Nestle
Posted in: Illustrations
Thank you everyone for the good thoughts. I didn’t want to talk about it before. But drawing helped. A little drawing here.
And a little there.
Isabelle can always put a smile on my face.
The good news: the biopsy results have come back and they didn’t show any evidence of osteosarcoma. The bad: it may still be another tumor, cynovial cell. The vet said that is a harder diagnosis to make involving opening up the leg. But the survival rates are longer at 36 to 48 months with amputation.
I haven’t made any decisions yet. I don’t think we’ll be doing chemo (about $3000) or amputation (about another $3000). It’s too expensive and I can’t imagine poor Nestle trying to heal from that. I feel bad enough for her with just a biopsy. She’s showing a slight limp now when she wasn’t before. But imagine the whole leg removed. I’m worried about her quality of life. The first vet said that as well, with so little time left, she wouldn’t want to put her through an amputation.
I think we’re just going to do pain management…
June 10th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Bless you all. I am so sorry. For what it’s worth, I agree with you about not taking such drastic measures and just doing everything you can to value her time with you and keep her happy and comfortable. We sometimes forget that just because we CAN do certain things, we don’t have to. And sometimes we just shouldn’t. I wish I could give you a big hug. If you need help crying, just let me know. I do get weepy (OK, I sob!) when it comes to animals.
June 10th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
Bless your heart. Just keep Nestle comfortable. You can’t explain things to animals, can you.
Barabara
June 10th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Such hard decisions, but it sounds like you’ve made the right one. I hope things go well and Isabelle keeps your spirits high. Kids are wonderful at that!
June 10th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
June 10th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
I am so sorry! We went through this with my childhood dog. We just kept him comfortable and babied him a lot, I think his last days were almost pleasant for him.
June 10th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Hugs to you. I wish I could make it all go away.
June 10th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
My heart totally goes out to you and Nestle. Just love her. That’s all she wants. You will make the right decisions with each day. Don’t let the bad not let you enjoy your time with her. I’m keeping her and you in my prayers.
June 10th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
I’m so sorry to hear the news. Poor puppy. Hang in there, hon.
June 10th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
oh no! I’m so sorry to hear about your sweet dog.
Its such a tough situation to decide whats best for our little critters without getting their input :-<
June 10th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
oh gosh.. anything that resulting amputation is already so bad for me.. i think you made the right decision. i wouldn’t put her through that if i was you. our old family dog was feeling so bad like that.. i think our vet here were not so pro like yrs .. all they said was “the dog is old.. it’s just a matter of time. you can choose to give him the ‘jab’ “. all nestle needs now is all the love you can give..
June 11th, 2008 at 2:26 am
I’m so sorry to hear about these sad turn of events. She’s a blessing to your family, that I see, and she’s lucky to be a part of such a loving family. It is indeed a very difficult decision, but I’m sure it’ll all be for the best. Thinking of all of you.
June 11th, 2008 at 5:40 am
i’m sorry to read about your nestle. i know it’s a very hard decision, but i’m sure you will do what you feel is best. i’m sure that you will also make nestle just as happy as you always have
June 11th, 2008 at 5:56 am
So sorry to hear about your poor doggie. I used to draw little cartoons like that when I’m truly upset. I agree, it’s a lot easier than explaining. Nestle is so beautiful, and it’s wonderful to see how loved she is.
June 11th, 2008 at 9:05 am
I am so sorry to hear about poor Nestle. We went throught the same thing with our dog a little over three years ago. Pain management was the only thing that we could give him for his cancer. He gave all of us 7 years of love and joy.
Nestle is in a good home with a family who loves her. I wish they could give the families of sick pets ‘pain management’too.
Take good care.
Debbie
June 11th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Korallin … I’m so sad for you and your family. Nestle is lucky to have such a loving family at this time.
June 11th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
I’m so sorry. But three to four years is a great amount of time when compared to the life span of a dog. You can fit a whole lot of love into that time and I’m sure you will.
June 12th, 2008 at 8:24 am
I’m sorry to hear about Nestle. I read your blog a lot but don’t usually comment, but I wanted to tell you that I’m thinking of you and your family and Nestle. Keeping Nestle happy and comfy for however long you have is a very reasonable option for her, and it’s more about the quality of life than the length of it. She’s lucky to have a great home with a family who loves her.
June 12th, 2008 at 8:27 am
You poor things. Trust your heart to make the right decisions. It’s so tough with these things … We’ll continue our prayers!
June 12th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Pain management does seem the best way. I’m so sorry for your family and Nestle. It is so hard when you love something so much. I understand.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:24 am
So very sorry to hear about Nestle. I know too well that dreadful feeling during the call from the vet. Enjoy your lives as much as possible and take lots of pictures. She’s lucky to have such a loving family.
June 14th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
Biiiiig hugs to Nestle, you and your family. This is never an easy decision, but pain management is probably for the best.
We did that for one of our pets some years back and had her gently put to sleep when the “management” was no longer working. A second pet went in for the expensive surgery and she died within days, in more pain than she’d had going in. Had I known she would suffer so much, I would have avoided it and spent one more month with her intact. With the first one I got to say good bye. With the second, none of us did.
June 15th, 2008 at 8:13 am
I’m sorry. We’re there with you with our dog right now too. It’s difficult, but like you we’ve decided not to treat him (it’s not about the money, it’s about the wager of whether or not painful treatment would actually give him a longer period of good quality living). We feel like it’s the best option for him. I’ll be thinking of you guys. Good luck!
June 16th, 2008 at 5:40 am
oh, I feel so sorry! Whatever you decide, I’m sure you do what’s the best for her! I hope she doesn’t suffer too much..
June 16th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
I’ve been pondering this for days, wondering what to say but all I can think of is I’m sorry, which sounds so lame but it’s true. You guys just love her as much as you do, give her the comfort of a good home, and you’ve done the absolute best for her. There’s nothing else, and nothing more important. Take care.