Why is this so hard...........

[L Stegall]

I am a big baby when it comes to my dog, who is now 14. Last night, he wasn't eating, seemed very disoriented and we could not get him to settle down at all. He would alternate between pacing around in circles, almost like he didn't know where he was, and having his back legs collapse on him and being unable to get up. I stayed up basically all night with him trying to calm him down and it wasn't working very well. We were on the vet's doorstep this morning and I'm waiting for his call. My guess is that I know what he is going to say and I know what I should do, but I'm just having a really hard time with it. And I know I'm not the first to face this and won't be the last, but darn it, I still hate it. As probably ever owner would say, he's been the best dog I could have had the pleasure to have in my life for 14 years. Rescue dogs are the best. Thanks for letting me vent. I'll let you know what happens.

[toverman]

Sorry you are going through this, Lisa. You're right, many of us have been there. I agree that rescue dogs can be among the best. We adopted our current friend the day before he was to be euthanized at a shelter.

It's supposed to be hard to say goodbye to a special friend and family member. If we didn't love them so much, and they didn't love so much, our lives would be missing an important piece.

[debbry531]

Oh no. Dogs are family members and it's tough when they get old and pass on. Maybe yours will be okay awhile longer - but if not, I'm sure he's had a happy and full life (and 14 years isn't shabby!).

I posted this awhile ago when another TPFer's dog died and I still like it...
"It came to me that every time I lose a dog, they take a peace of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are." - Cheryl Zuccaro

[L Stegall]

Debbie, that is beautiful. I love that thought. Yes, he has had a very happy and full life, after being spared from death row as a puppy and having been abused prior to his stint at the SPCA. 14 is by no means shabby and he's been in very good health right up till now, so we've been very fortunate. We will see what the vet says and I am confident we will make the right decision for him and no matter what, a big piece of our hearts will go with him and we'll keep a big piece of his. Thank you. I only wish he wasn't a completely camera shy guy that you could have photographed for me.

[pcdeatherage]

Toby is 17 (born nov 1992 part shephard part pit bull) and we are going thru the same. we figured we would lose him the last year but haven't (an occasional anti-flammatory has worked wonders) Even though we've been expecting it for a few years now it will still be hard. He has taken care of us and taken under his wing the many kittens, cats, puppies, dogs not to mention rabbits we've 'forced' upon him. At some point tho the pain will be too much and i'll have to let him go.

[L Stegall]

Patrick, my college roommate has a 17-year old border collie, so we're all facing the same issues of elder care and I certainly feel for you guys as well.

UPDATE for us: Vet says he is running a high fever, but other tests so far are okay. Got him on IV antibiotics and fluids to see if he can regain some strength. I am so thankful we love and trust our vet and know that he is getting great care. Dr. H is keeping him overnight for observation, so we'll see how things go.

[Roy]

My thoughts are with you Lisa. Dog lovers understand. Hope you keep getting good reports.

I'm sure y'all have had some great times and memories together!

None of my dogs have made it 14 years. I'm lucky to get 10 or 12 and then I get another one.

[panda81]

Sorry to hear about the heartache you had this morning, but hopefully it'll turn out to be nothing more than a little bug that he'll get over real quick.

I had a German Shepherd when I was a teenager, but didn't get to spend much time with him once I went off to college and beyond. He was one of the most loyal dogs you'll ever meet, but since he was an outdoor dog, he didn't get nearly as much affection as he wanted. After he passed away, I had so much grief and regret for not spending enough time with him. My wife and I got another dog two years ago (who we both LOVE to death), and he's probably the most spoiled dog on the planet :) But I always tell my wife, it's okay to spoil the dog, because in the future you don't want to reflect back and be filled with regret as I am with my first dog....

And seeing as how this is a photography forum, let me share a picture of my (current) dog...



Lisa, show us yours!!

[janetg]

wow, this just makes me so sad... some of you may remember my dog went blind several weeks ago, it's been determined she has a brain tumor, has had one seizure already. she's often very confused, sleeps 90% of the time, but is otherwise in good spirits. i know her day won't be a long time coming either, and i just can't bear it.

i'm be thinking about everyone on this thread and their dogs...let's hope we all get through this ...

