# I said goodbye to my dog today just in case **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 7, 2011, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-said-goodbye-to-my-dog-today-just-in-case/602195 "2011-11-07T19:48:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![auRa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c4cdca/32.png) [@auRa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auRa)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2011, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-said-goodbye-to-my-dog-today-just-in-case/602195/1 "2011-11-07T19:48:10Z")
My 12-year-old Standard Schnauzer broke off a toenail on her right back foot about a month ago. Despite two courses of antibiotics, the wound didn’t heal at all - she was still limping a month later. My mother took her back to the vet today after finding more blood on the floor, and long story short, Bea is going into surgery tomorrow to amputate two toes from her right back foot due to bone cancer (no wonder the broken nail wasn’t healing…there’s no bone left in the rightmost toe at all). She’s in pretty good shape for her age and her heart and lungs are clear but I’m still pretty gutted right now. She’s still old, you know. And a little sick. And in pain. And I won’t be able to take her into surgery because I’m in an all-day training session for work tomorrow and she’ll be all alone (my dad, a.k.a. Bea’s Light Of My Life, Master Of My World, My Liege, is taking her to the same vet she’s been going to for the past 12 years and adores, but hey, no mixing facts in here…). I went to my parents’ house today and petted and scratched her behind the ears for a long time and then came home and cried a little. I just really really hope my puppy will be ok because she’s such a good sweet gentle dog. And, somehow, at the same time I kind of almost maybe just a little bit hope that she doesn’t wake up from the anesthesia, because if this is the shape I’m in 18 hours before a surgery I’m going to be fucking destroyed when I have to take her to be put to sleep sometime in the future. I swear to god, I am never ever going to own a pet again. Seriously. ---
**Author:** ![otternell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecc23a/32.png) [@otternell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/otternell)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2011, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-said-goodbye-to-my-dog-today-just-in-case/602195/2 "2011-11-07T20:08:38Z")
Best wishes and sending good vibes for a successful surgery and recovery! Always hope for the best - you will eventually be quite torn up when it comes time to either make the decision, or if you found that nature/fate has made the decision for you. That’s just how that works. The only people who feel a deep level of pain are the ones that felt a deep level of love. Enjoy the good years and keep hoping for successful recovery! ---
**Author:** ![SeaCanary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@SeaCanary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaCanary)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2011, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-said-goodbye-to-my-dog-today-just-in-case/602195/3 "2011-11-07T21:19:01Z")
I have a tendency to grieve ahead of time just the way you seem to be doing. My very best hopes for you and Bea. That’s got to be really rough. Peace. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2011, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-said-goodbye-to-my-dog-today-just-in-case/602195/4 "2011-11-08T00:20:38Z")
I hope your sweety girl pulls thru and you have more time together. Just remember this-when you do lose her, you are doing no service to her memory if you don’t get another. Weigh the good times against the pain of loss. For me, the pleasure always comes out ahead. Give yourself time, and then get yourself another dog to love. A house isn’t a home without a dog. (((hugs))) ---
**Author:** ![MizTina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MizTina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MizTina)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2011, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-said-goodbye-to-my-dog-today-just-in-case/602195/5 "2011-11-08T04:52:22Z")
PapSett said it perfectly. I hope all goes well for you and your old girl. The best you could ever do for her is to just love her and give her the good home you have. ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2011, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-said-goodbye-to-my-dog-today-just-in-case/602195/6 "2011-11-08T11:38:13Z")
**auRa** , I wish you nothing but the best outcome for you and Bea. I understand how you feel about a little bit of you not wanting her to wake up. Love is a hard, hard place to be sometimes. May gentle Bea be treated gently. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2011, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-said-goodbye-to-my-dog-today-just-in-case/602195/7 "2011-11-08T17:01:35Z")
> [@auRa](#): > > I swear to god, I am never ever going to own a pet again. Seriously. You have given your pet a loving, happy home for years on end - there is no way her life could have been any better. You certainly have no obligation to replace Bea - you can’t ever truly replace a pet. But at some point, there will be a chance to offer another dog the gift of being part of your family. I wish you peace - Bea has been a truly lucky dog. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2011, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-said-goodbye-to-my-dog-today-just-in-case/602195/8 "2011-11-08T17:33:45Z")
