Loving my Oldies

In tears too, HL. But if anything can be guaranteed to put a smile on my face it is a photograph of Kisho and knowing how much you love him. A blessed day indeed when you found him and he found you. I'm so glad I took the plunge and upgraded to an iPhone because I have many photos of Myrtie (and the others) taken over the past few weeks. We've been for a walk in the glorious sunshine and met a couple of my neighbours all of whom, despite difficult putting names to my dogs, all knew Myrtie.

She did, CavNrott. But I think she was too compromised by the time she showed any evidence of being ill. Apparently this disease is like that: there is chronic where there is a gradual slowing down, exercise intolerance, etc and then there is acute where it is just suddenly there which is what happened to Myrtie.

To be honest, QM, it was only years ago while I had only a couple of dogs at one time, that I noticed dogs being affected by another's death. Sadly, Myrtie didn't have a mate amongst the others .... I was her mate. She was obsessed with Tamar, but Tamar wouldn't have a bar of her. When he started to settle in, Bunter tried to play with Myrtie, but she wasn't having it. Tamar was her goddess. Isn't it strange the way a dog will focus on another. Tamar started to play with Bunter and, whilst I was overjoyed for Bunter, I was so sad for Myrtie. Myrtie wanted Tamar to play with her. I would say to Tamar when she became a bit annoyed with Myrtie that because she and Myrtie were the youngest, they would be left together and then she'd have to play with Myrtie. Maybe Myrtie was older than we thought.

Yes, going to bed these past few nights and now forever is a very quiet affair. Her little urn will be engraved: Myrtie aka Madam Lash. Your post reminds me. I did in fact notice that her activities hadn't been as rigorous of late. I guess she was getting sick, but, just like a dog, not showing it.

Nah, it isn't selfless or kind --- just what happens when you get older. How many of you have Donor on your Driver's Licence?

Oh goodness, Comrade, that is so sad. Poor little Charlie - some just draw the short straw. The owners must be devastated to lose a much loved dog and to have to make that awful decision. Healing thoughs for them.

I'm in tears again reading all your responses. So much support and kindness over the past four days. Quite overwhelms me. Myrtie would have had a little strut around just accepting it as her due. A tiny girl with a big personality, she will be missed. This did make me smile. Because I was told about Chunkers and Nature's Gift Semi moist, I needed to do it only a couple of times. :) She was such a good little patient, too. But she didn't stand a chance really judging from the xrays . Hopefully, though, my little girl's sudden onset of this disease will help others. I think it was on Saturday that I was told they could do a needle biopsy of her lungs and examine the fluid, but they considered this was far too risky as would have been what they called a lung wash which sounds horrendous. This morning I told the vet that if they felt it would help to get some answers, I would be happy for them to take fluid from her lungs to examine. The vet was very pleased because he said they were going to ask me if they could do that. They don't have to do anything invasive, just the same process they would do if she were alive. SASH people are wonderful really and they have a couple of rooms set aside where you can spend as much time as possible with your pet after they have died. So I was able to brush and tidy up my little girl and spend a long time with her. Thank you again, everyone.

I'm sorry, everyone. Myrtie was put to sleep a couple of hours ago. More when I am not so overcome.

A dog and his shoes ..... beautiful.

I must admit, I didn't get much sleep last night. And when I did doze off, I'd imagine I didn't hear the phone.

I know, silent child. Just THINKING about it has me in tears. Vets were doing their round whenI phoned so still haven't spoken to anyone. In fact, I am in tears just thinking about all the DOLers who have been posting here urging Myrtie to get well and thinking of us both. Thank you all, so much.

I haven't heard from SASH so Myrtie must be holding her own, but I am ringing of them now. Waiting for the handover period to be over.

My heart is breaking too, HW. This is all such a shock, one moment a happy energetic little dog and the next fighting for her life. I've just rung SASH and the medication is not helping .The vet says she isn't in distress and is resting comfortably, but her respiratory rate has shot up to 68 and it was down to nearly 40 earlier in the day. So scary. We have all been through this and I thank everyone for your thoughts and good wishes. They are so trusting; it feels like a betrayal when I see her big eyes looking up at me. I know that's stupid, but . . . . .

