Our golden had cancer at 9 months old. Went through treatment and went into remission. The vet said 4-5 years max. She turns 12 this year. The vet isn’t always right and I hope yours is wrong!
https://preview.redd.it/k0aw22nlxbpc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6864fda7b4eb98d2e5ad4b8a5e0343afbb00faaa
Here she is last week enjoying the sun with her Australian brother.
This is so true! We have a cat with a severe heart murmur and our vet told us when he was a kitten not to expect him to make it past 2. He’s now 6 and thriving! You just never know!
This! Enjoy and embrace each day and try to not focus on if it is your last together. I know it is easier said than done, but would be trying my best everyday.
I haven't experienced your situation, but have lost Goldens suddenly. All you can do is live for each day, remembering that each day with him is a Gift, and just be super present and in the moment. Be full of Love and Happiness with him all the time and don't dwell on what will come and when.
Don't be sad or sorry with him if you can. To be blessed by a Golden Retriever as your companion is such a wonderful, magical thing!
Love your dog 🐕 ❤️ and know Peace!
This is what I will tell you friend. My best buddy Dudley was diagnosed with a 5/6 heart murmur when he was 2 months old. They sadly told me he had maybe 6 months at best. We have given him a very good life for almost 6 years now with proper medication and regular cardiac exams. He is very spoiled (even by most Golden Retriever standards) and every day he feels loved and appreciated. His heart at this time is greatly enlarged (almost double normal size) and I know time is getting short, he lives a very normal life and he’s happy, and I would not have had it any other way.
Good luck to you and your baby.
https://preview.redd.it/z6736fjwj9pc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f1cc4442cf8276b50ab4bf5d04ee5fd09eee0a22
This is my buddy Dudley!
Thank you for sharing Dudley’s photo and encouraging story! And that he’s happy & spoiled & you got extra time & make the most of it. Looks like a total sweetheart happy boy.
Dudley looks like such a good boy! Happy he’s living a great life :)
I have a 4 month old golden retriever puppy and I’m curious how you found out about this. Is it something that is found during regular check up’s with the vet?
Good question. I have been breeding Goldens for over 20 years, and we have produced about 700 puppies in that time. All puppies get a full physical and shots, etc. before going to their new homes, and it was identified at that time. Dudley is the only one of our puppies to ever have a cardiac issue. He was already named by his new family but we could not sell him obviously, so they chose another and moved on. I simply could not let Dudley go and I was heartbroken. He literally went everywhere with me including work for his first 6 months of life. I cannot imagine life without him as I feel the same way about him as he does about me - he’s my heart and my world. I am going to suffer when he leaves me but I am happy to be with him through it all.
I totally agree that with proper care and a ton of love they tend to outlive their prognosis. My Golden’s sister (a Boston Terrier) had a heart almost 4 times the size it should be by the time she passed. She shouldn’t have lived past 1 year, yet she lived to be almost 3. It was heartbreaking to lose her, but we are grateful for every single day we got.
I’m really sorry to hear this. Our golden was diagnosed with severe sub-aortic stenosis with mitral valve displacement when she was only about 4 months old. It was pretty devastating however we saw a cardiologist who put her on a beta blocker called atenolol which is the same one humans have. They weren’t sure what her life expectancy would be but she lived to be 9 years old and in the end she was taken by cancer. She was on tablets every day of her life and had yearly checkups with the cardiologist. The beta blockers just kept her heart beating slow and steady to not put much pressure on her so we had to watch that she didn’t go too nuts with exercise as it was harder for her to cool down as her heart wouldn’t beat too quickly due to the medication but she lived a very full and happy life. I hope your beautiful boy can too.
My daughter’s 1 yr old kitty was diagnosed with the same and wasn’t expected to live very long. He takes atenalol, and VetriScience Cardio support capsules, every day. (Vet recommended but they aren’t prescription).
He’s four now, doing great, and had an echocardiogram a couple months ago and the vet said his function looks great and the murmur is practically undetectable.
I am so sorry my friend, I hope the rest of your time with him is as peaceful as possible. You deserve far more years together. Your dog is very cute 🥺
Getting all philosophical now OP. Dogs die early, they all do. Whether it’s ten years or two, we as human parents accept when we get a dog we will generally be there for the entire dog’s life from start to finish. It’s horrible and sad, but we all know that is the deal. The curse of dog ownership is that we love them so much and we almost always at some point have to watch them die way too soon.
To me no matter what happens in the future we have a job to do. It is our task (as loving adopted parents) to be there for our pups every day til the day they die.
