Not sure what Bramble would do if he caught a rat. He gave up chasing squirrels after a couple of failed attempts.
Vet tomorrow I think, I was hoping he'd be moving a bit better today but he isn't really. Wasn't so much of a struggle going down the stairs earlier but he was still hunched and strained on the (very short) walk. He's happy enough in himself but I don't like it and I'd rather not wait and see. I think it's his front left leg giving him jip bit it's a weird one.
He's got an appointment for 5.30pm today. I booked a cheeky half day so I could sneak home for some sofa chilling time. We're currently watching a Hayes Carll concert:
He's getting constant low enthusiasm fusses, I can't up it to enthusiastic or he'll start pushing me when I drop back to low enthusiasm. I'll give him a big fuss next time I get up for food.
No vet for Brambo today, rearranged for tomorrow as there's drama at my wife's school, meaning she's had to stay late. He'll need a lift there rather than hobble the 2m.
Brambo given the once over yesterday. Mixed feedback really. He's managed to mostly shake the limp, so there was no real evidence of what might've caused it, which meant the diagnosis veered towards old dog, arthritis. So he's been given an anti-inflammatory injection/supplement course, along with a joint care powder for his food. Makes sense at his age anyway. Slightly more worrying was the reaction to the sizable lump on his head. It was looked at around 18 months ago, but only as a 'keep an eye on it' thing. Wasn't keen on the reaction yesterday, quote: "I don't like it. That could be what no-one wants it to be". He gave the option of removing it under general anesthetic to investigate properly (and one on his chest, he's a bumpy lumpy boi these days), then spoke about the dangers at his age and how it might not be worth this risk as he's getting on a bit anyway. So we've got a decision to make, but we're both leaning towards not risking it, it was bad enough when he went under to get his teeth cleaned as a slightly younger chap. The lump isn't bothering him in the slightest (would it though, if it was?), I don't think he even knows it's there.
Maybe it's not sinister, just sinister looking. It's not like I'm going to blast him with chemo if it is what no-one wants it to be. My dad did that with his lurcher, which gave her maybe an extra 9wks in the end (of discomfort). Each to their own, but I always thought that was a bit of a selfish decision. But then again, I suppose they'd have to remove it from Bramble for a proper diagnosis anyway, so there may be a point where it has to happen.
Thoughts and suggestions welcome please. Maybe I'm being selfish because I can't handle him going under. We both felt the vet was subtly guiding us to a no, but maybe that's because I was instantly leaning to a nope anyway.
Tough call. He may realistically only have a year or two left lump or no lump, but could potentially have two or three times that. Still, if those last years are spent being bombarded with chemo, that doesn’t sound like something I’d want for my dog.
It might be worth having another chat with the vet about the possible outcomes here. If all you can get out of it is either getting the all-clear or setting Bramble up for a fairly horrible last few years, then I’d probably not do it in your position.
If, on the other hand, there’s a chance that it could be something else which could be life-threatening but which is more easily dealt with, or even if the worst comes to the worst and it is cancer, but the surgery alone could stop or slow it, it might be worthwhile.
I think 11-12ish is about the average for a Lab but I've seen a 15 in fairly fine fettle. He's been on phenobarbitone for epilepsy since the age of three, which they did say might take a year or two off at the end, but his bloodwork is always in the correct zones for that so it hasn't wiped its feet yet. Considering how sickly he was as a pup/adolescent he's ploughed towards the twilight years like an absolute tank so far.