Just a month ago, my dog was extremely active, barking at the neighbors who would come by, running from our front living room to the backyard, chasing lizards, getting excited whenever the word WALK was said, and hopping up for food when it was thrown to her.
Now, in just a month's time she just sleeps all day, and hardly eats. I see her sometimes just lying there with her eyes open as if she feels inside of her this pain that is growing. She hops on one leg, because her right leg has grown cancer. I just wish I could be a God, so that I would heal what has seemingly been neglected.
She looks at me with the most caring eyes, and when I lie down next to her, she looks away, and when I pet her, she lays her head down by my head and starts licking my face as if I am the one in pain. I wish I could be half as tough right now as she used to be. Now she is so fragile, and it's hard for me to take without memories interrupting. She was just a baby days ago it seems...
How would you feel?
2007-11-23 19:39:16 · 13 answers · asked by Amo 4 in Pets ➔ Dogs
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a346/midnightgamer/101_2425.jpg
There is a picture of her if you would like to see her. Thanks for your understanding.
2007-11-23 19:39:42 · update #1
I just experienced that.
I got my dog from the dog pound about 11 years ago. She had been active, protective, the best companion dog -and smartest - I had ever had. I loved that dog so dearly. She was diagnosed with a sarcoma behind her eye, last April. I was told she could have anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months.
The vet told me that we could treat the symptoms as they arose, but that the cancer would eventually take its toll. I gave her steroids to control the bleeding that periodically drained from her nose. She was her happy and alert self until about August. In August, she began to slow down considerably more and had her first seizure. We then put her on phenobarb pills.
It broke my heart to know I was losing her, but I focused on loving and spoiling her. By September, she was wobbly when she walked and sometimes lost her footing.
In late September (the last week of), I left her with my mom while my job took me out of town. My mom called me to say that my dog had fallen down and could not get back up. I asked her to take her to the vet and let them board her until I could get home and at least have a last good bye.
When I got home, and saw my dog at the vet, I tried to believe she could make it with some extra love and attention. I took her home... and that night, I slept by her on the floor. The next morning, it was the same thing. She fell down and just rolled her eyes in my direction, as if to say, "I'm tired of fighting."
I took her for euthansia that morning, Oct. 5th. In the waiting room, I held my big dog and cried and cried and cried into her fur. Very difficult thing to do.
And that's how I felt.
2007-11-23 19:56:57 · answer #1 · answered by scruffycat 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
I'd feel like I was dying a little myself. I am crying as I type and am not ashamed to say so. I have been there with a cat that had cancer and currently have two dogs. It is VERY important you get with your vet and talk about how to tell if she is in pain. There are pain meds that can be administered to a point. There is a point though that SHE no longer enjoys living and is in too much pain to go on. She is licking your face because she LOVES you. If you love her, please get with your vet ASAP and get their opinion. In the meantime, it would be great if you got her one of those orthopedic dog beds or mats, as I am sure the leg with cancer can have pain and laying on that blanket can't be too comfy. At least put a big peice of soft foam under it. Our dogs trust us so much and offer an unconditional love even humans can't offer. You may have to accept the time has come that you have to honor that love and trust- the gift she has bestowed upon you, and do what is right for HER, even if you have to let her go to a better place. Forget Rainbow Bridge, she will be in the real heaven when you get there. My heart goes out to you more than you could ever know. Also tell her how much you love her every day. Spoil her in any and every way you can think of. Just lay with her and talk normally. Dogs know when you are upset. I have felt that mine have known me better than some humans in my life. I'll say a prayer for your dog and you.
2007-11-23 20:34:30 · answer #2 · answered by 8 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm so sorry for you both. Spend what time you have left with her. I've lost my share of people, and pets. It's hard, either way.
We have a lab/ dingo cross puppy, who just a week ago thought we'd lose. Thankfully he pulled through, The pain of watching himfight off whatever was making him sick, was so un bearable. We live on fixed inc, so 200 to walk through vet door was more than we could do. Thankfully he's back to his old self, but how well we know the feeling. It was so hard, having to let the matter of a few dollars, make a decision, for us. Gotta do what you have to, sometimes,it's not what u want to.Just enjoy what time you have. You'll have the memories, to get you through.Knowing you did all, you could for her.
