My staffy has cancer (advice needed)

First topic message reminder :

I havent been around for a long time, so I'll re-introduce.
I have 2 Staffs. Father & Son, Zack & Bailey. Zack is 9, Bailey is 7.

Zack is the one that is ill. It started a couple of weeks ago when Zack seemed to be bumping into things and looked like he'd lost some balance. I took him to the PDSA and the vet said he'd had a small stroke. On further examination she felt his stomach and noticed it swollen and that there was a mass in there, she wasnt sure if it was his spleen or liver. She said if they operated and it was his liver they would not bring him round and just let him go as nothing could be done. If it was his spleen they could remove it, but dont know if he would pull through because of the stroke and his age. I was told to return to them in a week which I did. She then just repeated what she'd already told me. And advised me that because he seemed ok in himself, eating, alert etc, to leave him for now and see what happens.
The thing is I feel like I'm in limbo, kind of.
What do I do now? Just wait for him to get worse?
I'm watching him constantly for signs of him worsening and it's tearing me up inside.
How long could I have him with me? How long does it take before he gets worse? These things I just dont know..

I am so sorry for you all. What heartache you must be feeling.

I know our words can't change what has happened, but if you need to talk, we're here to listen. Try to stay strong, he'll be waiting for you at the Rainbow Bridge.

R.I.P Zack.

Run free lovely man

The time has come I think you know
The lord is calling so I must go
I love you so much I wish it isnt so
I wish I could stay, I dont want to go

Your the best family a dog ever had
So kind and gentle never mean or mad
Ill never forget you the day that we met
I was so lucky to become your pet

You opened your door and showed me your heart
And ill never forget you well never part
You loved me and cared for me over the years
You taught me everything and took away my fears

The lord is calling now I must go
But before I go I want you to know
I know it hurts to loose a freind
But ill always be with you even to the end

RIP Zack.. my heart is aching as I know what you are going through. Sending you a big hug through my tears.... XX

The past couple of days have been so hard..We miss him so much. His absence is so noticeable.

Thanks for all your comments..They are appreciated. xx

..I know it is really hard...
hang in there....
sending you peace and love....

just read this and although im a grown man of 35 im crying my eyes out, my best friend just had his spleen out due to cancer and the vet says he has more tumours inside him so he hasn't got long to go.

i'm not coping well and know that he has given me an amazing 12 years but i just don't want him to go. he is more than my friend , he is my brother.

time wont heal this wound.

Dan, I'm so sorry for what you are having to go through, time may not heal but it will ease the pain.

Enjoy the time you have.

We're here if you need to talk. Xx

aw so sorry to hear that news our thoughts are with you

Dan, I have just lit a candle in my Church for you and your Max. I'll pray that you can get through this awful time with strength and love.

Any time you feel like you want to talk, or to share memories - even to rant and rave - we're here to listen.

So very sorry to hear that and our thoughts are with you as well.

Dan my heart is aching for you.. there is nothing I can say to make you feel better....but I am thinking of you at this sad sad time...

Very, very sad. I remember when I was a child, and my staffy called Ben had picked up some slug pellets in the garden, which were poisenous. The day they seen him out the garden wasn't something I shouldn't have seen apparantly. He was shaking and losing his balance, and passed away in his Kennel .. I broke my heart .. but my dad sat me on the sofa with a pen and paper and wrote down the word DOG .. and said to me 'if you read it backwards, it says GOD, and that's where Ben is now'. I'll never forget it. Hope you are ok .. I just read all this in work .. and tried really hard to keep the tears away ! You poor love x x x

Dan, my heart goes out to you.
Remember we are here to help support you through this very sad time.

thanks guys, i feel cheated with how its all happened, i could understand if it was down to old age and he was having trouble getting around and was losing weight, but to be fine in the morning and 1 hour later needing his spleen out and being told he has tumours seems wrong, i know he was 12 but this guy was so active people couldn't believe he was 12, i just feel like he is being taken from me and the rest of the family too soon.

i had some religious people knock on my door today and i unfairly had a go at them, i asked them to explain why a god would do this, there answer was its gods way, i then said well then he is no god of mine as no one i pray to would allow something so innocent to go through this.
they looked at me and just walked away, i saw it in their eyes, they knew i was right.
we have till friday to see if he improves in anyway if not then ill have to make the horrid choice to have him put to sleep, but i think the only real decision will be the latter, if im honest im in shock..........how will i ever be able to walk away from the vets without him, i cant leave without my friend, he never got to meet my little daughter too and she would have loved him so much, i lost a baby son 2 years ago and i nearly went over the edge then, this will be it for me, ive given up on the world, oh i wont hurt myself as i love my wife and daughter but the world for me is over, if god wants to play games then he better be ready coz if i get to heaven im taking him down.

Dan, I know you are hurting so much and nothing can take your pain away.
I feel for the loss of your son, it certainly seems so unfair that some people have to deal with so much heartache.
Remember you wife will be suffering as well and it will be hard for her to feel she's losing you too.
Max doesn't deserve this and it does seem so cruel and unfair. He would not want you to give up all hope in life though either.
As we've said we're here to listen and try and support you and I'm glad you are talking about your feelings.
Sending you big hugs. Keep letting your feelings out on here.
Lee

Dan, there are so many things in this world that just aren't fair..this is one of them. I had a rescue dog Kimba and I loved him more than life itself. He got to about 12 and one day he staggered when he walked.. I took him to the vet and after doing tests they said he had cancer of the pancreas. They said they could treat it to an extent.... but the bottom line was he would be in pain....there was no way I could live with myself to make him suffer due to my selfishness..so he was put to sleep. Well I was about 35 at the time..and I don't mind telling you I cried myself to sleep..woke up crying..took time off work...I even had my elderly mum phoning me from interstate on almost a daily basis as she was so worried about my state of health.. I was in a bad way.... I vowed I would never ever get so close to another dog as long as I lived.... fast forward to now.. I have Jethro.. he is 12 and a half..and though he just got a clean bill of health from the vets recently, I can really see he is starting to go downhill..and guess what.. I love him as much, maybe more, than I loved Kimba so I will be going through it all again ,sooner or later. This has to be the worse part of pet ownership..all we can do is to give our precious dogs all the love in the world and treasure the short time they are with us....
I really feel for you...just wish there was something I could do or say to make the hurt go away..take care.

Hi Staffie Lover,

I found out last wednesday that my boy Elwood who is 9 has cancer, his doing everything youve described here.

Did you try any natural things or holistics? Interested if anyone knows anything about this stuf for our dogs? His ok for now, not moving round much but the vet said its best he rests as much as possible, he only gets up when he neds to go outside and do his business.

I cant even leave the room for long as he comes looking for me, his become more attached if, cant think of how else to say that right now. any advice from yourself would be great.

Looking through these particular posts it strikes me just how much compassion there is for complete strangers, it touches the heart in such a warming way that people can be so comforting, and I know that Dan and Chiquita will take strength from all these wonderful heartfelt posts.