queenwinniesmom

I'm so sorry that you have had so much sadness in such a short time, and that you lost your lovely little old lady. We would wish for all of our Greys a wonderful home like Bunny's in their senior years.

I'm so sorry you lost your brave and beautiful Jewel.

I wish you could have had more time with your beautiful girl, but what safe and happy senior years she had with you. I'm so sorry you lost your precious Walli. Her pictures are gorgeous.

How you loved him! And it's easy to see why. I'm so sorry you lost your magnificent Spencer.

I'm so sorry for your grief and sadness at losing two wonderful dogs. You are honoring them both by sharing them with us, and we are sharing your loss.

What a lovely lady she was. I can't imagine your shock and sadness, and the emptiness you are feeling at her sudden loss. I'm so sorry you lost your precious Tasha.

Damn osteo. The suddenness must leave a huge empty space in your heart, but it's clear that she was so very loved, right till the end. I'm so sorry you lost your precious Millie.

How gorgeous she was! And how blessed you were to have shared your life with her. Even when she could be somewhat challenging, it's clear that she always made you smile, and brought you so much joy. I'm so sorry you lost your precious Lulu.

I'm so sorry you lost your precious Ezri.

Oh, Liz, I can't tell you how sorry I am. So much sadness and loss in too short a time. You loved him so much, and though it's sad that he didn't get to stay longer, he knew that he was safe and cherished. Doug and I are thinking of you and Larry with much sympathy, and sending you cyber hugs---wish we could hug you in person!

I so wish I had some advice! Only hugs and lots of good thoughts to you both right now. My friend Mary, who has our former foster Marvin, was having some possibly similar problems with him. I'll talk to her. from me and Lydia

I would too. I haven't had a chance like that with a Greyhound, but I fostered 2 absolutely wonderful, perfect, geriatric cats ( probably about 14-16) who were given months to live. One had mammary tumors, and the other was operated on for cancer of the thyroid. She surprised us, and was with me for 2 very good years. It's worth it.

Yep. Even though Winnie's was the right hind leg, it was much the same, fur shaved, lots of stitches, drain, bruising. Though I do think the front amps look a bit more extreme. But if you can say that the site looks GOOD, then it actually does look good! In the coming days, Tempo will show you time and time again just how extraordinary he is. Try and concentrate on that, and not the human reaction to his "handicap". He will learn quickly how to adjust, and after the adjustment comes---pretty much back to normal! For him. I was one of the people who never quite learned to look past that missing leg, though I tried, and sometimes succeeded. But I did learn not to project my pity on a dog who was so strong, stubborn, focused and quirky. I had to let her do things her way, even though that meant holding my breath sometimes. I think it will be much the same with Tempo. You said that Tempo is very sensitive. He also seems to be a wonderful, exceptional dog who knew how to pick the perfect owner. It sounds like you have a really good head on your shoulders, and are committed to getting through this together. And you will. I don't know if you're a crier, or if you tend to let yourself get depressed. If so, he will surely pick up on those emotions, and it will be harder for him to focus on what needs to be done when he is wondering why you are so sad. I used to do my crying in the shower. Or in the car. And then I got over it. Gentle hugs to your sweet boy. Please know that he has a lot of people out here pulling for him.

Oh, Judy, I'm so sorry I didn't see this till now! I am sitting here crying---for you, for Beanie, and for the fact that sometimes life is so damn cruel to kind, gentle, loving, caring people. I can only echo what Jey said. In fact, I'm going to print out those words and hold onto them. She's a wise woman. That said, words are much easier and less painful than seeing someone you love suffer. I know that ache, a pain so real and so overwhelming that it is a true physical presence. I've made mistakes in the past as well, simply because I couldn't know the future, and thought only to gain more precious time. Ask yourself---even though you KNOW the answer, and we all know the answer---would you knowingly cause Beanie to suffer? Of course you wouldn't. But I can understand those feelings. For a long time, when I lost my Nick, I felt that kind of pain. I punished myself for not being able to see the future. Even after 2 visits to our regular vet, we didn't know that he had Addison's till he was in full Addisonian crisis, and were treating him for that, not knowing that he also had cardiomyopathy. His big heart was literally too big, and the treatments for the 2 conditions were at direct odds with each other. The ER vet thought that he was stable, and we could take him to our own vet in the morning to continue treatment. I didn't know that it would be too much for his poor heart, and that he would die at the ER vet without me. If only I had known, I would have been there with him. If only...... The one thing I learned not to question was that Nick knew how very much I loved him. I can tell you, and I can HOPE for you, that it will get better. Grief has no time frame, and now you need to mourn for many reasons. As you do that, please be kind to yourself. And know that though the hurt will always be there, in time, Beanie's memory will bring smiles as well as tears. I know, because even though I'm crying as I sit here thinking about you, and about Nick, the memory of my heart dog can still make me smile.