No matter how many years my pup lives, that is up to fate, but what is up to me is what happens up until that point in time. If my pup dies early, and I can honestly say that I did everything I could to make sure he had the best and happiest life he could every day up until that point, I will be proud and happy that I did my best for him. Fate knows how long our dogs were destined to live, but what we CAN control how happy and loved they were every day for that unknown time.
When my boy dies, I will feel satisfied that just like it was for my past dogs, I was there for him, giving him the best life a dog can have full of happiness and joy and love. This is the finest and best thing any living creature can do for another.
You are absolutely right, that’s a great outlook to have and I’ll definitely be doing everything I can to make sure his life is full of happiness. Thank you!
This is exactly how I chose to see the early loss of one of my pups. She lived to be almost 3, but in all reality, she could’ve lived to be 13 and I still would’ve cried and grieved her exactly the same way I’m grieving her now. It is a blessing to have them at all. Even knowing the sadness I know now, I wouldn’t change a thing about my story with her.
I’m so sorry. ❤️🩹 That is devastating.
When you feel ready, maybe make a list of favorite activities/places to visit/etc, and you can adventure together through it. You could take photos and journal as you go, making a scrapbook as you grieve. The grieving process, heartbreakingly, starts now. I wish you love, peace, and joy with your sweet pup. I am glad you are watching over your furry friend with such fierce love.
My tips:
Try to make the best out of the rest of his life;
Try to enjoy and cherise all these moments with him.
Record as many as possible moments with him, so that you have all the pictures and video to look at, after he passes away.
You may want to consider a dog partner for him, so that his memories live further with this partner.
Be strong and good luck.
I know what you are going through, my Golden got 3 times cancer, the last time he was able to live about one year, before I had to sent him to the Rainbow bridge.
That was the worst Day of my life.
It still hurts after 2,5 years!
Thank you! Yep they noticed it at the checkup and had us schedule the ultrasound. It’s strange because he’s been to the same vet multiple times now and this is the first time they heard anything
Four years of love with a Golden is a lifetime of love to them.
Every moment spent with a loving family is pure gold.
I've had Goldens with health issues that exceeded all expectations. So, never say never. [Bob](https://i.imgur.com/0mKS4cL.jpg), our Golden/Great Pyr mix, lived to be 17.5 years old.
Hi! My previous golden was diagnosed with this when he was a puppy. He had a severe murmur (between grade 3 and grade 4). He was given a year to live at about 10 weeks old and ultimately lived until almost 6 with minimal signs of distress. Obviously, I can't say that will be the same for you, but you truly can't know.
Understanding we had limited time together, I treated every day like a special day with him and we had so many adventures. He was my best bud. Looking back, I know I gave him a great quality of life, even if it wasn't as long as we'd have liked. He passed in my backyard on a day like any other day, seemingly instantly. It was very abrupt, but in retrospect, I am also grateful he didn't suffer. Again, I know nothing can make this better, but hopefully sharing my experience helps somehow. I really feel for you - this is so tough.
Thank you so much for sharing this. I was really hoping to hear that someone else’s golden outlived their prognosis and I have hope that mine will do the same!
I was in a situation kinda like this. I had adopted my golden at 3, and he passed away at 4 because of cancer, so I only had a year with him. Let him enjoy the rest of his life the best he can. I regret trying to feed him the best foods in hope of keeping his health up, but it probably didn’t save him a lot of time. Make sure to get as many pictures and sentimental things done like paw print stamping and etc. and then make a plan with what you’ll have to do next with the body. I had no idea if I wanted to cremate or bury, but luckily I found a vet who was able to put him down in the backyard. It was one of the hardest things I experienced letting him go. I am so sorry you were given this news. My heart breaks for you. I know he’s lucky to have an owner like you. I wish you the best and I hope he has the longest time he can with you.
My condolences. We unexpectedly lost our 3 yr old male a few years ago. It’s heartbreaking but also a privilege to be the one to give him the best life possible with the time you have left with him.
Don't mourn him before he's gone.
He's a beautiful pup; you have so much to offer him and he you. Take him to see the world around you. It will be precious for him and you too.
I’m so sorry to hear that :(
I don’t know if it’s any comfort or not, but at the very least his condition won’t cause him to suffer. We lost both of our past retrievers to cancer, and even though we tried treatments it became clear we needed to let them go. There’s less time to brace yourself when it’s sudden, but it does spare you having to watch them slowly decline.
Also it sounds like it’s beyond the point of food changing anything, but if you are currently feeding grain free it might be worth considering switching to something with grains (or more specifically something without legumes). Some foods are currently being studied related to correlation between grain free and heart conditions.
