This Dog continues to amaze me every day. Our golden retriever Sheba is 11, almost 12 years old, fighting cancer and arthritis and yet she is still going strong. Just last night she was barking at Luke over a toy, then happily tearing said toy apart, and when I walked in the room once her front legs were up on his back. As I am writing this on Thursday evening, she was just on the bed barking at the UPS truck!
This dog is endlessly patient with an annoying little brother and a sometimes snarky, ball hogging older sister.
This dog is blessedly oblivious to being sick, and sometimes I wish I could be blissfully ignorant too. I don’t want to feel sorry for us, because the truth is we are blessed. It has been over a year and a half since her original cancer diagnosis, and for almost all of that time, other than when recovering from surgeries and struggling with a UTI (or something), she has been feeling good and enjoying life, without any conventional treatment.
This dog is excited about her supper, even after spending the morning at the vet’s office. One of the techs told me that she wasn’t nervous at all being there, and that is unusual for her.
This dog licked her bowl clean and came looking for more. Considering that she had a spell where she didn’t want to eat much, this really makes us happy.
This dog had us fooled, because we felt sure that her illness was not progressing quickly, and that she had fought off the UTI she had. But her last urine test said otherwise; there was still blood in her urine. Our vet wanted to do an ultrasound of her bladder to see if something else was going on. What he found was a mass above her abdomen – more cancer – and subsequent x-rays of her lungs showed the cancer there has been spreading as well.
This dog smiles no matter what, and keeps me smiling through my tears.
This dog is consuming all of my worry, sapping my creativity, sucking up my time, and making me unable to focus some days. Every time I think I’ll catch up on things again, I’m back on that roller coaster ride of her health and nothing gets done.
This dog has my heart completely, and she is going to break it into a million pieces when she has to go. All we can do is hope and pray that every morning when we wake up she will still be feeling well and ready to fight on for another day.
*I promise it’s not all sadness and tears around here. We really are doing our best to just help Sheba to enjoy each and every day. The news from the vet on this day was just tough to hear – though not totally unexpected.
What a beautiful post, but I’m so sorry that the ultrasound gave you bad news. The good things for the dogs is that they don’t know, they will just continue on and enjoy their lives. It is us that do the worrying and grieving.
I’m glad she’s having such good days. Hang in there Jan.
Oh I am sorry to hear about the ultrasound result. You all have such a great attitude though. Enjoy each and every day.
It’s so hard not to start grieving already. I know you’re treasuring every moment. Hang in there. It’s tough when it gets to this stage. She’s an amazing dog – I hope you’ll have more time than you think left. Big hugs!
She’s certainly been fooling us so far – we had figured we’d be lucky to have her through the summer, never mind to still have her feeling good almost all of the time too! Thank you, Jackie. xo
It is all about quality of life for her now. Kitties and woofies are amazing at their ability to compensate with almost any physical disease or challenge until the very end. We are going through the same thing you are with Sheba with our Fiona. She had gained 4 ounces on her vet visit, but our optimism was shattered when her numbers came back. We will be reporting on it tomorrow. Enjoy every moment you have with Sheba. That is the most important thing for both of you right now! Sending lots of purrs and prayers and POTP! XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo
Sheba is the best!! I’m sorry for the latest news at the vet visit. Live each day to the fullest! Hugs to you and Sheba.
I feel so deeply for you. I was so hoping that “C” Monster would slow its pace, the doctor’s report shook me up too. I’m practically the mirror image of you emotionally; I lose all focus, all creativity, and even some physical strength when I’m overcome with worry. I just love Sheba and her strength and wonderful spirit – she’s a lovebug every day. Those gentle, warm eyes just melt my heart. I’m really glad she’s having such a wonderful summer, it’s clear from the pictures that she’s livin’ life happily, and I’m so glad to see that. Hugs to you all.
It makes me sad that Sheba and all of you are going through this battle with the Evil “C” but she looks bright, happy, and like she is intending to love every minute she has with all of you. It’s what a pet who has known love and caring all her life does – grabs all the gusto she can. I know all of you are doing the same…..and yes it will be tough when she has to go but her lasting gift will be that of finding joy in EVERYTHING if you look hard enough. She’s so beautiful.
Hugs, Pam (and Sam)
Thank you so much for those words, Pam and Sam! Sometimes Sheba acts like such a nut, playing like a puppy, and I can’t help but think that she is definitely trying hard to enjoy every minute she has left. ♥
I am so sorry that she is sick. You have done everything right and it really is a gift that she is staying happy and enjoying her life. I hope the news wasn’t too bad. I’m keeping Sheba and your family in my prayers. ♥
I love Sheba as much as I do Shadow and Ducky. She reminds me sooo much of Callie, especially in that last photo. She’s a feisty girl, and I pray she has many good, joyful days still ahead of her. Luke is keeping her young at heart and all the love is keeping her going. As always, sending prayers, love, and hugs for all. And Angel Kisses from Callie to Sheba.
Now I love her too! She’s gorgeous! Hoping for more days of barking and playing in the pool!
Sending love and (((hugs))))) and praying there are many, many more days with Sheba to enjoy xoxo
We’re glad Sheba is still enjoying life…that’s what’s important.
We totally understand. We didn’t do any further tests on Katie after finding the heart tumor as there was no point to it. It’s terrible watching a dog decline yet try so hard to enjoy life and they fight so hard. We truly hope Sheba has a lot more good time coming up. Hugs to her. I’m sure Luke helps keep her on her paws too.
I kind of wish we hadn’t done these tests, but I guess I was still holding out hope that something else was going on with her bladder that they could fix, and the cancer was still moving slowly. There will definitely be no more tests after this; now just enjoying every moment of her life!
She is still putting Luke in his place at times, and he definitely keeps her moving! Having him to play with is keeping her young. They have had a couple of issues, where he’s been snarly with her though. I think he knows she’s sick and that worries him. He probably senses things that we don’t pick up on.
The last days we had our Katie were hard, but Bailie and I didn’t even want to be near her. We knew she wasn’t doing well. It is what animals do.
Thank you for sharing that with me, it’s a relief to know that. Sheba acts needy sometimes, following me around, and that seems to be when Luke has an issue with her.
Wonderful tribute to Sheba. Dogs live in the moment and don’t care about their age, disabilities or what might be waiting for them down the road. I hope you continue to make many more memories in the future.
I love her spirit and I say a lot of it comes from you! Enjoy each and every minute. Lavish every moment. Make plenty of memories…. Have a great weekend with Sheba and the gang!
Her quality of life is the best argument against putting your pet through chemo or radiation. She doesn’t seem to be suffering at all which is always the deciding point for me.
Sheba is such a fighter. She is truly wonderful. Praying you have many more happy days xx
Sheba is a special dog, one who is enjoying every moment with you and her family.
This dog is a sweetheart. That beautiful smiling face says this dog is a happy dog.
Alex and Auntie love this dog, too. We are crying and smiling with you. Praying for more good days for Sheba. ❤️????????
Our paws are crossed for as much as possible wonderful moments with THIS DOG… Sheba you are a trooper and if I could make a wish this moment it would be time… time for you and for me and for all THIS DOGS we love sooooo much.