Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Our Sweet, Sweet Dog Max

I want to thank everyone who emailed, called and blogged after we lost our dear kitty Tino.

I promise that this blog will not be a daily downer. I just have to post this news, because it’s the center of our family right now, and really, really sucks.

Two days after we lost Tino, our sweet, gentle Labrador Max had a dental and they removed a tooth. Underneath they found some suspicious soft tissue. While most vets may have dismissed it, Brenda (our amazing vet) took it out and sent it for biopsy. Last Thursday (July 3), we discovered it is oral melanoma. Simply put...it's cancer. Our Max has cancer. I guess I could say we are lucky, because if he'd had this dental last year, or even six months ago, they wouldn't have discovered it. If we had postponed the dental, He'd be gone in three months, as this is an aggressive form of cancer.

We spent the day Thursday crying and researching and speaking with oncologists, with the assistance of Brenda and Mary, our friend and vet tech. We have already developed a plan of action and will do whatever it takes to keep our Max in good health and with us for as long as humanly possible. We may only have a year with him...we may get two or three. We just don't know. Even with the cancer removed, there is no "cure" for this. It will reappear again.

Yesterday, he went through a battery of tests and it looks as though the cancer may not have spread to his chest, abdomen or lymph nodes - Yey! (we will get more test results back later today). Next week he will get a CT scan so the surgeon has a better idea where the cancer is located. Then, on July 23, the surgeon will remove the tumor. This will include the removal of several teeth and some (hopefully not too much) of his upper left jaw bone. He is also on a new “melanoma vaccine” which may help fight the cancer and keep it from spreading…or at least slow it down. There is also a minute chance (think small grain of sand on very large beach) that the tumor will never metastases.

If you are a dog person at all, please think good thoughts for our dear sweet Max. He is oblivious to his illness and for that I am grateful. Just last night he was playing keep away from Brandy (our other lab) in the backyard and we both competed in agility on Sunday.

Check out this photo of Max, he’s the agility calendar cover dog for 2009.

4 comments:

clindsay said...

Of fer the luvva...

THAT'S JUST NOT FUCKING FAIR!!!

I'm so sorry, hon. I will send good thoughts his way. Covered in doggie treats.

Ingrid said...

It's not fucking fair and I'm pissed. Sad and heartbroken and pissed. But putting up a good front for him, because he's a sensitive boy. Thanks for the good thoughts covered in doggie treats. Max loves doggie treats... especially if they smell like salmon. He is a northwest boy, after all.

K. said...

Ingrid! I'm so sorry to hear about Max. I'm sending get well, positive wishes his and your way. He's got a lot on his side right now: a loving family (obviously), an awesome vet, and he's in great shape with all the exercise and agility. He's got the strength and support to pull through this! I'll be praying he does and that he stays with you all for a very long time to come.

And I think you're right. Pets are very sensitive to our emotions . . . Gah. This just sucks. ((Hugs)) to you and him!!

Ingrid said...

Thanks for the well wishes and hugs. Max and I appreciate them. Next weekend, we are going up to my dad's house. he lives on a lake so Max will get to swim all weekend, right before his big surgery. What more could a labrador ask for than a weekend of swimming? Other than snacks and massive amounts of attention?