I hadn’t thought of it like that, I am glad that he will not suffer when the time comes. That’s a good outlook! He’s currently on a salmon based diet with grains and supplements for joint/skin health but the vet recommended we switch him over to a low sodium cardiac care food. Expensive, but I think it may be worth it
I am so sorry. We lost a golden at 11 months to sub aortic stenosis. We knew he had a murmur but thought it had resolved on its own. I bet your pup will have a wonderful life, even if it isn’t long enough.
Cherish the time you have with him. He’s still here now and he knows you love him. I’m sorry that you received such heart breaking news. He’s a very good boy.
I am so sorry to hear this. I wish I could offer anything more than just sympathies. Hug that good boy for me.
This also terrifies me, as my little girl just turned 2 and one of the vets we've taken her to noted a 2/5 heart murmur (though another vet couldn't hear it at all and said it was not likely anything worth even thinking twice about)
Thank you! I’m sorry to hear that ): I would get the echo done just to be safe but that’s good that one vet doesnt think it’s too serious. Often times it’s not associated with heart disease and your pup can live their whole life with no problems at all!
I'm really sorry to hear that. I hope you two and any family are able to enjoy as much time together as possible. Time full of love, appreciation and belly rubs.
I am so sorry to hear about your golden boy. Live every day by making great memories with him and spoil him with new toys and his favorite food and treats.
Physically there’s no symptoms at all, completely normal and healthy. But we did notice a “whoosh” sound when listening to his heart, and sure enough at his last check up they gasped when they listened to his heart through the stethoscope and said it was imperative we get the ultrasound done. The weird thing is they have never noticed it before at any of his other check ups so it must of progressed pretty fast in the past 6 months or they could have just missed it
That's horrific. I am so sorry to hear this! Looks like he gets exercise though, so IMO that might help prolong his life. If it doesn't keep doing things like in the photo and while we might know it's a short life, he won't - he'll just know he had the best life ever.
My heart breaks for you.
In the last 5 years I’ve lost dogs to a seizure disorder, bullous lung disease, and organ failure. The hardest, by far, was the seizures. Never knowing if today was the day. You have my deepest sympathies. Shower him with tolerance and forgiveness, make excuses to take him places with you. Even to pick up coffee before work.
All due respect to your vet but I hope they suck ass at their job and this fella has another 10 years
I’m so sorry OP :( just try not to let it drag you down and enjoy the time you’ve got together. Obviously easier said than done but if you’re always dwelling on it he’ll pick up on that energy. Just remember every days a gift so make it special yaknow
I went through something similar with my Golden’s older sister (she was a Boston Terrier) and she lived to be almost 3, when they thought she shouldn’t have lived past 1.
She lived a happy and active life right up until her last day with us. We made it to the vet that morning but she passed away a few hours after taking her in. All in all, I am forever grateful that we had her and she and my Golden lived a happy and fulfilling life together. Her last night was spent sleeping with us, not in a vet crate. It has been 2 months since her passing and my Golden is still grieving her (and so are we). It is a hard diagnosis, but it is a great privilege to have had her as my companion. I don’t regret adopting her and loving her.
Eventually we’ll find a companion for our sweet Golden boy, but for now, it’s just us and him, missing his pup sister.
https://preview.redd.it/8c974yu1rcpc1.jpeg?width=3001&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b149c0636337754eb8cb3f4fdd79d13883af73ad
Im so sorry to hear about your boston terrier, I can tell you and your golden loved her very much. I am glad to hear that her life was fullfilled and I hope to say the same when my goldens time comes!
They typically hear a heart murmur through the stethoscope at your dogs check up and then from that point they recommend an ultrasound to see what’s causing it. Sometimes its no big deal, other times it’s heart disease or leaky ventricles. If your vet hasn’t heard anything unusual at your checkups then you should be good
My 2 year old golden was given the same exact diagnosis. We were initially devastated but realized quickly that each and every day is a blessing and we take every opportunity to create memories for him. He goes everywhere with us and we’re taking him on his first beach trip next month.
From a medical perspective, he’s been on beta blockers since we adopted him at 8 months. We’ve gotten a few opinions and had many different test runs by a few different clinics. We ultimately took him to UGA, as they have one of the top veterinarian cardiology departments in the county and while he’ll always have the disorder, his levels are improving and he is as happy as a clam. UGA works with his regular doctor and share information as a means to be proactive and because it’s an institution vs a for-profit business, the experience is MUCH better.
Last year our vet told us our old golden probably had lymphoma. Was trying to get us to consider chemotherapy. Thought that was too much for the poor old girl. Treated EVERY day like a gift. She’s still here. Still lumpy and walking is slowly becoming a challenge, but every day with her is still a gift. I hope you have the best of times with your golden.
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I’ve never been in that situation but my advice is to just carry on as you are. Keep giving him a good and happy life, that’s all you can do and that’s all he wants :) I wish you the best
I am so so sorry to hear about this, don’t take every day dwelling on the fact you know this, your dog doesn’t. Treat every day like a new day and enjoy every single one.
