My girl is sick.

[maillotpois]

Big hugs to you and Jane. I couldn't really read your whole post at first. The fact she's a rottie just hit too close to home.

My rottie, Meg, went downhill very quickly in June 2001. It was so rough on the whole family, but mostly on me. It was a financial hardship for sure - 3 weeks of dialysis for her. (In TE terms, easily the cost of a very nice new bike.) She seemed happy, though, relatively speaking. But I wondered at the time if it was too much - I know the guilt on all sides.

Then one day when I came home, and she looked at me - her eyes were suddenly sunken. I just knew it was time. I think you'll just know when it's time, and when you're doing "too much". My vet referred me to a vet who makes house calls for euthanasia, and she died in her bed in our living room, her head in my lap.

It's such a big responsibility, and presents so many hard choices. But the love you get (and give) makes it completely worth it.

[smilingcat]

Hi Aly,

If its joint problem, it may take a week or two before she starts feeling okay. A lot of dog owners firmly believe in Glucosamine. You can find it in health food store, like whole foods and GNC. Add a recommended amount into Jane's food and see if it helps.

Since it came on suddenly after a good work out, I think she is just hurting a lot from over exertion. When she gets better, its probably best to go really easy on outdoor activities. She is getting old and maybe suffering from athritis as well.

I work with cat rescue group and my partner used to work with Golden Rescue of So. Calif. One dog we fostered was an older golden. He had issues, nightmares, sad nightmares, and he had athritis. We put him on glucosamine and his stiff hips became more fluid but we never walked him beyond 200ft. He wanted to play so we played him in our living room no jumping, nor running but he was really happy. We matched him to an older woman who suffered from athritis so they both understood what the other one was going through. Brycee is about 13 now and still going okay. We just heard from his mom the other day. My partner had a long conversation with Brycee's mom. Brycee might last another year..
He has a really nice mom so atleast his latter half of his life turned out blissfully.

Anyway, don't lose hope. You may have to adjust your expectation of what Jane can do. Glucosamine is not expensive compared to regular drugs. It may add about $30.00/mo to Jane's food bill.

I wish you and Jane lots of good healing thoughts.
Smilingcat

[smilingcat]

just read about the reflex test. Well it might just be irritated nerve and temporary. Have hope.

smilingcat

[crazycanuck]

i'm sorry to hear about your doggiiiee

i don't have much to offer except i hope your pup's situation improves!

yukon sends sloppy kisses.

c

[deidre]

Aly, I am so sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to you and BF and your Chihuahua.

I couldn't read through all of the messages yet because I could feel my heart beating faster and faster. I was faced with making the same decision about our beloved 8 year old rottie Mahogany, over 5 years ago and surprisingly, it is still hard for me to talk about without getting emotional.

You gave Jane a better life and let her know that she was loved. You gave her a safe environment to heal, to be happy, and to know that we humans are not all like those "others that treated her with such cruelty".

Ariel (my 5 year old Rottie) sends you her love and a big sloppy kiss.

[sundial]

I'm Still Here

Friend, please don't mourn for me
I'm still here, though you don't see.
I'm right by your side each night and day
and within your heart I long to stay.

My body is gone but I'm always near.
I'm everything you feel, see or hear.
My spirit is free, but I'll never depart
as long as you keep me alive in your heart.

I'll never wander out of your sight-
I'm the brightest star on a summer night.
I'll never be beyond your reach-
I'm the warm moist sand when you're at the beach.

I'm the colorful leaves when fall comes around
and the pure white snow that blankets the ground.
I'm the beautiful flowers of which you're so fond,
The clear cool water in a quiet pond.

I'm the first bright blossom you'll see in the spring,
The first warm raindrop that April will bring.
I'm the first ray of light when the sun starts to shine,
and you'll see that the face in the moon is mine.

When you start thinking there's no one to love you,
you can talk to me through the Lord above you.
I'll whisper my answer through the leaves on the trees,
and you'll feel my presence in the soft summer breeze.

I'm the hot salty tears that flow when you weep
and the beautiful dreams that come while you sleep.
I'm the smile you see on a baby's face.
Just look for me, friend, I'm everyplace!

Author Unknown

[Ninabike]

Aly, I'm so sorry. I don't even know what to say. Like deidre said above, I can't read through all the posts. {{{{{{Aly, BF and Chihuahua}}}}}}

[Veronica]

Darn! I was hoping you'd have a better ending to your tale. I too found it hard to read the posts. We lost our Rottie 4 years ago this month. I'm so sorry. But you did the right thing for her.

V.

[Wahine]

Hugs to you and your family.

I know what you went through. It was when my sweet Tyson started losing control of his bladder that I made the decision to have him put down. It was so terribly heartbreaking but it was our last act of mercy, he was not functioning well.

Take care. I'm thinking about you and Jane.

[mtbdarby]

((Aly)) So sorry to hear of the loss of Jane. I went through the same thing recently too - seems like a lot of furbabies have gone to the bridge from this board in the last few months.

Grieve away and cherish the good times you had. I still talk to Xena every day even though I can't be with her.

[ccnyc]

Aly,
I'm so sorry for your loss. You did everything you could. Jane was obviously very well loved and I'm sure she knew it. FWIW, I had to make similar decisions as you with my Kazootie cat nine years ago, and it does get easier to deal with over the years, but I still think of her (good thoughts) daily and still miss her presence.

Carol

[Brandi]

My tears are for you and your loss! She had a good home for a year and that means a lot!
There was a dog on my street who spent 7 years in a home that never gave him any attention. He was never alloud to come in and lived in a yard full of dog sh*t. They threw food on the ground not even in a bowl. He had no shelter except for an old car. He had a another dog who had been living longer in those conditions. He seemed very mean which I think was the point to the treatment. He was a gaurd dog. Well another nieghbor and I couldn't stand it anymore and we called animal regs on them. This is a family who own's a business here in town. It''s not like they had no money to care for them. They found the one dog not able to stand up anymore and was in terrible shape. But the other younger one was saved. The older dog was put out of her pain (thank goodness). Well the nighbor that i had done this with took the younger dog into her home with her 3 other golden labs. He spent the next year of he's life really living it up! And it turns out he was not a mean dog at all! He just wanted attention and love! He was about 7 they figured. But after a year he started having hip problems that were due from the years of living outside. and they got so bad he had to be put down. I was sad but the fact that I know he was pampered for a year gave me some comfort. It was a hard dission turning our neighbors in like that. You worry about retaliation and what not. They are banned from having any animals for a while not sure how long. Turns out they really didn't care that we did that. I think they should have been punished more. Oh they were fined I think it was $500.00 and a 5 year suspension from owning any animal.I hope your girl is running around with Bart right now and saying how wonderful it was to be loved!

[Wahine]

Big hugs to all of you. Especially Jane.

My bullmastiff had degenerative myelopahty and eventually we had to have him put down. It was heartbreaking.

I'll be thinking of you and your fur family.

[LBTC]

Sending big beautiful gentle green and blue butterflies for calm, healing, and peace for you, your BF and Jane. May this be temporary and may you have every resource you need to see her through without undue hardship....

Hugs,
~T~

[teigyr]

I believe my parents had a german shepherd mix that had a version of that. That is where there's a disconnect from the brain to the nerves? They fed him this blended broccoli mixture that smelled vile but worked really well. I'm not so sure he liked it but he was piggy and that was to his advantage. He had a mixture of that and traditional medicine and far exceeded anyone's expectations.

I hope Jane is doing better. She is my namesake and I will keep her in my thoughts tonight.