2007-11-23 20:05:12 · answer #3 · answered by Linda W 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You don't say how old she is but i would feel awful.Having a dog for any period of time and then losing them is like losing part of your family.You have spent years devoting yourself to looking after your dog its hard to lose them.
Have you been to the vets with her? it could be that she is in pain and it would be best to have her put down.Its a very hard thing to do but its better than seeing her suffering.
Is the cancer treatable?Is the possibility of the removal of the leg an option?There are many dogs out there with 3 legs that lead a normal active life but if that isn't an option have her put down.Its the hardest thing ever and i cried my eyes out for the following week when i had mine put down but the main thing is that your dog isn't suffering.
2007-11-23 19:57:15 · answer #4 · answered by magicmorph 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Heartbroken. I had something like this happen with the dog I grew up with. She was jumping fences one day, the next we were dragging her around the block for her daily walk and she could barely make it. It seemed that way, really it was a few months. When she was in too much pain, we put her to sleep. You will know when it's her time. She's a beautiful dog, even in her old age. I'm so sorry to hear about your dog. My thoughts and prayers are with both of you in this difficult time.
2007-11-23 19:45:08 · answer #5 · answered by a gal and her dog 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If my dog was in pain & not living a full life due to an injury or illness, I would cry my eyes out, but I would make the decision to end it.
I could not stand to watch a once vital animal waste away.
I am sorry for what you & she are going through, but think about what is best for her. If there is no hope of recovery, is it fair to let her linger especially if she is in pain?
I am sorry...I know how it feels to have to make a decision to lose a loving & faithful friend.
2007-11-23 20:28:46 · answer #6 · answered by More Lies & More Smoke Screens 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
i had to put my pitbull down as he had cancer I also hate to add misery to your gief, but an ailing dog as she is and if there is no hope you need to let the Beauty go.
why, because one, and this is not because of her breed this is because all dogs in pain finally hit that point they will attack because you touch her some where that she is in agony even with pain medicine on board this can cause her to become aggressive when she's had enough, or blacks out from the pain and something more severe happens. Not to say this will happen, but during her final days do you want to remember her in agony or do you want to remember her as she was before this hit?
I had to make that choice too, painful as it was, and not once but two times, the first was some wacko's doing poisoning my wolf shepherd mix and to late fpr him, he was suffering.
She is feeling more pain every day, and you are too having to watch her go through this,but at the same time ask yourself who is this, who are you dragging this out for? Her, when she is not going to get better or two, because you want her there to comfort you? Bluntly put, you are being selfish in allowing her to suffer for what? To lessen your pain?
That is not doing her good at all, and she is pleading to be let go, before it gets to the point she dies and it is not easy on he at all.
Again, I am very sorry and feel for you, and for her, and hope you will stop it, before it gets to a nightmare.
2007-11-23 21:11:21 · answer #7 · answered by skydancer_2489 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i know exactly how this is. i just put my 16yr old mix down in august. july 06 she had a stroke and it was slow downhill from there. it was really hard, especially since she lived at my parents house and i'm in the military. i was always afraid of getting deployed and she'd die while i was gone. she had her good days and her bad days. but she just didnt seem to be as happy as she was. she didn't eat much, wouldn't play with the other dogs, blind and deaf, arthritis. we finally decided it was better for her to put her out of the pain. i know it was the right thing to do, but it wasn't easy. i'm still trying to cope with her being gone (we got her when i was 6). cherish the time you have.
2007-11-23 19:47:43 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I am crying for the both of you. I just lost my dog of 10 years and I feel lousy. She was suffering from 5 different problems. I could not bear it for her so sadly I had her put to sleep. It was the right thing to do but I am sick in my heart about it. Be strong
2007-11-24 01:04:07 · answer #9 · answered by devora k 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Heart broken I am so sorry for your pain and the sadness. I would do all I could to make sure she was as comfortable and pain free as possible and make sure her time with you is quality time. She will feel your sadness, dogs pick up on your energy too. so sorry.
2007-11-23 20:05:27 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