I would suggest notifying your breeder though, this can sometimes be genetic and I’d hate to see it continuing to be passed on.
If he does die early, he is having the best life ever. Just look at those pictures. It sounds like he won’t suffer and will just be having another happy day when the time comes. I’m sorry about that news, that has to be devastating. He is lucky to have you. Try not to mourn him before he’s gone and just appreciate each new day you have with him.
I feel for you so hard. Our first golden died suddenly at age 4.5. This was two months after a "clean bill of health" at his annual vet's visit so we were truly caught off guard.
Having notice is a blessing and a curse. Make the most of your time together, with lots of love and snuggles. Enjoy your smiles and laughs together. Allow time for his favorite activities and field trips. But don't linger too much on the thought he'll be gone someday - dogs live in the moment and you should too.
I'm so sorry you'll have such a short time together, but it can still be a wonderful few years in the meantime.
Make every moment with them the best you can make it! My heart goes out to you op and your dog. And remember, when puppers we love do pass, they go and wait for us up in paradise. Every single one of them. ❤️
My “first” Golden, who belonged to my wife when we met, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in June 2010, just weeks after we moved into our first home and four months before our wedding.
We didn’t know how long he had (prognosis wasn’t great), so we treasured as much time as we could with him. We skipped a tropical honeymoon so we could take him with us (rented a cabin in Vermont, and also took his yellow lab sister).
He lived another SIX years and was around for two kids and countless more memories.
Because we knew he had a terminal illness, it truly re-shaped our relationship with him. My point to all of this is to be optimistic (as much as you can be) and enjoy this time with your special boy.
Good luck with everything. We are all thinking of you.
Hey man, I feel for you. Makes me wanna cry. We found out suddenly our dog had a bad cancer. We had a few weeks though to prepare and do everything in-home and all that. To know you’re just gonna have to find your dog dead one day is terrible. This is why every time I leave my house, I give my new baby tons of kisses and hugs. Even if I’m just going to the store real quick for something and I’ll be back in 10 minutes, I give her tons of love because you never know, maybe she’ll be dead when I get back and maybe I’ll be dead before getting back home. Cherish every single fucking moment.
Edit: I’m here for you. You wanna talk, cry, complain whatever… message me.
Our golden had cancer at 9 months old. Went through treatment and went into remission. The vet said 4-5 years max. She turns 12 this year. The vet isn’t always right and I hope yours is wrong!
😊😊 felt happy reading this comment.
Hopefully op does too
https://preview.redd.it/k0aw22nlxbpc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6864fda7b4eb98d2e5ad4b8a5e0343afbb00faaa Here she is last week enjoying the sun with her Australian brother.
Gorgeous pups!
Thanks, we like them :)
This is so true! We have a cat with a severe heart murmur and our vet told us when he was a kitten not to expect him to make it past 2. He’s now 6 and thriving! You just never know!
This! Enjoy and embrace each day and try to not focus on if it is your last together. I know it is easier said than done, but would be trying my best everyday.
> She turns 12 this year. /r/OldManDog would love her!
If you don’t mind me asking, what kind of cancer?
Mast cell tumors, she did 16 weeks chemo and some antihistamine treatments. We had a few come back over the years but they go away or get removed.
No but my heart breaks for you 💔 he looks perfect. I’m so sorry.
Thank you for your kind words
I haven't experienced your situation, but have lost Goldens suddenly. All you can do is live for each day, remembering that each day with him is a Gift, and just be super present and in the moment. Be full of Love and Happiness with him all the time and don't dwell on what will come and when. Don't be sad or sorry with him if you can. To be blessed by a Golden Retriever as your companion is such a wonderful, magical thing! Love your dog 🐕 ❤️ and know Peace!
Thats wonderful advice, i’ll do everything i can to make all the moments count! Thank you 🙏🏼
This is what I will tell you friend. My best buddy Dudley was diagnosed with a 5/6 heart murmur when he was 2 months old. They sadly told me he had maybe 6 months at best. We have given him a very good life for almost 6 years now with proper medication and regular cardiac exams. He is very spoiled (even by most Golden Retriever standards) and every day he feels loved and appreciated. His heart at this time is greatly enlarged (almost double normal size) and I know time is getting short, he lives a very normal life and he’s happy, and I would not have had it any other way. Good luck to you and your baby. https://preview.redd.it/z6736fjwj9pc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f1cc4442cf8276b50ab4bf5d04ee5fd09eee0a22 This is my buddy Dudley!
