As posted here our dog Spike has been very sick. Last night, that all ended.
We got home yesterday and Spike was panting, yelping and couldn’t stand, walk or anything. I told Jeff that was it, he wouldn’t go through this anymore. He was dying, right there in front of us. I called the vet’s office and they had an opening for us at 6. Our regular vet, Dr. E would be gone by the time we got there, so it would be a different vet. We got him ready, Jeff carried him outside to the car and got in the back with him. We have a hatchback with fold down seats, so there was lots of room to keep him comfortable.
We got there and I went in and they had a room waiting for us. I went back out to the car, Jeff carried Spike in to the Quiet Room. We sat with him for a bit, talking with J, the tech and doing the payment crap. She left the room and Spike had a HUGE seizure. I ran out and got J, the tech and she got Dr. E. She had stayed just so she could be there for us. They came in the room and the seizure was already over. Jeff said it was the worst one he’s had. Dr. E had the tech get him some Valium to calm him down and it helped right away. They usually take the pet to the back, prep them and have the owners come back but they prepped him right there in the quiet room. He didn’t even flinch when the put the needle and catheter in. Such a good boy. They left us alone with him for about 5 minutes and then Dr. E came back, talked to us for a bit and asked if we were ready. I sat on the floor with him, rubbing his head, telling him what a good boy he was and that we loved him. Jeff was on the couch behind me. It took about 30 seconds and he was gone. I started sobbing when I couldn’t feel his pulse on his neck anymore. Dr. E listened to his heart and said he was gone. We sat with him alone for about 10 minutes and another 10 minutes with Dr. E. Jeff asked me if I was ready, and I knew that was his way of telling me he was. I got up…and this is the heartbreaker…Jeff got on his knees, put his head on Spike’s and told him he loved him…and walked out. Nothing like your big, strong fiance on his knees to ground you.
We got home at 6:30 and as soon as we stepped in the door, Jeff took our ceramic Boxer bank and put it in the closet. We sat there, crying and consoling eachother until about 7:30, when Jeff decided that if he didn’t do something, he would go nuts. We made supper, watched a DVD in bed and went to sleep by 10. This weekend we have the task of getting all of Spike’s stuff and putting it in storage.
I feel like a huge weight has been lifted. He is no longer in pain. He has given us much joy and love and has made us both better people for allowing us to be his humans.
Goodbye Spike…you will be missed and loved every day.
