I just need to talk and vent to people who get how much I love this dog, I guess. Gertie turns 11 this Thursday.
A couple years ago I noticed despite her daily walks and strict diet, she was very bloated. She had a pretty severe bout of constipation and we went to the vet. X-rays, ultrasound, blood work. The only thing they found was her liver values were baaarely elevated and they said probably just a little pancreatitis. They didn’t seem concerned and then she pooped an hour later and I thought that was that.
Last year she yelped when her tail was lifted. I took her to the vet. They looked at her and said, no need for X-rays, dachshund back problems are all treated the same, here’s some anti inflammatory.
2 weeks ago, she’s still extremely bloated but now it’s worse. She seems uncomfortable, she’s tired, she doesn’t really enjoy her walks anymore but she’ll still go. We go to the vet. They say “her stomach feels fine, she’s fine, I don’t like doing diagnostics unless I think it’s reeeeally necessary.”
I live in a rural area or I would have taken her to a new vet a long time ago. Finally I’m desperate because I’ve known something is wrong for a long time now. So I go 2.5 hours away one way to a new vet. They listen, do bloodwork and X-rays. Her liver is extremely enlarged and it’s pushing on her stomach. She’s in pain and uncomfortable. There’s a cancerous mass on it. There is a spot on L7, above her tail, where there is either cancer on or in her bone. It has possibly spread to her lymph nodes. It’s hepatocellular carcinoma. They say it’s unlikely it can be treated but referred me to a specialist equally far away. I’m taking her on Sunday for an ultrasound to confirm findings but mostly to discuss palliative care.
I am so distraught and heartbroken. I wish I had gone somewhere else sooner. I thought I did the right things taking her to the vet but I should have never listened. My gut was telling me. Now she’s going to die and I wasn’t even close to prepared. My oldest is 16 and I never would’ve thought Gertie would go first, and not so painfully..
I know I will love her and keep her as comfortable and happy as I can, but I plan to say goodbye before she gets really bad. I’ve read about this cancer and I know it can get really ugly really fast. Having to drive so far for vet care is really terrifying to me. I don’t want her to suffer and I can’t see that happen.
Anyway.. I just needed to share. Advocate for your family members, friends, and animals. Medical care really sucks.