So sad!!!!

[Deborajen]

Donna,

I'm so sorry to hear about your dog. We had to have our 13-year-old Siberian Husky put to sleep a little over a month ago. It never gets any easier to go through this type of thing even as we get older.

I think dogs are completely loyal, and they just want to make us happy, you know? They're always happy to see their families even if we say things we shouldn't have. Give him lots of hugs and pets. And take care of you, too.

Deb

[Tri Girl]

(((((hugs)))))
I'm so sorry to hear about your baby. Love him lots and give him all the attention, treats, petting, cuddling you can. Let him do all the things he loves to do.
All my thoughts and prayers are with you.

[emily_in_nc]

Donna,

I am so sorry. So many of us have lost four-legged family members before so we know how hard it is. My heart goes out to you!

Emily

[DDH]

Donna - I am so sorry to hear the news. He's lucky to have you and may you enjoy the time you do have.

Just out of curiosity, how did they diagnosis him?

((Hugs)) from Zeus and I

He had been limping on his leg off and on for about a month and I finally took him in thinking it was a pulled muscle and the vet did xrays and it was very clear. The vet was showing me and talking to me and said see how this looks compared to the other shoulder and I was like "Yeah?" he said something is eating away at his bone, and still not thinking anything about cancer I said, "well what in the world would be doing that" and that's when he said he has cancer.

He was going to do a biopsy, but I was concerned after reading up some on the internet, about them drillling into an already weakened bone and possibly causing a fracture, and losing him all the sooner. So my husband went in and talked to the vet and looked at the xrays and they decided that it was probably best to just let him be and not cause him anymore pain or take any chances. He was sure that it was cancer and by the time you are seeing symptoms, it has already spread and really to late to do anything about it other than manage his pain. The vet said the money that we would spend on a biopsy for an absolute diagnose's would be better spent on pain meds, as he will need them more and more as time goes on.


I just read all your replys and I appreciate your thoughts more than you know. I am spoiling him, (not that he wasn't already) and watching his every move while I'm home. He's probably sick of me and my husband pawing all over him so much lately. He is still in very good spirits right now and is getting up and down the new ramp that my husband built for him a whole lot easier than going up and down those stairs.

I really appreciate knowing that I am not alone in getting so frustrated with him at times. He really is just a big goof without a care in the world. I always describe him as goofy going aroung looking silly saying (do da do da do). LOL
He's been a great dog, just as our previous shepards were.
I told my husband the other day, I just wish we could have 1 dog that just goes to sleep and doesn't wake up rather than us having to make this heart wrenching decision later.
When the first two died, one had a stroke at 14 and we had to take him in because he couldn't walk right and couldn't hold his urine, and my dogs have always been in door dogs so you can imagine that you can't have them peeing everywhere. The second had spinal myopathy and the vet told me that there would come a day when he would not be able to get up any longer, but to leave him until he is ready and that I would know when.
When he no longer wants to play or show interest in things he loved to do such as play ball. It was so hard, my husband had gone off to another state on a hunting trip and that very weekend he didn't want to play ball anymore and wouldn't eat, so that Monday I had to have the vet come out. I felt terrible because I had sworn I wasn't going to let him get to the point of not being able to get up, and by the time the vet got there on Monday he was not longer able to get up. Poor thing was just laying there and couldn't move anymore. The other dogs wouldn't have anything to do with him, like they were scared or something.

So really, I already know how hard it is, I guess that is why I am dreading this so badly.
I cannot imagine us without a German shepard in our lives, but I think this will be the last.

Thanks everyone for all your thoughts, it means a great deal to me to be able to read about others experiences and to know I'm not alone.

[solobiker]

I am so sorry, I am sending you a hug right now. My thoughts are with you.

[badger]

one thing that really helped me, and I still have to remind myself at times, is that there is no past or the future with animals, just the now. So whenever I was thinking about "I shouldn't have done/said that", I would have to remind myself that he wasn't holding a grudge or thinking anything towards me other than what was happening at that particular moment.

If only we can all learn from them and live for the now

[bmccasland]

((((((Donna & Pup))))))

So sorry to hear your Pup is ill. It is so hard to watch a fur-baby that was once full of life become seriously ill. Many of us have been through it. Hopefully he has some pain meds so at least he's comfortable.

[blackhillsbiker]

We still tear up when we think about Idgie, our yellow lab. She helped me raise the kids. She was almost 14 when we had to take her in. MDH and I were both crying so hard neither one wanted to drive home. Now we have a big doofus of a curly-coated retriever. He drives me nuts, mainly because he isn't Idgie, which, I know, isn't fair. I am starting to appreciate him for his own self. Our other dog is an elderly Scottie mix with lupus. So far so good.

Hugs to you!

[Maxxxie]

We lost our rottie, Katie, to an osteosarcoma, about 18 months ago. Like you, I didn't think much of her occasional limping or tenderness around her paw. It would come and go. Eventually, it didn't go, and we took her to the vet. The vet assumed it was a muscle strain, and gave her pain relief. A week later, it wasn't any better, and MaxBabe insisted on x-rays. I knew, when the vet called and didn't want to discuss it over the phone, that Katie was in trouble.

As with your puppy, her prognosis was 3-6 months, tops. We also decided against amputation, due primarily to the fact that by the time it was diagnosed, it was almost certain to have metastasised in her lungs. Also, she had arthritis in her other legs, and we didn't think it was fair to prolong her life in that way.

We elected for radiation therapy and pain relief. We took her to a doggie oncologist. We knew when it was time to send her to puppy heaven. In the end, it was almost exactly three months from date of diagnosis when the pain became too much for the medication to keep under control. The vets at the oncology place were wonderful. Katie received top-notch care.

The weeks following her death were very tough. I was comforted by remembering her in better times. It's obvious you love your puppy very much. I wish you all the very best in this difficult time.

Max

[arielmoon]

((((((DDH)))))))

Sorry to hear this!

[papaver]

(((hugs)))

[OakLeaf]

This is an old thread, that was revived by a spammer this morning. Donna hasn't posted since the first week of September.

((((((((Donna,)))))))) if you're listening, I hope you're taking care of yourself. If your dog is still around, I'm sending vibes and prayers for relief from pain and a peaceful end; in any case, hugs and prayers to you for a clear path through your grief to the happy memories. Take good care, spend some time on the pet loss websites, cry as much as you need to.

[beccaB]

I'm sorry about your news Donna.
I wasn't going to post anything, but after I read this thread I had to get it off my chest. I am profoundly saddened by having to have my dog put down last Friday. Sparky was a mixed mutt that shared his life with us for 13 1/2 years.
I am astounded at how much this hurts right now. There were frustrations as well as the good times. But when I say profoundly saddened, I feel like my heart hurts, and I had no idea how many times I would look for him and how much he affected my entire life. My whole body aches, and I mean it feels like my muscles are cooked like after a 100 miler. I don't want to replace his memory, but my husband will probably never let me have another dog anyway. For 23 years he has let me have every animal I've ever wanted, and now it's his turn to not have one if he chooses. But my heart and my house are empty. Someone tell me please that this will pass.

[Tuckervill]

Oh Becca, I'm sorry. I'm sure you love your husband, but it seems rather cruel to have no hope for another dog.

Karen

[OakLeaf]

((((((((beccaB)))))))) I'm so sorry for your loss.