Adopting an older dog that was a service/assistance dog is also a very good idea.

You can't beat the training that they've had. Sometimes a younger service dog 'doesn't quite make the grade' and those would be perfect too.

Our 13 year old much-loved dog is in critical condition and is on an IV drip. It's been a tough couple of weeks.

Having a pet that's sick is sometimes almost worse that being sick yourself! That's one of the reasons I no longer have a dog or cat or other furry pet is if they needed long expensive treatment I couldn't afford it anymore (on a fixed, meager income).

And I couldn't bear to see it suffer without treatment! Just too much sorrow.

I'm currently in agony after a trip to the burns unit and Gunner keeps trying to climb on my knee! I still give so many thanks it happened to me and not one of the dogs.

I feel for you with your poorly dog Iyncrts, it's so awful when they're ill *hugs*

I know where you're coming from with the cost, Cave. Vets over here are so very expensive, we have insurance on them all which costs a lot but no way could we afford huge vets bills. It cost 45 just to have a tiny rat put to sleep, no wonder our vet is always off on posh holidays!

One of the things I tell myself when my animals have been really sick is this: There are worse things than dying. And by that I mean things like suffering, poor quality of life, endless procedures etc.

For me, that has nothing to do with money or whether or not I can pay the vet or keep them alive for as long as possible. It's about what am I willing to let them endure to keep them with me.

It's so terribly terribly hard, and knowing when to let them go is agonizing. But they do tell us when they're ready. We just have to get there ourselves.

Grief is the price we pay for love.

Give all your animals some extra hugs and scratches today.

Yup it's the hardest decision we make for them, we take that responsibilty when we love them though. Even when I lose a beloved pet and say "never again" I know damn well it won't be long before another furry comes to be loved :-)

Years ago my shepherd had lymphatic cancer, I wanted to let her be but the vet convinced me to have chemo. He said it would give her another year and she wouldn't get sick as only humans have bad reactions... She had 2 lots and was so so ill, we lost her 2 weeks later and I vowed then that I would always do what I "felt" and never be pressured into a treatment I didn't totally agree with.

All my furries just had an extra stroke :-)

I try not to begrudge anyone the choices they make with their pet's health because there are so many emotions tied into it and you really do want to do right by them. It's so hard to work through that. So yeah, I tend to try to take my emotions out of the decision making now, as hard as that is, so I can go by my instincts more.

I once had a sheltie/shep mix that I got from the Humane Society. I had her for like 12 years. When she was 16 she was starting to have some minor kidney issues and a fair amount of arthritis for which meds helped greatly. But otherwise, she was just as as could be, playing, barking like mad per usual, going for walks, still eating daily, etc despite her age and issues.

Then she got a tumor behind her eye and I was just so beside myself with what to do. The eye specialist (they have those for dogs) suggested removing her eye and it was going to be so expensive and I didn't make that much money then, but I decided I was going to put it on my credit card and just pay it off. I was more than ok with doing that. So I scheduled the surgery for later that week. Well, in a moment of rational thought later that night, I was like, why would I put her through this surgery? She was 16 years old, a dog that was technically beyond her expiration date already. I gave her an incredible life, and she gave me so much pleasure. The tumor at this point wasn't making her uncomfortable and she already had cataracts in her eyes due to her age so her vision was poor anyway. She was also deaf. So she was really at the end of her sweet life as it was. So I decided not to go forward with the surgery but I was still so conflicted and felt very confused as to whether I did the right thing. It was upsetting to decide NOT to go forward with it, you know. And god love her, within a week of that decision, she stopped eating and drinking, I think to tell me it's ok, she's good, it's time to go. I get choked up thinking about how she took that burden from me.

Geez...

I get teary just reading these stories about end of life with pets because it really is agonizing.

My husband had a cat that he had to give subcutaneous fluids to for four years because she had kidney issues. She still died at the young age of six and the experience really haunts him. Now that we're dealing with our 16-year-old cat who has had some real health ups and downs this last year, we're constantly torn about how much to do and whether we really want to get roped into extensive daily care beyond just his thyroid pill. It really can be such a challenge to feel your way through it because the emotions are SO, SO involved. I love Kerenza's vow to go with what you feel is right, and not listen to the vets.