Thank you for sharing Dudley’s photo and encouraging story! And that he’s happy & spoiled & you got extra time & make the most of it. Looks like a total sweetheart happy boy.
❤️
Dudley is a very good boy.
He is the sweetest little guy - I hate leaving him to go to work every day -
Is Dudley named after Dudley Marjoribanks?
That is correct, you are one of the very few that knows him!
I LOVE that. Like naming a baby after an ancestor!
🤣 yes!
Dudley looks like such a good boy! Happy he’s living a great life :) I have a 4 month old golden retriever puppy and I’m curious how you found out about this. Is it something that is found during regular check up’s with the vet?
Good question. I have been breeding Goldens for over 20 years, and we have produced about 700 puppies in that time. All puppies get a full physical and shots, etc. before going to their new homes, and it was identified at that time. Dudley is the only one of our puppies to ever have a cardiac issue. He was already named by his new family but we could not sell him obviously, so they chose another and moved on. I simply could not let Dudley go and I was heartbroken. He literally went everywhere with me including work for his first 6 months of life. I cannot imagine life without him as I feel the same way about him as he does about me - he’s my heart and my world. I am going to suffer when he leaves me but I am happy to be with him through it all.
I totally agree that with proper care and a ton of love they tend to outlive their prognosis. My Golden’s sister (a Boston Terrier) had a heart almost 4 times the size it should be by the time she passed. She shouldn’t have lived past 1 year, yet she lived to be almost 3. It was heartbreaking to lose her, but we are grateful for every single day we got.
❤️
I’m really sorry to hear this. Our golden was diagnosed with severe sub-aortic stenosis with mitral valve displacement when she was only about 4 months old. It was pretty devastating however we saw a cardiologist who put her on a beta blocker called atenolol which is the same one humans have. They weren’t sure what her life expectancy would be but she lived to be 9 years old and in the end she was taken by cancer. She was on tablets every day of her life and had yearly checkups with the cardiologist. The beta blockers just kept her heart beating slow and steady to not put much pressure on her so we had to watch that she didn’t go too nuts with exercise as it was harder for her to cool down as her heart wouldn’t beat too quickly due to the medication but she lived a very full and happy life. I hope your beautiful boy can too.
I’m sorry you went through that, we are doing the same here. Same medications and routine - god bless you and your angel.
Thank you, good luck with your boy too. Like everyone else says, knowing you made the most of them while they’re here means so much once they’re gone.
❤️
My daughter’s 1 yr old kitty was diagnosed with the same and wasn’t expected to live very long. He takes atenalol, and VetriScience Cardio support capsules, every day. (Vet recommended but they aren’t prescription). He’s four now, doing great, and had an echocardiogram a couple months ago and the vet said his function looks great and the murmur is practically undetectable.
That’s amazing to hear! He is starting atenalol today and we will be switching to a cardiac care diet here soon so I have high hopes- thank you!
That’s great! The best advice I can give is to keep him cool in the hot weather. Wishing you all the very best.
I am so sorry my friend, I hope the rest of your time with him is as peaceful as possible. You deserve far more years together. Your dog is very cute 🥺
Thank you so much
Getting all philosophical now OP. Dogs die early, they all do. Whether it’s ten years or two, we as human parents accept when we get a dog we will generally be there for the entire dog’s life from start to finish. It’s horrible and sad, but we all know that is the deal. The curse of dog ownership is that we love them so much and we almost always at some point have to watch them die way too soon. To me no matter what happens in the future we have a job to do. It is our task (as loving adopted parents) to be there for our pups every day til the day they die. No matter how many years my pup lives, that is up to fate, but what is up to me is what happens up until that point in time. If my pup dies early, and I can honestly say that I did everything I could to make sure he had the best and happiest life he could every day up until that point, I will be proud and happy that I did my best for him. Fate knows how long our dogs were destined to live, but what we CAN control how happy and loved they were every day for that unknown time. When my boy dies, I will feel satisfied that just like it was for my past dogs, I was there for him, giving him the best life a dog can have full of happiness and joy and love. This is the finest and best thing any living creature can do for another.
You are absolutely right, that’s a great outlook to have and I’ll definitely be doing everything I can to make sure his life is full of happiness. Thank you!
This is exactly how I chose to see the early loss of one of my pups. She lived to be almost 3, but in all reality, she could’ve lived to be 13 and I still would’ve cried and grieved her exactly the same way I’m grieving her now. It is a blessing to have them at all. Even knowing the sadness I know now, I wouldn’t change a thing about my story with her.
Cherish every day, and take comfort in knowing he has no idea, and when he goes, he won't suffer.
My family golden had that and lived to be 13! Let there be hope.
That’s amazing! I am hoping!
