Rosco Update

I posted on the DK Facebook page a few weeks ago about Rosco going in for surgery for his giant lipoma. 3-ish years ago he started growing a lipoma on his chest that grew to the size of a baseball by 2016. It was only cosmetic, not in the way so we chose to watch and wait. Fast forward to this year and it was HUGE. Hair couldn't even grow to cover it anymore. And our vet wouldn't tell me what to do--I like to have a clear direction for big decisions. So I decided to leave it be.

Well...it was just so huge! But I really wrestled with this decision. He was (is) 12. In my opinion, wasn't likely to have more than a year. He has laryngeal paralysis, his back legs are getting weaker and he often stumbles. Is it right to put him through surgery?

But at the same time I felt a strong sense of shame. Am I being a cheapskate? Shouldn't I do everything to make his life comfy? Wouldn't my fellow DK'ers do it all? I was really torn.

So I took him in for a second opinion. This other vet seemed to think he was in great shape for his age, which surprised me, but it made me think perhaps I had been a little catastrophizing his condition.

Okay, then, this vet thinks he can handle it and he's a healthy guy...let's do it.

So we are 3ish weeks out of surgery and his surgical scars are nicely healed (took off the other two smaller lipomas too). But after surgery, his seizures came back...and got WORSE, both during the seizure and in the aftermath.

Now Rosco's always been the poster child for opportunistic eater. As he's gotten older he also has no shame about it. He'll climb up on a chair to steal what you didn't immediately put away with you 2 feet away. Just a week out of surgery I caught him trying to finish someone's breakfast. He was struggling to climb up and down stairs but was willing to work for food.

As of this week, though he is starting to leave kibble in his bowl.

Yesterday we started him on seizure meds and by dinner I couldn't even get him to finish his kibble with a fried egg mixed in <-- NOT Rosco at all. So if anyone has brilliant ideas for stimulating an appetite...hit me with them!

He continues to randomly fall (could be seizure meds, but also what was starting to happen anyway). He goes between restlessness and wandering the yard aimlessly to being zonked out. He had a surprising moment of almost a play bow with Boca, but then realized he can't actually do more.

As I told a few of you privately, I feel like I am NOT cut out for coping with a senior dog. I feel so helpless and unsure and of course second guessing the whole decision for surgery. But there's no right answer.

Thanks for reading my rambling.

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Permalink Reply by Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie on November 17, 2018 at 7:12am

Hugs to you all. I hope reducing the meds makes a huge difference.

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Permalink Reply by Laurie, Wally & Charlotte on November 18, 2018 at 7:37am

Hi Adina, I just want you to know that I'm thinking of you and Rosco and am hoping that he starts to feel soon like his happy and comfortable old self. Someone commented recently about those of us who have been together here on DK for years and years. The community that you and Clark created is such a supportive one, a much-valued place to for us to share the ups and downs of having doodles in our lives. I value this forum and the two of you more than you will ever know. Hugs to your family, including Rosco and Boca, from me, Barry, Wally and Charlotte. As Thanksgiving nears, I just want to say a big personal THANKS for all that you have done for us doodle-owners near and far.

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Permalink Reply by Lindsey Holt on November 18, 2018 at 5:52pm

Hear, hear!

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Permalink Reply by Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie on November 19, 2018 at 8:38pm

I ditto that.

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Permalink Reply by Adina P on November 28, 2018 at 10:15am

NEW UPDATE:
He's eating his full kibble serving with enthusiasm and even the darn pill if I put it on his kibble. So I don't have to force his mouth open and use a pill plunger! He's also feeling good enough to start to do naughty things like tear up paper randomly, eat dirt, and isn't constantly falling over. He's still weak in the back legs, but not ataxic, which is great!