She was fine on Friday when we dropped her off at the vet to be examined, groomed and boarded over the weekend. This was the first visit at the new vet, since we just moved. Nobody could believe that she was over 13 years old - she was so energetic and friendly. Saturday at feeding time, they put the food bowl down in front of her, and she just fell over and stopped breathing - the vet called and said he thought she'd had a stroke. They got her back, and she seemed to be recovering from the stroke, but she was having trouble with her blood sugar. They got that stabilized, and then she refused to eat or drink, and started vomiting bile. An ultrasound showed a huge tumor in her upper GI area, apparently growing really fast, since they couldn't feel anything at all on Friday, and by the following Tuesday night, the whole area was very painful. They gave her pain medications, an IV and tranquilizers to keep her alive until we could get there to say good-bye. My husband and I held her in our arms while she got the shot that ended her suffering (and started ours). When we got home, our other dog, Lucy, went looking for Penny all over the house - it was heart-breaking. But not as heart-breaking as telling our son what had happened - he doesn't even remember a life without that dog.

mmholt, I am so sorry for you and your families loss and the pain that you are all suffering. It is so hard when you lose such a precious member of the family and even harder when you lose them so unexpectedly. I also didn't know that my dog had cancer until it was to late. So I understand the shock and the rollar coaster of emotions that your'e probably feeling. Keep posting because this is a great place to come were people understand and are willing to help you through your time of grief. Take care K9pal P.S. The picture of her is beautiful.

Oh, I'm so sorry for your loss. It's so hard when we have to say goodbye. Penny looks like such a sweet angel! I'm glad that she is no longer suffering, but I am so sorry that you have to go through the whole grieving process.

Just know that we are here for you and understand everything you are feeling...and will go through. You really are in good company here. It's not the kind of company that anybody ever hopes to have, but it is so nice to have it when you need it.

You are not alone in this. It will get better, but it might take weeks, months, or even years. I know you loved Penny with all of your heart and she loved you. Don't think that won't count for something, or that that kind of love stops in this life.

Take care
John B.

I am so sorry to hear about your Penny---I really do feel your pain as I just recently lost one of our cats.
It is a very hard decision when you have to do it--no matter what the condition of the pet is--you want to hang on to them as long as possible--but when they are hurting--it's the best thing to do--
But it doesn't stop the pain---you have come to a good place to help--as if it wasn't for this group--I probably would be a basket case--

I am so sorry for your unexpected loss. What a lovely dog!

I recently lost my dear old dog (age 15) to a rapidly growing cancer in his jaw bone. I knew he had cancer since March 16th, the vet said it could be weeks or months. He lived 3 months and a week after his diagnosis.

The wonderful people on this site are helping me through all the emotions that arise.

Laney

My heart goes to you and your family, it is a very hard thing to lose precious pets but made worse when it is so sudden. Just when we were starting to realize how lucky we were to have our two cats for over thirteen years, I lost one then the other one three weeks later. I know how it will be hard on you to see your son's pain, help him along in getting his grief out and hug him; try to be there for him, as much as you love him you know that he must go through this separation, in each of our lives there will be times where pain is inevitable and hard as it is, this event will be one where your son will learn to absorb the pain while you support him. Throughout his life, when similar events will pull at his heart he will have learned that he is surrounded in the love of those who share his life with him here and away. Your poor Lucy will be just as sad as the rest of you, there is the opportunity to encourage your son to soothe Lucy as well as he can, she needs all of you to get through this herself. I hug you all, and I hope that the magic of Penny permeates your lives and keeps you strong.

oh, mmholt, I'm so sorry about the loss of Penny. I love the picture of her you posted, she was beautiful - truly a Princess, in every sense. There are many adjustments and sad times ahead, not only for the family humans but for Lucy left behind, but just know that we are all here for you. Come and write all you want to - it really helps, and there are a lot of supportive people here. We all care, very very much!

-- Michelle K.

What a beautiful, happy dog.

Thanks for all the replies and compliments on my Penny Sue - I knew I would find care and comfort here (sadly, I was just here a year ago when our Sissy Marie passed away). Penny was a beautiful, happy dog with a great temperament. We found her starving in a parking lot when she was about 8 months old, and she took to being a family dog right away (though she always had problems with housebreaking, her only flaw). She had never been sick once the whole time we had her. If she would not have fallen ill at the vet's kennel, we would never had a chance to say good-bye. But they kept her suffering to a minimum until we could do enough tests to conclude that there was no hope. I'm so grateful to them for all they did.

Lucy Jo is swiftly becoming the most spoiled dog ever - she gets to stay in the house all the time now, and since she's the only dog in the house now, she doesn't have to sleep in the crate anymore - we had our dogs crate-trained to avoid late night shenanigans. She has a new squeaky hedgehog to play with, so she's not moping so much, and everyday is a little bit easier for the family.

Dear MMholt, what a very sad story about your Penney, it is lucky she was already at the vet and had the best care possible, she didn't suffer, you are obviously wonderfully loving caregivers, peace to you, you have been down this road but we know its never easy, I just wanted to send prayers and positive thoughts to you and your family, we lost our boy on Christmas morning from cancer, 14 1/2 yrs old, Hrudey, golden retriever too, we have a new baby Auggie, 3 months now, but Hrudey boy is never far from our thoughts, hoping your path you are on is free of bumps and turns, Lots of prayers and positive thoughts to you, Tory, Hrudey, Frank and Auggie's Momma

You can tell from the photo that Princess Penny was a special furkid. I am deeply sorry for your loss.