We were part of your community for a day
Content Warning: Story of sudden loss of a beloved dog
Thank you for the support this community offers, the unfiltered spectrum of experiences, and all the shared love for each three-legged menace. My wife and I relied heavily on this community while navigating the decision to amputate and our dog's brief post-surgery journey.
Our 13-year-old, Tater, developed a front-leg limp that was initially misdiagnosed as a paw pad infection, then attributed to old age. Doubting the diagnosis, we sought a second opinion. The new vet immediately saw something serious - X-rays revealed a shoulder mass, likely osteosarcoma. We saw an oncologist and made the decision to amputate.
Surgery went very well, and Tater came home the next day. The moment we saw her we could see a complete 180, she was not only happy but walking around, something we hadn't seen in weeks. After refusing to stand for so long, she was suddenly trying to bomb around the house and yard, becoming such a menace we knew we had to crate her. We quickly learned how tough recovery management is: instead of lifting and supporting a dog that could barely stand, we were now supporting and holding her back!
By evening, she began whimpering. While laying in the crate with her before bed, I accidentally brushed against her mouth and noticed her mouth was very cold. Her gums were pale and her paws were cold, too. She didn't seem able to move much.
We rushed Tater to the ER around midnight. Her heart rate was high, blood pressure low, and neurological responses atypical. The vet suspected a stroke or embolism. After 2-3 hours with no change, our options boiled down to keeping her overnight and hoping for a miracle or saying goodbye.
As we agonized over the decision, the doctor noted slight neurological improvement, but conveyed that her vitals were poor and this would likely recur, and that this was a gift, giving us an opportunity for a proper goodbye. We debated taking her home for euthanasia as we’d always planned, but realized it was too risky and would prolong her suffering.
The ER staff was incredible. They tucked her in with warm blankets, kept the room quiet, and gave us all the time we needed. It wasn’t home, but it was the best goodbye possible under the circumstances.
We don't regret the surgery. It was Tater's one chance to be free of such horrible pain and maybe give us some extra time together. I'd rather the bad luck fall on us than someone with a younger pet, because if only for a day, we got to see our potato happy and free from pain she had endured with such grace, and while the grief is immense, she lived a full and happy life and was loved on by many.
Ten years ago at the rescue, Tater’s informational sheet was covered in colorful stickers describing who she was. Amongst all those stickers, my favorite will always be the simplest: “Just a good dog.”