rocko

[steptoe91(tozie)]

rocko's not doing well. he just cant seem to eat much. he has lost sooo much weight, he looks like i neglect him but its just where he doesnt want to eat much, i think. he rattles when he breathes. i just feel like its time. everytime i make up my mind to take him to the vet to see what they think, he will start to show some sign that he still has some joy. take last nite: he was so not feeling well. his nose was running, he was rattling as he breathed, he was shaky on his feet. today i came home and he was sleeping. i offered him some raw eggs. he just ignored it at first. then after about an hour, he ate the eggs, shook, walked round the house (a bit shaky, but not as weak and shaky as last nite), went outside and pee'd, then came in at a trot! really?? last nite you could barely walk and today you are trotting?? i just dont know which way to turn. i'm going to go ahead and set up his vet appt, but i'm no longer sure of what they'll say. 

[BuffaloParrot]

It is very tough.  I am here through this and keep us updated on what the vet says. 

[steptoe91(tozie)]

thanks!    i guess its just so confusing. i really just dont know what to think. i dont want him in pain. at this point i'd give him anything if it made him happy even for a minute. i called my daughter and told her if she wants to see him, she needed to come soon. i'm 99% sure he's got cancer and has for a while. i think its just progressing. now that i think about it, that could be why he's so thin. his basic body functions are still working. he loves to just be petted still. i just look in his eyes and he looks so TIRED.

[Sondra]

Maybe he just has a doggy bug? Hoping anyway.  :pray: You WILL know when it's time, you just have to love him until then. I do know how hard such a decision this is.  Will keep you in my thoughts. Sending positive energy and strength your way.

[Ditty]

poor Rocko.  And I guess it will be time when he is in too much pain to be controlled or when the really bad times are most of the time.  But you know that.  You know I am here for ya.     Times like these just suck. 

[Nakia]

Tozie, I'm feeling your pain. We have all been there, but it never gets any easier. 

I do hope Rocko is feeling better & his vet check goes well. Me & the wolf pack will be sending good karma to you both.

[steptoe91(tozie)]

thanks  ya'll. he's still having good moments and really bad ones. yesterday was a bad day. he refused to eat almost anything. i finally got him to eat a bit of raw hamburger to get some meds into him. then he ate his nite nite cookies, but even those took some coaxing. then this morning he was doing good. he went outside at a happy trot, and when he came back in he ate nearly all his can of food and an egg. to maintain his weight he's supposed to eat 3 cans of food a day, i'm lucky if i can get a whole one in him. 

[steptoe91(tozie)]

rocko had a good day yesterday. he felt a bit better, spent some time sunning in the yard and enjoyed himself immensely. but then he had a really bad nite and today hasnt been good either. the pain meds seem to help him sleep more comfortably but that's all. he has a 2pm vet visit for tomorrow. i told them i just want them to make him more comfortable but honestly, i'm not even sure he'll come home with us. 

[BuffaloParrot]

   Whatever happens know we are all here for you and many have been through this.  You are not alone 

[BPMar]

  I'm so sorry!  and I can relate to that all.  It was a rollercoaster of emotions to say the least.  Let us know what happens at the vet's...comfort and quality of life are what count.

[Sondra]

Go with your gut, we're all here for you.   

[Ditty]

 

[steptoe91(tozie)]

well, he's been better today. he's moved around a bit, wagged his tail happily, instead of that sad little 'i'm trying' type wag. his nasal discharge is much looser. the vet said he sounded just a little congested and she heard a slight heart murmur. she noticed that his left node is a bit swelled. then when she went to look in his mouth he cried out in pain. he then just flat out refused to let her see in it. without anesthetizing him there was no way to look. she took two chest xrays and everything looks okay. now if there is cancer and its small tumors here and there it wont show on an xray like this but there was nothing that sent up any red flags to her. she also took a back xray (free of charge, she was just curious) and found some pretty advanced osteoarthritis in his back and rear hips. now it could be in his front shoulders too, but we didnt xray them. so we decided to treat it like an abcess with antibiotics. she put him on some pain meds for his arthritis and of course if he's having jaw/mouth pain it'll help with that too. we also took blood for a full 'senior screen' to check his organ functions, blood counts, etc. to see what's going on inside. we'll go from there. now there's still the possibility that there's something going on, that the tumor in his belly is cancer, or that he's still going downhill. but he was better today. and this evening when i came in with some ground chicken (to slip his meds to him  ) he was just like his old self and ate like he's not eaten for a week.... well, he hasnt eaten much in the last week so that was a good thing. so maybe things will be okay... i'm trying not to get my hopes up, but i'm feeling pretty positve.

thanks ya'll for all your support. we're not outta the woods yet, but things arent quite at dark as i thought they were. 

[Sondra]

I hate to say I hope it's an infection, but I do. I hope you have more time to love Rocko! 

[wishforabird]

i am glad he is starting to feel better!! he is a tough old dog :heartu: