Pet Bereavement Support Group
The loss of a pet or animal to which one has become emotionally bonded can be an intense loss, comparable with the death of a loved one. Whilst there is strong evidence that animals can feel such loss for other animals, this community focuses on human feelings, when an animal is lost, dies or otherwise is departed.
I think the time is nearing when I'm going to have to exercise my last responsibility to my sweet Dakota.
http://www.dailystrength.org/people/562127/photos-videos/27
http://www.dailystrength.org/people/562127/photos-videos/7
She'll be 12 in a few weeks and she started exhibing signs of old age about a year ago. She started to find it difficult to jump on the couch, bed and into my truck. The last couple of months her hind legs weakened further and she has to work to get up, and the last month or so she's been very restless.
Last week from Thursday through Saturday she had four siezures. Full-blown grand mall siezures. Took her to the vet and they did a full blood work and also an EKG because her heartrate was erratic.
They put her on phenobarbitol for the siezures, and thankfully she hasn't had another. However one of the side effects of the pheno aggravates her hind legs. It weakens the hind. Another side effect is much greater thirst. So now she has to go out and relieve herself more often, but her condition and the pheno make that harder by the day. She's had 7 or 8 accidents peeing in the house the past few days.
Since the siezures she also has difficulties getting comfortable when laying down to sleep. She whines for a minute or two, then falls to sleep. Once sleeping she's very peaceful for some hours.
She still has her appetite and she's still interested in affection and still loves her treats. However I think it's rapidly approaching the time I'm going to have to have her put to sleep.
She's just lost so much in the past couple months, and especially the last week since the siezures.
I'm so sad I'm going to lose my sweet and loving friend I've had since she was 12 weeks old. My heart's so heavy right now, but I know what I'm going to have to do soon.
I guess I'm just trying to prepare myself for what I know is not only inevitable, but also the right thing to do for her.
http://www.dailystrength.org/people/562127/photos-videos/27
http://www.dailystrength.org/people/562127/photos-videos/7
She'll be 12 in a few weeks and she started exhibing signs of old age about a year ago. She started to find it difficult to jump on the couch, bed and into my truck. The last couple of months her hind legs weakened further and she has to work to get up, and the last month or so she's been very restless.
Last week from Thursday through Saturday she had four siezures. Full-blown grand mall siezures. Took her to the vet and they did a full blood work and also an EKG because her heartrate was erratic.
They put her on phenobarbitol for the siezures, and thankfully she hasn't had another. However one of the side effects of the pheno aggravates her hind legs. It weakens the hind. Another side effect is much greater thirst. So now she has to go out and relieve herself more often, but her condition and the pheno make that harder by the day. She's had 7 or 8 accidents peeing in the house the past few days.
Since the siezures she also has difficulties getting comfortable when laying down to sleep. She whines for a minute or two, then falls to sleep. Once sleeping she's very peaceful for some hours.
She still has her appetite and she's still interested in affection and still loves her treats. However I think it's rapidly approaching the time I'm going to have to have her put to sleep.
She's just lost so much in the past couple months, and especially the last week since the siezures.
I'm so sad I'm going to lose my sweet and loving friend I've had since she was 12 weeks old. My heart's so heavy right now, but I know what I'm going to have to do soon.
I guess I'm just trying to prepare myself for what I know is not only inevitable, but also the right thing to do for her.
It is never a good way to have to say goodbye. All I can say is hang tight to the memories of your baby, keep them alive, and the decision you have to make is a personal one, and by no means am I trying to tell you either way. I just wanted you to know that yes, it is a very painful time, and if you surround yourself with people who will support you, then that will be some comfort. I truly wish that you didn't have to make the choice, and your baby would get better. Fact is, making the choice left me feeling guilty, a lot of what if's and then the months of feeling bad because I did have to put my baby down. I still feel bad about it. Just recently losing two babies to being poisoned, so none of it something words can help with. You are in my thoughts and so is your baby
Problem is it takes 10 - 15 days for the levels to stabilize and then I have to bring her in for bloodwork and see if the dosage needs to be adhusted.
However the weakening of the hind quarters will be ongoing, and combined with the previous weakening I am afraid that will be the decisive factor. If she can't get up and walk around or make it down and then up the couple of steps from the deck to the yard, well...
Anyway, I don't want her to suffer, and I'm including mental suffering as well as physical suffering. When dogs get to this point, they do stress over not being able to do what they once did. All the things that made them a dog and a loyal and loving friend. They also sense the stress from the owner, and that plays on them too.
So I'm not sure she's going to make it to the next scheduled vet appointment for the bloodwork.
Man, this is really heart-wrenching. She was always a very strong-willed girl with lots of personality and spunk. Very loving, affectionate and extremely friendly with everyone.
I think right now I'm sorting through my emotions, my motivations. I just need to be sure that whatever I do it's for the right reasons and the timing is as right as possible. I don't want to wait too long, but I also don't want to put her to sleep prematurely.
The one thing that helped me was I asked my vet "what would you do if this was your dog". She had known my girl well for the last 2.5 years as she developed diabetes and I had to bring her in a lot. She said to give her a 24-hour "Hail Mary" attempt from the stroke to see if there was any change and than that I should put her to sleep if there wasn't. When they came to my house to give her the final injection, I told the vet I felt like I was playing God. She said, "well you are the one keeping her alive - if she was in the wild she would be gone by now'. This helped too.
I will be thinking of you and understand. I have felt all those emotions myself. Good luck!
Melissa
I think it's almost time. I'm going to take a day of vacation Monday and get an appointment with the vet to assess where she is at, with the understanding if it's the right thing to do, we should put her to rest on that visit. If things don't improve and the vet agrees it's only going to get worse, Dakota deserves my respect and to have the courage for one last act of kindness.
The tears are running down my cheeks as I type this. :(
p.s. if it's not time yet, at least you will have the peace of mind of not worrying about her.
The initial neurological side effects of the PB scared the heck out of me, but they have just about subsided and should be totally gone in another week or two. She's pretty much back to her normal vocal and demanding self! :-)
She goes to the vet next week to have the pheno level in her blood tested to ensure the dosage is correct.
I'd also like to extend my heartfelt sympathy to any and all on this forum who have lost a loved pet. I know how badly I felt a couple of weeks ago when I thought I might have to have my dog put to sleep.
Have you considered purchasing a brace to help her walk around? I have two St. Bernards and my female needs help getting up. I bought a brace, I think it's called a Walkabout or something like that. It might have some value for you.