 Barked: Mon Apr 20, '09 12:40pm PST |
 | |  | | I am taking my parent's dog, the dog I grew up with, to the vet tomorrow to have a large tumor removed from his face. His name is Ben and he is a black lab. He is 13 years young. We have had him since he was 8 weeks old and he is the smartest, sweetest, most loyal dog my family has ever had.
About a year and a half ago, a small growth started on the outside of his mouth. My parents did not want to take him to the vet because he was old and they figured it was just a fatty growth. I have not lived with them for five years now so it was their decision and not mine. Over the past 6 months the tumor started getting bigger and bigger. I had been begging my parents to take him to the vet but they always gave some excuse like no time, no money, blah blah blah. In January I really got on them about it and was told they would take him when they got their tax refund. I do not go to their house very often because we live in different cities. I went to the house for Easter Sunday and was mortified when I saw Ben and saw how big his tumor had gotten. It is about the size of a grapefruit, hanging from the side of his mouth!!!! I could not believe how big it had gotten, and could not believe my parents for not taking him to the vet!!!! I decided to take control of the situation and took Ben to my vet this past Thursday. The vet was shocked that it had not yet ruptured and shocked that Ben was in such good spirits despite his condition. The vet commented that he must be one heck of a dog to still live happily with a huge tumor on his face. She said many dogs could not tolerate that and would have either scratched and ruptured it or died from the stress. Ben is an awesome dog, needless to say. Despite this tumor that has handicapped him, he is still a happy dog that wants to give kisses, hump his blanket(he loves it) and do his tricks for treats. He deserves so much better than this......
He is sch. to have the tumor on his face removed tomorrow. The vet is worried about how he will handle surgery at his age. She is also worried that she will not have enough skin to close the wound, or that the skin will have too much tension and the wound will continue to rip open. If this happens, they will euthanize him on the operating table. I am praying that he will pull through. His skin has stretched pretty far which makes us think that hopefully they can close the wound.
I am upset with my family and upset with myself for not doing something about this sooner. My mom is full of regret and says she didnt think it was serious. I spent the weekend crying and stressing but now I am just trying to be optimistic. Ben's happy go lucky spirit makes me believe that he can pull through this. And I will be at the house everyday to help with his recovery if he does make it.
Dogsters.....Ben and I need your pawsitive energy tomorrow!!! |  |  | |  |
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for Ben from Lily and Moira 
