Species: Dog Breed: Border Collie mix Age: 1-2 years
Hello Dr. Marie,
Our angel puppy Oreo passed away last night. We decided to move forward with euthanization because we could not watch her suffer.
In a matter of 2 days, she went from being a complete maniac to paralyzed except for her tail and neck/head. The vet did a spinal tap and recommended we do not treat her with chemo and stated she might not make it through the night, we felt rushed.
She was a such peace when we visited her last, we decided to put her to sleep while we were holding her and kissing her instead of alone in a cage during the night.
Being so young, and money was not an issue, we are fighting with ourselves that we should have given her a shot with chemotherapy despite the vet's advice. Based on how quickly she became paralyzed and that the lymphoma was everywhere in her spine, did we do the right thing for her? Looking beyond our emotional tie with her, scientifically did she have a chance for some more fun with us?
Struggling for clarity,
Brandon
Dr. Marie replied:
Oh, I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of Oreo. Cancer is difficult at any time, but especially hard in such a young animal.
While some dogs with lymphoma can be treated successfully with chemotherapy, dogs with lymphoma usually can't be treated with success. There are two reasons for this.
The first reason is that the chemotherapy drugs that we use to treat lymphoma don't penetrate into the spinal cord well. The blood brain barrier stops a lot of drugs, including most chemotherapies from penetrating well into the spinal fluid.
The second is that once there has been damage to the spinal tissue, this damage is not reversible. This means that even if we found a chemotherapy that successfully got into the spinal cord, the damage to nerves in the spinal cord would be permanent and Oreo would never be able to walk again.
I know this was a hard decision but it sounds like you did the right thing.
I'm so sorry for your loss.
Dr. Marie.
Do you have a pet website? Interested in learning more about SEO for Wix?
Disclaimer: Although Dr. Marie is a qualified veterinarian, the information found on this site is not meant to replace the advice of your own veterinarian. AskAVetQuestion.com and Dr. Marie do not accept any responsibility for any loss, damage, injury, death, or disease which may arise from reliance on information contained on this site. Do not use information found on this site for diagnosing or treating your pet. Anything you read here is for information only.
Customer reply:
Thank you so much...my wife and I have been crying all day over the decision, we are so crushed...your response brought peace to us and I am so glad we reached out to you...thank you so much, I can't describe how much your answer will impact our lives, especially during this painful grieving...
Dr. Marie replied:
You're so welcome Brandon. I pray that your grieving period is short. It sounds like Oreo was very well loved for her short life.
Dr. Marie.
Search for similar questions:
Popular questions...
Puppy biting owners. My Pomeranian puppy is now four months old and last week i gave anti rabies... (15028 views)
Cat losing hair in patches Our cat has started loosing hair in spots. HE is an orange tabby. White spots... (22609 views)
When to put down older dog. I know my dog is on the way out, she has cataracts, hearing is dim, legs are shaky,... (8753 views)
Bump after fight. My dog got attacked by another dog 4 days ago during a walk. The other dog was on a... (111832 views)
Dog waking every 2 hours. Our dog gets congested, breathes through his mouth, his mouth dries out and he wants... (34014 views)
Dog ate battery fluid. My dog chewed up a AA battery. It doesn't appear that she ingested any pieces of it... (19841 views)
Iverheart Plus and Max. i have been giving my dog Heartgard Plus for heartworm prevention; i recently... (31577 views)
Is this Pemphigus? My cat Loki is a 4 yr old, neutered male. Over the past 2 years he has been getting... (12159 views)
Swollen paw pad. Max has had a swollen pad(front paw...the one further up the leg) for about a week.... (18448 views)
Watery eyes. Minnie's eyes are very watery, she can't seem to keep them open and her nose is... (13609 views)
Veterinarian, Dr. Marie created this site to be able to provide quick, accurate veterinary advice online. She would love to help with your pet's problem!
Dr. Marie is a veterinarian who practices in a busy animal hospital in Ottawa, Ontario. She created Ask A Vet Question as a resource for good, accurate veterinary advice online. Dr. Marie treats dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pigs, and rats. She has been a vet since 1999.
Is an online vet visit just as good as a trip to your veterinarian? No! But, many times, asking an online veterinarian a question can help save you money. While Dr. Marie can't officially diagnose your pet or prescribe medications, she can often advise you on whether a vet visit is necessary. You can also ask Dr. Marie for a second opinion on your pet's condition.