But, really, they're so worth it, aren't they?

Thank you rmb and others that have been so supportive during this hard time. Knock on wood, but our sweet dog has improved and is totally off of IV fluids and doing well. We hope so strongly that he continues to improve and that he fully recovers.

We adopted a dog from a shelter in early January and he was carrying a virus that no one vaccinates for. Vaccinations for this virus stopped years ago because the effects of the vaccine were worse than the virus which is usually self-limiting. All my dogs caught it, but the one dog caught it and was severely affected for unknown reasons. He was so affected that he went from NO heart murmur to a grade 2 heart murmur in 12 hours and then to a grade 3 heart murmur in 24 hrs.! He lost almost 1/3 of his body weight in a very short time, too.

Just testing all my dogs was in excess of $500.00. I digress, though, because money isn't the point here (yes, I understand that it can be and read those posts).

Tonight my husband and I celebrate that our sweet dog has "turned the corner" and appears to be on the road to recovery and thank all of you for your kind thoughts...especially rmb who sent a much appreciated hug & message. Who knew you could have a PE and, as a result, meet just the BEST people ever!?!

Aww that's brilliant news, I can imagine the relief you are feeling! Everything crossed for you that he keeps improving. He is going to be one pampered pooch :-)

Oh, I'm ssssoooooo happy for you and your dog, and that all your dogs are ok. Actually, $500 to test all your dogs doesn't seem too terrible in the scheme of things.

We are getting a ice/snow storm today, and I was complaining about how sick I am of winter on the way in to work, but your news just turned my mood around.

Kerenza, this pet topic was so timely. I mean, look how we all can be a light for each other, whether it's PE related or not!

That's so true, it really put a smile on my face hearing her boy is improving so much :-)

I keep coming back to check the thread to see if any new things have been added. Oh and you're getting snow?? I am dead envious, I love winter but we only had a week of snow and ice, it's really not fair!

We haven't had as much snow this year as we normally do. But we've got about 3 - 4 inches on the ground in my city right now. We were very very cold though this January. That gets old after a while. Not only do I have to bundle up, but I have to bundle the hound up and make sure he doesn't kill himself on the icy steps. See... it all comes back to the dogs.

I think the East Coast in the US is supposed to get like a foot or more of snow.

Thanks rmb & kerenza!

No, the cost of testing by itself wasn't bad, but that was just a small part of the total costs involved since consults with specialists were required, ultrasounds for diagnostic purposes were needed and he was on supportive therapy for so long. I also had to test the dog we adopted for giardia since there was an outbreak of it at the shelters he inhabited and I didn't want that spreading to my dogs, too. In a couple of weeks we may have to have an ultrasound of the heart done on the dog that is recovering to determine the cause of the sudden onset of a grade 3 murmur when he was so critical. Being that all my tiny dogs caught the virus, they must be constantly monitored to make sure they remain asymptomatic. A stressful time for sure. And during all of this I caught a virus and am on antibiotics, etc. LOL!

I don't consider this thread a "digression" technically, because our furry companions are every bit as much a part of our healing and wellness and recovery as any pill or doctor's office might be sometimes.

One of my favorite Calvin and Hobbes cartoons is probably one most of you know - Calvin is grumpy, passes Hobbes asleep on the floor, rubs his belly, and walks away grinning, saying to himself, "Ah, fuzz therapy". Or something like that. That cartoon nails it, as far as I'm concerned.

As for me, I have two chinchillas (not chihuahuas - chinchillas. The rodent variety that have the misfortune of having such luxurious fur that people like to kill and strip their tiny bodies for thing like coats and teddy bears. IIIIIIIICCCKKKKK!)

They're definitely not like dogs or cats, for sure. I don't recommend them for many folks, I'll be honest. But they are the absolute light of many of my days. They are super smart, stubborn, independent, and calculating when they are motivated (sorta like the squirrels you can't keep out of bird feeders). They can be very social but you have to learn to recognize their social cues becuase they generally don't do stuff on YOUR terms, they do stuff on THEIRS. They keep me laughing (yes, out loud), smiling, loving them for everything they are and everything they do, and I am so greatful for them, as I would be for any critter.

Yup. Gotta love every single one of our furry friends. Thank goodness for ALL of them!

TTB