Oof. Put our old whippet down yesterday. We were very lucky that the decision was super clear. She must have had a stroke or aneurism or something. So, for anyone with vet experience or medical know-how, feel free to weigh in. Here are 24 hours (and apologies to y'all -- please skip the details unless you're interested in vet medicine or think you could offer a useful thought. Jokes not so welcome for once.) 1. Wakes us up at 4 a.m. with the loudest gurgling stomach ever. This used to happen to her, in earlier years. She would eat some grass, skip breakfast, and then be totally fine. So that's what I was expecting, but it was louder than ever. 2. She can't get comfortable. Jumping up on our bed and down. Doing weird side stretches to make her belly feel better (I guess). 3. Zero interest in food, even peanut butter. Never seen it like that. Won't approach her water bowl. 4. By 10 a.m., the gurgling has stopped and she drinks a little water, but getting really really shaky and weak, all over. Couldn't do much of a 2nd dog walk. 5. Extreme lethargy by mid-afternoon. We go to the ER that night. Vitals and bloodwork all look fine. Palpating her belly shows nothing obvious. They give us a bunch of meds and send us home, hoping just intense GI issue of some kind. Does her last walking as we leave the vet ER (and boy did she love leaving any vet). 6. 24 hours of not eating anything. Giving her little plastic syringes of water or broth. Barely moving. Just tracking us with her eyes. 7. Put her down last night. Wouldn't have lasted much longer anyway. She didn't seem to be in any pain. Wasn't feeling much of anything and wasn't very responsive to us near the end. So I think, like, stroke, but why would that start with extreme stomach sounds? Then I think, well somehow she got hold of something poisonous, but then, her kidney and liver values were relatively fine, especially for such an old dog. Sorry again for the details. Damn fine dog, huge and hilarious presence in the home. Oof.
Sorry for your loss, B-Bob. It's tough when you go from one day being fine to the next not being fine with your pet. I had that with my last dog. One hour...I'm waking her up in the morning from a nice sleep on the bed where I let her sleep in. The next hour...I'm watching her get up, stop, collapse, and go the next. Also been on the other side where it drags out and you think there is hope when there really isn't. I assume this isn't your first time. It sucks adjusting to life without.
really sorry to hear this B-Bob. no clue from the description of the symptoms. the lack of pain is a good thing. Never easy, again, sorry to hear this.
Sorry for your loss Bob. Did the same thing with mines not too long ago. It sucks I know. A family member gone like that. Rainbow bridge brotha.
Sorry for your loss Bob, I’m at the stage of having a 13 year old bichon dog that is showing signs her end is near. It sucks, she is seemingly losing her senses, acts like she doesn’t respond to her name, is lethargic and continually eats her back legs, (both are bloody) - we tried everything we could plus she is walking with a unnatural gait one daughter is moving out closer to December this year, the other one will likely be gone in less than two years so it’s going to be an adjustment. my girls are going to be extremely affected since they picked her out at the pet store when they were little
Very sorry to hear that @B-Bob. I shared putting down my cat recently so know how hard it is to say good bye to a loved pet. It’s hard but the right thing than trying to squeeze out some more time with them suffering.
That was what happened to my cat. In the span of a few hours she went from being normal just slow to unable to walk and urinate.
**** . Sorry man. It's never easy putting down loving members of the family. It just sucks. Even if the decision is clear. Sorry again.
This is one of those things that every pet owner eventually goes through and its really tough. A lot of times, dogs don't communicated very well that they are in pain or not feeling well. In fact, many seem fine until it just becomes unbearable and then in hindsight you see the signs that the animal was in distress all along. I don't know what to do in your specific situation, but I think as I've become older and had many pets, I steer to the side of putting them to sleep maybe a little sooner than I may have when I was younger. I think I've had pets that I selfishly didn't realize were in pain until it was way past the time to have put them down. A read an article recently that a lot of vet practices are now owned by larger corporations and investment funds and they push surgery to extend life when they should be recommending to put the pet down. I think this is why it is always a good idea to get a second or even third opinion. You want a vet to be honest with you, and sometimes you just want someone to give you permission to do the right thing.
Appreciate y'all. More than I can say. @ROXRAN, that's a whole lot of change coming fast. I wish I knew what to say. Mrs. B-Bob crying this morning, a sound I really hate to hear. She just retired and now lost her little gal who was such a great companion. I think I'll just tell her all the things she still is, you know? Not a lab scientist or a dog owner right now, but a dear friend to many, a daughter, a wife, someone volunteering in her community. So many things, so many things to give and enjoy with the blessings of these days. I don't know if that kind of angle will help Mrs. B-Bob and definitely don't know if that kind of angle would help you or your daughters when transitions come. God bless. Again, appreciate y'all. I did not mean to make a weepy post and was originally just sharing the update and wondering what the heck happened. But the nice sentiments are really helpful to read.
So sorry to hear about the loss. I think anyone that has lost a pet or had to euthanize one can emphasize. It is one of the hardest things in the world. It's different than other kinds of grief, I think. Hopefully just taking time to and allowing grieving to happen will help the healing process start. Just know that all of the good times and life you all had together was right for all of you. It's something to be grateful for, even though it won't change the pain. We had to put down our dog 3 years ago. I had a dream where she was with me just a couple of days ago. It was a happy dream, but bitter-sweet upon awakening. Hoping for the best. Take care.
It’s going to be tough for awhile and really only time will help. I know for me I still miss my cat keeping me company sitting on the couch or sleeping on my feet. Hope things get better for you and your wife.
Thank you. They will definitely get better. One fun thing about an i-phone and even social media is reviewing tons of goofy movies and photos of the dog playing, even just a month ago she was up to shenanigans. We have no real problems and owning a dog comes with the expiration date and the sad times. I just hadn't lost a dog since college days, when the family dog passed. In the interim, I hadn't had leases that allowed pets, and then I met Mrs. B-Bob and slowly converted her from a cat lady ( ) to a committed dog lover. We'll get more doggos eventually, maybe after some travel.
Social media also reminds you of both people and pets passed. I still get "memories" on social media with images of my cat. About three years ago one of my best friends suddenly passed away. She was a very avid user of social media and her family never shut down her FB account. I still keep on getting memories and reminders of posts where she had tagged me and other friends. In some ways it's sweet to get reminders of happier times but it also brings back grief to have a digital ghosts popping up frequently.
Thank you. I mean, if I have accomplished nothing else, I think I have a great Ace in the hole to play with St. Peter.
