My Piper Boy has Heart Cancer

Hi I’m Christina - and if you haven’t met me before - I’m a huge animal lover and adore my 4 pets.

My boy Piper is 9. He has always had perfect blood work and no issues when we go to the vet. This morning I noticed him standing oddly, not really reacting to me when I called him and saw spasms in his stomach. He was having trouble breathing and was extremely lethargic which is unlike him. He wouldn’t even walk so I picked him up and took him to our vet. We were there for 3 hours and they had inconclusive results outside of pale gums and tachycardia. They told us to go to a vet specialist right away. I drove him up and they ran more tests to find a huge sac of fluid around his heart that they needed to drain right away. I’m devastated to say the very least.

They called me the next morning and confirmed that he has an inoperable tumor inside of his heart and that his best option is to go on palliative care until his heart fills up with fluid again and then I will have to make the decision to say goodbye.

My boy has always had endless energy, perfect blood work and X-rays - so to say I’m in shock is an understatement. I can’t believe he just….won’t be here soon. I’m home with him, keeping him comfortable and keeping an eye on his breathing and heart rate as the vet directed.

I can barely think about it without feeling like I’m going to throw up. This cost has come at a time when I’m trying desperately to work for myself and his vet costs took up almost all the available room I had on my credit cards. I’ve never done this before, but any help anyone can give I would be endlessly grateful. I love you all. I appreciate all the support you have given. Even if the support is not monetary, it means so, SO much to me to not feel alone right now.

big hugs to everyone.