Labrador Retrievers

My Lab will be 12 in July. She has epilepsy, but was never medicated for it. She has had 1 seizure per year up until this year. She has had 3 seizures since January.

She has also developed a number of grapefruit size tumors all over her body. I had the tumors tested and they were diagnosed as fatty and not cancerous. The could be removed, but because of the size, she would need to have drainage tubes for a long time.

The biggest problem that has increasingly gotten worse over the last six months is that the vet informed me that labs have a degenerative disorder, where their larinyx will begin to close in on them. She has trouble breathing and is almost gasping for air at any movement that she makes. I am concerned that as the summer weather comes upon us that it is going to be more difficult for her to breath.

The tumors in back of her front legs are causing her problems when she walks. She trips up a curb or up the stairs.

She seems so full of life. She still loves to play. She tries to jump around God love her.

My only son is leaving for college in August and I know she will go into a depression.

Her quality of life is nothing like it used to be. I love her so much, but I have to tell you that her constant heavy panting is really hard to live with.

What would you do?

I agree with Pen...I agree surgery at that age and severity might be too much for her. Ask about the meds...the most important thing to consider isn't yourself..it is your baby. What is her quality of life. Can she do and enjoy the things she truely loves to do. My heart breaks for you. We have lost 2 dogs within the past 7 months..It is so extremely hard with animals you love them soooo much and they just don't live as long as we want them to. My heart is with you. Best of luck!

oh my, i had the same thing happen w my 13 yr old golden retriever and my only son! she was our angel. i asked my son, (i wanted to keep her going) but the vet said she could live a week or a month. my son did not want to come home and find her in the house. my vet put her down because i didnt want to put him through that, finding her passed in his room or something. I feel for you! its so hard but i think it was the right thing to do for her.
3 yrs later we have a yellow lab hes 5mos and we love him too.
good luck its a hard one but with your son going off to college he will have lots of new adventures to look forward to. he will always remember the good life you all had together and the memories.

Oh, I hurt for you. My Yellow Lab, Trubby, is starting to show signs of age and it's awful. I suppose the question to ask has to do with your pooch's quality of life. When we put our Cocker down, I remember the vet asking how content we all were with the situation. If we felt we could keep on, keeping on without our pooch going through too much discomfort, then she suggested to wait. When the situation became too much for everyone, including our Cocker, we knew it was time.

Take Care,
Heather


***Edited By: pyrmom on 6/8/2008 6:10:34 AM***
Reason: advertising