Pets
Related: About this forumUpdate: He died overnight at home. (Tonight I'm saying goodbye to my 12 year old dog.)
Last edited Tue Jun 23, 2020, 07:31 AM - Edit history (1)
He died in my bed. I was holding him and petting him all night and I knew it was the end. I am in shock that he is gone.
Thank you everyone, for your kind words and support.
He had his pancreas removed in March due to a carcinoma of the duodenum. He became diabetic. He as had health issues the entire time and on Saturday he stopped eating. Today they did an ultrasound and found that the cancer has grown back.
I took him home tonight to say goodbye. Tomorrow morning he will be euthanized.
I did everything I could to try to save his life, to no avail.
I'm devastated.
LizBeth
(9,946 posts)milestogo
(16,829 posts)cayugafalls
(5,631 posts)I'm sorry your losing your friend.
I wish there was more I could do.
milestogo
(16,829 posts)I miss him so much.
JDC
(10,084 posts)tblue37
(64,982 posts)losing them. It's hard to let them go.
milestogo
(16,829 posts)Just long enough for us to get deeply attached and have our hearts broken.
tblue37
(64,982 posts)madaboutharry
(40,153 posts)I know how it feels. It is so hard to lose a beloved pet. May your dog Rest In Peace.
milestogo
(16,829 posts)TruckFump
(5,812 posts)I love all the dogs I have had at any time. They are so much a part of my life and always will be.
milestogo
(16,829 posts)The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,280 posts)Is it too soon or not soon enough? But sadly there's no way to avoid it eventually, and it's the last loving gift you can give him. I'm sure he had a great life with you.
A week ago today I had to do the same for my 17-year-old cat, and a month before that it was my 14-year-old cat. If you have animal friends it's what you do and it's a terrible burden but we take it on because they are worth it. "We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own, live within a fragile circle; easily and often breached. Unable to accept its awful gaps, we would still live no other way. We cherish memory as the only certain immortality, never fully understanding the necessary plan." (Irving Townsend)
milestogo
(16,829 posts)I'm glad I took him home so he was with me when he passed. But I really didn't understand how close to death he was.
Frustratedlady
(16,254 posts)Cyber hugs to you. There are no words.
milestogo
(16,829 posts)blm
(112,920 posts)Freedomofspeech
(4,218 posts)But how blessed are we to give them the love and peace they deserve? Take care and know you are doing the best for your beloved dog.❤
milestogo
(16,829 posts)SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)Sending healing vibes to you both. 💓💓💓
milestogo
(16,829 posts)SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)redstateblues
(10,565 posts)milestogo
(16,829 posts)ms liberty
(8,479 posts)After he suddenly began acting sick. The vet found he had a cancerous tumor in his lungs, as well as a bad infection. I know how you feel, it does not ever get easier.
milestogo
(16,829 posts)livetohike
(22,084 posts)sweet dog. Holding you both in my thoughts .
milestogo
(16,829 posts)bottomofthehill
(8,261 posts)We went through this with our family dog, we did everything we could to keep her comfortable, but her seizures were getting so bad she bit through her tuong. Than is when we knew it was time to let her go. We were at the point that she was suffering for us. You Know what and when it is best for your baby. It is a terrible and difficult decision, and one that that will leave your sad for a while, but again, you do what is best for the suffering of your baby.
milestogo
(16,829 posts)sinkingfeeling
(51,279 posts)knows you loved him.
milestogo
(16,829 posts)BigmanPigman
(51,432 posts)and I have been a wreck ever since. I knew I would be since I was after my first baby died in 2002. I hope you can deal with it better than I have been. She was better than an actual child and I miss her SOOOOOO much it physically hurts. Three weeks ago was our last day together. She went downhill relatively quickly (only 2-3 weeks). It had been the two of us so now my home is so very empty.
Now I am crying again/as usual.
milestogo
(16,829 posts)It was just me and my dog too. It feels strange just moving my home without him being here. I miss taking him out to pee.
BigmanPigman
(51,432 posts)at the groomers. Now the apt is SO damn empty. It has been 3 weeks but the pain of my loss hasn't diminished one bit.
