Prognosis for our Nadine

[aireamdh]

Nadine is a 14 yrd old  F German/Australian shep mix. We have had the pleasure of her eccentric company and unwavering loyalty since she was 10 weeks old. We found each other at the local shelter. We were # 2 in line for a perfectly well behaved fullly grown black lab. The #1 family in line for that dog showed up and went home with that sweet dog.  In conversation with a vet assistant, we were  told of this "certain puppy", whose 3rd time Up for adoption had come and gone with no-shows.

It was made apparent that this was the pups last Chance gone.  The woman said this  was a "very special girl" who needed a "very special" home. I initially said well that is not Us. 4 kids ranging in age from 4 -13 needed a nice calm pet. Me too.  I thought. Then I was told how she was the lone survivor of her litter. The rest had not survived being thrown from the back of a pickup along that busy highway. And yes she landed on her wee head.  

O for jeez. Yes we will meet her. O look she can barely stand on those spindly legs. O look she is peeing all over my feet. O see how she tries to attack the Evil Bench. The rest is History.

Since then she has been remarkably healthy while seeing to the care and raising of those 4 children :) and many changes in all our lives. She is now particularly close to the youngest son who is now 18.

When I came home from brain surgery 3 years ago, she flew out the door. Skidded to a stop. Walked at my side (walked! not hysterical leaping jumpng barking crying) with the kids and watched every move they made to get me settled. My eldest had been sent home on emergency leave from Iraq. He settled on the opposite end of the sofa. Nadine was already next to me, and there she pretty much stayed. Unless she was busy scaring to death the sweetest home physical therapist ever put on Earth.  She loves us. She pretty much hates everybody else.

This is already too long. She's not so able for scaring off the Evil Floatiing Leaves outside the door. Or the Menacing 88 year old lovely walker, every morning. But she was doing okay. Did notice her breath was becoming errr dragon-like. Thought I had best save up to get her in to the vet, whom she only really saw for the most necessary of shots. Couple of weeks  ago came a frantic call from the 18 yr old while I was driving home from work. Nadine was weaving all over the place, unable to stand up for any length of time. Shaking and vomiting , peeing and defecating. These last 2 unheard of, ever. We had brought her home to a somewhat fussy but exceedingly loving  Sheltie mix, (may she rest in Peace) she rescued from being chained to a tree in deep woods and simply left. That was at Christmas time '90 so I named her Holly. Anyway, Holly housetrained Nadine, no time flat. So this was very  bad.  I told him wrap Nadine in a blanket, be ready when I got home , for the Emergency Vet.  They said she had some serious vestibular troubles, possibly a small stroke.  Then he asked had we seen the rather large black tumor way back on her tongue. No, had not.

This is not for lack of love, but funds. In any case, I am done digressing  I am told the tumor is most very likely cancerous. That the treatment would be removal of her tongue and that if she survives that (she has a weak heart as well , only physically) the outlook is Not Positive.

Right now she has gotten well over that "" episode "" with the help of OTC meclazine. She is eating, drinking, smiling, and pretending to not be mostly deaf.

So. Does anyone have any idea toward 'alternative treatment" and/or what sort of "time" we might be looking at here?

[lonewolf07]

Hi

I'm glad "our" Nadine is enjoying her treats.  She must be a smart girl if she moved her bed in front of the door to keep her "boy" from leaving.

What a special "girl" she is  = )

Thank you for sharing this and another thank you to chihuahuagrandma just for being herself.

Hugs to you ....

lonewolf

Tail wags and drool from my fur babies to yours

[aireamdh]

Awwww thanks for asking, and using the term Ours :)  She is okay but in a bit of a funk because Her Boy Patrick is off on  his first Road Trip. To FLA for a good friends' graduation. And I know how she feels.  

Patrick has had some poor luck of late but he told me has HAD to do this because he promised to bring his buddy back here with him to his grandma's to live.

She followed back and forth behind him this morning as he tried to get ready to leave. He brought her bed into my room which was supposed to be a help. She usually sleeps in his bed but when her joints are too achey she opts for hers.

As he was leaving he tripped at the front door. Because she had dragged her bed direclty there.  Got her some extra treats today and she deigned to have the bed moved back to his room.

