you will know when it is time. as a women i think you will just be able to know. it does sound kinda tricky since one minute you dog is acting fine and the other he is not. i really feel for you. my 15 year old dog just had to be put down. i took it very hard. i think when the time comes you will know. in the mean time give your dog lots of extra love.
if u can do get anouther opinon. you can even see if there is a specialist in your area. i diddnt know vets had specialist but i found out from my aunt they do. she had to take her dog to one for surgery.
i wish for the best. and i will pray for u i know this is not easy. if u feel like it is time have your son or a good friend go with you to have your dog put to sleep. do not go alone. losing a pet can be like losing a family member and can really take a tool on you. i was kinda suprised how hard it hit me when my dog was gone. i was so upset i had to take zanax to calm myself down. my dad whom i dont live with was the one who had to make the decision since the dogs lives with him.
Oh my gosh… I am so humbled by all the beautiful & heartfelt stories … I can’t even tell you how much this is helping me, just knowing that so many have been through this … Every word and every story has helped so much. I have heard exactly what I needed to, even though I kinda thought that, just having read so many times here… That I will know when it’s time , has been so reassuring.
Thank you all so very much !!!
Squeeks is resting comfortably right now, although his breathing is so rapid and heart beating like crazy, he did not have any episode today, all I do is mention snack and he’s up squeeking for me to get it.
God bless you all for loving and caring for animals & taking your time to share with me
Hugs
Awwww I’m so sorry to hear about your poorly baby. It breaks our hearts. I would definitely want to find out exactly what’s wrong if you can. Maybe see another vet. Hopefully it can then be treated. It must be really bugging you and making you so sad to see his attacks.
Thank-you Nan and everyone… I am waiting for the vet to call… Squeeks has had 2 episodes one last night & again this Am, it breaks my heart, I’m hoping the vet will confirm these are seizures and possibly give me a medication for him, I was hugging him after his episode this morning and he just kept his head on my shoulder sooo sweet, then he just sat there looking at me like … What just happened… Oh I just kept petting him and telling him I’m here, with in 10 min he was ready to eat, and he loves that I’m feeding him with a spoon, very soft dog food with chopped up turkey and gravy, I figured he deserves something tasty.
Thank you everyone for this wonderful support, I will let you know what the vet says
Many have asked about finding out what is wrong, the cost would be $ 750. To try and diagnose, It cost me $500, just for the tests already done, And nothing showed up, she said there is heart disease, but without all the heart tests she can’t treat it, but these episodes don’t seem related to his rapid breathing and heart rate, so I will see what she thinks, she also mentioned lung cancer, that has spread, so perhaps a chest x- ray would give an ans. unfortunately I have not worked in 6 months, and my last short term disability check was last week, I’m going to talk to the vet about doing a chest x- Ray to see if it shows anything, and a possible payment plan.
If its something that can be treated I will for sure do it, he’s such a good boy !!
Initially she thought there was an infection & thought lets try the antibiotics and see what happens.
I think I will call her back again…
You all are the best !!!
Thank you so much , my son is going to try and help me upload a pic of squeeks
Hugs & blessings
Dee...you are such a loving owner. If ONLY every dog and cat (and child!) had an owner (parent) half as good as you are to your dog.
It just tears at my heart to hear of your struggles with your dog. It's so hard, not knowing what's wrong! And to see those big doggie eyes looking trustingly into your own.
You are doing your best and that is all that any of us can do. Just keep on loving your doggie just like you are now. Lucky boy!
Many doggie hugs to you!
Petunia
(PS: A doggie hug is the hug that I give to my sister's big lug of a dog, Duffie, when I get home from work. He nearly reaches my stomach, so I just reach down and give him a long and happy hug.)
Angel your kind works are so helpful!
