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My dog's last hour

nashvillebill

nashvillebill

Oct 13, 2002
4,018
1,087
66
1700 miles west of Nashville TN
#1
I posted back in February that my dog had been diagnosed with oral melanoma, and at her age (15 years) she would have only a few months. Well up until the last few days she outwardly appeared almost symptom-free, but the cancer was undoubtedly spreading inside her. She started walking even slower, but still was active and eating well...up until yesterday. I think her kidneys have gone into renal failure, she couldn't stop drinking water, and yesterday evening she was laying basically motionless. She made it through the night, and managed to briefly stand up a few times, but she has no interest in food and her tail is limp and motionless; she's just laying still looking pitiful.

So I have an appointment with the vet, in a little over an hour. God this hurts. It brings back all the memories of my late wife. I can't stop crying. I was hoping the dog would pass naturally in her sleep, so I would not have to hold her while the vet sends her on, but instead I must endure the pain of driving her to the vet for her last visit.

Thanks for understanding.
 
#4
It's never easy. Do the right thing for the dog's sake. I know it's tough. I still tear up thinking of my old Great Dane Angus, and it's been 5+ years now. :(
 
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#5
nashvillebill said:
I posted back in February that my dog had been diagnosed with oral melanoma, and at her age (15 years) she would have only a few months. Well up until the last few days she outwardly appeared almost symptom-free, but the cancer was undoubtedly spreading inside her. She started walking even slower, but still was active and eating well...up until yesterday. I think her kidneys have gone into renal failure, she couldn't stop drinking water, and yesterday evening she was laying basically motionless. She made it through the night, and managed to briefly stand up a few times, but she has no interest in food and her tail is limp and motionless; she's just laying still looking pitiful.

So I have an appointment with the vet, in a little over an hour. God this hurts. It brings back all the memories of my late wife. I can't stop crying. I was hoping the dog would pass naturally in her sleep, so I would not have to hold her while the vet sends her on, but instead I must endure the pain of driving her to the vet for her last visit.

Thanks for understanding.
Click to expand...
I hope she looks up at you and understands during that last moment.
 
#12
It never gets easier. Sorry to hear that. Had to do that more times than I care to think about, but will all joy there is a price in pain. It is alway worth it. She is lucky to have had a human that loved and cared for her.
Mine since 1982 (d) for dog (c) for cat:
Smokee (c), Fatima (c), Shilly (d), Blarney (d), Hans (d), Poindexter (c), Schnitzel (d), Cloud (d), Maurice (c), Wally (d), Shanny (d), PuttPutt (c), Mooney (d), Clara (d), Moe (d), Chester (c)
 
#14
nashvillebill said:
I'm home. That was brutal, I lay next to her on the floor with her head on my arm while they administered the shot. Her eyes never closed, even after she went.

This is the hardest thing I've done since my wife died a little over 3 years ago.
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Sorry to hear it. I'm confident that she was happier with you there than she would have been in any other circumstances.
 
#15
Sorry about your loss, as hard a thing as it is to do, laying there with her was the best way for both of you. Sounds to me that she was a very lucky pup to have buddy like you . Prayers out to you and yours.
 
#16
nashvillebill said:
I'm home. That was brutal, I lay next to her on the floor with her head on my arm while they administered the shot. Her eyes never closed, even after she went.

This is the hardest thing I've done since my wife died a little over 3 years ago.
Click to expand...

I am so sorry, and I do know how you feel. I just went through this a month ago with my 13 1/2 year old Akita mix - also holding her head, and not closing her eyes either. They let me stay in the room with her for as long as I wanted afterwards ... went home very empty. My wife (also) died 5 years ago, and we got the dog together as a pup back in 01, and that made it all that much more difficult.

As you know by now - the only thing that heals us is time ... lots of time. Prayers be with you.

~David
 
#17
Thanks for everyone's support, I really appreciate it. Some random thoughts:

-It's awfully tough to make an appointment with the vet for this: planning that at an exact, certain time your pet will no longer be alive.
-The house seems terribly quiet, though the cat is here.
-The dog was a major part of my life for 15+ years, now all those routines and actions geared towards the dog suddenly are gone. (walks, taking her out, treats, food, etc)
-When I found out she had cancer, for the longest time her decline was gradual. I even began to wonder: when will I know that it's time to put her down? I was worried that if she was just declining gradually, there wouldn't be a clear signal that it was time (meaning I might be second-guessing myself). Her downturn was so sudden and serious though that it was very obvious that the time had come.

Thanks again everyone for your support.
 
#18
Solarmist said:
I am so sorry, and I do know how you feel. I just went through this a month ago with my 13 1/2 year old Akita mix - also holding her head, and not closing her eyes either. They let me stay in the room with her for as long as I wanted afterwards ... went home very empty. My wife (also) died 5 years ago, and we got the dog together as a pup back in 01, and that made it all that much more difficult.

As you know by now - the only thing that heals us is time ... lots of time. Prayers be with you.

~David
Click to expand...

Yep, Veronica passed 3 years ago, and the dog was part of us. I still recall how she brought the puppy home and set her on my lap, and the dog curled up and went to sleep on my lap. Now half of my household is dead.
 
#20
My heart shrunk and my eyes watered reading your post, went to same experience two years ago;
oh boy!!.. it hearts! Having a big void in my heart, I rescue an ugly (beautiful to me) puppy, she is
14 months old now; memories of my old dog will never go away, but believe me, having a new friend
will help copping with sadness. Positive vibes out to you!...
 

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