Zsofia,
virtual hug
My family and I put down our beloved dog Roxie about 6 months ago, and I can’t help but be crying reading all this and typing this now. It’s was rough, and it will be for you, but you’re definitely doing the right thing.
Only advice I could possibly offer is be around dogs, get your fix in. I go over to a friend’s house (I’m in an apartment now), and never want to leave because they have two lively puppies.
QFT. It’s just not in a dog’s nature. They will keep plugging away until they drop. But you’ll know your dog well enough to be able to decide if it is still enjoying its life, as opposed to just existing.
Zsofia, give Haplo a chin scritch for me.
Zsofia:
My thoughts are with you. Hugs to you and to Haplo. PM me if you feel like talking…{{{Zsofia&Haplo}}}
Losing a beloved pet is a deep sadness. Nothing I can say will make the pain less, but know that my thoughts are with you.
He’s really declining shockingly fast - yesterday evening he actually seemed pretty spry, sniffing around even though he was limping a bit, ate his dinner, etc. So we sat and watched a movie, and halfway through he threw up everything on me and himself, and he didn’t even move to get out of it. The vet said he threw up that morning, which I sort of shrugged off since he rarely vomits, but that means he hasn’t eaten anything that stayed down for days. This morning he didn’t even eat his breakfast, so he didn’t get his pain pill at all, although he took one in some cheese later. This afternoon he wouldn’t even take it in cheese, and he started breathing faster and more labored - he’s obviously in pain, and it’s heartbreaking. I can’t get him to take any of his pills, so I gave him extra fluids because it was the only thing I could do. He’s at my parents’ now, and if the fluids help they’re supposed to try to get him to take a pain pill.
In other words, it’s clear that I’m doing the right thing. I feel a lot better about it now - I haven’t cried at all since I got to work, although I did take the first half of today off. It would obviously be wrong to allow him to remain in pain like that.
My boyfriend has been so sweet about the whole thing, even though it’s not his dog and he formerly couldn’t even be in the same room with him because Haplo is a grumpy old man who likes to bite men sometimes because he has some kind of doggy mental illness. When I was trying to decide if I wanted to take him home and bury him or if I wanted to go the cremation route and then would I want the ashes or not, he said he’d find me a nice box and dig the grave for me, and he came over to my parents’ house today and took some really nice pictures of us with the dog. He can really be a good guy sometimes.
ETA - does it make me a horrible awful very un-good person that I was looking a little bit at dogs available for adoption at Pets Inc? I don’t even know if I want another dog - we have three cats who we love very much, and a dog would be a pain in the ass and throw a big wrench into their little cat lives.
that sounds horrid, hon. losing a dog, i believe, has got to be one of the most painful things in the world: they’re loyal and selfless friends that you’ll remember for a long time.
i’ve had a similiar thing happen to me late last year; my ten year old sheepdog got a terrible case of pyometra(infected uterus-- six pounds, to be exact) and we were all scared to death we were going to lose her. but she pulled through, fortunately.
i’m sorry that you had to go through all that, but i’ll bet you’re doing the right thing -hug- keep your head up.
No! It means that you loved Haplo and he thoroughly loved you back. I can’t think of a finer tribute to a good dog than saving another one and letting it into your family. Cats are very fine and so are dogs. They’re just different so why not enjoy the differences? The cats will adapt to a new pup, and probably somewhat decisively for having seniority. They’ll train him/her up the way they want.
Go gently, Haplo. You were the absolute best dog you knew how to be. Sleep now.
Well, it’s 20 minutes to go, Aaron’s digging a hole in the back yard, and I thought I was done crying but obviously I’m not. I haven’t been able to decide whether I can be in the room with him for it or not, but I feel like I owe it to him to be there.
You guys have been so kind and helpful - not just now at the end but often before, when he had heartworms especially, and when I asked about giving him fluids a few weeks ago.
I’ve been avoiding this thread for days in fear of this. I’m sorry to hear it, Zsofia.
God, I feel so much better. The minute it was over, it was such a relief. We laughed and joked around the grave, even - no tears, it was all okay in the end. While I’m still feeling good about it I’m going to try to clean up his laundry room, which is, you know, covered in absolutely revolting dog vomit and full of his things. I’m going to try and keep busy today and maybe get the house somewhat clean in the bargain, but really I think I’m okay.
You’ll still cry, but it won’t be for the sick old guy you freed, it will be for the vital young dog that he once was.
I had to say goodbye to my Mags last October, I feel you.
Having just put down my best pal (he had cancer and the pain was getting so bad that he couldn’t go the bathroom, I’d say you’ll know when it will be time. It’s tough, but in many ways animals have it better than we do…
he is out of pain and running free.
i go into a major cleaning frenzy when my furry ones have passed. i tend to get really restless and see them everywhere. sometimes it helps to move things around and keep moving.
remember the fun times you had with your best bud.
My bathroom is BEAUTIFUL. Seriously, this is the first time since we moved in that I wouldn’t be ashamed to direct somebody to it. I got little organizer guys for the countertop, I put in a basket thing on the wall for my hairdryer so it isn’t on the floor, I replaced the rusted-out shower curtain rod, got a new curtain, finally installed the new toilet seat I got a year ago…
And this is so embarassing…
I finally gave the tub a good scrubbing with scouring powder like my mom used to do, and you know what? The tub has a textured bottom. I didn’t know that. That means we’ve been standing on a very thick slime coating every time we have showered for years. Oh, god, a girl could throw up.
{{{{{Zsofia}}}}}}
I’ve been avoiding this thread, too. Wishing you many happy, funny memories of your dear Haplo.
I totally understand the cleaning frenzy thing; we did it after both Miss Emily and Miss Scout died. It’s cleansing in more ways than one.
Really, you did the last loving task of pet ownership: helping Haplo to his rest. Remember him in his prime, go ahead and laugh, and cry when you need to.
TVeblen is absolutely right: when you’ve loved a dog so much, that love has to go somewhere when he’s gone. Why not love someone new who needs it? It’s a tribute to the joy you had with Haplo.
Good night, Haplo. You were a very good dog.