Much walking about in and out of every room,and heavy sighs, baleful looks at me because of course I am somehow responsible, and thank God he will be back Wednesday.  So I would have to say she is doing great :)

[chihuahuagrandma]

Hows our Nadine doing this wknd???

[lonewolf07]

Most definitely let us all know how Nadine is doing.  She and you have lots of friends and supporters out here  = )

Hugs from me and tail wags, drool and Milkbone to Nadine from my dogs ....

wolf

[chihuahuagrandma]

YOUR WELCOME!!! Please keep us posted....lots of hugs to you and your family of dogs!! Give special to Nadine for me too!!

[suzi-q]

Thank you!  And yes, please keep us posted.

[aireamdh]

I cannot begin to thank you all enough for your warm and welcoming comments. I guess I knew even as I wrote last night that the Time factor is almost irrelevant. In the morning light I see.  Just perhaps I needed to vent and tell some part of the world how very special Nadine is, how difficult upcoming decisions are certain to be. She is sitting here looking at me : "I know you are talking about me,anddd I see you have toast"

Whatever love and care we have been able to give her is not even a half-measure to what she has given us.
And Holly before her, who was the grandest of Child Herders and an altogether wonderful girl.  I won't even go half into the accidental OMG Nadine got out! 3 weeks before her scheduled spaying and the subsequent 7 puppies Holly endured and we found homes for. We kept one, Beau, who was not altogether the brightest Bulb .At nearly 2 yrs old and having  finished eating away most of our house poor Beau got away from his leash and was hit straightaway by a car right down the street. Holly and Nadine finally became friends then, but Holly was always in charge till her passing also from cancer at age (around) 17.


I will go ahead and join this lovely community and keep you posted on our Girl.. Thanks again for your caring. And all my prayers and best thoughts are with those stories I have read of illness and love and worry, for peaceful healing and continued sharing of Family love.

[suzi-q]

Thank you for sharing such a wonderful story.  I would say to just keep your baby as comfortable as possible and happy.  If you see that she begins feeling pain, then you have to do what needs to be done...Trust me, you will know.  May God bless all of you. I know how hard it is.  But you have given your dog a lifetime of happiness and love.  I am sure she is most grateful to have a family like you!

[chihuahuagrandma]

Wow, where do I start....You pet has received a gift of love to which she was most in need of from you and family...and I am most positive after reading your history, Nadine, knows the love you all have shared and would continue to share w/her..
Your rescues are blessing to the world of dogs, and some will leave our earth w/your humanity and become your bright and shining stars of the heavens w/souls that follow you and guide you like an angel to your next rescue...Nadine will shine one day!!!
Until then, your situation is much complicated, I do not know of other alternatives, others will post like lonewolf has done, but I am sure you will make all the right decisions, yes, money will always be a difficult challenge w/our pets, and I am so sorry for that, I know myselft, I get challenged too financially w/mine. And, I rescue also....Your love is the best medicine a little dog friend could ever ask for, and sometimes w/love comes heartache, do your best w/what you have and know in your heart, what you did, was what you could, and love your dog...too much medicine, procedures, handicaps, etc sometimes is too much....Stay w/the site and keep posting updates, the site will hold your hand through all your challenges.....give Nadine a big hug for me:o)

[lonewolf07]

Your dog sounds like a wonderful pet - correction - family member.  It sounds like you just love her so much = )

I don't know of any alternative medicine but there might be someone in the Dog Community who does.  Someone suggested Tea Tree Oil but that was for something a little different.

It sounds like your girl is hanging in and trying to be her usual self.  Whatever you decide to do regarding treatment or no treatment at all is something we will all respect.  Your dog will let you know what she wants.  And you never really know what might happen.  We've had dogs that were supposed to pass on within two weeks but lasted over two years because they were loved and cared for; they enjoyed their lives even when they were ill.  Personally, I wouldn't even think about how much "time" she has.  Just keep loving her and watching her.  She has had 14 wonderful, happy years and that says something in itself about her and about you - what a caring relationship you have with each other.

Please post again so we can see how things are going with you and Nadine.

Hugs to you, tail wags to Nadine

lonewolf and dogs