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<p class=MsoNormal>Hi Steve,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Besides what I wrote to you off list, I have a few things to
add about Wyatt’s care. 1. If you are sure that the cancer hasn’t
spread, and Wyatt is otherwise healthy, there are lots of dogs who live very
full lives on 3 legs. There are also many dogs who live very full lives
with a wheel chair. 2. Can you afford the surgery, the follow-up care,
and the wheel chair without losing your ability to care for the rest of the
family? (Bills, food, doctor/vet care) What happens if your car
needs major repair? Can you handle both expenses? 3. Does the
vet REALLY think that the cancer is isolated? If there is a chance that
it is in other areas or organs, don’t waste your time, or Wyatt’s,
with painful surgery. 4. An otherwise healthy basset is able to live 14yrs
or more with good care. There are many dogs on the drool who have been in
wheel chairs due to spinal injury. They lived good lives! With
Wyatt being even more ambulatory than many spine injured dogs, you will have fewer
problems with bed sores too.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Obviously, I am arguing both sides of the issue. If this
were MY Clover, I would not put her through the surgery because of the arthritis
in her shoulders. I couldn’t spend the time and money making the
house wheel chair accessible, and I couldn’t take the time off of work
for her recovery, training her to the chair, etc. Wyatt is not Clover,
and he might do just fine if you do the surgery. Only you and your vet
can make the decision. Please look at the big picture, and know that
whatever the decision ends up being, you have loved him well, and made the
choices that you had to make to be the best Dog-Dad that you could.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Grace and Peace to you and your household.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Gaylene
Opal-Deitering<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>My
passions do not replace my relationship with God, but are instead a reflection
of it!<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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