).  If she would not suffer and would recover to a good life for at least several years, I would take your second option. The first option seems like a rough course of treatment with limited results.

2.  If she would suffer under either treatment, how committed are you to providing her with the best life possible ?

I have a solemn promise to my dogs of "Better one day too soon than one second too late."  I am far more willing to go through heartbreak and loss myself than to let my beloved pet suffer.... But it does take strength that a lot of folks don't seem to have...

So - you're in a truly soul-seeking situation, and one I don't envy....  I'm so very sorry for you, your family, and your little bug.....

please consider a reputable private breeder or breed rescue the next time you need to get a dog - and I pray it's many years from now becase your little girl stays with you healthy and happy.

-Beth

Answer
I certainly comiserate with this terrible circumstance.  I had one of my rescued gordon setters start acting a little grouchy this spring, and by the time I could get him to the vet the next weekend, we located a very aggressive bladder tumor.

There was nothing to be done, and my beloved vet "talks turkey" with me and let me know he would be suffering in very short order. I took him outside, drove to a convenience store, bought slim jims, had a little quiet time with him, and then took him back and held him while he went over the Rainbow Bridge.  

I was particularly sad because he never got the chance to overcome the emotional damages from his life prior to rescue, and to have a "normal" existence, but I was relieved I could relieve him in his time of need..... and that now, over the Bridge, he can run free, happy and not scared any more....

-Beth