With more sadness than I ever thought possible, I said good bye to one of the greatest dogs to have ever graced this Earth.

Drift the Magnificent was called to the Bridge today, and my life has lost one of the brightest lights in it.

She started to vomit late last night after not eating dinner. At about 330 this morning I felt her abdomen distended though she did not show distress as she would with bloat.

I took her outside and she went potty like normal- though continued unable to even hold down water. We were on the way to the emergeny vet by 8.

Ultrasound showed hemangiosarcoma on the spleen. I elected to try surgical removal of the spleen. The vet immediately let me know that it was attached to the liver as well. We tried to get it all out, and Drift fought - coming back from 2 cardiac arrests. But the bleeding could not be stooped and we lost her.

Drift lived her 10 years always making things better for everyone around her. She was the most amazing Therapy Dog I ever met- she was born to do that work and changed the lives of so many.

I honestly do not know what I will do without her in my life.

Goodbye Beautiful Little Dog. Your loss is greater than you could ever imagine. You will never be forgotten.

Kelly, I am so very sorry. Words are so inadequate. It seems that this past year you have faced more than your share of loss, difficulties, and challenges. My heart is breaking for you. Drift was the stuff legends are made of. She will not be forgotten. Sending hugs your way.

Kelly, I am heart sorry to read this, the passion that comes through whenever you talk about your darling and beloved dogs, is so strong, and the wretched pain from another piece of your heart as it dies is palpable.

I always tell people, there isn't a living creature on the planet, who will love and devote themselves to you, like our cherished dogs, I sincerely believe that.

Dear Drift, you had the best Mama and Daddy you could have asked for, you blessed their lives, as they blessed yours.

I send you and Paul my love, and my deepest condolences.

Oh no... I am so sorry, Kelly. My heart breaks for you too.

You are so right that this beautiful dog will never be forgotten.

I wish there were words that could help.

Hemangiosarcoma is a terrifying word to dog people. Maybe a tiny helpful ray is that it's an "indolent" form of cancer -- meaning that it doesn't cause pain -- and, as I'm sure you already know, there was nothing you could have done.

It may seem strange to provide reading material, but maybe it helps a little bit to reiterate that there was nothing you could have done, and that Drift wasn't suffering with this. Of course I have no knowledge of my own about this, but reading about hemangiosarcoma, although very frightening, does tell us that much.
http://www.modianolab.org/cancer/cancer_hemangiosarcoma.shtml


But we iwho have lost dearly beloved dogs -- and that's pretty much everyone here -- know that there's very little help to offer at this point. At least, please know that you aren't alone, Kelly.

Love and heartfelt hugs to you and Paul.

So very sorry to hear about Drift.

I feel sorry in a different way for those who don't understand our connection with our dogs.

Dear Kelly, I'm so sad to read you've lost Drift. I know this must be terrible for you and Paul. I also lack the words which could help. You've already gone through so much sadness lately and now you have to bear this.

I was glad to hear that hemangiosarcoma does not cause pain. I do hope that this will help you both a bit. I myself am already horrified knowing somewhen I'll have to lose one of my dogs too, Though we all know some day it will happen. the thought is almost unbearable.

I know Drift will go on living in your memories. This is not much comfort now in this moment, but some day it will be. I've already lost so many animals during my life and all of them are unforgotten in my memory and my feelings.

A big big hug!

 Quote: Kelly

With more sadness than I ever thought possible, I said good bye to one of the greatest dogs to have ever graced this Earth.

Drift the Magnificent was called to the Bridge today, and my life has lost one of the brightest lights in it.

She started to vomit late last night after not eating dinner. At about 330 this morning I felt her abdomen distended though she did not show distress as she would with bloat.

I took her outside and she went potty like normal- though continued unable to even hold down water. We were on the way to the emergeny vet by 8.

Ultrasound showed hemangiosarcoma on the spleen. I elected to try surgical removal of the spleen. The vet immediately let me know that it was attached to the liver as well. We tried to get it all out, and Drift fought - coming back from 2 cardiac arrests. But the bleeding could not be stooped and we lost her.

Drift lived her 10 years always making things better for everyone around her. She was the most amazing Therapy Dog I ever met- she was born to do that work and changed the lives of so many.

I honestly do not know what I will do without her in my life.

Goodbye Beautiful Little Dog. Your loss is greater than you could ever imagine. You will never be forgotten.

