CockersOnline Forum
Cocker Specific Discussion => Health => Topic started by: Hurtwood Dogs on May 14, 2011, 09:01:13 PM
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Sorry to be so dramatic with my title. Long story, my neighbour has a black working cocker staying with her. Basically this dog belongs to a not very nice shooting type who upon finding a load of lumps on her front (she's 6yrs) has decided the dog is dying and has got another puppy. The cocker (Tarka) is getting stressed with the new pup and my neighbour is aware he's heavy handed so she's managed to get him to agree to Tarka having a 'holiday' with her. Seemingly this guy doesn't have much money and although he's said he's taken the dog to the vet and the vet has condemned the dog, my neighbour suspects not - he hasn't had a biopsy done so neither of us can see how the vet would know for sure.
She knows which vet he uses so going to try and find out if the dog has been seen but she's worried about this chap finding out as she suspects he wouldn't like the 'interference'. Quite frankly, I'm so upset I'm going to talk to my neighbour tomorrow and offer to take her to my vet and pay for it to be done. When I had a biopsy done on Normy it was with a needle and there was no 'evidence' afterwards so I'm sure we can manage it without the risk of this guy finding out. She suspects he'll shoot the dog as he doesn't have the money to treat her but IF she does have cancer and it's terminal, I'd pay to have her put to sleep.
She's a GORGEOUS vibrant 6yr old working cocker... my question is...
I had a good grope earlier and the lumps that she's has are nodular, quite hard and very moveable they're all clustered on her chest just behind her front leg - does anyone think there is a possibility this could be a collection of cysts??? The cluster is about the size of my palm but elongated if that makes sense?
Appreciate any advice/experience with this type of thing.
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Usually a cancerous tumour has an irregular shape and has what feels like tentacles going into the surrounding area when you try to grab hold of it. Usually a benign tumour has a definite shape which doesn't feel like it invades any surrounding tissue and if you get hold of the lump it is movable.
The way you describe these lumps they sound as if they fit into the benign category to me. But they could be enlarged lymph nodes and the tumour is elsewhere, maybe internal.
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Thanks Karen, this is like a hard irregular lumpy mass that seems to have a couple of small nodules (which could be lymph nodes) outside of it but it certainly doesn't feel attached to anything and is very moveable. She 'looks' very healthy and well otherwise though and is a cracking little dog. Seemingly she's bitten a couple of men - but this is when she's been left tied to a bar stool for 6 hours and large (not sober) men have approached her.. :'( :'( I feel sick and very helpless about it all. My neighbour is hoping he'll just go quiet to avoid paying out or dealing with her condition and won't want anything more to do with the dog... not sure she can handle a working cocker though, she's used to retired greyhounds and has a VERY clean immaculate house :shades:
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Get an aspirate done and whether it's benign or malignant, get your neighbour to say the dog escaped, can't be found, yadda, yadda.
Poor bloody puppy >:D
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if she offers to take the dog do you think he will just give it up, maybe if she says oh i would really like to have her or something similar, if it was me and i could get hold of her (dog) i would just take it and not give it back if i thought he was threatening to shoot her >:D >:D if shes generally healthy in herself it may be something other than cancer, Bruno has lymphoma and he went very skinny and his fur went scabby and he generally went downhill in his whole appearance, if the dog has been roughly treated she might be very quiet in and around the house
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Thanks everyone, I 'think' my neighbour would keep her if she can - she didn't really want another dog but she is an animal lover and I don't think could handle anything bad happening to the dog. I don't know how high maintenance the dog is at the moment she has bad SA and screemed the place down when my neighbour left her the other evening (although I haven't told my neighbour yet).
It's such a horrible situation - if she's not terminally ill and we get her fixed her no doubt he'll want her back >:D
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Would he be open to signing her over to a rescue, so that they cover her medical bills / rehome /pts if necessary??
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Would he be open to signing her over to a rescue, so that they cover her medical bills / rehome /pts if necessary??