Thank you for being so caring
I just spoke with the vet, she cut me short … Still wont treat for seizure’s
Her response was " we discussed all the test I recommend ( mostly for his heart )
We are going to do a chest x- ray, maybe that will show something
This doc just won’t treat anything without a Dx, even though I am describing the episodes, she said well it could be his heart going into a bad rhythm , ugh, maybe a second opinion would be a good idea, I’m sure missing my dad, he loved squeek more than anything !
My dad could park his car down the street and squeek knew he was here, for months after my dad died, I let squeek sleep with my dads coat, and when I brought my dads chair over to my house, squeek sat in it so funny, he would just sit in it, not lay down, just sit there so smart, even a year later I will ask squeek where is Papa, and he will stare at the door…
Ok I’m rambling… I guess the thought of loosing squeeks is reminding me of my father because he loved squeeks so much.
Thank you many hugs
Dee, be careful with the turkey. I had a dog that I fed turkey once and I ended up in the doggie ER. The vet told me that turkey had made him sick and that turkey was bad for dogs. Boiled chicken and white rice is good for them and is very bland so it doesn’t cause stomach upset usually. I hope that Squeeks and his owner are doing okay. I hate that you are going through this but you are an awesome mommy and will get him through no matter the outcome.
Dee, if you're not comfortable with the vet's suggestion and manner, maybe a second opinion would be helpful. If you get one, be sure to bring all of the test results so they don't run them again.
You know, it's harder to face losing a beloved pet when they remind you of a love one or a cherished memory. And when they're as old as Squeek, they're bound to have fond memories attached. Your memories of your dad with Squeek are so touching. I wish we could make our pets ageless and then bottle up and keep all of the wonderful memories they evoke. I swear, I always told my last little Chihuahua (who passed on last summer) that I wished I could make him a real human boy.
Ok, this is making me sad thinking of my little guy...so I'd better stop here.
Dee, do what you think is the best thing for your dog. If you feel that you'll be haunted by not getting another vet's opinion, then do so. Doesn't mean you can't return to your other vet if you want to.
Oh wow thank you MB, I usually never give him table food, but I’m so glad you told me about the turkey… Yikes, thank god it was only last night and today, no more of that, I did use boiled chicken and rice before for stomach upset, ok I’m taking chicken out of freezer right now, thank you for telling me that because I was going to give him a little more tonight…
He loved the chicken and rice I will for sure stick to a little of that as a treat
Thankyou so much ,
Hugs & blessings
Your so right Petunia, all that is happening to squeek is bringing back to my heart all that happened to my dad, & basically I have a ton of guilt because my dad was in congestive heart failure and I didn’t put it together, 5 days before my dad died I told him I would take him to see a cardiologist, in 10 days when i was on vacation, he had every symptom of Heart failure and I didn’t see it, ugh I had the diuretic that could have saved his life, and the fact that this vet won’t treat squeeks heart, is just really hitting home, so I am taking him in tomm, for a chest x-ray, maybe she will see an episode or agree because of my financial situation to treat him without me spending the $750, as it is just the chest x-ray is $200 , so I’m hoping it gives us some ans. if she doesn’t show some compassion tomm, I will for sure take squeek somewhere else. If I was working this wouldn’t be an issue, and I have not exactly transitioned into being without my pay… A whole different experience for me, not to mention my dad was always there to help me financially if I needed something… So ya this is hard on so many levels, but thank you so much for listening and being so great !!
Many doggie hugs
Please try not to hold guilt about your Dad, he would not have wanted it this way. If it was his time, there would have been something else to occur. I am sure he dearly loved you and would not want you carrying around this heavy guilt.
One of life's quintessential lessons, is to learn to forgive yourself.
Awww, Dee, I know it's so hard when you keep thinking of the "what ifs?" I have the same issue about my own dad but the thing is, when it's your own parent, as opposed to your client, it's harder to see these things. We put down the critical eye that we use in the healthcare setting and see our parents as, well, parents. We don't expect them to be vulnerable because they're our parents. They're bigger than life to us. And that's how it should be. And so we see them. You did nothing wrong, you just saw him as we all see our parents.
