Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
There are two types of preparations - there's the purely practical and then there's the emotional.
On a purely practical plane, have you made all the arrangements you want made - i.e. who will do what, when, where and how when she dies? Get all the arrangements of what you want done with the body and all the forms filled out well before you need them. You just don't want to have to be thinking about them or faced with them on the day.
On an emotional level.... everyone is different and everyone will prepare for and handle the events leading up to and the passing of a pet differently. All I can say to you now is that you've had 18 long years together and in that remember you've been blessed. Don't let the events that are to come overshadow the here and now. Take each day as it comes bearing in mind that the more upset you are, the more worried and uptight you are - that state of mind will detract from what time you do have left together. Try not to let it. What is going to happen is going to happen - just have faith you WILL find the strength and fortitude to get through it. Yes, you will - you will because you love her and if you are strong and calm it will make it easier for her, so somehow or another you'll manage to do it.
Good ideas ... I acquired her when she was 7, so I've only had her 8 years, but I had her before my husband. This weather now is ideal for spending time outside with her, she doesn't pant as much. Thanks again.
hello again ... need more opinions. I looked into some of these other meds for her condition. I really don't know if she needs to be on something else. I found a cardiologist I could take her to, but that won't be cheap. And since she is 15 ... would you take her to the Dr and keep trying different meds? Or would you just let her be, let it take its course?
wow ..... that's a REALLY tough question...... but given her age, i suspect that i might just keep her comfortable and let nature take its course...... you could probably prolong her life some, but at what cost..... financially, emotionally, her happiness and comfort...... trips to the vet are stressful, giving medications can be stressful, there are side effects to medications to consider.......
easy for me to say as i type this from my safe and comfortable distance..... but faced with the same situation, i don't know what i would do......
hello again ... need more opinions. I looked into some of these other meds for her condition. I really don't know if she needs to be on something else. I found a cardiologist I could take her to, but that won't be cheap. And since she is 15 ... would you take her to the Dr and keep trying different meds? Or would you just let her be, let it take its course?
It's truly what sits best with you. No one could rightfully condemn you either way. Look into your baby's eyes and see what you think she is telling you she wants...and maybe she too is waiting for your permission.
If I remember correctly, us going to a specialist only bought us a few months, but it also helped me get more prepared emotionally and gave me more pampering time with him. My biggest thing was that we wanted Merlin (our cat) to be comfortable and not be kept alive for our selfish reasons. I remember begging Merlin not to leave me and then one day I felt more prepared and I felt that he truly was sticking around for me. He and I had a private chat and I gave him permission to leave me and move on. He passed less than a week later.
We had two Dobermans lost because of this. The first one we put to sleep and we should not have he could have lived longer The second one was on Vasotec and Lasix and was great in fact we really thought he would live out his days just fine until he jumped out of his bed to go play with my Dad and just gave one yelp and died....so sad for us but I woud say he lasted two years past what the vet thought he would and very healthy as well.
wow ... I can't believe the many different ways of dying from this disease. The vet said she could suffocate, but I haven't heard of any animal dying that way yet. That was the last thing I wanted to hear - I don't want her to die that way! Right now all she cares about is knowing where I'm at, and food. Sniffs and licks every inch of the carpet after dinner. Sounds like when her appetite starts to go, that will be near the end.
And since she is 15 ... would you take her to the Dr and keep trying different meds? Or would you just let her be, let it take its course?
There's a thread on the main Pets page about hospice care for animals. You might find it useful.
It's a very personal decision and has an awful lot to do with what and how you feel about life in general - is it a feeling of "whatever it takes, I'll do it" or is it more along the line of "Don't fight Mother Nature". It's a personal take; there's no right or wrong.
**This might be a little graphic, so read at your own discretion*** My 6 year old chihuahua had CHF and died in a lot of pain. He had a massive heart attack and was struggling to breathe. At the time, he was sticking his tongue out and in a lot of (what looked like pain). He seems panicked and confused, but eventually died from what looked like suffocation because his heart stopped beating. Although we had him on meds and had the option of euthanizing, we did not euthanize him. Now that I think back, I wish I had :*( .About 2 weeks before his death, his condition worsened noticeably. He no longer could stand on all fours for long, nor walk without significant effort. I could tell that even lifting his head up took a lot of energy. I think that's how you'll know that your pet is nearing his end (his condition worsens). The strange thing was, about a week before he died I had a dream of him dying in my dreams. He was in a lot of pain and we rushed him to the vet to quickly get him euthanized. He seemed peaceful and grateful about that. Maybe the dream was my dog's message to me through a spiritual world as a wish...which I failed to grant him.
In retrospect, I am glad that my dog lived as long as he did. He was first diagnosed with heart problems around age 2. Although the option for surgery was there, the doctor said the small size of the chihuahua might be dangerous to do so. So we opted to just give him meds. He lived up to 6 years which is quite long considering what he had. Because my chihuahua always slept and seemed lonely at home (even though I was there), I bought him another chihuahua to play with. That brought him happiness. Before he used to just sleep around and not play too much, but after I brought him a friend he always played around and loved going out for walks with his friend. I gave him the best food I could (healthy), and walked him as much as I could (for his health). When I saw him panting, I immediately stopped the walk and picked him up.
I noticed that he did cough and make wheezing noises a lot. He also had a pot belly due to the fluid buildup.
It hurt me when people (strangers walking by) said, "Your dog is so chubby, you should feed him less!" When in fact my dear chihuahua didn't eat that much and just appeared fat because of his fluid buildup. I guess I didn't like how he was made fun of, for something that wasn't under his control. :*( I think people can be very mean sometimes.
Here's a picture of my lovely dog (on the right side). His name was Milky, and he died in 2004. The left dog is the friend I bought for him to keep his mind off his health problems and pain.
The pain and anguish from losing a dog is very hard, and it will not feel good at all. But as with everything, time does heal the process. I would recommend you be with him as much as you can, and provide him with all the love and support you hvae time for. I think that's the best thing you can do for him .
Last edited by sweetboa_22; 01-24-2010 at 05:42 AM..
Reason: to add more history of my dog's health
I read that the brain goes from lack of oxygen before the dog suffocates so that they don't suffer too much. I hope so, because I have a dog with the same thing for 18 months now. I spend $300 a month on pills because I love her.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
The second one was on Vasotec and Lasix and was great in fact we really thought he would live out his days just fine until he jumped out of his bed to go play with my Dad and just gave one yelp and died....so sad for us but I woud say he lasted two years past what the vet thought he would and very healthy as well.
Before he used to just sleep around and not play too much, but after I brought him a friend he always played around and loved going out for walks with his friend. I gave him the best food I could (healthy), and walked him as much as I could (for his health). When I saw him panting, I immediately stopped the walk and picked him up.