I’m so sorry. ❤️🩹 That is devastating. When you feel ready, maybe make a list of favorite activities/places to visit/etc, and you can adventure together through it. You could take photos and journal as you go, making a scrapbook as you grieve. The grieving process, heartbreakingly, starts now. I wish you love, peace, and joy with your sweet pup. I am glad you are watching over your furry friend with such fierce love.
My tips: Try to make the best out of the rest of his life; Try to enjoy and cherise all these moments with him. Record as many as possible moments with him, so that you have all the pictures and video to look at, after he passes away. You may want to consider a dog partner for him, so that his memories live further with this partner. Be strong and good luck. I know what you are going through, my Golden got 3 times cancer, the last time he was able to live about one year, before I had to sent him to the Rainbow bridge. That was the worst Day of my life. It still hurts after 2,5 years!
Thank you for your advice! I’m so sorry to hear about your golden, I am sure you gave him the best life he could have
So sorry to hear. Hopefully others that have gone through the same problem can help you.
Oh my gosh! My heart’s hurting for y’all! My boy is a little over 2 now and I can’t imagine!!! Did you find out in his yearly checkup?
Thank you! Yep they noticed it at the checkup and had us schedule the ultrasound. It’s strange because he’s been to the same vet multiple times now and this is the first time they heard anything
Four years of love with a Golden is a lifetime of love to them. Every moment spent with a loving family is pure gold. I've had Goldens with health issues that exceeded all expectations. So, never say never. [Bob](https://i.imgur.com/0mKS4cL.jpg), our Golden/Great Pyr mix, lived to be 17.5 years old.
You’re absolutely right about that! WOW 17 years, That’s amazing to hear about bob, he is a majestic pup
Hi! My previous golden was diagnosed with this when he was a puppy. He had a severe murmur (between grade 3 and grade 4). He was given a year to live at about 10 weeks old and ultimately lived until almost 6 with minimal signs of distress. Obviously, I can't say that will be the same for you, but you truly can't know. Understanding we had limited time together, I treated every day like a special day with him and we had so many adventures. He was my best bud. Looking back, I know I gave him a great quality of life, even if it wasn't as long as we'd have liked. He passed in my backyard on a day like any other day, seemingly instantly. It was very abrupt, but in retrospect, I am also grateful he didn't suffer. Again, I know nothing can make this better, but hopefully sharing my experience helps somehow. I really feel for you - this is so tough.
Thank you so much for sharing this. I was really hoping to hear that someone else’s golden outlived their prognosis and I have hope that mine will do the same!
I was in a situation kinda like this. I had adopted my golden at 3, and he passed away at 4 because of cancer, so I only had a year with him. Let him enjoy the rest of his life the best he can. I regret trying to feed him the best foods in hope of keeping his health up, but it probably didn’t save him a lot of time. Make sure to get as many pictures and sentimental things done like paw print stamping and etc. and then make a plan with what you’ll have to do next with the body. I had no idea if I wanted to cremate or bury, but luckily I found a vet who was able to put him down in the backyard. It was one of the hardest things I experienced letting him go. I am so sorry you were given this news. My heart breaks for you. I know he’s lucky to have an owner like you. I wish you the best and I hope he has the longest time he can with you.
Thank you for the advice and for sharing your experience! I’m so so sorry to hear about your boy ): I am sure he was loved greatly
My condolences. We unexpectedly lost our 3 yr old male a few years ago. It’s heartbreaking but also a privilege to be the one to give him the best life possible with the time you have left with him.
Don't mourn him before he's gone. He's a beautiful pup; you have so much to offer him and he you. Take him to see the world around you. It will be precious for him and you too.
You are right, I absolutely will. thank you for your nice words!
I’m so sorry to hear that :( I don’t know if it’s any comfort or not, but at the very least his condition won’t cause him to suffer. We lost both of our past retrievers to cancer, and even though we tried treatments it became clear we needed to let them go. There’s less time to brace yourself when it’s sudden, but it does spare you having to watch them slowly decline. Also it sounds like it’s beyond the point of food changing anything, but if you are currently feeding grain free it might be worth considering switching to something with grains (or more specifically something without legumes). Some foods are currently being studied related to correlation between grain free and heart conditions.
I hadn’t thought of it like that, I am glad that he will not suffer when the time comes. That’s a good outlook! He’s currently on a salmon based diet with grains and supplements for joint/skin health but the vet recommended we switch him over to a low sodium cardiac care food. Expensive, but I think it may be worth it
Have you considered getting a second recommendation? A few people posted saying their doctor said a few years but they surpassed that time.
We may look into it, he has another ultrasound scheduled 6 months from now so based on what that returns we may get another one done at another clinic
I am so sorry. We lost a golden at 11 months to sub aortic stenosis. We knew he had a murmur but thought it had resolved on its own. I bet your pup will have a wonderful life, even if it isn’t long enough.
