[2022-07-08] Freddie update
We took our beloved dog back to the veterinary clinic this evening for a planned abdominal ultrasound following Freddie's recent appointment.
I dreaded the news we might receive—fearing that the vet would inform us that Freddie has liver cancer (suspected based on last week's blood tests) and, worse, that he would have the "it's time" conversation with us.
Although the vet did confirm the diagnosis of liver cancer, he did not have the feared discussion. He said that even without treatment—in fact, there is no tolerable treatment for liver cancer in a dog of Freddie's advanced years—Freddie could live for a couple more months. That was more than I was expecting, which gave me comfort despite the bad news.
The vet also told us that Freddie does not appear to be in pain. He explained that when cancer is confined to one organ, as in Freddie's case, it's not painful.
In the coming weeks, we will focus on making Freddie's remaining time with us as comfortable as possible and maximizing his quality of life. We will enjoy our time with Freddie and help Freddie enjoy his time with us.