She stopped drinking water the day before I had made arrangements for her to die at home the next day. I think that she probably would have died sometime that day anyway (3 weeks ago today...I spent all day in bed...depressed). She lost control of her bladder, etc and I know people do that before they die. I am glad she was with me and at home and not in pain. That is the only thing I am glad about.
If you miss your baby like I miss mine, I feel terribly for you. This is Hell! No, this is worse than Hell, in my opinion. I hope you are doing better than I am.
milestogo
(16,829 posts)Suddenly it occurred to me to take him to the emergency clinic, which is also where he's been treated. They put him on IVs and started trying to figure out what was going on with him. Ultimately he was transferred to their other clinic, where the vet who is a "criticalist" did the right test (an ultrasound) and told me that his cancer had recurred. When I asked him if there was anything other to do than euthanize him he said no. He said it was ok to take him home and say goodbye. I asked if he could be the one to put my dog down when I came back, but since my dog died at home there was no need.
So I was right, when I thought he was dying. It probably wouldn't have happened that night, but I knew he was getting worse. The thing is, the internist who was supposed to be managing him suggested that he wasn't eating because he had lyme disease or leptospirosis... which is beyond ridiculous since he hasn't been cavorting in the woods for months.
I am angry and the internist for not looking out for him. Also because she has to know by now that he died, and she hasn't even sent me an email. I'm prepared to vent on her if I don't hear from her by tomorrow.
The dying process can take a couple hours or a couple of weeks, but losing interest in food and water is a very important sign. A doctor once told me that death is actually the brain shutting down various organ systems, one by one. I could really see it with my last dog - in a matter of about 5 minutes.
I feel a lot of things. I have a little bit of regret that I didn't euthanize him when I found out he had pancreatic cancer... but I went for the best care possible and hoped for the best. Well, he's gone now and he went through hell. So I am sorry for that.
BigmanPigman
(51,432 posts)here at home must have notified the regular vet since she sent me a condolence card. That made me start crying all over again. I am very dehydrated these days.
My first dog died at home and her ghost came several times over the 10 days, it was comforting in a way and not scary. She also visited my friend who loved her a lot. My dad's ghost came the night he died, before I even knew about it (a year ago...out of the blue). I am still getting over that! I told my baby to do the same to let me know she is OK but NOTHING. That has me feeling sad. My neighbor's dog also came back after it died so it isn't uncommon.
LakeArenal
(28,729 posts)Ask him to send my love to all the good boys ahead of him.
Please give him a kiss on the head from me.
Dog is L❤️VE.
milestogo
(16,829 posts)like the orphan boy
Karadeniz
(22,283 posts)Be doing the right thing. When my Maltese 's spleen ruptured and I had to make that call, it was horrible. He spent the first night of his life by my bed. He moved to Germany with us. The way he was treated all over Europe, included in tourists' home movies, the only dog allowed in Astoria beach outside athens, the only dog allowed inside ludwig's palace to enjoy a musical performance...he broke down barriers everywhere. Then we took him all over great Britain. Next, he moved to Honolulu with us. His last move was back to Texas where he'd been born. I found that the only thing that helped was to go through all our photos and chronicle his and our lives. Then I could see what a great life he'd had...I could appreciate all the time and experiences we'd shared instead of that final event.
I'm sorry you have to experience this loss...btw, animals survive death, too.
milestogo
(16,829 posts)vercetti2021
(10,150 posts)Hugs
milestogo
(16,829 posts)brer cat
(24,402 posts)He will go in peace and be without pain. Whatever comfort that gives you, you are doing the right thing for your beloved pet.
milestogo
(16,829 posts)MontanaMama
(23,242 posts)I will hold you and your precious pup in my heart.
milestogo
(16,829 posts)Kaiserguy
(740 posts)I'm sure that he also is remembering all the love you gave him.
milestogo
(16,829 posts)littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)you could to show that you've loved him. I hope you find more comfort in the happy memories he leaves behind.
milestogo
(16,829 posts)Midnight Writer
(21,548 posts)milestogo
(16,829 posts)Solly Mack
(90,740 posts)milestogo
(16,829 posts)TygrBright
(20,733 posts)milestogo
(16,829 posts)BobTheSubgenius
(11,535 posts)I'm so sorry you have this to face...but I'm happy you had 12 years with him.
