OT: Tucker

GoldenWood Farm · #1 12/27/13, 07:49 PM

Some of you may remember my pup Tucker I got last June (2012). He is my little farm buddy and my baby. A few weeks ago he developed what I thought was Cherry Eye, after several vet visits and antibiotics later it isn't cherry eye or something caught in his eye like we thought.

I just got back from the vet today with a diagnosis. My baby boy has a very aggressive form of the dreaded C word...yep my baby has cancer. I have the weekend with him and Monday morning I will be taking my last trip to the vet with him. I am keeping him comfortable with pain meds and I will just enjoy my last few days with him.

My heart is breaking right now, just two years ago I lost my companion (Tucker's Uncle Riot) and this year alone I have said goodbye to many of my old friends (Brandy my herd queen this February, lost one of my 3yr old does Adele in September and put down two of my oldest goat friends Toy and Ric just a few weeks ago). I am done with loosing these close friends..guys I am just breaking right now

.

Here is a video of Tucker a few days after I brought him home.
http://youtu.be/KYBWs87mJAY
Justine

yarrow · #2 12/27/13, 08:34 PM

Oh Justine.. that's just awful.. I'm so very sorry..(know you've been having a hard time lately.. I'm sure this is just adding to it).. poor Tucker.. I'm so sorry..

susie, mo ozarks

Alice In TX/MO · #3 12/27/13, 08:35 PM

Such a sweetie baby. My heart aches for you. I lost a dog to cancer, too. It stinks.

Huggs,
Alice

BlueRose · #4 12/27/13, 09:57 PM

Hoping 2014 will be alot better for you Justine

GraceAlice · #5 12/27/13, 10:21 PM

I'm sorry Justine.

Our old dog has Heart Failure, this was probably her last Christmas with us.

Losing your friend is always hard, especially when you have the hurt multiplied by other losses. Our farm has lost about 25+ animals this year and it's been an especially hard one. I hope you find happiness through all of this.

GoldenWood Farm · #6 12/28/13, 12:35 AM

Thank you guys. I am still quite in shock about the whole thing, I have never had something like this happen so sudden. I have always had at least a bit of warning or an idea. But to go in to the vet expecting to be scheduling surgery to have an eye removed to go to scheduling to put my dog down. I just can't jump between the two

.

Justine

punchiepal · #7 12/28/13, 12:45 AM

Justine,
I am sooo sorry you are having to go through this.

GraceAlice · #8 12/28/13, 12:48 AM

I'm so sorry.

This will be my first time raising a dog from puppy to adult and then having to go through the passing. It will be sad, I know. I wish you the best with your puppy though.

I know the feeling, though. We had a vet come out to check up on the farm, he came over to our dog and checked out her heartbeat, then blurted out like it didn't even matter, "Yep, that's heart failure.". No warning at all. I was sad, she is the best dog ever.

I hope things turn up for you soon, Justine. I know you have a good heart, hopefully the future lets you fulfill the joy that comes with that soon.

GoldenWood Farm · #9 12/28/13, 12:53 AM

GraceAlice my heart goes out to you

. I lost my last dog two years ago to heart failure, hardest thing to watch. At least with Riot I was semi prepared because he was 13yrs old and I knew his time was coming to an end. But Tucker is so young and full of life, not even out of puppy hood it seems.

I know this weekend is going to be one of the hardest ones. I am thankful one of my best friends Ryan is going with me to the vets on Monday. I look at my sweet baby and I just can't imagine not having him here with me. Words can't express the pain I am feeling right now.

Justine

aart · #10 12/28/13, 05:13 AM

Can you not get a break!?

My deepest condolences.

We know from the day we let them into our hearts, that one day they will break them.
But this one is just way too soon!
The joy we gain by loving them will, in time, once again outweigh the sadness they can bring to our lives.

Backfourty,MI. · #11 12/28/13, 06:53 AM

How terribly awful Justine, my heart goes out to you for sure. Enjoy your days you have left with Tucker. He knows how much you Love him. I am so sorry!

Rockytopsis · #12 12/28/13, 07:55 AM

I am so very sorry.
Nancy

mammabooh · #13 12/28/13, 09:30 AM

Oh, so very sorry to hear this. What horrible news.

dozedotz · #14 12/28/13, 12:25 PM

Brought tears to my eyes...I can only imagine what you are experiencing. Please don't take this in a bad way, it is meant sincerely and with compassion: Get Another Puppy! Do it as soon as you are able and give another dog all the love you gave this one. There are so many puppies needing a good mom.

GoldenWood Farm · #15 12/28/13, 12:31 PM

Dozedotz I actually do plan on getting another pup. Tucker's older sister hopefully is bred and due in February. I am looking at maybe getting a pup from that litter. I am not rushing it because I want the right pup. Riot picked me when I was just 12yrs old and Tucker picked me when I first met him. I will know the right pup when I meet him or her.

GraceAlice · #16 12/28/13, 12:56 PM

Yes, another puppy is always good to heal a heart.

In my case, I won't have to get another puppy, because I already have 4 other dogs!

May I ask how old Tucker is? That seems odd to me that he would be diagnosed with cancer so young. What kind of cancer?

GoldenWood Farm · #17 12/28/13, 12:59 PM

Tucker is 1 1/2yrs old. It is very unusual for a young dog to be diagnosed with cancer but it can happen. We could spend the money for testing but I am not going to. Whatever type it is, it is VERY aggressive and progressing fast. I mean in a matter of a week or two it spread from his eye into his mouth.

Justine

GraceAlice · #18 12/28/13, 01:08 PM

Oh no Justine, that's terrible! I just didn't realize how young he was. Again, I'm so sorry.

My advice would be to give him all the love you can this week, and try not to be to sad around him so he doesn't sense anything is wrong with you.

That's really hard to do though, and no one could expect you to do that! I have cried a lot holding onto my old doggie.

I feel so sad for you.

I really hope things do turn up for you soon.

GoldenWood Farm · #19 12/30/13, 10:01 PM

Tucker is gone, that photo is from last night...my last night with him. I took him in this morning, it was quick and for the most part painless. He didn't like the sedative and fought it pretty hard at first (which was so hard for me). I held him and crooned to him the whole time and in the end he went to sleep in my arms.

Thank you so much for all the support, thoughts and prayers. I had a full on breakdown last night as it finally hit me. I had been trying to put it out of my mind but last night it all came crashing down. I am doing okay today, one of my close friends went with me and stayed the day with me. My vet was amazing with Tucker, she cried right along with me (she loved Tucker too). She was so good to him and gave me the biggest hug after all was said and done. I am so thankful to have such a compassionate good vet.

Here is a video of my baby boy from last night...I wanted something to remember him instead of just a photo.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v...46451375584614

Justine

GraceAlice · #20 12/30/13, 10:20 PM

That's so sad... just LISTENING to our cat being put down made me just breakdown. And I'm talking about lying in my bed, balling, yelling at myself, sort of thing. I can't imagine how that was for you.

If you need to talk about anything I would welcome your PMs with open arms. I will try to help in any such way that could help.

I'm sorry. At least you have something to remember him by.

I've started pressing my dogs/cats footprints into a mold so I can remember them. It's hard to do, because you aren't doing it while they are still alive, but you DO have something to hold onto when you are sad about it.