Kelly_Louise Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 We are terribly sorry you are losing your lovely boy. Knowing it's coming doesn't make it any easier - it's truly heartbreaking. He is so lucky that he has had such a long, loved life with you. Don't ever forget that, it's all we can really give our buddies in return for what they give us. So many other dogs don't get half the life he's had or half the love he's received, so he is one truly lucky boy and I have no doubt he knows this. May he pass peacefully over to the bridge to meet his friends, as such a grand old man deserves. Our thoughts go out to you and your family. :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam&Saki Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 Chewy, I'm sure you know what is best for him. Sounds like he will go peacefully tonight without intervention. Just know you have options if you need them. You're a good dog mum, he is lucky to have you. Treasure these moments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trishm Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 My heart aches for you.......... Trish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colliewood Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 Thinking of you and Elliott tonight Chewy.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darien Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 Oh sweetheart, I am so very sorry May your beloved Elliott pass peacefully surrounded by your love. My heart aches for you :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfgirl Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 Chewy thinking of you and Elliot tonight. Trust your gut instinct and I hope he passes over in your loving arms very peacefully. It doesn't get easier with time, I know this, our 22 year old cat passed away in my arms last year, she had been with us so long and it hurt like heck as it does with each of our beloved animals, it never gets easier. :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newfsie Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 (edited) That is so sad.....And I feel for you :rolleyes: You will know what to do and it will never be easy But it is amazing that you had your beautiful for seventeen years and kept him healthy for so long. I posted this recently for a good friend on the labrador page.................I hope it helps. it was given to me by a friend when I had a very sick dog How Do You Know When It's Time? I don't subscribe to the idea that dogs and cats "will let us know when it's time", at least not in any conscious sense on their part. They are not people. We lovingly anthropomorphize our pets during our time together and there's no harm in that, even quite a bit of reward for both them and us. But the bottom line is that they are not little people and they don't think in the way people think. (Many of us would argue that that speaks to the superiority of our pets.) These amazing beings love us and trust us implicitly. It just isn't part of their awareness that they should need to telegraph anything to us in order for their needs to be met or their well-being ensured. They are quite sure that we, as their caretakers, operate only in their best interest at all times. Emotional selfishness is not a concept to them and they don't know how hard we sometimes have to fight against it ourselves. They also have no mindset for emotional surrender or giving up. They have no awareness of the inevitability of death as we do and they have no fear of it. It is fear that so often influences and aggravates our perceptions when we are sick or dying and it becomes impossible to separate the fear out from the actual illness after a while. But that's not the case with dogs and cats. Whatever we observe to be wrong with our sick pet, it's all illness. And we don't even see the full impact of that until it's at a very advanced point, because it's their nature to endure and to sustain the norm at all costs. If that includes pain, then that's the way it is. Unlike us, they have never learned that letting pain show, or reporting on it, may generate relief or aid. So they endure, assuming in their deepest subconscious that whatever we abide for them is what is to be abided. If there is a "look in the eye", or an indication of giving up, that we think we see from our beloved pets, it isn't a conscious attitude on their part or a decision to communicate something to us. It's just an indication of how tired and depleted they are. But they don't know there's any option other than struggling on, so that's what they do. We must assume that the discomfort we see is much less than the discomfort they really feel. And we do know of other options and it is entirely our obligation to always offer them the best option for that moment, be it further intervention, or none, or the gift of rest. From the moment we embrace these animals when they first grace our lives, every day is one day closer to the day they must abandon their very temporary and faulty bodies and return to the state of total perfection and rapture they have always deserved. We march along one day at a time, watching and weighing and continuing to embrace and respect each stage as it comes. Today is a good day. Perhaps tomorrow will be, too, and perhaps next week and the weeks or months after. But there will eventually be a winding down. And we must not let that part of the cycle become our enemy. When I am faced with the ultimate decision about how I can best serve the animals I love so much, I try to set aside all the complications and rationales of what I may or may not understand medically and I try to clear my mind of any of the confusions and ups and downs that are so much a part of caring for a terminally ill pet. This is hard to do, because for months and often years we have been in this mode of weighing hard data, labs, food, how many ounces did he drink, should he have his shots or not, etc. But at some point it's time to put all of that