The Yamaha Road Star Warrior Forum

My 12 yr old lab, Coal, went to the vet today with symptoms like arthritis. Turns out he has cancer. Options are to amputate the leg and do chemo or just give him pain meds and take him in when he's no longer comfortable. Doc said to amputate and do the chemo might buy one more year. I'm thinking, at his age, I'm just going to keep him comfortable and give him all the burgers and sleep on the bed he wants. He's a big, beautiful, black lab with all the qualities you could want in a person. Thank goodness he's a dog. Anyway, I really love him and this is some of the hardest news I've had in a long time. If I ever get a gallery I'll post a pic. There's a reason they are called "man's best friend". I'm sure going to miss mine...alot.

Haley (my wife) and Coal at Edisto Beach SC

sorry to hear of this dude, i had to put my boy "rooster" to sleep last year because of some cancer, he was a black lab also, champiom blood line and AKC registered, he was a great friend and i miss him dearly so i know what your going thru. the lab in my avatar is my new boy "chopper" ..... rooster was only 10 years old so be thankful you got 12, feed him cheeseburgers everyday and keep him as happy as you can till the pain gets to much for him then do the right thing and dont let him suffer anymore, i have found that even when their gone they still live on in your heart and in your memory..... prepare yourself now, the end wont be easy, i've been there

you have my deepest sympathys about Coal.

having owned a vet hospital for 7 years, and being the worlds biggest softy for dogs, cats, horses, and donkeys (don't like people much), i have had to deal with this more than once. it has been my experience that the time you buy with the chemo, etc is not quality time. i have always told the vets that if they can give me a "real course of action", like thyroid meds, etc. i will follow the course, other wise its burgers and bed. one day you and Coal will know, "todays the day" and you and him can go on one last walk. be happy for all the great times that you had, and fill your mind with the memories. know that the decision that you are making is the most humane one for him.

i have loved all the animals that i have gotten to share my life with, and each one has been so special. and have lost some of them over time. i miss them all, and look forward to getting to share great times with others in my life.

my life now consists of 2 wild horses, 2 wild donkeys, 2 adopted pit bull crosses, an adopted beagle, and a a big fat cat. my pit mastiff cross is getting old, i have to lift him on and off the bed, into the truck, etc. but he is still having good days and he has some strange lumps, but i know one day........

all the best thoughts

dan and the family

I'm sorry to hear of both of your dog's troubles and your heartaches. I've been experiencing some trouble myself with my 5 year old bull terrier.

Sorry to hear about your dog, best friend ,I too had a chocolate lab and the day I had too put her down ,was a sad day indeed, all the best .

Whew, the allergies kicked in reading these posts.  GEESH!  I have an 8-year old lab.  They're wonderful dogs.  Mine has had 4 surgeries...twice for cancer and twice to fix both of her back knees.  With all the problems she's had, I figure she isn't going to make to 12.  I know it's tough, but stay positive, man...the more positive you are, the better quality of life Coal is going to have! 

Just throwing this out there...are you confident in the diagnosis?  Just asking because we've had our share of mis-diagnoses that's made me wonder about the general accuracy of veterinary care.

Sorry to hear man, Just keep him comfortable and enjoy every second with him

I had to put Mugsy down a couple of years ago. I'm not a cryer, but I couldn't help it and bawled like a baby. I still have his ashes on the fireplace mantel. In many ways they become more than a friend. Sorry to hear what your up against.

 Always sorry to hear stories like this.  Enjoy the time you have left with him and yeah, make sure he enjoys it too.  I'd give him whatever he wanted.  I've got two dogs sitting here with me right now keeping me company and I know it's going to about kill me when they go to doggie heaven.  

Real real sorry to hear about Coal. I know how very special my dogs are to me. I know we live a long way away (i'm in arizona) but just to let you know my wife works with a group called ALGBR it's a rescue group for labs and giant breed dogs and she can find you someone that needs you just as much as you may need them... when that time comes. You can see them by searching arizona labador rescue and you'll see ALGBR something .com Take care

 Not only is this a forum of warrior lover, it is also a forum of dog lovers, myself included. I know how you must feel. Each time it happens I always say I 'm not getting another pet, but thats hogwash. I now have 7 dogs and 2 cats, all strays, and I love them all. I once had a boxer that also had cancer and I had to put him down. I never got over that one. I put a tombstone on his grave , even had the preacher come over with some friends for the funeral.

But this is not about me, enjoy the time you have with Coal and do whats right and honerable in the end. You have my prayers.

Sorry to hear the news. My heart goes out to you and your family. I have two dogs; a Chocolate Lab mix and a Rottweiler/German Sheppard. 13 years and 12 years respectively. I know the day is coming and if faced with similar circumstances, I would make the same decision. It's going to tear me up. I don't have kids but they are my kids.

Best Wishes, Dave

Sorry to hear about that Scott , thoughts are with you brother.

VERY SORRY,  please post a pic of Coal, again im so sad , my Black lab is my Best friend, she is 5 year,s old,

Very rightfully known as "man's best friend".

I'm very sorry and hope that you can be just as strong as he will be through all of this.

I'm actually going to an appointment, tomorrow morning, to go visit a potential new member of our happy family at a no-kill dog rescue.

oh man, who the hell put ground black peppers on my keyboard...snifff...