Our dog was 12 in April. *sigh* That makes your sorrow even worse for me to imagine. Please focus on the good.
milestogo
(16,829 posts)This dog was industrial strength... until he wasn't.
He sure was a sweetheart.
FuzzyRabbit
(1,958 posts)I am sure he knows how much you love him.
milestogo
(16,829 posts)niyad
(112,435 posts)Do not be surprised if you hear his bark, or his paws on the floor, or something similar. It will be a message of love to you from him.
milestogo
(16,829 posts)flibbitygiblets
(7,220 posts)We're getting very close with our 13yo; she's barely eating and can't walk without assistance. we just have to remember what a good life they had with us, it's all we could do.
I wish you peace and comfort.
milestogo
(16,829 posts)Ellipsis
(9,123 posts)I recently put my 16 plus year cat down that way, It was first for me to see the process and the vet left out of respect and came back after she passed.
The one thing I would say in preparation... she pulled the scent of his office off him. Her memory of the vet was never positive. She was a rescue and had a rough life.
Just something to think on.
I'm sorry again.
12 years is good run.
milestogo
(16,829 posts)I knew he was dying for the last hour and there was nothing to be done but comfort him. My last dog died in my arms too. Better than at the vet, I think... but one can't always control these things.
Thank you.
niyad
(112,435 posts)peace and comfort to his loved ones.
I am so very sorry. Having to say goodbye to our beloved companions, even though we know it is the loving thing to do, is just so damned hard.
milestogo
(16,829 posts)niyad
(112,435 posts)It is so very hard, but when it happens this way, they know that they are safe and loved.
Know that we are all grieving with you, and are here for you.
milestogo
(16,829 posts)flibbitygiblets
(7,220 posts)niyad
(112,435 posts)And I love your sig. Feels very reassuring.
Behind the Aegis
(53,833 posts)It is never easy to say goodbye. Take care of yourself.
milestogo
(16,829 posts)Behind the Aegis
(53,833 posts)The same happened to us with our cat, Tony. He was scheduled to go in on a Monday, but died at home, with us, on Sunday. My husband, I and our four chihuahuas all by his side.
Again, my deepest condolences. I know how hard this is and how pained and sad you must be now. While it may not be much, or any comfort, I am sure there are many of us who are grieving with you.
Take care of yourself.
DarthDem
(5,253 posts)Peace and love to you both.
milestogo
(16,829 posts)phylny
(8,353 posts)You gave him the best life. My husband will remind me, when we have to go through this, that our dogs live a better life than many humans. I'm sure the same goes for yours. Hugs to you.
milestogo
(16,829 posts)I didn't want him to ever leave me.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,280 posts)I hope it comforts you a little that you were with him. I'm sure it made it easier for him.
milestogo
(16,829 posts)When we went to bed I reminded him of all the good times we had. I rested his head on my chest. Towards morning I don't know what he knew, but I held him until he passed.
Skittles
(152,966 posts)so very sorry, milestogo
Grieve not,
nor speak of me with tears,
but laugh and talk of me
as if I were beside you
I loved you so
twas Heaven here with you.
~Isla Paschal Richardson
milestogo
(16,829 posts)Skittles
(152,966 posts)it's like they take a piece of our heart with them
time doesn't heal all wounds but it makes them easier to bear, be good to yourself
Phentex
(16,330 posts)many of us have been there. Many of us will be there again. It's never easy. You did your best and I'm sure he knew it.
My heart goes out to you!
milestogo
(16,829 posts)its the price of love
Donkees
(31,086 posts)milestogo
(16,829 posts)Rhiannon12866
(203,030 posts)And, like so many here, I have been there, as well - and it never gets any easier. The best that I can offer is my sympathy and to remind you of the love and care that you gave to Oliver and how fortunate he was to have had you...