in the academic folder and open the spiritual folder instead. At that point we are wise to ask ourselves the question: "Does my pet want to be here today, to experience this day in this way, as much as I want him to?" Remember, they are not afraid, they are not carrying anxiety and fear of the unknown. So for them it's only about whether this day holds enough companionship and ease and routine so that they would choose to have those things more than anything else and that they are able to focus on those things beyond any discomfort or pain or frustration they may feel. How great is her burden of illness this day, and does she want/need to live through this day with this burden of illness as much as I want/need her to? If I honestly believe that his condition is such, her pleasures sufficient, that she would choose to persevere, then that's the answer and we press on. If, on the other hand, I can look honestly and bravely at the situation and admit that she, with none of the fear or sadness that cripples me, would choose instead to rest, then my obligation is clear. Because she needs to know in her giant heart, beyond any doubt, that I will have the courage to make the hard decisions on her behalf, that I will always put her peace before my own, and that I am able to love her as unselfishly as she has loved me. After many years, and so very many loved ones now living on joyously in their forever home in my heart, this is the view I take. As my veterinarian, who is a good and loving friend, injects my precious one with that freedom elixir, I always place my hand on top of his hand that holds the syringe. She has chosen a life of healing animals and I know how terribly hard it is for her to give up on one. So I want to shoulder that burden with her so she's not alone. The law of my state says the veterinarian is the one licensed to administer the shot, not me. But a much higher law says this is my ultimate gift to my pet and the responsibility that I undertook on the day I welcomed THAT life into MY life forever. -- Hilary Brown Edited July 25, 2009 by newfsie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taters Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 Thinking of you Chewy :rolleyes: May beautiful Elliot go peacefully Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laneka Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 My heart is with you Chewie at this sad time. I hope Elliot goes peacefully tonight in your arms. Both of you deserve that. God speed Elliot and wait for your Mummy at the bridge :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cashew Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 I am so sorry. Big hugs to you Chewy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlibud Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 So sorry Chewy :rolleyes: Hugs to you and to Elliot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashsmum Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 Hugs to you and Elliott. Nothing we say can make it better, but we wish we could. :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wazzat Xolo Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 Chewy Hugs again for tonight and thanks for sharing your most beatiful and precious thoughts. The responses from DOL show the wonderful person you are and the highly regarded Dog lover that I am sure Eliot knows and will always remember. Hugs for tonight J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quoll Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 We areeally feeling for you, :rolleyes: Elliot is a wonderful looking dog for his age. Obviously had a great life and you ought to feel very proud of your good mothering . Our Hamish is 13 aq very large rough collie and I see his end is also coming closer. Thinking of you xo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OMD² Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 I am so sorry. I don't know what to say. Big hugs.. my thoughts are with you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Souff Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saxonspride Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 so sad, my mums goldie "pleasure" was 17 too when it had to be pts. i bet elliots tail is still wagging til the end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILuvAmstaffs Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 I am so sorry that you are going through this. It's something I really dread for the future. Thinking of you & Elliot tonight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sas Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 17 years is amazing, what a credit to you. I'm sorry you have to say goodbye soon Sending lots of strength. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirislin Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 (edited) Thanks, I just feel sick about intervention when he already peacefully dying. I will call that number in the morning SS. I have had other animals PTS as I knew I was relieveing their pain including Squiddy, but Elliot seems at peace. Whos pain am I trying to take away by intervention? I have battled this all day. We have lots of vets around here, and had chosen one for this morning, but why? . He is enjoying a stroke of the head every now and then, he cant see or hear now at all. I think all senses have shut down besides feeling. I hope he goes tonight. The thought of a needle at this peaceful stage is making me feel more distressed, but if I think he is suffering in any way I will do the fair and right thing. Oh Chewy, please let him go now. Dont wait until you think he might be suffering. the best you can do for him now is to let your gentle loving hands be the last thing he knows when he goes. I am hoping he's already passed but if not please please be brave and make that phone call for him. Edited July 25, 2009 by Kirislin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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