Hi all. I just want to ask for maybe a shoulder to lean on....I'm not sure really. My eleven year old Tahvi has a mouth tumor. His vet has told me that it is not operable and to just enjoy what he has left. This tumor appeared in the spring shortly before our house burned down. A tooth was missing all of the sudden in his lower front central jaw and it appeared maybe swollen from that. It didn't change much and then all of the sudden the last two or three months it has been growing aggressively. It is difficult for Tahvi to eat now. We moisten his food and add canned or even spaghetti sauce (he loves it) to make it more appetizing. We feed him twice a day now as it lessens the trauma of making his mouth sore all at one time a day. It has become so intrusive to his front teeth that it bleeds often now. You have no idea how this breaks my heart. Tahvi was born in my hands; I cannot even fathom the day he won't be here any more. In fact, he was stuck and not breathing. I had to do CPR and shake down on him to get him to breathe and live. He has been my boy for so many years...

Tahvi was always too dignified for toys. The only "toy" he ever liked was tennis balls. The other day I thought I would try and cheer him up and brought him some home. He played like a pup chasing it through the house, throwing it in the air and pouncing on it like he always did. Within five minutes I noticed the blood. It was in his mouth, on the ball, and his front legs. How sad. He cannot have any chew bones any more of course. Even just looking at the growth I can see where his front upper teeth are intersecting it and leaving a darker red mark. It won't be long before this interferes with his eating and basic life so much that I will have to put down an otherwise perfectly healthy friend and it is just killing me to think it. That is the absolute worst thing; he is healthy and spunky and is just beginning to smell fall in the air. That is his happiest time I think, he loves when the air begins to cool off in the fall.

I put Tahvi's mother down after she was very ill for over a month and went into cluster seizures. Tahvi was four months old then. I remember every second of that day and hate the thought that I have to repeat it. I refuse to let my boyfriend take him. He started life with me and he will end it with me; period.

I guess I just need someone to vent to because the stress of this is awful right now....

I am so sorry =-(. Enjoy what you can with him cancer sucks....

Almost want to cry for you right now, but it all comes down to quality of life. Been there done that with my Mylo (July 2010).

You've had Tahvi, for 11 years now I'll assume you can read him like a book even if the pages are difficult to turn at this time. When the days of hardship for Tahvi are more numerous then the good ones do what is best for him more then hoping things will improve. The vet has already told you in a round about way that his time is limited don't allow his suffering to affect both of you more then you need to.

I'm sure you provided Tahvi a long happy life let it continue that way in your heart. His suffering could haunt you more, then thinking you doing the right thing by having him suffer with no end in sight. Bless you.

I know how you feel right now. This are the hardest moments in life when you have animals. Enjoy as much time with him as both of you have left, but when the time has come sadly there is no alternative to doing what is best for him.

Thank you all so much. I think I'm just having a very emotional day today. He didn't eat breakfast today...

I'm so sorry that you have to go through this and I think Len said it best, you'll know when it's time......

I am so sorry to hear you are going thru this. I also agree with Len.

Lisa,
I am so sorry to hear about you're news! I can completely relate to you...Just last Wednesday I found out my seven year old Dalmatian Sophie has a tumor completely wrapped around her lymph nodes and it is too un operable. The vet said it isn't effecting her breathing, but I'm noticing her struggling and it hurt's my heart to know if this thing wasn't there my dog would be completely fine! I was giving two choices, chemo & radiation or take her home and keep her comfortable. I'm taking her to another vet this week for a second opinion.

At this point you feel like you're hand's are tied and you don't know which direction to turn (at least that's how I feel). Like no one could possibly understand what you're going through. It's so hard and I dread the day where I have to make that terrible decision no pet owner ever want's to make. The only thing I can do as of this point is keep my faith and pray like crazy for some miracle to happen that will save my baby girls life. I appreciate my pet's so much more after this and cherishing every day that I have to spend with my dog's (especially my Sophie girl).

I know it's hard, believe me... try to keep you're chin up and think positive. My only positive thought is that I know if something were to happen to my baby and she were to pass, I know that my father is waiting in heaven to take care of her. He passed away unexpectedly Valentine's day two year's ago and he loved my girl! So, I know she will be in good hand's...I'm just not ready to say goodbye :*( ...

I spoke to a very nice lady at the vet when they gave me the horrible new's about my girl. She told me that she had a Chow Chow and he was old and he just gave her a look that he was ready and they have a way of letting you know. My neighbor also told me the same thing. Just keep a watchful eye and I'm sure he will let you know when he is ready.

Like I said before, just think positive and enjoy every minute you have now with you're baby.

Again, I am so sorry ...

this has me in tears. I'm so sorry Lisa. We're all here for you!

Awww, I'm soooo sorry about this!

Here4thePics wrote:

When the days of hardship for Tahvi are more numerous then the good ones do what is best for him....

I love this! Many of us, like Len, have been there and can readily bring to mind the heartache that comes with decisions of this nature. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and Tahvi.

I'm so sorry Lisa

Thank you all. I'm still trying to take it day by day. Monday night he again dug the tennis ball out from under the tv stand; some blood, but not bad. I love to see him enjoy what he still can.

Collective prayers that maybe, just maybe it will hold out until after the holidays....

im so sad reading this, i can only imagine how you are feeling. tumors suck! i had to make that hard call with my last ferret, her body was just filled with them and we waited and waited till one day i just knew it was the right time to let her go and be with her brother and sister again. keep him happy for as long as you can and know that you both are in our thoughts as you handle this day by day

Reading posts like these are very hard for me...the memories are still fresh. Just love every minute you have with him and pamper him as much as you can. Things like this are growing experiences and I believe it makes us better people, better pet parents.

Lost 2 dogs to cancer myself. You Tahvi are in my thoughts and prayers.