If you remember, Murphy had to have emergency surgery just before we left for our three weeks of cruising in January. He had chewed open an area on the back of one leg where he had a small tumor. The vet stitched it up and gave us instructions on how to care for it. He warned us that it might have an issue healing due to the location. Our wonderful friends at The Dog House took wonderful care of him, even getting additional antibiotics from their vet.
When we returned home, we continued treatments but the wound wasn’t healing and a second spot had opened up above it. So off to the vet we went for more clean-up surgery. The poor pup was now wearing a cone and a donut collar to keep him from messing with it. Two biopsies were done.
Unfortunately, they both came back as squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer. That dreaded one word took our breath away. The options weren’t great.
1) Amputation and hope the cancer hadn’t already spread. That wasn’t a real solution due to his hip dysplasia and the ongoing surgeries for the cysts/nodes that kept recurring.
2) Talk to an oncologist. We had already discounted that long ago, having discussed the issue. We already knew the reduction in quality of life in humans from chemo. We weren’t going to put any pet through that just so we can have them for a few months or year longer.
3) Just make him comfortable. The downside of this was they wounds wouldn’t stop bleeding and he would have to have dressing changes every couple of days. Again, quality of life issue.
4) Send him to the Rainbow Bridge.
He spent his last day without the cone and donut that he’d worn for almost two months. He got lots of love, attention, and a bunch of treats. When Stu got to the vet’s, he took him for a short walk and when he looked up he saw a small rainbow. If you look closely at the center photo, you can see it waiting for Murphy.
We can’t express how much we will miss him. He left his paw prints deeply imbedded into our hearts. He would have been seven on July 2nd.
8 thoughts on “R.I.P. Murphy 7/2/2017 – 2/22/2024”
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This is so heartbreaking, especially since Murphy was only six! 💔 My sincere condolences to you both! Cooper will miss him too, no doubt. May your wonderful memories eventually overtake the waves of grief. 🌹
Thank you so much, Debbie. He is so very missed but we are grateful for the 6 years we had with him.
Shedding tears for you both. I know, from past experiences, how hard this is — even knowing it’s the right thing. Whenever we’ve had to let one of ours go, I send part of my heart with them, & keep part of theirs in mine. I’m so sorry, Donna (& Stu). Sending hugs & love.
Renee
Thanks so much. He was truly embedded deeply into our hearts.
I am very sorry for your loss. We went thru the almost exact thing last June. We never get as much time as we want with our babies.
Thanks, Phyllis. This really caught us by surprise and he is so missed.
Oh, Donna and Stu – I am so sorry to read this about Murphy! They truly ARE family, and missed so acutely!
Virtual hugs,
Judie
Thanks, Judie. We miss him so much….