Cat lymphoma?

[Deepster]

Deep feels the only reason dogs lick us is because our skin is salty. Only reason.

Well, that’s not true. But it’s widely known that most, if not all, actions by a dog are driven by the need to get food.

 

[champs99and04]

Keep in mind that animals do not show pain the way a human would - animals with an illness or injury would be singled out by predators or ostracized from their own. Pets still have that persistence of instinct - by the time you see your pet struggling, it’s likely gone on for too long.

We learned that the hard way with our golden doodle years ago - everything was fairly business as usual until one day she was out for a walk and had to be carried home. It became clear only then that she'd likely soldiered through until that point. The end tends to blindside you even when it shouldn't.

I haven't heard it applied as much in regards to cats, though I suppose it doesn't surprise me. I know they're very adept at hiding pain, and perhaps that's where it originates from.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

50 posts in, I'm still reading this thread with care.

It's widely recognized that we benefit from the unconditional love we receive from our pets. This discussion, generated by sad circumstance, reveals that a deep human goodness is drawn out by the unconditional love we have for and give out toward our pets.

We pause, reflect, feel, and share tenderly and fully. The personalization, the digressions, the repetitions, the self-consciousness that registers with embarrassment & apologies are all part of the depth of how we are touched by our adopted family companions.

Love and comfort to all...

 

[Fishy]

We learned that the hard way with our golden doodle years ago - everything was fairly business as usual until one day she was out for a walk and had to be carried home. It became clear only then that she'd likely soldiered through until that point. The end tends to blindside you even when it shouldn't.

I haven't heard it applied as much in regards to cats, though I suppose it doesn't surprise me. I know they're very adept at hiding pain, and perhaps that's where it originates from.

Even though we’ve bred them to the point where they barely recognize where they started, cats and dogs retain some instincts and part of that relates to the need to outwardly show that all is well.

A pet owner has a responsibility, no matter how hard it is, to make sure their pet isn’t suffering - a very sick dog will still wag its tail to the last moment. I had to take my mother’s 19 year old(!) Havanese to be put to sleep in December. It was critically ill - maybe hours to days left - and she was still trying to wag her tail at the vet and his staff.

There was an excellent article in, I think, the New Yorker about it. Was an eye opener for me.

 

[CL82]

Deep feels the only reason dogs lick us is because our skin is salty. Only reason.

Lol, it's not the only reason, but it definitely is a reason.

 

[Huskyforlife]

I’m not arguing anyone’s relationship with a pet and I know how strong those feelings can be.

It is more likely you’re imprinting your pain or your difficulty processing the situation on an animal incapable of many of the thoughts and understanding of a situation that a human can have.

You’re right, but I’m sure there’s a level of fear or confusion they feel when suddenly feeling extremely tired in an unfamiliar environment, surrounded by only a stranger or two, while also feeling vulnerable do to the disease or injury that brought them there.

It’s not the same critical thought that the owner is having, but I think animals can feel a sorrow vibe.

 

[champs99and04]

A pet owner has a responsibility, no matter how hard it is, to make sure their pet isn’t suffering - a very sick dog will still wag its tail to the last moment.

No doubt. Fortunately those decisions have been pretty cut-and-dry for me to this point, but I know others who haven't been as lucky. From your standpoint, how do you reconcile what you've outlined for me with something like a cancer diagnosis? Is it naive to think any quality of life can be salvaged in that state? How do you pinpoint the appropriate time to act when they're hardwired to throw you off the scent?

My instinct is generally to avoid chemo with animals at all costs (though I have heard mild success stories), so I'm glad John's mother is taking the approach she is. I've always been of the mind to keep them comfortable with palliative type care for as long as you can keep the disease from progressing, but your perspective on the matter has me questioning whether my perception of that comfort is warped.