Sick Dog

[Loving my Oldies]

Normally that'd be a no no for me but he can have what he wants.

At times like these, rules go out the window. **hugs** to you all.

[Little Gifts]

Horrible news Swazzie. Let him eat what he wants. Let him do what he enjoys. Have some happy memories in amongst all this sadness.

Who is doing the photos? If it is Zoo then they will bend over backwards to give you the most beautiful visual memories of your boy and will make the photo session itself another great memory of your boy. They are incredibly caring (and talented) people.

[MelissaS]

So very very sorry x

[swazzie]

It's a local photographer, who specialises in family and pet photos- she even has a list of best beaches to take the pics- so we'll do that at raby bay here in Brissie

He's good today, eating and no retching or throwing up since Saturday .

I will probably open a new thread in the health forum soon and post updates re how he's going .

We're trying to be very positive , no more crying for now.

I am struggling with the waves of sadness though,

Thanks so much to each and everyone of you who read and offered advise, info or good wishes and vibes.

You are all very special xx

Suzanne

[Tassie]

You are doing a great job.

[swazzie]

Another good day, I'm in work tomorrow so won't be able to do the multiple smaller meals.

We'll go get him weighted on sat, but I'm pretty sure he's put back on some weight(it may be small but he's looking less gaunt in face ). No burping, retching or throwing up since start of week. Not sure if it's the raw meat or the steroids or other pills. He's appetite is definitely improved and he's back to camping out under the ds3 at meal time.????????

He's certainly enjoying the special attention - poor Chloe is confused as she's on a diet, but she's getting lots of pats and hugs.????

[labadore]

Another good day, I'm in work tomorrow so won't be able to do the multiple smaller meals.

We'll go get him weighted on sat, but I'm pretty sure he's put back on some weight(it may be small but he's looking less gaunt in face ). No burping, retching or throwing up since start of week. Not sure if it's the raw meat or the steroids or other pills. He's appetite is definitely improved and he's back to camping out under the ds3 at meal time.????????

He's certainly enjoying the special attention - poor Chloe is confused as she's on a diet, but she's getting lots of pats and hugs.????

So happy for that you have had some good times with your beloved boy and that he is loving the special attention as these good days help to offset some of the sadness that you will be feeling. Great news that he is eating and keeping the food down and looking like he is putting on weight. Chloe will also know that Bru is sick, so it is good that she is getting lots of pats and hugs as well.

[GenY]

I'm so sorry to hear this. It's so hard when they're sick and I really feel for you :-(

When our old dog had bone cancer in his hip, we had a fair bit of time up our sleeve to think about what to do when he was at the end. I had heard a lot of people say that you just know when their time is up. Our boy had a lump on his hip that grew bigger and bigger. It astounded me that he wasn't limping, then all of a sudden he'd limp ever so slightly and we'd think "ok, this is it", and then he'd stop limping. We knew one night that he was officially in pain, when he stopped putting weight on that leg and was whimpering and in pain, despite being on Tramadol. We booked him in that afternoon and the vet said that the sudden change would have been the difference between the tumor not touching the spinal cord, and actually touching it.

Anyway, more to the point. We have two kids, who were 3 and 6 at the time. As we're not religious, we told them from the get-go, that when he got too sick, we would take him to the vet and the vet would give him a needle to stop his heart, to make the pain go away. The 6 year old had questions about why we do this to animals but not to humans (can of worms right there), but the 3 year old was quite pragmatic about it. I had been adamant all along that we wouldn't have him cremated, so when the time came, we arrived home with a his body wrapped in a blanket and my mum, who was looking after the kids for us at the time, looked at me as if to say "Oh no, you really haven't thought this one through". Both kids asked to see him and say a final goodbye. I was too distraught to think straight, so I let them go to the shed, where he was wrapped in a warm blanket on the floor whilst my husband dug a hole in his favourite spot, under our lime tree. The 6 year old was a bit upset but I think it kind of sealed the deal for her, i.e. this is what dead means. The 3 year old, on the other hand, was very pragmatic about it and was saying "He's not hurting anymore" and wanted to help my husband dig him a comfortable hole, and did so. He still talks about how his tongue was hanging out, but I've explained that this is because he was completely relaxed etc. Now and then I will make a comment like "Since Simon has been gone" and my now 4 year old will say "He's not gone, he's in the back yard, buried in a hole!". Kids... :-)

I hope you can find peace with the inevitable and make the most of the pawprints Bru has left, and will continue to leave on your hearts. Keep doing all the things he loves doing, and when he loses the 'spark', you will know.

All the best.

[swazzie]

Thank you for sharing that. I'm sorry for you loss.

A friend asked me yesterday, when the time came would we bring Chloe and our little boy. Chloe yes ,but I can't imagine bringing a 3 yr old - he's a young three in many ways and I think he would refuse to leave the vets without Bru and it would be hard for all.

I've no idea really though and while he's still happy and eating I hold out a bit of hope we'll get a bit longer.

There is no pain as yet, he hops up and down no issues and still runs up and down stairs which I figure has to be good.

[White Shepherd mom]

A friend asked me yesterday, when the time came would we bring Chloe and our little boy. Chloe yes ,but I can't imagine bringing a 3 yr old - he's a young three in many ways and I think he would refuse to leave the vets without Bru and it would be hard for all.

Swazzie,

This is probably not something you want to talk about right now, but FYI, many vets will come to your home when the time comes. It's less stressful for the dog and the whole family can be together. They can also make all the arrangements for afterwards as well or you can do it yourself.

Thinking of your family and Bru. I'm really glad the little guy is feeling better.

[Katdogs]

A friend asked me yesterday, when the time came would we bring Chloe and our little boy. Chloe yes ,but I can't imagine bringing a 3 yr old - he's a young three in many ways and I think he would refuse to leave the vets without Bru and it would be hard for all.

Swazzie,

This is probably not something you want to talk about right now, but FYI, many vets will come to your home when the time comes. It's less stressful for the dog and the whole family can be together. They can also make all the arrangements for afterwards as well or you can do it yourself.

Thinking of your family and Bru. I'm really glad the little guy is feeling better.

Yes, this is a good suggestion.

[CHA]

As hard as it is to think about now, when the time came it was just me and my husband. We didn't involve our other dogs, just spent the time concentrating on him only, no distractions just peace.

When our children were young we would tell them their pet was getting sick and tired and soon their bodies would get weaker and not be able to carry on. There are lots of lovely books for them about pets passing away that may help.