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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Posts
    2,309

    Unhappy So sad right now....

    Sigh... bad night in the Amos household.
    Got home and found one very sick great dane. Took her to the vet and it doesn't look good. Part of her stomach is in the wrong place, liver and kidney tests are bad. Basically not good. She's on an IV at the doggy doctor tonight and we'll see in the morning. But she's an old girl - 10- so I have to face the facts. She prolly won't be coming home..... sigh.... Very sad in the Amos household tonight. : (
    This just SUCKS!!
    We have had her since Spencer was a baby. He has always had her with him. He takes care of her, feeds her, picks up her stuff, grooms her, etc. She is his dog and he is devastated.
    sigh.... : (
    I know it's part of life, but it's still hard to say goodbye, and even harder to watch your childs heart break.
    Please send healing vibes to one sweet great dane named abby. There is still a bit of hope, so I'm clinging to that little bit.
    It's so hard when you are at the vet and you feel like you are putting a price tag on your beloved pets life, but I have to face facts. She is an old girl and the xrays looked horrible. So they have her on an IV to re-hydrate and will do an ultrasound in the morning. Also some more blood work since the numbers were off the chart. I want to at least try to save her if I can, but I will not let her suffer. The worse part may be deciding if I should pay to have them operate- something I have the feeling will happen. Like I said, at what price do I say ok and when do I just let her go. Such a hard decision... Man this just sucks!
    Please send some vibes our way if you would. I think the whole family needs them.
    Thanks
    Denise

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Pacific Northwest
    Posts
    3,436
    I have just been through something like this with our 16-year old Siamese cat Beeper (chronicled on Thread Drift). She did pull through and although I know we won't have her forever (Vet on the ultrasound: "Her kidneys look like swiss cheese"), she is doing reasonably well for now on subcutaneous fluid twice a week--still enjoying life. So know that you can still get a reprieve with an older, very sick animal. And also remember this quote that our vet sent us after we lost a well-loved cat:

    "We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own
    Live within a fragile circle, easily breached
    Unable to accept its awful gaps, we still would live no other way.
    We cherish memory as the only certain immortality
    Never fully understanding the necessary plan..."

    The Once Again Prince
    from
    Separate Life Times, Irving Townsend
    "My predominant feeling is one of gratitude. I have loved and been loved;I have been given much and I have given something in return...Above all, I have been a sentient being, a thinking animal, on this beautiful planet, and that in itself has been an enormous privilege and an adventure." O. Sacks

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Downunder
    Posts
    292
    Very very very sorry to hear about your Great Dane Running Mommy

    sending you healing vibes and as much strength as I can.

    so very very sad

    (((((((Abby))))) (((((Runningmommy))))) (((((Amos household)))))

    Thea
    To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived — This is to have succeeded - Emerson

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Shelbyville, KY
    Posts
    1,472
    My Great Dane, Gaston, and I have you, your family and Abby in our prayers this evening. Give her a big hug tomorrow.
    Marcie

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Seattle, WA
    Posts
    2,208
    Cheers to Abby, who has lived a long life to this point and hopefully will continue in that path. Should that prove difficult, she will move on knowing that you and your family were there for her. I'm sure it will be a tough decision, I definitely don't envy you for that.

    Hugs to Denise, Abby, and the Amos fam in general. You'll make it through this.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Columbia River Gorge
    Posts
    3,565
    Denise, I am so sorry for your situation right now. I know how difficult it is. And when I say I know, I really know. I am sending lots of love to you and your family, especially Spencer and Abby.

    I had a coon hound I loved dearly who had a very similar problem but she was still relatively young, 7 years old. The vet told me the surgery would cost about $1200 and there was only a 50/50 chance that she would make it. I couldn't bear the thought of losing her and we opted to pay for the surgery. She lasted through the night and then slowly the next day she slipped into a septicemia and was in agony. We had to go down and say our good-byes and have her put down. It was very traumatic for her and us. I don't often say I have regrets, I try to live my life the best I can and let go of the past because I know I could not have done anything differently but his is one of my deepest regrets. I only wish that we had let go sooner and not put her through those hours of pain.

    I truly hope that Abby is OK. I also hope that I can send you vibes of strength to help you make whatever decision that you need to and just do the best that you can.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Alaska
    Posts
    2,201
    i am so sorry. great big hugs for you, your family, and the pup. peanut (my pup) and i are sending as many good vibes as we can.

    oh and peanut also sends a big slobbery wet kiss to all of you.
    "Forget past mistakes. Forget failures. Forget everything except what you're going to do now and do it." – William C. Durant

    I click here to help detect breast cancer.

    I click here to help feed animals in need.


    I play this game to help feed people in need.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Mass
    Posts
    431
    Dear ((((((((((Denise & family & precious Abby))))))))))

    I am so very, very sorry to hear about what you're all going through .

    Originally posted by RunningMommy
    There is still a bit of hope, so I'm clinging to that little bit.
    ANY amount of hope for (((Abby))) - even "a bit", let's hang on to that.

    Please know that I am sending many prayers & healing thoughts over to your special girl, and to your whole family!

    If there is anything at all that I can do, please let me know.

