With a heavy heart, I want to let you guys know that Friday, June 25 I lost my baby, Zeke to lymphoma. It was very quick and very sudden. The Friday before that, I found out that he may have had it when he went to a check up. We were concerned because he was not eating and kinda laying around more then usual. And sometimes he would lay there and whine. We thought it was his hips that were bothering him because he always had leg problems and it was becoming increasing difficult for him to get up. My mom had noticed that he had some lumps under his neck, but they were on both sides and where the same size so she thought that they were always there. I had not noticed until the vet pointed them out. He told that he think Zeke may have lymphoma because no infection was showing up in his blood work.His blood work was pretty good actually. He then said to call him on Monday to make an appointment with a cancer specialist. We had got him on Rimadyl and he seemed to be doing better, he was playing and eating and running around. We thought that what was bothering him the most was his hips. We made a appointment for Thursday July 1.
He continued doing well and eating good until Wednesday.He stopped eating and started laying down again. I got in touch with the vet Thursday morning and she told me to bring him in that day because he may not make it though the weekend., We got him there that afternoon and the vet said that she was pretty sure that it was cancer but she was sending it to a pathologist. She told us it was about stage 3 and that it was probably in his intestinal system and making a blockage which was why he was not eating. They gave us the option of chemo, Ruben something(can't remember). or steroids that would shrink the tumors and make him comfortable until the cancer won the battle. We choose the steroids because the chemo involved him going in and out of the car and running to the vet and getting him in the car was such an ordeal because he couldn't jump anymore, that it just stressed him out and we would rather him be happy home. The doctor gave him 2-4 months on this treatment and we planned to make it the best 2-4 months we could. They gave him a chemo shot to try and get his strength up and get him ready for the steroids. we were to watch for vomiting or diarrhea because it was going to be a big shock to his system. they gave him a vitamin shot and a shot for tummy upset. He got also got a bottle of pain meds because we had to get him off of rimadyl because of the steroids and more meds to help his stomach adjust. We were sent on our way and brought some food to start the process.
We were told that when he got home he would probably sleep most of the night because of the ordeal so I fed him by putting some soft food on his tongue and gave him some pain meds. I checked on him from time to time to see if he was ok and he seem about the same. The doctor said it could take some time to feel better. We were told to give him pain meds every 6 to 8 hours so I set an alarm and got up to feed him some food(they also told us to give him small, frequent meals). and give him more meds. He seemed a little restless, he was walking back and forth between the bed in my room and the bed in my mom's but he finally settled down in my room and slept. around noon I got him to get up and go potty. he peed and came back in. It seemed walking from the back of the house to the front was a big strain but the doctor told me the pain pills may make them a bit wobbly sometimes. I fed him some more food later on to give him his pill and it was a hassle. He locked his jaws so I couldn't open it to put food in there. so I had to put the food under his lip to get him to eat but he barely was cleaning his mouth off. A little later I gave him some water in he threw up. I called the emergency line and told them but they said sometimes drinking water to fast after a meal would make them sick. As the day went by and he seemed to be getting worse instead of better. He seemed to have to struggle to get up from a laying down position and it was even harder for him to roll from his side to on his elbows. I had to help him by giving him a little push. He seemed dazed and confused and sometimes he would just stand there. I'd try to lead him to the front to see if he needed to go to the bathroom but he needed to lay down in between the trip. and then when I finally got him outside for only the second time of the day he just laid in the grass. around 8 o clock I fed him again and gave him more pain meds. he made a small effort to eat and I was so happy. I was laying in my bed when he stood up by himself. I got up and start walking to the front, thinking he needed to go again and he seemed to be walking fast but he got as far as the living room and laid down. By this time I called the emergency line a second time and said he could barely walk and was the meds suppose to be making him feel this bad. she called the vet and then called me back telling me I needed to bring him back in. he may need a little more of a pick me up. I went to give him a little push and he didn't get up. I thought he was just being a little stubborn so I got ready and put his harness on and got a towel to help him get up. He was just limp but moving his head and panting.
We rushed to the hospital and to see if we could find someone that could help us get him in the car.(the hospital was only 10 minutes away). There was only the Vet and the vet tech so she gave me a stretcher. We then went and picked up my boyfriend to help us.(we live about 20 minutes away from where my mom is and so I wanted to check the vet first because it was closer). About time we got back my grandfather said he was trying to get up but couldn't and he had started whining. We got him into the car and back to the vet. She had us wait outside, while she examined him. At this point I had said to myself that enough was enough. I wasn't going to put him through this anymore. I was going to let him go. I had felt like the time had come all day but I pushed it in the back of mind because the doctor said he would get better. The vet called us back in and before she could say anything I knew it was bad, She told us that the cancer must have taken over part of his intestinal tract. When the tumors were shrinking, his intestines broke apart causing gas bubbles (which I felt but I thought it was part of the chemo process) and the contains in his intestines to leak into his body, poisoning him. He was a few hours from death. The vet said she was going to give him pain meds but he wouldn't last long(apparently some people just ask for pain meds and let the dog die on it's own). but I told her he suffered enough and we were letting him go. I tell you, no matter how much you get yourself ready, nothing can compare you for it. And on top of that I felt like the worse owner in the world. I had promised that I would never let my pet suffer and here it was, zeke had suffered the whole day while slowly being poisoned. When it was time to come in when he was being put to sleep, I didn't know if I could do it. I didn't know if I could watch him take his last breath but with my boyfriend and mom beside me, I was able to. Though it was a tragic experience it was also peaceful and a weight lifted off my shoulders. He wasn't suffering. When we had went in to be with him he was already peacefully sleeping with the pain meds they had giving him, the best sleep he had all day. We rubbed him and hugged him until he slipped away. I got him, cremated so I can bring his ashes to the apartment with me. He was originally suppose to live here with demus but he couldn't make it up the stairs. Now he'll always be able stay with us.
I wanted to thank you guys for giving me the chance to have him. I know yall were apprehensive at first because I was young but I am so glad to have gotten to love him for these 7 years. I really thought I would have him longer because he was never really sick when he was with us. And the last thing I thought was cancer. But he was an amazing dog, extremely intelligent and extremely loving. He was my protector, my friend and my baby, and I can't express how much I miss him. How much we all miss him.
On a Ironic note Zeke died on the day Micheal Jackson did. Zeke original name in the rescue was mikey.