Bourbon's Eye is Swelling Again

Pepper, Bourbon is so handsome!!! Give this a good fight! The results give some hope. With all the prayers here, maybe it can be fixed. It hurts so bad when our babies are sick. We will be praying for Bourbon and you, too!

Sue, Killian and Shiloh

Pepper, Bourbon is SO beautiful. I wish I could give his sweet face lots of get well kisses. I'm so, so sad and sorry that the news was not as good as we had hoped. The good part is that the biopsy is encouraging; and you are giving him the best chance for a full recovery, taking him to Purdue U. As for why there was "nothing to be removed" at the time of the biopsy...there perhaps was not enough tumorous tissue there to even be seen. It may in the very early stage and detected only on a cellular level. I will be waiting very anxiously as you travel to Purdue. With their help, and all the love and prayers of the many, many people who love and care for Bourbon, we just have to believe that Bourbon will recover. All my love to you and please, please give Bourbon a big hug and kiss. Love, Sandra Cody and Star

Pepper I am so sorry! We will all continue the prayers, and send more of them your way. My heart goes out to you. Kisses to you, Bourbon. You are so handsome! What a sweet face, and such loving eyes. Good luck to you.

[ August 07, 2001: Message edited by: Daisy's Mom ]

FYI: Irish Wolfhounds are also prone to osteosarcoma. I know you were looking for Irish Setter owners, so maybe Irish Wolfhound owners would also have some insight or advice. I think the webite for the Irish Wolfhound Club of America is http://www.iwclubofamerica.org/

[ August 07, 2001: Message edited by: 3-greys-and-a-mutt ]

Oh, Pepper, I'm so sorry. I just caught up today on Bourbon. You guys are in my prayers. I hope you get good news at Purdue. By the way, Bourbon, you are simply gorgeous.

How is Bourbon doing today? Please know you are constantly in our hearts and prayers. Love and kisses to you beautiful Bourbon, you are truly precious. Love,Sandra, Cody and Star

Prayers and thoughts for you and
Bourbon.
You are both close to our hearts.
Sending many wishes and hugs to you both.

I think about and pray for Bourbon every day. Thanks for posting his picture.

Well, just got back from Purdue. They found a 5 centimeter mass in his abdomen (spleen). Took an ultra sound (portable equipment?), he was not originally scheduled for an ultrasound so the fancy stuff with radiologist was not available, there was something there with holes in it. Vet said when it looked like that, there was a 50% chance it was benign and a 50% chance it was malignant. They wanted to operate on it today. I said no, I do not make split second decisions. I will wait to talk to my own vet and go from there. They believe they can remove the mass by his eye but they are not 100% sure what that is either. Purdue felt the lab report was incomplete and wanted to do another biopsy which I did not agree to. Why put Bourbon through more? Yesterday, light bulb went off, and they asked the lab up here to send them the slide which they used to come up with their results. If that lab says it's osteosarcoma, then I guess I'll have to believe it. If they do remove the mass and the surrounding bone and tissue, they may have to remove the eye as well. This just sounds like way too much for me. They let me take Bourbon to the motel Wednesday night rather than leaving him at Purdue and he was so good. He's never been in a motel and was the perfect dog. He is so happy and eats so well and acts like nothing is wrong. I hate to take this boy and subject him to all this surgery with no guarantees. Even if there were guarantees, I don't really feel comfortable doing it.

I spoke with my vet this morning and I am going to investigate holistic medicine. He is all for it and has put me in touch with a holistic vet. I also found a woman (through Debbie Martin) whose dog Sander had osteosarcoma in the roof of his mouth. The vets gave him 1-2 months. Surgery, chemo and radiation were not an option per her vet so she found a woman in Oregon who is very familiar with holistic for dogs with cancer. She put her on a treatment regimen and it has been 2-1/2 years. What a success story! I'm going to go that route too with both my vet and the holistic vet on board. I feel it will be the best for Bourbon who turns 13 in October. It won't be invasive and hopefully will give him the time he was supposed to have. We are also going to continue with the antibiotics since some infection is still present and also with 1 pred every other day to act as a chemo agent. I will also continue with the antihistamines twice a day. I feel comfortable with this decision and I hope for once I am putting what's best for Bourbon ahead of what's best for me which is trying to keep Bourbon with me forever, at whatever cost to him.

Pepper,

I'm so sorry to hear about Bourbon's problems. What you said at the end of your post is so true, sometime we chose what's best for us and we do no opt what's the best for our beloved pet. We found out that my first cat had cancer when she was 13, she had surgery but died two months after that. We now wish we did not put her through that, a lot of pain for such a short extra time. We were to scared of letting her go. I think that quality time is more important.

I think that the holistic medicine route is a good one, I'm a great believer in alternative medicine as well and I know that there can be good results. And as you said, it's not based on invasive procedures and is painless.

I'm thinking of you both, give a big hug to Bourbon and remember we are here if you need to talk.

Take care
Gio

Pepper, I can only speak for myself, but I think you are making a very intelligent decision. I consider Bourbon's age to be a real factor here. Even if he did not have this particular problem, he is getting to an age where one has to accept that he is not going to be with us forever. The quality of his life is as important as the length of it. He has been through one surgery and it was worth it to find a chance for a solution. From all the information you have given us here, my gut feeling is that you are going in the right direction.

Pepper, my heart goes out to you and Bourbon. I know what you are going through. Sometimes the "possible (?) cure" can kill the dog. I know because that is how it is with Killian. If the dog feels well now and he is 13 years old, why make him suffer through surgery which might kill him. Even the results of the surgery are iffy. My fear for you is the fact that he has a mass in the eye area and also in the spleen. Science can sometimes go too far. Quality of life is more important than quantity of life. You want Bourbon feeling good for as long as you have him. I whole-heartedly agree. That's what I want for my dog, too. It's another story when they are not feeling well and at a much younger age. Hopefully the meds and holistic approach will help Bourbon to continue to feel good. I would do as you are doing given Bourbon's age. Believe me, my heart is with you!!! Good luck and keep us posted.

Sue

[ August 10, 2001: Message edited by: Sudilar ]

Pepper, I know this is such a difficult decision for you to make. I believe what the others have said, Quality of life at this time is most important and that he enjoys doing the things he loves most. It would be hard for me to put my dogs through all that surgery if they were at his age, that's for sure. I believe if I was in your shoes, I would go for the Holistic Approach and continue him on his medications. I believe you are doing what you feel is best for Bourbon and we will all continue to pray and have positive thoughts for him, I wish I could give him a hug right this minute, maybe you could do it for me.
Jackie

Pepper I agree with everyone else; you are making the right decision. I am so sorry for you; I know this can't be easy. We are all praying for sweet Bourbon. Kisses to him! Please keep us updated.

Pepper, how is Bourbon doing? He's in our prayers (you, too).