    Peace, love & strength,

    Denise


    "He who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with men. We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals".
    Immanuel Kant

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    stratford upon avon,england
    Posts
    223
    sometimes illness is nworse with a pet as we communicate so largely thru emotions to them and eye contact,rather than discussion and reson,think thats why they tend to understand us and us them so much (well,in an ideal world),a pet is a very good example of trust.and dependance on the vets,clever clever people,and what a job,i think id find it very hard,loads of love.
    who is driving your bus?

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Traveling Nomad
    Posts
    6,763
    What sad news....I have tears in my eyes. We had to put our Boston Terrier, Pepper, down on Dec. 18th (she was three months shy of her 15th birthday), and it was also a very difficult decision -- she had started having cluster seizures. It was possible she could have lasted, but I couldn't stand to see her go through another bout of them; and I finally decided that keeping her alive would have served not her, but us. Putting her down ranked right up there among the few saddest days in my life.

    You and Abby are in my thoughts.

    Emily
    Emily

    2011 Jamis Dakar XC "Toto" - Selle Italia Ldy Gel Flow
    2007 Trek Pilot 5.0 WSD "Gloria" - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow
    2004 Bike Friday Petite Pocket Crusoe - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Dallas, TX
    Posts
    2,716
    The worse part may be deciding if I should pay to have them operate- something I have the feeling will happen. Like I said, at what price do I say ok and when do I just let her go. Such a hard decision... Man this just sucks!
    Please send some vibes our way if you would. I think the whole family needs them.
    Thanks
    Denise
    Denise,

    Only you can decide what that price is.

    I have some friends who spent $2,000 for operations, hospital time... for their cat. Unfortuantely, nothing was really wrong with the cat (found out after the cat was opened up). Now, they could pay that and were willing.

    Me? Well, my budget would never allow that. When I had my pup, I always said that $500 was the cut off line. Anything over that, and I would do the best I could to make her last days as happy and comfortable as possible.

    I know we "hate" to put a "price" on our animals life... but there comes a point where you have to look at it rationally. What can you afford, and will it really do that much good?

    You love your dog... and it's even harder that your little one has to experience the loss... but you have to do what you need to do.

    I am very sorry to hear about your sweet dog being sick and in the vets office.. I am sure you will find a solution that works well for your family and your dog.

    I also certainly send out my warmest heartfelt thoughts to a recovery for your sweet one.
    "Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather, to skid in broadside thoroughly used-up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming: WOW WHAT A RIDE!!!!"

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Posts
    2,309

    another update

    Abby is up and doing a bit better according to the vet. She has a full bladder, but won't empty it when they take her for a walk. God bless her soul, just like her mom she can't "perform in public". lol but the vet said he saw a full bladder in the ultrasound and there is no obstruction, she's just being a diva dog.
    The troubling thing at this point is that there is some fluid build up in her abdomen that suggests either congestive heart failure or cancer. So that is being sent for a definitive test. he is also having a radiologist read the x rays because he said there are some confusing things on it that he wants another eye to look at.
    So I get to pick her up tonight and I guess we will see what the tests say, and how she responds at home. ugh, this is SOO stressful!
    But thanks to you caring souls I am getting through it. I think just being able to write about it helps as well. So thanks for your ear.- or eyes or... whatever. hee hee
    I'll post again when I know more.
    denise

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Looking at all the love there that's sleeping
    Posts
    4,171
    Quote Originally Posted by Running Mommy View Post
    Abby is up and doing a bit better according to the vet. She has a full bladder, but won't empty it when they take her for a walk. God bless her soul, just like her mom she can't "perform in public". lol but the vet said he saw a full bladder in the ultrasound and there is no obstruction, she's just being a diva dog.
    The troubling thing at this point is that there is some fluid build up in her abdomen that suggests either congestive heart failure or cancer. So that is being sent for a definitive test. he is also having a radiologist read the x rays because he said there are some confusing things on it that he wants another eye to look at.
    So I get to pick her up tonight and I guess we will see what the tests say, and how she responds at home. ugh, this is SOO stressful!
    But thanks to you caring souls I am getting through it. I think just being able to write about it helps as well. So thanks for your ear.- or eyes or... whatever. hee hee
    I'll post again when I know more.
    denise
    Denise...I hope things are turning around for your Abby. Healing vibes to her, comforting vibes to you and your family......

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Salt Lake City, UT
    Posts
    627
    I am in tears...I am at work, too, so I am feeling a little conspicuous. Brandi, your story brings back memories for me. Katrina, my beloved siamese has been gone for many years now. In the mid-90's I came home from my mom's funeral to one very sick kitty. The funeral was in CA and I was now living in UT. Katrina was "old" already, but she was my baby. She was 15 when I had to take her to the vet to find out what was wrong with her. I just couldn't let her go, not so soon after my mom's death. I had her treated, which meant a weeks stay at the vet getting intravenous fluids. She finally came home and I had 4 more years with her before "it was time". Katrina saw me through some very emotional periods in my life. She was there for me. Maybe I was selfish in not letting her go the first time, but she still had a lot of love to give me and I still had a lot of love to give her. Like Brandi says...You will know the right time....

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Posts
    1,046
    So sad, Denise... sending out warm thoughts to you and Abby...

    My dog is almost 14 now and I know the day will soon come when we will have to make a decision. Fortunately, she has always had doggie Health Insurance. She's old and slow now, but her coat is still good (luxurious even) and though she's nearly deaf, she still has interest and her arthritis is kept in check. Still, I dread the day...

 

 

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