Oh, Kelly, my heart breaks for you in having lost your soulmate Drift -- Nothing anyone says or does can ever comfort & console in times like this, but please know that we care so much & have all been in the depths where you are now ... IMHO cancer comes straight from hell, but Drift is safely over The Bridge where nothing can frighten or hurt or upset her ever again, JOYFULLY expecting your eventual REUNION.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

It may seem strange to provide reading material, but maybe it helps a little bit to reiterate that there was nothing you could have done, and that Drift wasn't suffering with this. Of course I have no knowledge of my own about this, but reading about hemangiosarcoma, although very frightening, does tell us that much.
http://www.modianolab.org/cancer/cancer_hemangiosarcoma.shtml

Thank you for posting this information, Connie -- ONE thing jumped out at me:

This kind of Cancer is almost entirely exclusive to DOGS...

But a Similar sort does develop in people continually exposed to close contact with rubber, Vinyl, and PCBs

Makes me wonder about giving dogs Toys, Collars or Pacifiers made from any of the Above (?)

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

Oh no... I am so sorry, Kelly. My heart breaks for you too.

You are so right that this beautiful dog will never be forgotten.

I wish there were words that could help.

Hemangiosarcoma is a terrifying word to dog people. Maybe a tiny helpful ray is that it's an "indolent" form of cancer -- meaning that it doesn't cause pain -- and, as I'm sure you already know, there was nothing you could have done.

It may seem strange to provide reading material, but maybe it helps a little bit to reiterate that there was nothing you could have done, and that Drift wasn't suffering with this. Of course I have no knowledge of my own about this, but reading about hemangiosarcoma, although very frightening, does tell us that much.
http://www.modianolab.org/cancer/cancer_hemangiosarcoma.shtml


But we iwho have lost dearly beloved dogs -- and that's pretty much everyone here -- know that there's very little help to offer at this point. At least, please know that you aren't alone, Kelly.

Love and heartfelt hugs to you and Paul.

Thank you Connie.

The vet said that other than the upset tummy, Drift was not in any pain. The internal bleeding prior to the surgery was minimal- she was surprised that I saw the slight distension of the abdomen.

Nevertheless, I have placed the blame squarely on my shoulders- I should have caught it. I should have known. I feel as if I failed her...

She had just been to the vet in November for a checkup and blood tests .... nothing abnormal came up. She was PLAYING at 330 in the morning when I took her out.....

It is infuriating that even though you feed a dog a raw diet, don't over vaccinate, and only give them safe toys, you STILL can lose them to Cancer. There is no way to know there is something like this growing in them and waiting to take the away from you. Even trying to palpate the abdomen, you won't find it in a deep chested dog until it is essentially too late.

Drift's ultrasound showed it on the spleen, but when the vet went in, she saw that it had already set up shop on the liver as well. The vet did all she could - there is no fault there. Drift fought for as long as she could. This type of surgery is very hard as the proximity to the heart causes arrhythmia and the spleen bleeds excessively. Paul and I wanted to give Drift the chance rather than just letting her go. She fought -her heart stopped twice and she came back- the third time was just too much for even her to overcome.

We had just celebrated her 10th birthday 5 days before....

 Quote: Kelly

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

Hemangiosarcoma is a terrifying word to dog people -- and, as I'm sure you already know, there was nothing you could have done.

Nevertheless, I have placed the blame squarely on my shoulders- I should have caught it. I should have known. I feel as if I failed her...

It is infuriating that even though you feed a dog a raw diet, don't over vaccinate, and only give them safe toys, you STILL can lose them to Cancer. There is no way to know there is something like this growing in them and waiting to take the away from you. Even trying to palpate the abdomen, you won't find it in a deep chested dog until it is essentially too late.

Drift's ultrasound showed it on the spleen, but when the vet went in, she saw that it had already set up shop on the liver as well. The vet did all she could - there is no fault there. Drift fought for as long as she could. This type of surgery is very hard as the proximity to the heart causes arrhythmia and the spleen bleeds excessively. Paul and I wanted to give Drift the chance rather than just letting her go. She fought -her heart stopped twice and she came back- the third time was just too much for even her to overcome.

We had just celebrated her 10th birthday 5 days before...

My dear cyber friend, I just can't bear for you to blame yourself in Drift's death, since no good can come of that for anyone...

Life is beset with inherent Dangers that simply cannot ALL be avoided or overcome, no matter how careful & vigilant we are -- There's a well-worn adage among large working dog owners going back MANY decades:

"Three years a young dog / Three years a good dog / Three years an old dog" ... Being able to have them with us with a good quality of life for much longer than that is really Icing on the Cake -- Life itself Causes death & there's no getting around that in the end for any of us, Kelly, so PLEASE do NOT beat yourself up.