Our dog had two puppies on Friday. Yesterday evening, one of them starting looking like she was in distress, pulling her head back over one shoulder in a way that, were she a human, I would associate with brain damage or seizure. All night long, she alternated between this and crying, while I tried to keep her warm and hydrated.
I’m too wrung out to drag it out, but we had to have her euthanized tonight. She was in the vet’s office all day today, and had several seizures. She never relaxed long enough to sleep or nurse (she also appears unable to nurse normally.) The vet ran tests and couldn’t find any infection or anything to explain what was wrong.
I saw her one last time and I can’t explain it other than to say she just didn’t look right. She still had that posturing, with her head pulled way back to the side. She looked miserable, and I just couldn’t see keeping her that way. The doctor didn’t feel that she would improve or that we could do anything else to help her.
She was so cute. She had a smooth coat like her mama, but markings that looked suspiciously like a St. Bernard in our neighborhood.
Her little brother (there were only two) is adorable too, and he seems to be doing fine. Her momma is despondent. And I feel awful.
I’m a little incoherent. I haven’t slept in what seems like days.
I am so sad to hear this. I know how draining and sad it can be.
Two years ago we found some kittens in our garage. We decided to keep them. However, one of them had problems and it became very evident that she wasn’t going to make it.
Having her put to sleep was very, very hard.
Take it easy on yourself. Hug and love the other kritters you have and just try to take it easy.
Ohh Bodypoet, after all you just went through with Bounce. I feel so sorry for you. I was following that for days silently and thought you were such a kind and loving person. In this situation you have proved yourself brave and with a strong heart again.
My heart goes out to you. hugs((((((((((Bodypoet)))))))))))
Last batch of saluki puppies DesertRoomie and I had one who seemed fine at first but after a couple days just started acting ‘odd.’ She was finding it difficult to suckle so we took to bottle feeding, and hydrating her. She just kept deteriorating until, after about a week, when DR was alone with her she started having seizures. DR got her to a vet quick where she was euthed. A quickie autopsy afterward revealed a totally abnormal brain – it looked more like a tumor than a proper brain DR said. The doc surmised that the drain for her CSF had not developed properly and the resulting pressure destroyed it. It was the right thing to do, but it still was a sad afternoon when I buried her little body.
Ouch, bodypoet, I’m so sorry. hugs We had a little kitten we took in who ended up having to be put to sleep due to peritonitus.
But I always tell myself that even though she was only with us for two months, she was coddled and loved for almost her entire lifetime-remember that about your puppy.
I’m very sorry. The kindest thing a pet owner can do is let the animal go when it is time. It hurts the owner horribly but the animal (dog/cat/horse) is free from pain. Give puppy mamma a lot of extra cuddles and spend time with her. She is grieving too.
We also recently had to put our dog down. After a wonderful 15 years of companionship, he woke up one morning with the exact same hear thing as you describe and the inability to use his legs. It was just heartbreaking. I miss him so much.
My dog is not long for this world. She’s an 11 year old Boxer with degenerative myelitis, which is the canine equivalent of MS, and I suspect pancreatic cancer, too. A Boxer’s life expectancy is about 10 years.
Poor thing had a hell of a time walking this morning for the 5 AM pooping.
Well, Mommadog is doing a bit better today–not quite so anxious and a bit less depressed. She has decided that there is no place for her and her pup except right in the middle of my bed, so I’ve been displaced to the kids’ room for a bit until I can convince her otherwise. She’s a big dog, and I don’t believe she’ll scooch over for the likes of me.
Yesterday, she brought her puppy to me–dropped it right into my hands, and then stomped off and laid at the end of the bed. I’m not sure if she was asking me to babysit or demanding some doggy me-time, but eventually she felt a little better and came back and got him. He’s such a cutie, I guess she can’t resist.
Thanks for all the good thoughts. So many of you have lost your own pets, or are close to it–if you want to sit down here with me and have a good cry or three, I’ve got tissues.
A few months ago, I found an abandoned litter of kittens. There were seven of them. Apparently they never got the colostrum from their mother and had no immunities. I spent the next week having to put one per day out its misery. It got really old. Of the seven, one survived. I have a feeling that he’s going to be one tough SOB.
