To what length?

Look at that face! Wouldn't you do everything you could to keep him with you as long as possible?

The last two years have given me plenty of opportunities to reflect and observe the length pet owners will go to provide care for their furry friends. My sheltie, Nick, was diagnosed with anal sac cancer in October, 2004. It is rare and it is fast growing. He had surgery to remove the tumor from the site and a lymph node in his abdomen at the U of Minnesota Small Animal Clinic. ($2000) The oncologist then recommended chemo and radiation at an estimated cost of $3000-4000. I was told the range of life expectancy with treatment was 3 months to 3 years. I said I would have to think about it for a day or so and would call to schedule if I decided to go ahead with it.

Several days later I was still mulling it over while raking leaves. Nick was only 10 and I had hoped to have him around until he was at least 14. I grew up with dogs and have been attached to them all...but I have to say that Nick has always been special. It took only 3 days to house train him as a 9 week old puppy that I could hold in one hand. He has never been a barker or chewer (other than the time he chewed the visiting insurance agents shoe laces to bits...when the agent got up from the table his shoes fell off). In addition to being a handsome guy, he has what a neighbor described as "an air of dignity". His sweet nature is apparent immediately, even to non-dog lovers.

I wondered, how would I feel if he died in 3 months. Would I regret not going on with further treatment just because of the cost? I put down the rake and went into the house and made the call to the U.

Nick had 24 radiation and 6 chemo treatments. Through it all he never got sick or lost any hair. In fact, he seemed to enjoy going...more than I did...having to get up to have him to the clinic by 7:00 am. I would go back to pick him up at 5:00 and he always came running down the hall to meet me. On the way out of the building we would meet people I didn't know who would say, "Hi, Nick!" During the 3 months of treatment I met others going thru the same process. There was a German Shepherd with the same cancer who was just finishing his treatment. His owners would drive from Fargo on the weekends to Minneapolis and stay in a motel with him for the weekend. (240 miles)

The following October the tumor had returned. An abdominal CT showed another suspicious lymph node. Once more I decided on surgery.($2800) When the surgeon opened Nick's abdomen she found a string of 10 small dark tumors. She took one to biopsy and left the others then removed the anal tumor. This time it seemed to take Nick longer to recover from the surgery and I decided that I wouldn't put him through it again in the future.

The tumor has returned and there are small tumors in Nick's lungs. Then there was the mystery illness during the 100 degree heat wave last summer that resulted in a six day hospital stay.($2000 ) Nick was falling and wobbly on his feet. He swayed back and forth and could only walk in a straight line if he went along the wall. His back legs would collapse and he would fall when eating. Treatment included a brain fluid test which determined the cancer had not spread to his brain but didn't give us a clue as to what the problem was. Three days after he came home he seemed to return to normal. There was another repeat of the symptom's a month later, to a lesser degree and once more overnight two weeks later. He appeared so unstable and weak during the first episode that I am sure some pet owners would have had their pet put down had they been in my situation.

Nick has his own credit card which I pay gladly for the pleasure of looking into those brown eyes and the peace I feel when holding him close.

More photo's of Nick at:
http://www.dogster.com/dogs/87356/sniff