One of the other techs I work with called me tonight to tell me she had run over a puppy the other day. She got out of her car to check on it. The owner of the puppy came out and began to kick the dog and yell at it. My friend was hysterical, she was screaming at the guy that the dog needed to go to the vet. The owner was just pissed at the dog because it keeps running into the street, and this was the SECOND time it was hit. My friend again told the man the puppy needed to get to the vet. The guy said he was not taking the dog to the vet. My friend said she would take it. The guy then tells her that if she takes the pup to the vet, don’t bother bringing it back! She didn’t bother to try to talk to that idiot any longer, she just scooped up the puppy and took it to our hospital. Thankfully, there was no harm done. Now the puppy is living with her brother until she can find a home for it. Someone needs to go back to that guy’s house, run him over, and then kick him around a little bit!
Ryan, I’m sorry to hear about your cat. It sounds like a particularly cruel twist of fate to have Grover treated for one condition and taken by another. Were the conditions related?
Yeah, from what I understand his diabetes was actually caused by pancreatitis and the insulin therapy only gave him a few days before it was no longer effective.
I really miss him. He was my constant from the time my mother gave him to me as a kitten small enough to cup in one hand, through two girlfriends, three jobs, my time in college, the death of my mother, moving 5 times.
He was my best friend. I’ll miss him
“The universe doesn’t give first warnings or second chances”
Michelle, I’ve called my vet today to see if he’ll put my oldest dog, kate, on Rimadyl. She’s not been eating well, so I’ve been making homemade chicken & rice stew for her. I saw your post about the cat with the prolapsed rectum - my cat did that twice (the second time in the cage on the way to the vet’s to have her stitches removed). Finally they had to amputate and basically remake her rectum.
I do save money giving my horse his vaccinations, but he’s checked by his vet every year. I find that with animals, an ounce of prevention is definitely worth a pound of cure!
Germain, if your dog hasn’t had a check up in a while, take her in before getting her on the Rimadyl. Tell me again how old she is? If she is over 8 or 9, I would also advise a geriatric exam which should include a chem panel, a CBC and a urinalysis. Rimadyl is pretty safe but there can be side effects involving the gastrointestinal system and the liver, I think. If she is not eating that could be an indication of another problem and Rimadyl might be contraindicated in her case. Let me know how things go.
Michelle, Kate is at least 13 (she was a rescue, but a young adult at the time). She’s at best guess a pointer/dobe cross, so that’s a good old age for her. She’s just loosing interest, I think. She’s incontinent and blind and deaf, but doesn’t seem to be in too much pain. Arthritic knees (she’s blown out both ACLs in the back. Cha ching, cha ching!), but my knees don’t feel too great most days. She’s had urinalysis, and all sorts of blood work done. The vet is beginning to say things like “You’ve done as much as you can do”. I’m telling myself as long as she can get up and down and still eats, I can’t put her down.
How do you know when it’s time?
StG
Were the tests recent? Things can change, so blood and urine run several months ago may not show what’s going on inside her NOW.
Now, I wish you had an email address posted so I could address the euthanasia issue in private, but here is my advice: you say your dog is deaf, blind, and incontinent. Her appetite is failing. She is very old. You say your vet is saying that you have done everything that can be done. I hate to say it, but it sounds like it is indeed time to say goodbye. You say your dog is not yet suffering, but ask yourself this: do you want to wait until she IS in pain? Unfortunately, there is never going to be one clear signal that it is time for your pet to be put to sleep. The decision has to be up to you, and it is a very hard and personal decision to have to make. Just remember, you are not making this decision for yourself, but for one of your best friends. You have to do what is right for HER. It would be nice if our pets could all just go quietly, in their sleep, at their appointed time. But things seldom end so easily, and it is up to us, their human caretakers to give them the gift of release. Think about it. Ask your vet to be frank about the situation. It doesn’t sound as if you need to reach a decision by tomrrow. Be strong. You will figure out the right thing to do.