All we can do is provide for them and love them. And as someone once said, > [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](#): > > Love is a hard, hard place to be sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2011, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-said-goodbye-to-my-dog-today-just-in-case/602195/9 "2011-11-08T19:40:42Z")
Hope everything goes well. ---
**Author:** ![auRa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c4cdca/32.png) [@auRa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auRa)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2011, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-said-goodbye-to-my-dog-today-just-in-case/602195/10 "2011-11-08T20:08:04Z")
Thanks for your kind words. I’m actually quite surprised about how hard this hit me, considering that I’ve “known” for a while that’s she’s old and has Cushing’s disease - I guess I thought I’d come to terms with the fact that saying goodbye would be an issue in the not-unforseeable future. That said, she’s fine. 🙂 Or as fine as a recovering amputee can be, I guess. Less “fine”, more “incredibly stoned and also quite peeved about the fact that no-one fed her all day”. They only had to remove one toe after all, although that one had to go all the way from the wrist bones. She’s already walking around fairly well with a padded bootie that looks like a clown shoe, and resenting the fact that she has to be carried up and down stairs for a few days. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2011, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-said-goodbye-to-my-dog-today-just-in-case/602195/11 "2011-11-08T20:17:07Z")
Glad to hear she’s doing well. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2011, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-said-goodbye-to-my-dog-today-just-in-case/602195/12 "2011-11-08T20:18:55Z")
Very good news!🙂 ---
**Author:** ![FlyByNight512](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/82dd89/32.png) [@FlyByNight512](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyByNight512)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2011, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-said-goodbye-to-my-dog-today-just-in-case/602195/13 "2011-11-08T20:30:57Z")
> [@auRa](#): > > Less “fine”, more “incredibly stoned and also quite peeved about the fact that no-one fed her all day.” That made me bust up laughing! The poor critters, they’re so absurd when they’re coming out from under anesthesia. (Actually, my husband was pretty hilarious too when he had his wisdom teeth out… don’t tell him I said that.) I’m so glad it’s a good outcome. Hopefully that’s the end of that and she goes on to be healthy and happy for a good while yet. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2011, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-said-goodbye-to-my-dog-today-just-in-case/602195/14 "2011-11-09T00:18:40Z")
YAY!!! Good news! Hug Bea for me! ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2011, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-said-goodbye-to-my-dog-today-just-in-case/602195/15 "2011-11-09T00:41:00Z")
I’m so happy to hear of this great outcome! 12 isn’t all that old these days. Will she need any other treatment for her cancer? StG ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2011, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-said-goodbye-to-my-dog-today-just-in-case/602195/16 "2011-11-09T00:41:05Z")
Sending healing thoughts to Bea ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2011, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-said-goodbye-to-my-dog-today-just-in-case/602195/17 "2011-11-09T03:22:58Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > Sending healing thoughts to Bea Same here!!! > [@auRa](#): > > I swear to god, I am never ever going to own a pet again. Seriously. Said the same thing after my dog and cat passed; Sam at almost 16 and Tailcat at like 17. Got them when I was in second and third grade so we all grew up together. And I stuck to it! In a real sense if not in reality. I never owned a pet again but other peoples pets kept adopting me and worming their way into my heart. When my friends Newfie, Mister King, died I cried like an idiot for an hour and hurt for weeks. When the neighborhood stray cat got hit by a car I was the one who had to go get it and see it buried properly. And my one cousin has this dog getting up there in years and I’m kicking in for some of the needed vet bills. What can I say? You may never own another pet. But I got a feeling your a little like me and gonna end up owned by one or two in the course of your life. So don’t let it surprise you. ---
**Author:** ![MizTina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MizTina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MizTina)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2011, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-said-goodbye-to-my-dog-today-just-in-case/602195/18 "2011-11-09T05:46:53Z")
That’s great news about Bea! I’m very happy for both of you! ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2011, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-said-goodbye-to-my-dog-today-just-in-case/602195/19 "2011-11-09T05:52:47Z")
I’m sorry. That sucks. \<3 ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2011, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-said-goodbye-to-my-dog-today-just-in-case/602195/20 "2011-11-09T07:06:14Z")
Great news. I’m so glad for you **auRa** - what a load off your mind! I bet Bea is in a fugue that has happy-to-be-home stuff floating around in it. Good on you both. You, for keeping her healthy enough to come through it all; Bea for wanting to be back home with you. YAY! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-said-goodbye-to-my-dog-today-just-in-case/602195.md?page=2)