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Loss of our golden - Lyon

1K views 14 replies 15 participants last post by  keebzmac 
#1 · (Edited)
Hello,

I found this forum looking for comfort after we had to put our big boy Lyon down yesterday. He was 12 years young, and had been healthy for the most part until I found him in the back yard on the 26th and he couldn't get up. While he'd been having problems getting up on our laminate flooring, he could get up under his own power on carpet or grass. We knew something was wrong when he wouldn't get up on grass with our assistance. So we took him to the emergency vet that night and found out he had broken his left rear leg. The vet at the clinic recommended a specialty surgical clinic in Dallas, but we wanted our family vet to take a look at him and see if he could mend the broken leg. After spending the night at the clinic, we took him to our family vet, and he said the problem was too big for him (we found out later why he didn't want to treat him). The clinic in Dallas was booked for Thursday, but they said their clinic in Grapevine could see him and do the surgery. We took him there and waited a long time before the vet came in. Here is where the bomb dropped. She said that he had osteosarcoma, and the break was a "pathological" break. While she said treatment would include amputation, she also cautioned that since he was a big dog (116 lbs), and old, that he would have a really hard time on three legs. She also said that it may be likely that the cancer may have already spread into other parts of the body. She said that he would have had at most, 4 to 5 months of life left without chemotherapy. We decided at that point to have him put down. This was a very hard decision. We wanted our family vet to put him down, so we took him back to his clinic. He admitted that he had seen the X-rays and the pathologic break and the tumors in his leg bone, but didn't want to make a call about putting him down till a specialist vet had looked at him. But, he felt we were making the right decision. Lyon was in a great deal of pain with the broken leg, but he was heavily sedated. The doctor put him down yesterday around 5pm with all of the family at his side. This is not our first dog to put down, but this was so sudden and shocking. To have to make such a final decision so quickly was gut-wrenching and sad.

But now, my wife is second-guessing her decision to have him put down, and is beside herself with guilt and grief that she let him down. After seeing three vets, and two of them saying that euthanizing our dog was an option, I felt like we made the best decision with the information we had available. I feel terrible in that I could have said "no", let's proceed with the amputation and take it one day at a time.

Sorry for the long post. I suppose I'm looking more for consolation than anything. I'm also looking for guidance on how to help my wife cope with the loss of a wonderful dog that was so good and true to his breed. While we have three other dogs - two of them young and another old, my wife is so stricken with grief she doesn't want to spend any time with them. My children, who are all adults, seem to be coping OK, but my youngest two are having a difficult time. I'm sure that we will eventually get over our grief as we have before, but this one is different as Lyon was such a wonderful dog. Thanks.
 

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#3 ·
So sorry for your loss of Lyon. You've found a place where others understand that terrible sense of loss and how quickly it happens sometimes. Sending thoughts and prayers that with time you and your family will be left with only the memories of the good times. May Lyon's spirit run free and without pain.
 
#5 ·
I'm so very sorry for your sudden loss. Whatever choice made with love is the exact right one for Lyon and you. You have given him the greatest gift... that of being free of his pain. Bone cancer is very painful and goldens are known to be so very stoic. Usually by the time they are showing their pain, it is considerable. You have taken on the pain so that he could be free of it. Many here have walked in your shoes and know the pain of loss of such a special love. I think you will find much friendship and consolation here from ones that know that special bond and how it hurts to lose it. There are several of us from the metroplex too, so..... welcome. I'm just sorry you found us under such sad circumstances.
 
#6 ·
First of all, I want to extend my deepest sympathy for your loss. i know your heart is broken

I honestly think you made the right decision. We were faced with that just last June. Our Lucy was just shy of nine years old. Like Lyon, this came on very fast. She was fine for the most part up to two weeks before we helped her to the bridge.

Reflect on the love he gave your family and the love you returned to him by setting him free. Give extra love and hugs to your others dogs, wife and kids.

God Bless,

Jodi


Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App
 
#7 ·
You did the right thing for Lyon

What you did was brave and unselfish. You gave the greatest love of all. He was spared the indignity of an amputation while suffering from cancer. Each day he would have gotten worse as the cells multiplied. You put aside your needs and looked after him. I applaud you and thank you on Lyon's behalf. I'm so sorry that you lost him in an unexpected way.
 
#8 ·
I'm so very sorry for your loss of Lyon. I think you did the right thing. It's the final gift that we can give our fur babies to help them to the Bridge and set them free of pain. It's such a difficult thing to do. Many of us here know your heartbreak Hugs to you and your wife. Run free sweet boy
 
#9 ·
I'm so sorry for your loss of Lyon. I think it's only natural that you are questioning whether or not you made the right or best decision for him.

It's a very difficult decision to have to make, one of the hardest I've ever had to make. I've been through it more times than I wish, but it's always a decision made out of love and what is best for your beloved friend. Knowing that my beloved pets were no longer suffering or in pain, always brought me a little comfort and eventually I found peace with it. I still miss them all to this day while it has been many years for several and only two years ago for my most recent boy.

My heart goes out to you and your family. I hope with time you will be able to find peace.

Godspeed Lyon
 
#12 ·
So sorry for your loss of Lyon, he was such a handsome boy. It's only natural to question decisions when they have gone but you did what was best for Lyon. You freed him from his pain and let him go with dignity and with his family by his side. The loss of a golden is devastating. We have lost dogs in the past, but nothing hurt like losing our golden Daisy almost a year ago. Keep posting here and you will find lots of support from people who understand.
 
#14 ·
I am so sorry to hear about Lyon. I know only too well, as do many others on this forum, the intense grief and second geussing when we are faced with these decisions. We had to put our Oakley down on Nov 23rd due to hemangio and I am just now coming to terms with it in my own mind, knowing we were charged with the very special responsibility to speak for him and do what was best for him, even though the grief seemed unberaable on that very sad day. Many times I have read on this forum, "a day too early is far better than a day too late". This is what gets me through every day. You knew Lyon was suffering and rather than extend that you made a very unselfish decision to allow him to go and be free of his pain. He had a wonderful life with you and your family and now he is pain free and has joined all of our special pooches at the Bridge. Give it time, and allow everyone to grieve in their own way with the support of one another. Rest peacefully Lyon.
Carol
 
#15 ·
I'm so sorry for your loss. I understand your grief and feeling of guilt. We lost our beloved Dargo just two weeks ago. He was only 7 1/2 and seemed fine. In less than 24 hours he went from appearing normal to no longer with us. We didn't have to make the decision as nature ran its course. But I understand the feeling of guilt. Just last night I broke down in an emotional state of grief wondering if we would've recognized the signs earlier that we could have saved him. But it's all emotions and it's an emotional time. We would do anything to save our babies and it's difficult they can't tell us when something is wrong or what hurts. It's hard, and the first week is definitely the hardest, but it will get a little easier. Once emotions settle a little it's easier to see the logic that we don't want them to suffer and to appreciate all the good things they brought to our lives. We can second guess ourselves but also, I don't know any vet that will recommend putting down an animal unless it is really suffering. After the initial shock, I researched more about what happened with our dog and realized that it wasn't likely we could've done anything different. It seems like Lyon lived a good long life with you all. I hope it gets easier for you all. Just be there for your wife when she needs you. It seems like you've done and are doing all you can. Hang in there and you have my deepest condolences.
 
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