A bittersweet thank you

[crusoes]

Forgive me for not doggedly searching for this, but a thread I saw last week talked about dogs with tumors and the terrible prognosis that comes with it.

My Sparky Boy has had a tumor on his chest since late last year. It was growing to the point where, when I saw my vet in January, she said he had six to eight weeks, and she sounded skeptical about the eight. Sparky, being a Jack Russell terrier, had his stubborn side and has lasted 13 weeks.

But I saw the thread about the tumors and decided to take him in for a checkup. Jackie (the vet) told me the tumor was about to grow through the skin. I have to set up a date to put him to sleep.

I guess what I want to say is thank you for the info, painful as it was to post. I know it will save my Sparky Boy from suffering he didn't need to ensure. There is a lot of sniping and pettiness here, as we know, but there also is real heart, and mine, though it is breaking a little, is also very grateful.

 

[YGBFKM]

That might have been my RIP, Casey thread. We had to put her down last weekend after a cancerous mass burst in her stomach. So sorry to hear you're going through much the same thing. I know the emotions will fade in time, but I still tear up thinking about the old girl. Like right now.

 

[Shoeless Joe]

Don't let your dog suffer, but keep an eye on him and make every day between now and his last the best of his life. Most importantly, love him and let him know he is loved. This is the most important part: when it comes time for the shot, BE THERE WITH HIM. Hold him as he slips away. Reassure him that it'll be OK. (I've got tears right now).

If you don't know what the Rainbow Bridge is, find out.

If I could put my arms around Elton's neck once more and squeeze until it hurts, there is really no telling what I'd give for the chance.

 

[chase.colston]

So awful, and I'm so sorry.

My wife and I had been trying to prepare ourselves that we might have to put down our 3-year-old Corgi today. We spent two days at Texas A&M veterinary school for him to have an MRI and other tests, almost positive he had a brain tumor. It turns out he didn't have it, but we're still waiting to see if he has meningitis or some other infection. It's been a hard week, especially seeing the thread on Casey and now this one.

I'll give my little dude a hug and a kiss for your dog, and best wishes for you and your little guy. It's not easy.

 

[bydesign77]

Damn it got all dusty in here.

Hardest decision to make with a pet. But not doing it is usually selfish and only puts the dog in more pain.

It's the right choice, just so damn hard. I can't imagine what it will be like when I have to make that call with Kip. He's such a great dog.

Now, I have to go find tissue.

 

[crusoes]

That might have been my RIP, Casey thread. We had to put her down last weekend after a cancerous mass burst in her stomach. So sorry to hear you're going through much the same thing. I know the emotions will fade in time, but I still tear up thinking about the old girl. Like right now.

It was your post. And, again, it was a real service to me. Thank you again.

The day is Tuesday. He's pretty comfortable, but his energy after going outside, which used to be boundless, has flagged noticeably. Tuesday is going to be rough, as is the process of figuring out what to do with the remains, but I've tried to prepare for it as best I can. He's been a good boy, and like any dog owner, I have no shortage of stories involving him and his quirks and antics.

I posted this on Facebook, and there was a tremendous outpouring from people wishing him well. An ex-girlfriend's daughter, who was nine when I got him and is now 24, posted her memories of his antics, and she hasn't seen him in 14 years.

My Sparky Boy will be almost 15 1/2 on Tuesday, and I used to joke he was by far the most popular mammal in my home. I never minded being second banana to him. I will miss him terribly.

 

[MileHigh]

We need some dog uplifting around here. Remember the good -- all the good. The end sucks, but never forget the good.

http://www.dogasaur.com/blog/2011/dog-cries-soldier-return/

 

[wedgewood]

I think this may be the last few months for my parents yellow lab, Malichy. It's been a short life, 11 or so years, but he's had a good one. I love that goofy mutt. I visit the folks a couple times a month and I make sure to give him plenty of love ... especially scratching his butt. He loves it. Like MileHigh says ... remember the good.
I got such a kick watching him chase grounders ... not at all a retriever. He'd just sit and chew on those rubber lacrosse balls till I yanked it out of his mouth and hit 'em again - and off he'd go. Twice I've had to fish that big old ******* out of the prep school pond across the street from parents' house. He never could quite catch those geese. He's such a lovable, loyal friend and I'll miss the hell out of him when he goes. My heart goes out to you, crusoes. Sorry to hear about Sparky Boy. Sounds like a helluva dog.

 

[micropolitan guy]

We had our 14 1/2-year-old Aussie cremated, buried some of the ashes in the back yard where he loved to play, spread some others at our family mountain cabin, where he loved to play, and some went into glass container that's still on my son's bedstand.


The vet came to our house to put our dog down, so we could stay with him until the very end and so he could pass in familiar surroundings. It was still traumatic, but far less so than watching the vet lead him away into his office, and we got to see him resting at peace again, almost as if he was asleep.

The cremation company came and picked up the body of our dog about an hour later, and returned with the remains about a week later. It all cost less than $100.

I would highly recommend that approach.

 

[WolvEagle]

Crusoes - I'm so sorry, my friend. I had to put my lab-spaniel mix, Pepper, down a couple months ago. She had cancer that was spreading. I should have put her down a few months before that, but my son didn't want to see her go. Her energy level was down considerably, she was losing weight and the tumor really had grown. When I took her to the vet, she had gone from 70 pounds to 55. The vet said she was surprised that Pepper lasted as long as she did from the initial diagnosis (about nine months).