From the sounds of him, I doubt it but will try and suggest it to neighbour - do rescues take on terminally ill dogs? If we can get a biopsy done, we'll know what we're dealing with I guess :-\
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I dont know if Im just overly emotional today but this is the second thread to make me cry (Pennys thread about her Ruby being the other :luv:) How lovely of you and your neighbour to be so willing and eager to help this little dog :bigarmhug:
I wonder if the "man" >:D will just be grateful that the poor little mite is off his hands and leave her with your neighbour? >:D Obviously then there is the issue of whether your neighbour would want to keep her but I suppose if you could get her the treatment she needs (if she does need any) then you could look at re-homing afterwards :-\ I CAN NOT STAND the thought of her being tied to a bar stool for hours on end and actually fear for the pup! :'( and as for shooting her :'(
Please keep us updated, good luck xxx
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I haven't got any particular advice to give other than do what you feel you need to do with the best interests of the dog uppermost...I know a situation like this is so very hard to handle having been there fairly recently myself (the pointer debacle :'() even now I wonder if we did the right thing in getting involved ..... but I do admire you so for trying to help; it is the right thing to do if you wanted someone to tell you that :-\
I wish you and your problem a good resolution :blink:
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Thanks everyone, the plan is my neighbour is going to lay very low and start quietly trying to find out what's wrong with Tarka. She doesn't think he'll ever admit to signing the dog over to her, she's hoping he'll just let it go but she's very worried about being 'seen' to be doing anything. She does want to keep Tarka if she can though which is great news. She's a monkey though and keeps breaking into my garden and pooing in the only dog free zone I have.... my veg patch >:D >:D :005:
I found out a bit more, my neighbour has occasionally been supplying this chap with dog food, worming tablets and flea treatment for the last few months as she knows when he runs out of money he doesn't always feed her as he's talked about it in the pub he seems to live in everyday :dunno: :-\ I think he's a bit of a messed up individual and suffers from depression but that doesn't justify his lack of care for his dog :-\
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The g*t had money for another puppy though :o and goes to the pub.....
I wonder who would sell a pup to an individual like that?,someone equally as bad i think >:(
I hope your neighbour gets to keep the dog :-\
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I think he's a bit of a messed up individual and suffers from depression but that doesn't justify his lack of care for his dog :-\
Most certainly not!!!! I suffer from depression, Jerry is as pampered as they come!
It really really annoys me when people seem to have a dog because they WANT one but clearly dont put any thought into whether they are actually capable of providing the care they need, financially, love, time and effort. Its a big responsibility but to some people it seems to be like buying a pair of shoes!!! >:D >:D >:D shame he's got his hands on another pup!!! >:(
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:'( :'( I wish these things didn't happen.
They don't deserve to be subjected to humans like this.
I hope and pray that all will go well for this dog. :luv: :luv:
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What a sad story Hannah.
Fingers crossed the right thing is done by this little doglet, and she stays/is placed in a home with someone that loves her.
Very, very upsetting and sad, that's all I can say :'( :'( :'(
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Just to update; sadly the lump is aggressive mammary cancer and is pretty far advanced. She's obviously not insured and her owner doesn't have the money to treat her but even if he did, because it's so far advanced now any treatment might only prolong her life slightly and the vet wouldn't recommend it anyway. He said she could have a few months still and currently she's behaving like a well dog and seems very happy so my neighbour is going to just see what she can do and play it by ear.. she's going to speak to the dogs owner and suggest the dog stays with her mostly for respite type care and I've said I'll try and help out when I can if she needs to go out as Tarka has really bad SA which clearly is not something that can be addressed at this stage.
Very sad story, none of us know if it would have been treatable if her owner had done something about it when it first appeared, but there is no point dwelling on that now. :-\
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That's so sad, the saving grace is that the poor little dog has you and your neighbour looking out for her and caring for her, I do hope that between you both you can take care of her during her last few months, poor little Tarka :'( - wishing you all lots of love, it is great what you are doing for her.
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:'(
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a sad sad story :'(
if shes a very lucky doggy her "owner" >:D will hand her over to your neighbour and with your help you can ensure her last few months are as comfortable and loving as possible, remember a few months to a dog is worth a year or 2 in hooman lifespan....
lots of love to you all x
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That's so sad, the saving grace is that the poor little dog has you and your neighbour looking out for her and caring for her, I do hope that between you both you can take care of her during her last few months, poor little Tarka :'( - wishing you all lots of love, it is great what you are doing for her.
can only echo what Caroline has said ....I'm just so sorry the news wasn't better for poor Tarka :'(
god bless the little sweetheart & prayers being said, that her last moments here, are ones of love & comfort amongst people who care about her :luv: :angel:
big hugs to you & your neighbour Hannah -I know this will be causing you much sadness :'( :bigarmhug:
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How terribly sad................ :'( but she has you and your neighbour to look after her now ..lots of hug type thoughts to you all... :bigarmhug:
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Poor little Tarka :'( :'(
I so hope that her 'owner' allows Tarka to spend quality time with your neighbour in the short time she has left - to have love, affection and respect in her final days is the very least that she deserves poor lamb :luv:
Hugs to both you and your neighbour Hannah for taking this little mite under your wings - gentle hugs all round :bigarmhug:
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:'(
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Really sorry to hear that - hope she can stay with the neighbour and have a happy time for as long as possible. You two deserve medals :'( .
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Poor little Tarka :'(
It's a rubbish situation for any wee doggie.
