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I'm so sorry to hear that. Ive had 2 dogs who've had to be put to sleep because they were old and suffering.
It really is for the best if they are in pain. Not that I was around when we did it to our dogs. I cry just thinking about it even though I weren't there. In fact, I'm starting to cry now.
I soooo loved my dogs. Okay, I'm really crying now [img]graemlins/cry.gif[/img]
Anyways, message was, whatever you decide, I know what you're going through and understand.
Good luck to you all.
Hi Fan,
What a difficult time for you, right now. The only thng I can say is, how wonderful a human being you are for caring so much for your animals as if they are real human children. It's very difficult losing anyone you've loved for that many years, especially if you see them suffering near the end. I'll be praying that it's not as bad as predicted and that you still have some time with her.
We've only had our cat children for about 2 years now, and imagining us in your place with our cat children is just too difficult to even comprehend. Our shoulders are here for you, whenever you need [img]graemlins/rose.gif[/img]
<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ November 19, 2003 09:58 AM: Message edited by: sindatur ]</font>
The Internal Medicine vet called this morning. He says she seems to be doing a bit better, but I'm thinking it's relative. She's circling in her cage, to the left, which confirms the results of the neurological tests he did yesterday (weakness on her right side, indications of brain lesions or a tumor). No interest in food. Her blood work came back with no indications of a metabolic reason for the seizures.
I've made an appointment with our vet here tomorrow afternoon to have her put to sleep. If a miracle happens and it isn't necessary I can always cancel it. My husband wants to be with her when she's given the shot, so I won't have it done in Columbia, it's not fair to him. Four years ago we had her mother put to sleep (she had liver cancer) and the vet let us hold her while he gave her the shot. Some people can't bear to be there when it happens (Ian, I feel your pain), but we decided we wanted to be with her. Same thing will happen tomorrow, I'm thinking.
The vet's going to call this evening with the MRI results. I suppose I'd rather know for sure, so the expenditure is worth it. And now I know what to look for in our other dogs. Although, even realizing that she was showing symptoms for probably a year, I don't know that our decision would be any different. We'd have lost her sooner, is the only thing that would have changed. You can't explain to a dog that the medical procedures you're putting her through are to try to save her. Even assuming she'd have survived the surgery, which I doubt.
[img]graemlins/storm.gif[/img]
(hugs Fan)
I am sorry to hear about your dog. While it is hard, I think you are doing the right thing.
Well...shoot.
Fan, I understand the pain, and understand the choices. Good luck and wishes to both you and your husband.
Then, there's this. My dad left Sunday late afternoon. He was sleeping of sorts, but was disorented as well. Sometime during the night, his oxygen slipped off of his face, and I don't know how long he was just breathing on his own. I put it back on when I got up, but he was a bit out of sorts from then on. It's happened from time-to-time in the past, but for short periods of time. Don't know about this one. One of the side effects of congestive heart failure is water retension. What the dr's do is prescribe diuretics to help the body get rid of fluids, as the heart isn't up to it anymore. This in turn overworks the kidneys, and you end up with a balancing routine, help the heart without ruining the kidneys. Thing is, though, that window gets more narrow with time. As such, his legs were very swollen with the excess fluids. To deal with this, we had compression bandages on his legs, but all this pressure caused him some pain, and that required some Tylenol #3. He slept a whole lot better at night once we started that. Problem is...(#3 means there is codine is added) it could cause disorentation if is sleep was disturbed. So, Sunday between the oxygen and codine, he would sleep, but he'd be mumbling from time to time. Later in the afternoon, he appeared to finally settle into a normal, restful sleep. I got up to check after about 1/2 hour, and couldn't see his chest rising from across the rooms. I could see why when I got next to him.
He was adamant that I not do CPR. He wanted no extraordinary means used to revive him. Following those instructions, I called 911 and waited. Hard to do, but per his wishes...
One of the things people do, myself included, is go back and realize all the things you missed. People will tell you not to beat yourself up, but you have to...it's part of the process. On a perfect day, I could have possibly kept him alive for another two days, catching the oxygen when it fell off by checking in the middle of the night. Or, it could have fallen off right after I checked. Realized the disorentation was due to the lack of oxygen and got him to the hospital, where it wouldn't have made any difference (you can't go back), and they could not have released him to go home. So, even though there are things I could have done different, in the end it wouldn't make any of it better.
Memorial service is tentative, but probably the firsrt week in December, and I'm aiming for Thursday. I really don't have a clue how to plan these things, but I'll wing it and oddly enough, everyone will be ok with that. I've got a sister-in-law and her family for real good moral support, and some great friends helping me along as well. I shouldn't do too badly.
So, that's my news. I'll eventually start popping in with a little more irregularity as life continues on.
But, I'm going to miss him...
Holy cow. The vet in Columbia just called with her MRI results. They were normal. Normal, normal, normal. He says we should all be so lucky to have such a normal MRI. The meningeal lining -- I think that's what he said -- was bright, which is typical of meningitis, so he took a spinal fluid sample and he'll get the results in the morning. She came out of the anaesthesia fine. The circling and so on he says is indicative of a neurological problem, but that may have started with the initial seizure, which actually may have been caused by the low blood glucose.
And he thinks she's going to be okay. He asked me to bring anything I think she'll eat tomorrow, since she's refusing to eat anything they've offered her. She's never been an enthusiastic eater, but I'm about to cook her up some chicken and I'll bag up some tuna fish, since she loves both. He says he doesn't care what she eats, just so I can get her to eat.
I can cancel the appointment with our vet tomorrow, I can't even begin to describe my feelings about that. I've been crying and wanting to dance around, all at the same time.
I get to keep my little dog, for awhile longer.
Thanks for listening, you guys. I appreciate all the kind words. [img]biggrin.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/rainbow.gif[/img]
Wizz, I just read your post, we must have crossed each other. I'm so sorry about your dad. And I can relate to beating yourself up (if only I had done this, or said that, or waited a few more minutes, or tried a little harder....), but you do the best you can and that's all you can do. You were a good son.
My sincere condolences. [img]frown.gif[/img]
*hugs Wizz*
Fan, that's good news. *hugs*
Hi Wizz, sorry to hear about your Dad, and you're right. you can beat yourself 'til your black and blue, but little would've changed. You did your best, and most importantly you were there, so he didn't have to be alone.
Fan, Great news
(hugs Wizz)
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I know that this is going to be a hard time for you. I wish there were some magic words I could say to make it better. I remember meeting your Dad, that was a fun breakfast. He struck me has a good man who loved you dearly. Take care of yourself, we are here for you.