Two Years
January 14, 2012
It’s been two years since our beautiful Barney completed his life in this world and moved on to his next – to his rainbow in the sky. It’s quite apt that we tell Luke that Barney is on a rainbow looking down, simply because for a dog that was black and white, he was one of the most colourful characters I’ve ever had the pleasure of having in my life.
Two years on I still miss him terribly. There is still a big hole.
Today we’ll send balloons up to his rainbow with our messages. We know he’s up there having a ball.
We love and miss you so much boy xxxxx
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My thoughts are with you….it will be a year for my Jack who had Melanoma in his nail bed. I to miss him everyday and don’t think the hole will ever be completely filled…..
Hi, I came across your blog as I was trying to find answers and advice online. My dog is 9 yrs old, a black great dane/labrador mix. A few weeks ago, around Christmas, I noticed a lump on the roof of her mouth. I took her in to the Vet’s and they ordered an immediate biopsy for the next morning. The results just came back, and they diagnosed her with amelanotic melanoma, presumptively. She has shown us no signs of any of this, and just by a fluke chance, I saw her yawn and noticed the lump. She’s been her normal self, and continues to be. Hrays show that it has invaded the upper jaw on one side, and we have an MRI set for next Monday to get a better look at things. I want to go ahead with the surgery, as they believe that it has not spread to her lymph nodes or to her chest. Can you tell me what went wrong with Barney after his surgery, as far as the cacner spreading and going undetected like it must have? Do the Vet’s recommend monthly visits, how can we detect it spreading and make sure we have a handle on it? What would you have done differently, or what advice do you wish someone would have given you? I am so sorry about Barney, as it seems your loss has been very rough on you, and it sounds like you and I are 2 of the same. I cry just reading your blog posts, because what you went through and are still going through is exactly how I would be, how I am right now. We’re trying to raise funds for her surgery and her vetting costs, they estimate that they will be around $5k. I can’t put a price on my dog’s life, she means the world to us, and I’d pay all of the money in the world to save her if I could. Any insight and guidance would be really appreciated, thanks so much, and God bless Barney
I’m sorry to hear about your dog. It’s very hard to accept this news. Melanoma is so common in dogs, yet we know nothing about it until it happens to our own.
You asked what happened with Barney; basically, we think that when they initially operated on him and took away his lymph nodes, although they were clear, we assume that some cells had already broken away by that point, even though it was very early stages and it had spread to other areas.
He displayed no symptoms at all from May when he was diagnosed initially, until December when he became unwell and we knew something was really not right with him.
I guess if there is one thing I wish we had had done, it would be the MRI scan. The only reason we didn’t was because other tests came back clear so the vet felt there was no need). I’m not sure what difference it would have made, if any, but I often wonder in the back of my mind if things may have been different had we had it done. It was never because of money, we simply trusted the vet looking after him
I have to say here that I still to this day appreciate everything they did. They gave us 8 months with Barney that we may not have had if the lump had not been seen.
I hope that your journey ends differently to ours. I hope that your best friend and family member can survive this and continue with many happy years.
Just do all you can, but do remember that it’s not fair for our babies to suffer if that time came. It’s the hardest decision I’ve ever made in my life but I knew it was right.
My love and thoughts are with you all. I’m crying just writing this x
I have been putting off reading this because I know it is going to tear me apart. I just found out our 11 year old Timpa has oral melanoma and I am devastated. Thank you for writing this, I feel that it is going to give me comfort. I dont know what in the world we are going to do. Sending you love and thanks from Colorado.
I too stumbled onto your blog .. My heart cries for you and your Barney .. 5 weeks my heart was diagnosed with malignant melanoma . Bella is 10 yrs old king Charles cavalier . She is my heart .. I feel helpless .. The lump in her mouth seemed to pop up out the side . Dr said she did not get clear margines. It was 2cm . Recently she has been gagging for no reason . Dr said it might be reflux so we are treating with meds . I have a bad feeling .. Her chest xray is clear 5 weeks ago . She is my best friend . And I can’t stop crying when I think of losing her .