A couple of photos I took of Mytie in her oxygen room. This first one I have my arm through the door and am patting her. You can see the towel wrapped around to stop the oxygenated air escaping. The second is when I am leaving. My poor little girl. She didn't take her eyes off mine practically the whole time.

They are both so beautiful. Is Dasher a bit younger? Probably just the photo angle, but he looks a little smaller. Neko is having such a wonderful life with you Tell me when next door is up for sale and I'll move LOL.

Just back from SASH. Myrtie is no better, but no worse. She cannot breathe unless in the oxygen "cabinet" and even opening the door for a little while to pet her caused her breathing to labour even more. After I'd been with her for a while, I waiting another half and hour and went back to see her again. This time lateral thinking kicked in and I wrapped a towel around my arm to put through the little door. This formed an air block and I was able to spend a lot more time with her without her breathing getting worse. It is now just a waiting game to see if the medication can do its job. Cavs, Chris Grenwell was her vet today and you are right - he is great. Phil Brain used to be at the other emergency centre across the road before they merged. I am pretty sure he did or supervised the very tricky surgery on Caramel - one of the rescue dogs I had some years ago. She knows about all the good wishes flowing her way and she promises to try. But her little body is very tiny and very very unwell.

A couple of photographs taken the day before she became ill. As you can see, she is such a tiny little thing to be hit with a big disease.

I've been over to see Myrtie. We are no very hopeful . Vet has advised against any of the more intrustive courses they could take, so we have opted for increased medication to see how she goes. He said a few times to keep my phone next to me

I'll be okay, Persephone. Have done the drive to SASH many times over the years with my own and fosters/rescues sadly. The vet I will be seeing this morning is the vet who tried to save Mufti A couple of years ago. He was a lovely lovely man. I emailed my brother who had his own veterinary hospital for over 30 years and with whom I have very little contact these days, but thought I owed it to Myrtie to follow up all avenues. He didn't even offer sympathy, just cold clinical and unhelpful words. So just watching the clock now waiting to set off. Thank you for your concern.

When I spoke to the vet last night, she said I could visit this morning, so just waiting for hand over to finish a SASH and I'm going over. I'm already in tears just thinking about her.

I'm not watching the video either. As another poster saidm they are thugs and should be treated by the law accordingly. They sure as hell wouldn't be laughing for long. I agree. The other two are as bad as the perpetrator.

Yes, that's it, donnatella. I didn't realise until I started googling and found Sildenafil and realised that that is what the vet called the medication.

I've been thinking of you and Justice, Sir Snook, and all the beautiful photos you take of him. The vet did say I could visit if I wanted to, but there is no way I would put my needs before Myrtie's. Visits are very important for a dog's morale, but at this stage, for Myrtie it could do more harm than good.

We have a diagnosis and it is pretty bad. Myrtie has Pulmonary Hypertension!! I'm sure there will be a lot of DOLers who will have heard of it, but apparently vets cannot always tell why. Vet has ordered more blood tests and they have started treatment. She is still having difficulty with her breathing and if she doesn't start to pick up within the next 12 hours and she is struggling, we will have to consider ventilating her. The vet has left me with that to think about! I didn't catch the name of the medication, but it is the same as that given to men for erectile disfunction. Apparently, when testing the medication for Pulmonary Hypertension, it was found that it helped men with problems. I wonder if that will make her morph more wildly into Madam Lash at bedtime ?? I asked if I could visit, but vet advised not to as she doesn't want Myrtie to get excited as she is too delicately poised at the moment. Like Powerlegs' little boy, it has all happened so quickly and totally out of the blue - I am in shock. Everyone's posts have meant a lot to me for Myrtie's sake, so thank you again so many times over. She is such a tiny thing, but despite that and despite that I am sitting here shivering all over, I am not giving up hope.

It is very pleasing to READ of the progress Abby is making, so it must be wonderful to experience it. Well done.