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Post by celawson on Jan 31, 2017 12:38:28 GMT -5
Hey everyone, I just wanted to let you know I didn't mean to leave the other thread so abruptly. My dog Pax - the sweet one in my avatar who has been with us for 11 years - has developed an illness and I may have to euthanize him today. I'll be back at some point soon, but...sigh... We've done this before twice, both with dogs where we knew with absolute certainty - one had a brain tumor and the other had disseminated hemangiosarcoma. Pax has Cushing's disease (caused by either a pituitary tumor or adrenal gland tumor), and he doesn't look so bad. Unfortunately he is drinking bowls and bowls of water and is therefore unable to hold his bladder more than 2 hours or so during the day and 3 at night. He's had 3 accidents int the last week, and when he does, it's a lake. (He's 110 lbs of hound). 2 weeks ago he had an 8-10 hour bladder if needed, no prob. I've been getting up through the night to relieve him, and I wasn't able to work on Friday or yesterday due to not being able to leave him home by himself. He's also voraciously hungry all the time - another symptom of the disease. He's slowing down in other ways, but like I said, he doesn't look gravely ill like my other dogs. The treatment for this is expensive and dangerous and requires close monitoring, which I can't do since I work, and it won't necessarily control all his symptoms nor prolong his life. So I'm going to talk to the vet this morning, but I think we have no choice. If anyone has a similar experience they'd like to share, I'm all ears. My appointment is at 11:00 Pacific time.
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Post by Vince524 on Jan 31, 2017 12:44:26 GMT -5
I'm so sorry. I've got three fur babies myself and it kills me whenever this happens.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2017 13:13:17 GMT -5
c.e., I'm so sorry. It is so hard to lose a pet. But sometimes, yes, it is kinder to the animal to end its suffering, even if isn't easy for us. Your vet, I'm sure, will give you the right advice.
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Post by Don on Jan 31, 2017 19:56:14 GMT -5
So sorry, c.e. This is a decision we've had to battle with for years, one day and one possible solution at a time. We have a yorkie-poo that has always had terrible allergies, and as each med has lost potency, we've faced the possibility of losing him all over again. In addition, twice we've almost lost him to pancreatitis, even though he's on special food and never ever gets human food.
He's now on three different meds, near blind and diabetic from steroids when that was our only option, and on the latest new drug, which seems to be working... for now. If the latest shots for his allergies don't work, our options will be to watch him tear himself up from the itching or do the humane thing. We know the day is coming, but hope it won't be soon. That's really all we can do.
I'm a needle-phobic, and if anyone had ever told me I'd give a dog insulin shots twice a day, I'd have told them they were crazy. But I do it now, and count myself lucky to be able to. It's sometimes very hard being a pet parent, but the love and joy is always worth it. Our thoughts are with you.
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Post by celawson on Jan 31, 2017 20:58:20 GMT -5
Oh, Don - my heart goes out to you too. I haven't had a chronically ill dog. All have been healthy until cancer hit late in life. My sympathies. They really are true members of the family.
Thank you, everyone. You are all so nice. The deed is done. I was with him throughout. The vet gave him treats to eat, and he was happily chewing when the sedative was given. I was kneeling on the floor next to him. He started to lose his footing, and I soothed him and he laid down against my hip, still chewing. Over the next few minutes he simply slowed down and fell asleep. Then the vet gave him the second med which did the job. It was all very peaceful.
My vet was wonderful before the procedure - spent time talking through what's been going on with Pax for the past weeks/months. He finally said Pax had reached a long life for his type of breed, and that in his 35 years of experience, he had strong sense that what was going on now was bad. He said he could send us off to spend thousands on tests for a diagnosis, only to likely have them come back and tell us Pax has lymphoma or a brain tumor. He suspected a brain tumor. So I feel certain we did the right thing in preventing suffering. Dogs have a survival instinct that makes them hide pain and distress very well, and I think he was hiding feeling crappy. He wasn't engaging much like he used to and so focused on drinking and eating. So yeah. We were blessed with almost 11 years of a really stellar, calm, loving, and good house dog. He never got into trouble. (I think he was not smart enough to, but his loving nature more than made up for is lack of smarts.)
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2017 22:07:00 GMT -5
I'm so sorry, c.e. It's hard, but it sounds like Pax had a peaceful, happy end, and that is comforting.
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Post by Don on Jan 31, 2017 22:23:26 GMT -5
I'm so sorry, c.e. You can take some small comfort in knowing you did the right thing for someone you loved.
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Post by Rolling Thunder on Feb 1, 2017 18:48:18 GMT -5
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Post by Angie on Feb 2, 2017 2:54:52 GMT -5
So sorry, C.E. Even when you know it's the only humane choice, it's still hard as hell.
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Post by celawson on Feb 2, 2017 11:42:01 GMT -5
Thanks you, guys. RT you made me cry with that video! (In a good, therapeutic way, though.)
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Post by Rolling Thunder on Feb 2, 2017 12:21:33 GMT -5
All people with good souls mourn a dog's passing.
Eta: except Chihuahuas. They're more rat than dog
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Post by celawson on Feb 2, 2017 12:58:45 GMT -5
All people with good souls mourn a dog's passing. Eta: except Chihuahuas. They're more rat than dog My daughter is a college student in Oregon right now (see the Berkeley thread). I texted her yesterday that I missed Pax. She responded, "I didn't know Trump supporters* could have human emotions." I think she was kidding? Bueller? *I don't define myself as an actual 'Trump supporter'. I support certain things he does and dislike other things. But I'm trying to be more hopeful than pessimistic about the next 4 years.
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Post by haggis on Feb 4, 2017 23:46:38 GMT -5
c.e. I'm sad to learn about this. My last pup, a Blue Heeler, was only with us for about 2 1/2 years. Bone Cancer got her and there was really no other option but to have her euthanized. Be assured you did the right thing.
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Post by celawson on Feb 7, 2017 12:11:15 GMT -5
Thank you, Haggis. I'm sorry you've been through this. It sucks.
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Post by haggis on Feb 9, 2017 15:49:56 GMT -5
Thank you, Haggis. I'm sorry you've been through this. It sucks. It does, but of course we know this going in. We've got two new pups now, and I kind of think that when the time's right you'll let yourself get adopted again.
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