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What a sad story, hope your neighbour gets to look after her. :luv:
Well done everyone for stepping in to help her.
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Let's just hope she is spared any pain at the end, by being able to go to the Bridge (when it is deemed time).
Thank goodness for people like you and your friend. At least she is being watched over. :luv: :luv: :luv:
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Really sorry to hear that - hope she can stay with the neighbour and have a happy time for as long as possible. You two deserve medals :'( .
Totally agree. Sending lots of :luv: for little Tarka xx
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Sorry the outcome was not better for poor Tarka, from what you have said I don't think the owner has any interest in taking her back, Hopefully as others have said she can live whats left of her life in comfort surrounded by love, can't ask for more than that :luv:
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What a terribly sad story Hannah :'( :'(
Poor little Tarka :'( :'(
I really hope she can spend the rest of her days surrounded with love & kindness :luv: :luv: & pray that is with you & your neighbour. :luv:
It must be heartbreaking for you both....even i have tears in my eyes reading about her. :'(
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Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with you, your neighbour and with Tarka. Thank you both for be so willing and ready to help this little one in its hour of need.
May God bless you both.
Love
C&G and Megan XXX
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That is awfully sad - I really hope he allows Tarka to stay with your neighbour where she can be well looked after :-\
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A really sad tale :'( Well done to you and your neighbour for at least making her remaining time as comfortable and loving as possible :luv:
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A really sad tale :'( Well done to you and your neighbour for at least making her remaining time as comfortable and loving as possible :luv:
What Lesley says. This story has mad me feel very angry and sad. :'(
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I'm not doing much at all - my neighbour is the one that is looking after her :-\ I'm gutted I can't offer do more to be honest, unfortunately timing couldn't be worse as we're in the middle of a large building project and my lot (kids and dogs) are penned into a small area of the garden for the next few months which I can't divide further and we're going to be down to 1.5 rooms downstairs for a while soon too. So whereas usually I'd have the space to manage her along with my current two and the kids, I just don't at the moment. I've no idea what she's like with kids and don't think she's ever really been around them, but now is not really the time to test her and as she becomes more ill she'll obviously become more unpredictable and arguably exposing her to a very hectic family household that she's never experienced before might do her more harm than good. She has had a pop at my neighbours dog, but I suspect food was involved - my neighbour is used to placid retired greyhounds that don't guard and aren't food motivated. We'll have to see how things pan out over the next few weeks, I'll offer to do what I can and just go from there :-\ It sounds like her owner (for all the other problems) can't deal with the emotional side of all this or doing the right thing either... >:(
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:bigarmhug: :bigarmhug: :bigarmhug: :bigarmhug:
Eve xx
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A really sad tale :'( Well done to you and your neighbour for at least making her remaining time as comfortable and loving as possible :luv:
I echo this too at least little Tarka will have love and comfort :luv:
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such a sad tale sending hugs to you all :bigarmhug: :bigarmhug: :bigarmhug:
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I'm sorry to hear of the diagnosis :-\ I really hope she can stay with your neighbour for the time she has left :luv:
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I'm sorry for little Tarka :'( :bigarmhug: :bigarmhug:
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So sad :'( - I really hope that Tarka's last days are happy ones. My thoughts are with you and your neighbour :bigarmhug:
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Hannah... you've a heart the size of a planet :luv: Such a sad story, but here's hoping the time little Tarka has left is as happy and stressfree as possible with your neighbour and you taking care of her.
:bigarmhug:'s from me and Maggie
xxx
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Well last little update on this thread..
I won't go into to many details as I'm still fuming but Tarka's 'owner' had her back for a couple of days and in that time tried to get her hit by a car as he 'just wants it over'. My neighbour took her back and suggested he says his goodbye's to her and so that's that now. She's here for good... :luv: I dog sat her for a little while last night and she's absolutely wonderful.. typical happy cocker. She smothered the kids and me constantly with kisses, doesn't sit still for a second, body barges for cuddles constantly, can jump onto a table from a sit without any notice and she's wonderfully canny and norty :lol: :lol: We took her and Dave out this morning and once she'd told him off for trying to bonk her 3 times (that's ma boy :011:) he gave up, moved on and they got on like a house on fire. They were inseparable all walk and hunted their little hearts out, swam in a very disgusting pond and rolled in all manner of dirt (much to my neighbours horror :lol: :luv:) She's very biddable and focused, picked up on Dave's whistle quickly, so wonderful and so my kind of dog - she reminds me of Trev very much.. :luv: :luv: :luv: :luv: Other than the lumps on her belly you wouldn't know for a second she has anything wrong with her at the moment - she's happy, carefree, fit, very well muscled and 100 mph :luv: so for now so we'll give her all that we can over the next few weeks and months until she's not happy and then gently help her when the time is right :luv:
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I can't believe the "owner" could be so callous (I can really but am constantly surprised by how horrible some people can be !)