[zerovision]

Our BC "Blade" was diag with cancer 6 months ago. We looked at all kinds of treatment, but determined that kemo would only make him sick for his remaining days. My wife is a vet tech and we have friends in the same field who helped us with alternative medicines and special diet that helped him maintain some energy, but last month within a two day period he got worse and we had to put him down. He was only 8yrs old. We will be thinking about you and hope you hear good news and not bad.

Below is a link that we put on youtube as a tribute to our friend Blade.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOXQX_3FSU8

[L Stegall]

Jerry, I will post some images tonight when I get home and write a more detailed comment to everyone sharing their stories, because I really do appreciate my fellow dog people commenting - I know you know what it's like.

Our latest update is that the 105.3 fever is down a bit (but still high), one round of IV antibiotics and fluids down and another round of antibiotics scheduled for 5:00. Vet is keeping him tonight, so we probably won't know more until tomorrow morning. Fever still of undetermined origin, but blood work and kidney, liver and x-rays look okay, so no sign of a tumor. That was one of my concerns, as he had one removed last Spring and at that time, we decided not to do chemo, based on his age, not wanting to put him through all that if it did not have a good chance of giving him a good and lengthy quality of life and the fact the vet felt they got it all. So, I'm glad that there are no signs of a tumor and perhaps it is just an infection or something else, but at 14, he's lost some major strength, so we're hoping he'll pull through and preparing for the other possibility as well.

[SCone]

My wife's little dog, Prince, was getting up there in years. Having trouble getting up and walking around for the last several months. The vet gave us some pills that made him feel better, but it was just a matter of time. Saturday he just fell over and went limp. I held him for a few minutes, at first there was no heart beat or breathing, then suddenly he went stiff and I could feel his little heart pounding away. It took awhile but he seemed fine later that night. She gave him a bath Sunday & told me he sat beside her all day long while I was at work. Monday evening he started wheezing and was having trouble breathing. We decided I'd take him to the vet Tuesday, but he didn't make it. I took him outside about noon and he waddled around the backyard for a little while. Stopping to sit in the sun. When I looked outside again, he laying on his side and not moving.

Prince now rests in a small place reserved for our pets in the backyard.

I believe Mark Levine's book "Rescuing Sprite" helped my wife deal with Prince's passing. She finished reading it last month and I would highly suggest it for any dog lover

[L Stegall]

Thanks Stephen. I have tears in my eyes for you and your wife right now. I'm so sorry for your loss. I will definitely look for that book. I really liked what Debbry had to say earlier about getting and giving pieces of your heart to your canine companions, and they are always in your heart.

When my sister's first beloved golden passed away just as they were moving out of Texas years ago, their kids felt strongly that she be buried in TX, and they had planned to plant a tree with her ashes in their yard. But, once my brother-in-law was transferred, they didn't want to leave her in a "stranger's" yard, so we offered ours, so she would always be with family and I always talked to the "Dixie" tree when I was out in the backyard. Somehow, I think it made everyone feel a little better.

[d2creative]

Going through the same with our 12yo Husky now. He has canine diabetes and cushions disease. Seems like we got the cushions under control but the blood sugar levels are still literally off the charts even with 20 units of insulin. I have to give him a shot twice a day plus the pills for the cushions. He's been going to the vet a couple times a week for several weeks now trying to get the diabetes regulated. It's a ton of money but unless he's really suffering, I can't see putting him down. I hope he pulls through. The wife and I don't know married life without him since we got him just a few months after getting married. Until this he was perfectly healthy, surprisingly so for his age.

[L Stegall]

That's how we feel Dennis. This is the only dog we've had in our married life and other than the occasional encounter with a stray cat who has decided our back yard looked interesting, he's been amazingly healthy up till now. I am with you about them having quality of life and not suffering. I'll keep you and your dog in my thoughts as well - I guess it's amazing how lucky we all are to have dogs live to ripe old ages - just like humans. Getting old ain't for sissies - whether two or four legged ones.