Sadly, this past weekend we had to say goodbye forever to Tilly. At the end of October, we discovered a golf ball sized tumor on her right hind leg. While in Doha, she had to have two toes removed, with a pathology report indicating cancer. So, the cancer had returned in less than a year. Due to the location of the tumor, the vet told us that in order to get good margins, we would have had to amputate her leg. She had also developed a pretty significant heart murmur and the vet wasn't even sure she would make it out of surgery. She would have been 14 in April and was clumsy enough with all four legs.Once we got back from Texas last week, she was still seemingly doing okay, considering. The tumor was now softball sized, infected, and an open wound. After we had been back a couple of days, she began limping, getting sick each night, and getting uncomfortable. We decided it was time to let her go to prevent any more suffering. This was undoubtedly the most difficult thing we have ever had to do. She had gone through so much in the past year.
Needless to say, it was a tough weekend. Maya seems to be doing okay. She is somewhat melancholy, although I think she has enjoyed having dibs on any of 6 dog beds we have around the house. Olivia keeps walking around the house calling for Tilly, which is very hard to hear. She was such a sweet and good dog. She will always be loved and missed -- even with her excessive slobber problem :) We are thankful for the 6 years we got to spend with that beautiful girl. We are at peace knowing she is no longer suffering.
Our failed attempt at getting both dogs and Olivia to cooperate for a photo by the tree
Bird Dog sisters resting together