I won't type the word but i've got a name for him!
My gorjuss Genny-boy lived a good few years with his cancer before we had to say good-bye, his quality of life was really good right up to the end, so i hope this little girl gets some quality time with your neighbour,
All the best steff
xxx
ps thats made me cry :'(
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I can't believe the "owner" could be so callous (I can really but am constantly surprised by how horrible some people can be !)
I won't type the word but i've got a name for him!
It made me cry aswell :'( :'( x x x
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Absolutely horrified at the owners callousness towards Tarka. What goes around, comes around and it will come back to him sooner or later.
God bless you and your neighbour for your love and care towards little Tarka. We now know that however long the little one has, she will be loved and cared for by you both.
Love
C&G and Megan.
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The only thing I can say about him is:
Bluggy fugging barsteward *ahem* >:D
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Scum >:D >:D what goes around comes around :shades: In spite of Tarka being so ill :'( its wonderful to hear what a brilliant time she had playing with Dave :D here's wishing her, you and your neighbour many more happy fun packed times to come :luv: :luv:
Stephanie, George and Hamish xxx
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Bless you and your neighbour Hannah for rescuing this wee mite from unimaginable cruelty at the hands of her previous 'owner'.
Here's hoping that Tarka has some quality time ahead over the summer and has the opportunity to love life and humans in the way only cockers can :luv:
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I can't believe the "owner" could be so callous (I can really but am constantly surprised by how horrible some people can be !)
I won't type the word but i've got a name for him!
It made me cry aswell :'( :'( x x x
Me three :'( :'(
So glad Tarka :luv: will have love and joy for the rest of her life with you and your neighbour.....and Dave ;) :005: :luv: :luv:
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:luv: may she have many more glorious and carefree days to come - I've just nothing to say about Tarka's owner ...........sometimes these things are best left unsaid :'(
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>:D >:D >:D at her owner. How can anyone be like that :'(
I am glad that Tarka is going to spend the rest of her life surrounded with love and happiness :luv: :luv: :luv:
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>:D >:D >:D at her owner. How can anyone be like that :'(
I am glad that Tarka is going to spend the rest of her life surrounded with love and happiness :luv: :luv: :luv:
me too - she sounds a wonderful little soul :luv: :luv:
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Your update Hannah :'( :'( very poignant :luv:
I hope little Tarka has many more happy months with your neighbour & of course many more eventful walks with you & Dave :luv:
It sounds like they get on brill :shades: :luv: :luv:
I can't put into words about Tarka's 'owner' :'( :'( :'( >:( >:( >:(
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Bless you and your neighbour Hannah for rescuing this wee mite from unimaginable cruelty at the hands of her previous 'owner'.
Here's hoping that Tarka has some quality time ahead over the summer and has the opportunity to love life and humans in the way only cockers can :luv:
my thoughts too Hannah :luv: - please give Tarka a great big hug from all of us here :bigarmhug: :-*
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The evil of some is unbelievable but fortunately there are good people as shown in Tarka's happy home now.
May she continue to enjoy life in your neighbours home and walks with you until its time for goodbyes. :luv:
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Why take her back to do that to her >:D evil man, glad she's with you two now :luv:
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>:D >:D >:D at her owner. How can anyone be like that :'(
I am glad that Tarka is going to spend the rest of her life surrounded with love and happiness :luv: :luv: :luv:
me too - she sounds a wonderful little soul :luv: :luv:
Me too - she is so lucky to be away from that awful man >:D >:D
doG help his next pup :'( :'(
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A sad, sad story....
So nice to know that Tarka's days will be filled with love, happiness and Dave from here on in Hannah.... :bigarmhug: :bigarmhug: :bigarmhug:
xx
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I'm so pleased that Tarka is now in a lovely home where between your neighbour and you she will know only kindness and love for the rest of her days (and I hope that there are plenty of those) Thank you to both of you for turning this little dog's life around.
As for the previous 'owner' - I can't say what I'd like to >:D I just hope that his past catches up with him very soon.
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Thanks everyone, I don't really have the words nor do I want to really think about her owner. He is clearly a desperate case that can't manage his own life (this is a well educated at one point successful person we're talking about) let alone that of a very wonderful little dog. I don't 'know' him so I don't feel I can or want to judge him or the motivation behind his behaviour. There is more stuff which I'm not going to post on here because there is no point and and it won't achieve anything. I just think it's a testament to this wonderful little dog that she's still so exuberant and trusting despite everything :luv: just a real shame her lack of care and attention has probably cut her life short :'(