Yesterday was the day I had been dreading for a long time. Ax had been acting a bit lethargic, especially for him and suddenly a few days ago he stopped eating. Yesterday I noticed a puffiness in his normally trim belly. Took him to vet and as soon as he got on the scale I knew...75 lbs when he was 68 a week earlier and hadn't been eating. They did xrays and a sonogram and my worst fears were confirmed. Took him directly to the best AH in the area about 40 minutes away and the diagnosis was confirmed. He had surgery this morning and the spleen and tumor were removed as well as 1 lobe of his liver where there was also a tumor. He is 'resting comfortably in ICU' recovering. Masses were sent out for biopsy but the prognosis is grim.
Words cannot adequately convey the grief and sorrow that I, as well as my whole family, are experiencing right now. I am also sooooo very angry that this magnificent dog will likely not see his 9th birthday due to this wretched disease. It it just NOT FAIR! There were supposed to be many more sunsets on the beach for us to watch together and many more discs to be caught. There will soon be a hole in my life the size of the grand canyon.
He was catching 90 yard bombs (with 2 bleeding tumors in his gut) less than 1 week ago on the beach @ Wildwood that I posted video of.
He was wagging his tail and jumping around with 7 lbs of his own blood in his distended belly and a disc in his mouth 5 minutes before he went into surgery.
I'm so sorry to hear this. Axl is such a special boy and so loved by you and your family, it's so obvious whenever you speak about him. He's had an amazing life with you and I'm sure he knows how much he means to you (hugs)
Sending good thoughts that you get to enjoy more sunsets together, and walks on the beach. Maybe he can carry his disc as you walk together while he recovers from surgery?
Prayers that he is one of the ones who make it through this ordeal with this dreaded disease. Your stories, pictures and videos have made Ax a part of all of our lives. Get well sweet boy.
Alphadude, I'm so very, very sorry. I've watched all the videos you've posted of Ax and have been in total awe of his ability (and your ability to throw the disk so far!) It's a cruel disease, especially when it hits such a vital dog.
Such dreadful news to wake up to. Ax is such a great dog and such a character on this forum. Whatever time you have left, I know that you will enjoy it to the full. Hopefully many more sunsets yet.
Thank you all for your kind thoughts and words. It is comforting to know that there are many out there pulling for my special boy. There have been a lot of tears shed for him in the last 24 hours by many people in my circle of friends that know and love him. Just minutes ago, a friend stopped by and offered me money to pay for his treatment if I needed it. Thankfully I have insurance on him so I am going to spare no expense and leave no option unexplored as he wages this battle for his precious life.
We are going to keep on fighting until he lets me know otherwise. We want him to stick around and judging by his behavior, he wants the same thing. There looks like there is a lot of life left in him yet, he is strong, and he is, was and always will be, a fighter.
I am going to head down to see him in recovery shortly and am steeling myself for what that is going to look like. I am encouraged by the fact that this dog has NEVER backed down from a challenge in his life and if any dog can defy the odds, it's Ax.
What a kick in the gut. Sending many good thoughts your way and hoping for many more sunsets on the beach for you, with your handsome boy.
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