Our Beautiful Sheltie

We have an 11 year old darling female sheltie, Brittany. Like so many of your little four legged family members, she has been troubled with several bout of bladder infections, on and off antibiotics, all of which worked only temporarily, as you know. All the very same symptons you've written about on this board, leading to a diagnosis of TCC.

Yesterday, we had a significant number of tests done on her, including an ultrasound, cytology, blood work, and more. In the ultrasound, they found a large tumor in her bladder - TCC. The diagnosis is TCC and I'm so very sad. And to boot, it's a large mass that has formed at the upper part of her bladder, partially blocking one of the ureter, and causing one of her kidneys to fail. It is quite advanced.

The doctor prescribed piroxicam which is being compounded as I write this.

She is our second sheltie, having lost our male to cancer when he was 12. A traumatic experience I care to never go through again.

I've read with interest to see how you all have choosen different treatments and I admire your love, caring, diligence, love, and hope - all along. Our little Brittany is loved dearly by every member of our family. If it weren't for the constant sensation to pee (and she often does), you would not be able to tell how ill she is.

We have given great thought to what we need to do and will watch for deteriating signs. A non-functioning kidney is bad enough, and a tumor in her bladder is equally traumatic. The thought of a fully blocked ureter brings to us a reminder of what we, as humans, can and need do for our beloved pets.

I am saddened beyond words but know that she will live on in our hearts and memories. She has become and always will be the fabric of our family.

I am also reminded, by having come to this site, that I am not alone. And, I will find strength knowing that there are many of us who face similar experiences and grieve the lose of our canine children.

Thank you all for sharing your stories and allowing me to share ours.

Allen

I am very sorry that you are suffering but I have to tell you I felt a punch in the stomach when I read your post.

I could not believe that people value their pets on the same level as others family and friends. The man who raised me, worked in a factory to care for me and my family, who cares for my mother who suffers from MS and who made the bar of decency unbelievably high, now at the age of 65 faces, bravely, bladder cancer and is to be compared with an animal.

While I believe that your suffering is genuine, I think you are unkind in posting your comparison of a dog with my father on this site.

I truly believe that everyone has the right to be happy and that pets give happiness to their owners while not infringing on the rights with others. Therefore it is cruel to insist that someone not feel strongly and loveingly toward their pet until that person compares their grief with the grief of a daughter in a public forum. I then believe that you infringe on my rights and cause great pain.

My husband and my daughter (technically step daughter but daughter to me) lost their wife and mother to breast cancer. Countless times I have sincerely thought that, if given the chance, I would trade places with her if I could. I felt their pain so accutely. Consider this if all the people who gave to money to PETA gave that money to cancer research she might be here, my father wouldn't get this raw deal and your Tiffany wouldn't be sick.

Allen
I hope this finds brittany holding on. I just found this message and the response following was really uncalled for. Look for the thread of messages under Canine Bladder Cancer (tcc) on this board. There are over 300 responses, GREAT CARING people, and a wealth of information. Good Luck
Karen

This string is old but I found it as I was looking for information regarding TCC.  My Sheltie is also suffering from TCC and was diagnosed in December, 2006.  I will create a new posting regarding her condition but I felt I needed to respond to the person who responded so harshly about people versus dogs.  She will probably never read this which is fine.  I'm doing this in case others look at this older string.

First, this posting is the only hurtful, utterly judgmental and unkind one that I have seen on this site so far.  She feels like it is an insult that a beloved human being could be compared to a Dog.  Those with Dogs are reaching out to humans and vice versa for the most part.  Love is love.  Pure and simple.  I have lost many human loved ones in my life and I don't believe that just because my Dog is not a human being or cannot work to support me means that the love is somehow diminished.  It seems that the level of love or esteem one should hold a being in is being measured by utility.  I am sure that he is (hopefully not was) a very great man, nonetheless, this does not give her the right to tread on someone else's values.  My own Grandmother lost her son to Cancer (my Uncle) and it was a terrible situation.  He was one of the most wonderful people I have ever known in every way.  She also lost her best friend to breast cancer, has another friend undergoing radiation for breat cancer and has lost most of her sisters to cancer.  This same Grandmother has been a source of love and support to me while I have been going through my dog's cancer situation and has never once said "she's just a dog".  Even after all she has lost due to Cancer she understands simply that love is love.  Life is life.  Pain and suffering regardless of species is hard to endure and we must have compassion.  My Uncle's wife (my Aunt) has checked in with me many times to make sure that I am doing well, to see how my Dog is doing as well.

Furthermore, I have read studies that cancer hits dogs and humans very similarly so if you want to speak scientifically rather than on philisophical/moral grounds there can be much exchange here re solutions to cancer whether dealing with Canine or Human and nobody's voice should be criticized.  Rather, honor that someone had the heart to post information to help others and seek help for a loved one ... dog or human.

 Finally,the comment as to donations to PETA eating up cancer reasearch donations is unfounded.  If you would like to post research proving that PETA is somehow diminishing cancer research that would be great.  I would love to see this.  I would love to see what funds are being diverted or find out how fighting for the humane treatment of research animals is somehow thwarting the race to find a cure for cancer.  It is my belief that PETA would prefer that research on animals not be performed, however, realizing this is a tough fight they fight for the alternative as well ... basically ... if we are going to do this let's make sure the animals are cared for in the process.  Let's not let animals suffer on metal mesh floors, let their teeth rot, give them NO companionship and treat them like objects.  At least give them adequate veterinary care during the course of their lives as research subjects and a warm place to sleep, maybe a scratch behind the ears???  Too much to ask for?  I think not.  This statement, to me, seems to stem from bitterness that there is not a cure and a need to blame everyone for the suffering your family has experienced.  Believe me, I completely understand.  I've lost so many people I love to various diseases and now I face a situation with my dog ... who is a full member of my family and in my heart my first born child ... where I stand to lose her too.  I wish more money would be spent on cancer research.  If you have any gripes re the progress in finding a cure for cancer, don't blame PETA.  Contact research groups, pharmaceutical companies, etc.  Use your anger and frustation to fight for additional funding for cancer research in the right way.  Slamming animal lovers is not productive. 

Your response marginalized another person's experience and pain dealing with cancer. Human or pet- THE PAIN IS IDENTICAL. Possibly that person's intent was a "general" response and she just selected "your" response for convenience or perhaps something you said about your dad struck a chord with her. Your response was rude- and excuse me, you should've held your tongue keeping your comments to yourself. 

On 8/25/2006 Xinenun wrote:

I am very sorry that you are suffering but I have to tell you I felt a punch in the stomach when I read your post. I could not believe that people value their pets on the same level as others family and friends. The man who raised me, worked in a factory to care for me and my family, who cares for my mother who suffers from MS and who made the bar of decency unbelievably high, now at the age of 65 faces, bravely, bladder cancer and is to be compared with an animal. While I believe that your suffering is genuine, I think you are unkind in posting your comparison of a dog with my father on this site. I truly believe that everyone has the right to be happy and that pets give happiness to their owners while not infringing on the rights with others. Therefore it is cruel to insist that someone not feel strongly and loveingly toward their pet until that person compares their grief with the grief of a daughter in a public forum. I then believe that you infringe on my rights and cause great pain. My husband and my daughter (technically step daughter but daughter to me) lost their wife and mother to breast cancer. Countless times I have sincerely thought that, if given the chance, I would trade places with her if I could. I felt their pain so accutely. Consider this if all the people who gave to money to PETA gave that money to cancer research she might be here, my father wouldn't get this raw deal and your Tiffany wouldn't be sick.