Please let us know how you make out at the vet tomorrow, Dee. I hope you can get some answers!
Thank you SK, I thought I had let go of the guilt, but with squeek dying its just re- surfacing all of it , I think after I spoke with the vet tonight and she just kept insisting this could be all related to his heart disease, just makes me think that’s what my dad died from
I was doing ok with all this till I started thinking about how much I miss him he would have been by my side every second with squeek sick. I’m so greatful for you and everyone that has shown so much love, Thank God for all of you, otherwise I would really feel alone, my son is great, but he just keeps saying it will be fine, he doesnt seem as emotional as i, but he is going with me tomm, so I’m so glad about that.
I know your right my dad would not want me to carry this guilt, he was so stubborn, he hated going to the dr. (he had just picked up my son from school, and started to cough almost with every breath, my son said papa maybe you should go to the dr. He responded, josh do you want me to see a dr. Everyday ? 30 min later he was gone. My son knew as he waved to his papa that he would never see him again, as i walked in the door a few min later, my son insisted we go check on him, My son and I are bonded forever with the experience of walking into my dads and finding him. It is the reason my son is going into healthcare. So I know it happened the way it did for a reason, I do try and remember that. I guess I need to learn to forgive myself… Gotta work on that !
Thanks SK , with my whole heart I am so grateful for your kindness !
Love back at ya !!!
Hugs & blessings
Dee, sorry to hear your dog (best friend) is so ill. They become our children, and we love them. It's hard to see them suffer. And, it's a hard choice to make that decision to put them to sleep. The dog is trying to be strong for you and your son. Its a tough choice, but sometimes we are forced to make them for the better of the pet. I couldn't stand to see my dog Disney suffer. The vet came to our home, and gave her a shot, and she just went to sleep peacefully. We got to hold her and reassure her. It was too much, agonizing watching her suffer, I couldn't stand it. I know she's in heaven. Someday, I will see her again. God willing.
I used it when I went to the dentist, so I'm guessing that it is national. And I was able to get interest free for a year, so maybe she could get a deal like that. It really is a big help. I hope that Dee inquires about it if she needs to get more work done on her pup. Oh, and the payments are low. Nan, thanks for thinking of this possibility.
Moms and Dads are so important, aren't they? They do so, so much for us and ask for so little in return (I understand that not everyone will agree with these sentiments.) Oh, and Nan, how sad that your kitty who helped your mom get over her cat-phobia is so sickly. It's almost like she's a fibro cat and was meant to be with you, though.
I just wanted to thank everyone for your prayers, love, caring and amazing compassion… I did take squeek in again today as the episodes were getting worse, a chest x-ray confirmed his heart is huge, it’s touching all ribs and cutting off his airway, these episodes are his heart struggling , she said he is for sure a heart attack trying to happen… Nothing we can do, she explained the whole euthanasia process and I totally agree I don’t want him to suffer, my son was totally against doing it tonight, so I thought ok… Of course now that we are home I’m wishing we had just done it, because now I know with every attack that could be it, but I think my son just needed a little time to let the reality of it sink in. After talking to him in length he understands this is what is best for squeek, so I’m praying the night is quiet, and squeeks doesn’t have anymore episodes tonight. Saying good buy will be so hard, my son wants to be there when they put squeek to sleep, I’m not sure I do, but I don’t want my son to be alone, so we still need to discuss that
Thank you all for so much support !! From the bottom of my heart I appreciate every post. Oh and I did look into the care credit, my mom actually has a card, so I may use it for the euthanasia
Hugs & blessings
That's how my Nollie started getting sick, with IBS. His stomach outlet had closed completely, and nothing would stay down. He lost 4lbs, and it escalated from there after a steroid shot.
Is Gracie on any meds for her IBS?
And thank you for sharing so much of your experiences with us, you have a lot of really great information.