I'm glad I stayed in the room with her when the shot was given. A vet tech and I eased her onto a blanket as her legs gave out. Within 30 seconds of the shot, she was gone.

I think Pepper had an idea what was happening as we were driving to the vet, which is about a half-mile away. She normally would fuss in the car; she didn't this time.

Her being at peace helped put me at peace.

I still miss walking with her every day - I'm walking on my own now, at a much faster pace. Still, I miss her, but I know she's not suffering.

It's not easy, but it's the right thing.

 

[txsportsscribe]

i hope those who feel the need to put down their pet are there when it's done. i have a friend who won't stay for the shot. there's a sign in my vet's office that shows a dog and sez, "i was there for you, please be there for me." i couldn't imagine just taking my buddy logan and leaving him alone to die after all he's done for me.

 

[crusoes]

A rough, tough hockey coach told me the worst day of his life was the day he watched his dog go to sleep. "DO. NOT. WATCH." he said.

But I'll be there. I understand how people can't bear to watch. It doesn't make them any less of a person. It will be hard, but it is time. Sparky is getting longer walks and will be indulging in more peanut butter than usual in the next few days.

At my vet, the cremation is, for a 14-pound dog, $65 for a mass cremation (a bunch of dogs together, no urn or whatever they put them in) and $155 for an individual cremation. Still considering what to do.

 

[bydesign77]

I have got to stop reading this thread ... People are starting to stare.

Dogs are such wonderful creatures ...

 

[Big Circus]

I really feel for you, crusoes (and everyone else). It's not CLOSE to the same thing, but we had to give our dog up a few weeks ago after he went after our 1-year-old. I was a blubbering mess after it happened and still haven't really gotten over it, and he's happy and just a couple of hours away. I can't imagine what it would be like to have to put him down.

 

[wicked]

I'm sorry, crusoes.

 

[WolvEagle]

A rough, tough hockey coach told me the worst day of his life was the day he watched his dog go to sleep. "DO. NOT. WATCH." he said.

But I'll be there. I understand how people can't bear to watch. It doesn't make them any less of a person. It will be hard, but it is time. Sparky is getting longer walks and will be indulging in more peanut butter than usual in the next few days.

At my vet, the cremation is, for a 14-pound dog, $65 for a mass cremation (a bunch of dogs together, no urn or whatever they put them in) and $155 for an individual cremation. Still considering what to do.

What helped is that I was behind her, not looking at her face. She heard me talking and felt me petting her, I'm sure. I know she felt me helping her lay down on the blanket.

 

[YGBFKM]

I couldn't be there with Casey. I was so afraid she'd look at me with her big eyes when there was nothing I could do, and I didn't want that burned into my memory. After we spent time with her before they took her, as we walked out, I couldn't help but look back, fearing, yet hoping, she would look at me one last time. But while she was conscious, she wasn't responsive to movements or noise, and she just stared straight ahead. The mass burst in her abdomen only hours before, so she didn't suffer. We have that to hang onto.

 

[Nola4520]

We went through the same thing this week with one of our cats. My wife and I found Lanier last August in a park near where we live last August. He was emaciated, matted and stunk to high heaven. He had obviously been there a few months. He was fixed and had a slight collar mark. We didn't know if he was lost or just abandoned.

We brought him home. We slowly got his weight up, got his fur looking better and soon, he was trying to grab chicken or steak pieces off our plates with his paw. No hamburger or ground turkey, though. He knew when we had the good stuff.

Recently we thought he had an allergy. He got a steroid shot and felt better for a week, but then had the same symptoms. Another vet trip Saturday gave us the bad news -- it was FIP (Feline infectious peritonitis), which is both incurable and fatal.

The vet gave him another steroid shot, and we made sure he had plenty of love before we took him back Monday. In fact, he was doing well, he had his normal appetite, and he ate chicken pieces from our hands right up until the trip to the vet.

We were there with him, holding him as he passed hearing our voices telling him how much we loved him. The vets did a heart-shaped clay mold with his front paw prints, and his ashes will be back to us in a week.

He had the best eight months of his life in our home, and we miss the little guy so much.

Making the humane decision can be the hardest thing to do, but our pets give us so much love and devotion, and we owe it to them to do the same when the time comes. God bless the vets and vet techs who provide compassion and professional care for pets and their guardians in those last moments.

Condolences to crusoes & YGBFKM ...

 

[mustangj17]

Crusoes,

Sorry to hear about Sparky. I may be one of the few posters here, if any who met Sparky. Well, it must have been about 20 years ago. He looked old, but was still a nimble little rascal.

 

[shockey]

I really feel for you, crusoes (and everyone else). It's not CLOSE to the same thing, but we had to give our dog up a few weeks ago after he went after our 1-year-old. I was a blubbering mess after it happened and still haven't really gotten over it, and he's happy and just a couple of hours away. I can't imagine what it would be like to have to put him down.

oh, do i empathize, bc. no apologies necessary. to this day, the biggest regret of my life was giving up my 3-year-old part german shephard-mutt a year after i'd found her, abused, mangy, and preggers, and loved her back into a loving, trusting dog. long story on why i felt i had to give her up but letting 'skippy' out of my life haunts me to this day.... so i feel ya, knowing you had no choice...