A very OLD friend

[Perl]

She is my friend. 13 years old. Lately she can not see, smell well, hear well. She sleeps all day long. She goes out in our garden for her needs, her teeth are almost useless, she can't enjoy her food... She is a very clever dog. She can understand what I say by just looking in my face. I don't know what to do to make her feel better, younger... I don't know what I will do if she leaves me.

[Heinz57]

It's always sad to see one of our furkids become old and decrepit. I have a Sheltie/mix that's 16 years old and she's deaf as a post. Just like your friend, my Sweetie is also very smart and she understands hand signals.

In the morning, Sweetie is a bit stiff in the hindquarters, but she still moves around and does walk out in the back for her business. I've been giving her a multi-vitamin powder for the last few months and I have noticed that the cloudy look to her eyes have gone away. It's the beta-carotene in the multivitamin that seems to be working for her there.

I'll spend the money for the condroitin when her stiffness doesn't go away. In the meantime, her quality of life is good. She doesn't seem to be experiencing the problems with her teeth too much, though. She eats a combination of wet and dry food, but her treats are crunch and she doesn't seem to have a problem with that.

In all honesty, I figured last year was going to be the final year she was going to be with us. Just because of the age factor and not so much the infirmity. I guess I prepared myself for her passing back then. It still won't be easy when she does go, but the belief in the fact that she's had a good, long, loving life will help soften the blow.

My deepest wish is that if she does pass over this year that it happens in her sleep. I've been making it a nightly habit for several years now to make sure that I brush her a bit and spend time with her alone just before I go to bed. If she does pass on to Rainbow Bridge during the night, I'll know the last thing she remembers is the time she and I spent together.

[Byron]

My deepest wish is that if she does pass over this year that it happens in her sleep. I've been making it a nightly habit for several years now to make sure that I brush her a bit and spend time with her alone just before I go to bed. If she does pass on to Rainbow Bridge during the night, I'll know the last thing she remembers is the time she and I spent together.


I may not know you in person but from what you wrote i can feel that you are a nice guy and a good man.

[Patch]

Like you, I was hoping our 18 year old, blind & deaf Chihuahua Fang,would die in her sleep. It didn't happen. That last trip to the Vet's was the worst experience of my life. We feed her Kentucky fried chicken during the trip. (her favorite food). She had an easy death. (We humans should be so lucky) My second little dog, a 9 year old Yorkie named Coco, did die in her sleep. She had been going down hill for the past 6 months. On a monday morning I took her to the Vet because her breathing rate was about double what it should have been. The Vet last saw her at 10pm and she was fine. At 7am the next morning she was dead. He said it could have been the pneumonia, heart attack or a blood clot to the brain or lungs. None of the above would be a pleasant death. It hurts me to think she died alone, probably in pain & fear. I wish I could have been there to hold her!

[Lola]

My heart goes out to anyone who is experiencing the enevitable with a beloved pet. I've been there, and know the pain. We had a black toy poodle very much like the one we now have, and at age 9, she just suddenly became very feeble. My husband took her to the vet to be put down, and I was physically ill for 3 days and cried for weeks. I swore I would never have another pet. But about 3 years ago, we got another black toy, and she is the sunshine of our lives. I must say, that I think it will be worse this time, because we are now retired, and spend so much time with her. God be with you in this time of trial.

[Heinz57]

Thanks, Byron. http://petshub.com/ubb/smile.gif

After experiencing the death of my Dalmatian, Snoopy (he's in the tribute section on this site), it felt like I'd been run over by an 18-wheeler. He was less than two years old when he passed due to kidney failure. Well, to make a long story short, he'd been going in and out of the hospital for the final two weeks of his life. He'd come home a little better, but a day later, he'd sour again and get a little worse.

The last time he and I were together in the house, I was up with him until about 4 in the morning. Snoop was laying by the couch and I stayed in the living room with him. He was tall enough that he could just step onto the couch, which he did and his head was in my lap. He was so weak that day that he actually had to lean against our patio wall just to vomit. That last night, I told him how much we all loved him and that he was a very good boy. He managed enough strength to wag that tail of his. The same tail he used to use clearing off our coffee table of cups, papers, telephone books.

I told him it was alright to let go, just close his eyes and go to sleep for the last time, but something in him made him fight the pain. He would wince and his forehead would twitch, but he never cried.

We took him to the vet that morning and the following morning, he passed away. I was going to visit him in the hospital the morning he passed, but we had a hurricane and the weather was deteriorating, so I made a phone call to the hospital hoping someone would be there. I found out my vet had been there since 5a.m. that morning and Snoopy passed away in his arms. But the last night he was with me, and we had talked, I knew his last memories would be one of love.

[brandy pup]

http://www.geocities.com/dogladybarks/

http://www.geocities.com/dogladybarks/newlinkspage.html


Hello,

The above 2 links should be very helpful to you. The first one is the homepage for Doglady the second one is a link to her links. On it you will find a Pet Loss section with so much information.
It will help you make the right descion and give you a chance to have the memory of the pet live forever.
May hugs to you and you furkid.