Replies: 12
| visibility 660
|
CU Medallion [59731]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 46964
Joined: 4/23/00
|
The time is near, and I've been dreading it.
Mar 22, 2015, 4:04 PM
|
|
Molly, our Miniature Schnauzer, turned 13 on Valentines day. She's been slowly going downhill for months now. She weighs in at 15-16 lbs., but the vet says her heart is enlarged to the size of a 90 lb. Rottweiler's. Over the past 9 months she has battled (and overcome) pneumonia twice, bladder infections, and a bad liver. I thought she was a gonner on a couple of occasions over that span, and mourned her "passing" each time, only to have her remarkably recover each time. I don't want to be one of those people who hang on to a suffering pet for months and months for their own selfish benefit, but I am thankful for advances in veterinary medicine that have given her a few more months of quality life. As the vets have said, she's the only one who doesn't know how sick she is, and she just hasn't given up. We noticed a change over the last day or two, however, as her appetite has diminished significantly, and her breathing has become more labored and her coughing has become more frequent (her enlarged heart is now pressing on her airway). She will go into different rooms of the house and stare at a wall for minutes at a time, and when outside, she just slowly looks around, sniffing with her nose in the air, as if she's saying "goodbye". She has a weak, far away look in her eyes. Our family has talked, and we will not let her suffer.
The next few days could be rough. I've known it was coming for a long time, but that doesn't make a ### bit of difference right now.
|
|
|
|
Heisman Winner [142570]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 42846
Joined: 8/26/07
|
It's little consolation for strangers to say
Mar 22, 2015, 6:26 PM
|
|
"I know what you are feeling." but we just went through this about a month ago with the dog we inherited when my dad passed away. It is tough, very tough. I also had a schnauzer growing up, they are great dogs.
Treasure the memories -
|
|
|
|
|
All-In [49978]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 27935
Joined: 8/10/02
|
nothing makes it better but the passage
Mar 22, 2015, 9:22 PM
|
|
Of time and knowing you did the right thing every step of the way. Sorry your family has to go through this. Been there many times, and our black lab is starting down that slope.
|
|
|
|
|
CU Medallion [59731]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 46964
Joined: 4/23/00
|
It is done. RIP Molly.***
Mar 22, 2015, 9:29 PM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Heisman Winner [112363]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 61263
Joined: 8/22/01
|
:( *******
Mar 22, 2015, 9:46 PM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CU Medallion [50635]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 43019
Joined: 12/3/98
|
|
|
|
|
Legend [17753]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 16306
Joined: 5/13/02
|
|
|
|
|
Oculus Spirit [83395]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 57601
Joined: 9/13/04
|
A point for you. And it sucks.
Mar 22, 2015, 11:01 PM
|
|
But as much as you loved her, its part of the responsibility of owning (or as it often is, being owned by) a wonderful companion. She depended on you for food, love, and care, and unfortunately, this is part of that deal. My thoughts go out to you.
|
|
|
|
|
Orange Blooded [3148]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 3620
Joined: 1/15/09
|
I was given good advice that I should have followed
Mar 23, 2015, 8:17 AM
|
|
The vet will give them 2 shots, one to sedate them and one that stops the heart. Within 5 minutes of the first shot they are pretty much unaware of their surroundings, so leave then. It was weird being in a vet room with your best friend's body on the table.
So basically 1. Pay beforehand 2. Say your goodbyes with the sedative 3. GTFO and have yourself a good cry
|
|
|
|
|
CU Medallion [60653]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 42737
Joined: 11/30/98
|
always a difficult time to get through
Mar 23, 2015, 8:30 AM
|
|
I've been through it many times too. I had one with an enlarged heart also, and despite the vets warning that he was living on borrowed time, he made several years longer than he should have. He passed away on the vets examination table from a massive coronary as we had him in for a checkup - maybe that was fortunate looking back on it, but it sure wasn't pleasant at the time.
You just have to remember the 13 years of happiness she gave you (and you provided her) rather than the days/weeks you are going through now. You know it was well worth the trade-off.
|
|
|
|
|
Oculus Spirit [79537]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 26521
Joined: 12/6/98
|
very sorry to hear about Molly***
Mar 23, 2015, 10:05 AM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
110%er [9120]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 6729
Joined: 9/26/08
|
Sorry, bro. It just sucks.
Mar 23, 2015, 1:40 PM
|
|
A good friend of mine is putting his dog down today because of a ruptured tumor in his heart. Didn't even know he had one. We went by yesterday to tell him goodbye. He's not even my dog, and it tears me up.
|
|
|
|
|
All-TigerNet [10287]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 14011
Joined: 7/31/04
|
Very sorry...Our good buddies spirit never leaves us.
Mar 23, 2015, 4:17 PM
|
|
She'll be wagging her tail the next time she see's you...
|
|
|
|
Replies: 12
| visibility 660
|
|
|