Hi,
I've never posted before, and unfortunately I am not posting under the best circumstances. My beloved Basset Hound, Hamlet (he's the great guy in the picture), passed away on November 19th after a short battle with lymphoma. We found out he had it Tuesday night, and it was as bad as it could possibly get. The reason for my post is that I don't want anyone else to have to go through this. Hamlet showed very few signs, and of course never complained. Looking back, there were a couple of things that should have tipped me off, but I thought it was just Hamlet being Hamlet.
He would cough occasionally, not unlike after he ate grass, but his breathing was somewhat laboured.
He had a bit of a lump by his throat (which I found out was a swollen gland.)
He stopped eating all of his food - very unusual for a Basset! But he was 9, and was getting to be a little fussy.
On walks, his breaks got to be more and more frequent.
He had trouble walking up the stairs.
Those signs all point to arthritis, which is what I thought he had. We were at the vet 3 months ago, and he was given a clean bill of health. The coughing started 3 weeks ago, I noticed the swollen gland 2 weeks ago, and he was diagnosed with cancer less than a week ago... and 6 days later, he is gone. I don't want anyone else to go through this. It is the worst experience in the world. His last 5 days on earth were great, though. We made the most of them, and he did everything that he liked to do.
So here are my questions... does anyone know where I can donate some money in Hamlet's memory to research cancer in dogs? Also, I am concerned about my other Basset, Broadway. Does anyone have any recommendations for how I deal with her mourning? She saw his body after he was euthanized, and didn't react very well. She ate tonight, but only after we went for a long walk. She doesn't want to go outside without me, and she has been looking around the house and yard for him. I expect this is normal - does anyone know if there's anything I can do for her, other than give her all the attention I have?
Thanks, and please think good thoughts for my best boy Hamlet.
I've never posted before, and unfortunately I am not posting under the best circumstances. My beloved Basset Hound, Hamlet (he's the great guy in the picture), passed away on November 19th after a short battle with lymphoma. We found out he had it Tuesday night, and it was as bad as it could possibly get. The reason for my post is that I don't want anyone else to have to go through this. Hamlet showed very few signs, and of course never complained. Looking back, there were a couple of things that should have tipped me off, but I thought it was just Hamlet being Hamlet.
He would cough occasionally, not unlike after he ate grass, but his breathing was somewhat laboured.
He had a bit of a lump by his throat (which I found out was a swollen gland.)
He stopped eating all of his food - very unusual for a Basset! But he was 9, and was getting to be a little fussy.
On walks, his breaks got to be more and more frequent.
He had trouble walking up the stairs.
Those signs all point to arthritis, which is what I thought he had. We were at the vet 3 months ago, and he was given a clean bill of health. The coughing started 3 weeks ago, I noticed the swollen gland 2 weeks ago, and he was diagnosed with cancer less than a week ago... and 6 days later, he is gone. I don't want anyone else to go through this. It is the worst experience in the world. His last 5 days on earth were great, though. We made the most of them, and he did everything that he liked to do.
So here are my questions... does anyone know where I can donate some money in Hamlet's memory to research cancer in dogs? Also, I am concerned about my other Basset, Broadway. Does anyone have any recommendations for how I deal with her mourning? She saw his body after he was euthanized, and didn't react very well. She ate tonight, but only after we went for a long walk. She doesn't want to go outside without me, and she has been looking around the house and yard for him. I expect this is normal - does anyone know if there's anything I can do for her, other than give her all the attention I have?
Thanks, and please think good thoughts for my best boy Hamlet.