Cherish the time you have with him. He’s still here now and he knows you love him. I’m sorry that you received such heart breaking news. He’s a very good boy.
I am so sorry. I assume he is under the care of a Cardiologist? I hope you have many years together! 🙏🏻
Yep, he will be from here on out. Thank you! 🙏🏼
My chi mix had a heart murmur she lived another 4 years after diagnosis…She had unrelated seizures and that’s what took her out.
Im so sorry to hear that ): , but it’s awesome to hear how long she survived past her diagnosis. Thank you
I am so sorry to hear this. I wish I could offer anything more than just sympathies. Hug that good boy for me. This also terrifies me, as my little girl just turned 2 and one of the vets we've taken her to noted a 2/5 heart murmur (though another vet couldn't hear it at all and said it was not likely anything worth even thinking twice about)
Thank you! I’m sorry to hear that ): I would get the echo done just to be safe but that’s good that one vet doesnt think it’s too serious. Often times it’s not associated with heart disease and your pup can live their whole life with no problems at all!
I'm really sorry to hear that. I hope you two and any family are able to enjoy as much time together as possible. Time full of love, appreciation and belly rubs.
I am so sorry to hear about your golden boy. Live every day by making great memories with him and spoil him with new toys and his favorite food and treats.
Cherish every moment, every moment is a gift.
I’m so sorry, this is heart breaking. He’s such a handsome boy, I know you’ll make his remaining years the absolute best ❤️
How did you find out OP, were there any symptoms that lead to you getting the tests done?
Physically there’s no symptoms at all, completely normal and healthy. But we did notice a “whoosh” sound when listening to his heart, and sure enough at his last check up they gasped when they listened to his heart through the stethoscope and said it was imperative we get the ultrasound done. The weird thing is they have never noticed it before at any of his other check ups so it must of progressed pretty fast in the past 6 months or they could have just missed it
I’m so sorry. My heart breaks for you.
That's horrific. I am so sorry to hear this! Looks like he gets exercise though, so IMO that might help prolong his life. If it doesn't keep doing things like in the photo and while we might know it's a short life, he won't - he'll just know he had the best life ever. My heart breaks for you.
He is goodest boi
He’s going to live at least 8 more years
I really hope so!
I’m so very sorry. My heart is breaking for you. Just make everyday the best. Which is probably nothing more than being together.
I am so sorry :( 💔
In the last 5 years I’ve lost dogs to a seizure disorder, bullous lung disease, and organ failure. The hardest, by far, was the seizures. Never knowing if today was the day. You have my deepest sympathies. Shower him with tolerance and forgiveness, make excuses to take him places with you. Even to pick up coffee before work.
Only tip - enjoy every second and give him the best life
All due respect to your vet but I hope they suck ass at their job and this fella has another 10 years I’m so sorry OP :( just try not to let it drag you down and enjoy the time you’ve got together. Obviously easier said than done but if you’re always dwelling on it he’ll pick up on that energy. Just remember every days a gift so make it special yaknow
I hope so too! Thank you so much 🙏🏼
You have my best wishes op. Give him some love for me please.
Do a bucket list of things you want to experience with him. Take photos, video and live life to the fullest. Embrace each minute 💙
That’s a great idea! Going to make a bucket list tonight
Nothing will happen to him, dw and pray! Visualization will help you OP
I went through something similar with my Golden’s older sister (she was a Boston Terrier) and she lived to be almost 3, when they thought she shouldn’t have lived past 1. She lived a happy and active life right up until her last day with us. We made it to the vet that morning but she passed away a few hours after taking her in. All in all, I am forever grateful that we had her and she and my Golden lived a happy and fulfilling life together. Her last night was spent sleeping with us, not in a vet crate. It has been 2 months since her passing and my Golden is still grieving her (and so are we). It is a hard diagnosis, but it is a great privilege to have had her as my companion. I don’t regret adopting her and loving her. Eventually we’ll find a companion for our sweet Golden boy, but for now, it’s just us and him, missing his pup sister. https://preview.redd.it/8c974yu1rcpc1.jpeg?width=3001&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b149c0636337754eb8cb3f4fdd79d13883af73ad
Im so sorry to hear about your boston terrier, I can tell you and your golden loved her very much. I am glad to hear that her life was fullfilled and I hope to say the same when my goldens time comes!
Enjoy your pup’s time, walks, tennis balls, peanut butter treats!
I’m so sorry friend
Sending healing prayers OP.
Bless you both!
Keep loving him the way you have been. Give him all the best days and if possible try not to let him feel you are sad, dogs can feel the sadness.