Thanks for the good update! We like updates. Keeping him in our prayers, and sending out lots of good thoughts for a quick and uneventful recovery.

Ducky, Harold was blessed that you chose him with your heart and not your head. It's clear that he was exactly where he was meant to be. I'm so sorry you lost your precious boy. My gosh, he was gorgeous!

I'm so sorry that you and Tempo are facing this devastating diagnosis. Even though it seems like the world is crashing down on you, please know that you have proceeded in a remarkably positive way. First, thanks for coming here. There are so many of us who understand what you are going through. There is a lot of great info ( some of which you have already gotten), and invaluable support. Even if you need to come to vent, or boost your spirits in moments of doubt (and there will be those moments), GT will help you on this journey. I think this initial time is the hardest, as we try to wrap our minds around the unthinkable. When Winnie was diagnosed, I agonized for weeks before deciding to do the amp. It was in 2004, and I didn't have the support or knowledge that I have now, and I felt that I was always on the verge of making some horrible mistake. But you made a decision very quickly, and I think it is the right decision for many reasons---his age, the cancer not having spread, being on the ground floor, and the financial assistance. Unfortunately, often one or more of those factors decides what course of action we take. But like Mary Pat said, whatever decision you make is right, because you know your precious boy best, and that decision is made out of love for Tempo. You will probably read over this thread many times---there is some good concrete advice that could come in handy, and save needless worrying. Try and prepare yourself for what he will look like. Depending on how you react to such trauma, it can be very upsetting. Just remember that all that bruising and swelling is soft tissue trauma, and it will fade. The amp takes away the severe pain of the osteo, and the right pain meds can control the pain from the surgery during the recovery. I think it's good that he stays in the hospital for a day or two. We tend to stress over their discomfort, and sometimes as they process the anesthesia and meds, they will pant, be very restless, vocal, etc. This will pass. You probably won't get much sleep for a while. And his recovery and adjustment might seem to be taking one step forward and two steps back. This too will pass. Remember in the larger scheme of things, that he can have a remarkably normal life on 3 legs. As Dr. Couto says, Greyhounds have 3 legs and a spare. And there is no stigma in the animal world for 3 leggers. Those feelings of "handicapped" tend to belong to us humans. There were many times when I looked at my beautiful Winnie and wished with all my heart that she could be whole again. But Winnie didn't waste time on such sentiment. She just did what she had to do, and enjoyed the hell out of her time post amp. And that time was 3 1/2 years! Yep, I realize that she is the exception rather than the rule, and any good time with her would have been precious, but we had over 3 wonderful years with her. I was the one who wrote her "obituary" poem and mourned her loss during those first awful weeks, and she was the one who went to several GIG's, several Dewey's, 1 Mountain Hounds, and a couple Grapehounds. She pulled me down many streets, and showed her 4 legged sisters that she was still as fast as they were. So this would be my advice---and I know I've said it many times before---remember that cancer is a crapshoot. Sometimes what we do beats the monster, or holds it at bay, and sometimes everything we do is not enough. But we have to try because we love our Greys. They are brave and patient, and we owe it to them to do what is best (whatever that decision may be). You'll learn a lot from Tempo on this journey---listen to what he tells you. And my other advice---don't let thoughts of future sadness steal your precious time NOW away. They live in the moment, and he will know that for each day, he is safe and loved. This is Winnie about 2 years post amp, a 10 year old tripod running for joy.

You understood her so well, and loved her unconditionally. Your pics are truly beautiful. I would say that another thing Jessie did well was have her picture taken. I'm so sorry you lost your precious lady.

He sounds like a very special guy, who found the perfect home. I'm so sorry you lost your precious Havoc.

I'm so sorry you and Abacu are dealing with this horrible disease. You know your precious boy better than anyone, so let him guide you. They are stoic, but they usually tell us when they are ready to leave. I know it's hard, especially since it will be your first time losing a dog, but try not to let those thoughts of what is to come steal this time together away from you. They live in the moment, and he knows that he is happy and loved TODAY. You and Abacu will be in our prayers.

This must be so hard for you and Neko. Sending lots of prayers and good thoughts to you both. Please let us know about the bone biopsy.

Hi Amanda! I might know you, or at least have seen you. I've been with GHG for about 15 years now. I think when the weather gets warmer, we should contact Alicia about a playdate. Where in Pgh. do you live? And welcome to Greytalk!

What a wonderful person you are to adopt the seniors! You know that your heart may be broken a lot sooner, yet you're willing to accept that because it is so rewarding to give them love and security in their later years. But to lose 2 precious oldies on the same day---I can't imagine how painful that is. I think you are right, though---they are together as they watch over you, and hopefully, that knowledge can bring some comfort to your heart. I'm so sorry for your loss of Bubba and Suds.

I hope with rest and the pain meds, she'll be back to normal soon.

I can't imagine the pain you must be feeling. Sending much sympathy.