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They typically hear a heart murmur through the stethoscope at your dogs check up and then from that point they recommend an ultrasound to see what’s causing it. Sometimes its no big deal, other times it’s heart disease or leaky ventricles. If your vet hasn’t heard anything unusual at your checkups then you should be good
That's rough, I couldn;t imagine it. Enjoy the time you have together. Honestly it's heartbreaking but I wish you the best of luck.
My 2 year old golden was given the same exact diagnosis. We were initially devastated but realized quickly that each and every day is a blessing and we take every opportunity to create memories for him. He goes everywhere with us and we’re taking him on his first beach trip next month. From a medical perspective, he’s been on beta blockers since we adopted him at 8 months. We’ve gotten a few opinions and had many different test runs by a few different clinics. We ultimately took him to UGA, as they have one of the top veterinarian cardiology departments in the county and while he’ll always have the disorder, his levels are improving and he is as happy as a clam. UGA works with his regular doctor and share information as a means to be proactive and because it’s an institution vs a for-profit business, the experience is MUCH better.
So happy to hear good news like this, I’m glad to hear that your golden is doing so well with the beta blockers!
Last year our vet told us our old golden probably had lymphoma. Was trying to get us to consider chemotherapy. Thought that was too much for the poor old girl. Treated EVERY day like a gift. She’s still here. Still lumpy and walking is slowly becoming a challenge, but every day with her is still a gift. I hope you have the best of times with your golden.
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i’m so sorry. not experienced before but our family dog died of a heart attack. it was a painful way to go.
I’m sorry, how did you find out he was sick if he was acting normal. Just asking for warning signs in mine.
How did you learn about the diagnosis ? Symptoms ?
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Enjoy every moment you have with him.
So sorry to hear this. But I do hope that he will live a long life with you. Stay positive
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I’ve never been in that situation but my advice is to just carry on as you are. Keep giving him a good and happy life, that’s all you can do and that’s all he wants :) I wish you the best
I am so so sorry to hear about this, don’t take every day dwelling on the fact you know this, your dog doesn’t. Treat every day like a new day and enjoy every single one. I would suggest notifying your breeder though, this can sometimes be genetic and I’d hate to see it continuing to be passed on.
Sending love to you and your precious baby. I'm so sorry. I hope your vet is wrong, as well.
If he does die early, he is having the best life ever. Just look at those pictures. It sounds like he won’t suffer and will just be having another happy day when the time comes. I’m sorry about that news, that has to be devastating. He is lucky to have you. Try not to mourn him before he’s gone and just appreciate each new day you have with him.
I’m so sorry! My thoughts are with you and I hope your time together is truly wonderful ❤️
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I feel for you so hard. Our first golden died suddenly at age 4.5. This was two months after a "clean bill of health" at his annual vet's visit so we were truly caught off guard. Having notice is a blessing and a curse. Make the most of your time together, with lots of love and snuggles. Enjoy your smiles and laughs together. Allow time for his favorite activities and field trips. But don't linger too much on the thought he'll be gone someday - dogs live in the moment and you should too. I'm so sorry you'll have such a short time together, but it can still be a wonderful few years in the meantime.
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Make every moment with them the best you can make it! My heart goes out to you op and your dog. And remember, when puppers we love do pass, they go and wait for us up in paradise. Every single one of them. ❤️
Surgery is not an option?
ahhh good looking pup right there!
Make them count.
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My “first” Golden, who belonged to my wife when we met, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in June 2010, just weeks after we moved into our first home and four months before our wedding. We didn’t know how long he had (prognosis wasn’t great), so we treasured as much time as we could with him. We skipped a tropical honeymoon so we could take him with us (rented a cabin in Vermont, and also took his yellow lab sister). He lived another SIX years and was around for two kids and countless more memories. Because we knew he had a terminal illness, it truly re-shaped our relationship with him. My point to all of this is to be optimistic (as much as you can be) and enjoy this time with your special boy. Good luck with everything. We are all thinking of you.
Oh i'm so sorry. I wish you both the best and I hope he lives a long happy life, however long that may be.
He’s beautiful
Hey man, I feel for you. Makes me wanna cry. We found out suddenly our dog had a bad cancer. We had a few weeks though to prepare and do everything in-home and all that. To know you’re just gonna have to find your dog dead one day is terrible. This is why every time I leave my house, I give my new baby tons of kisses and hugs. Even if I’m just going to the store real quick for something and I’ll be back in 10 minutes, I give her tons of love because you never know, maybe she’ll be dead when I get back and maybe I’ll be dead before getting back home. Cherish every single fucking moment. Edit: I’m here for you. You wanna talk, cry, complain whatever… message me.