Oh Great. I just got into work and here I am, crying at my desk.
::wiping tears, blowing nose::
My deepest condolences Stoidela. I can only imagine how you feel. My big guy (Larry) will be 12 years old in a few days and is “on borrowed time” according to all the vets. He’s a Great Dane / German Shephard mix with hip displacia. He took a turn for the worse and I figured he wouldn’t last more than a week. A friend told me about the new-ish drug: Metacam. He’s been on it for a month now and, although not a miracle cure, it has greatly improved his quality of life. Now we can hope he’ll see the end of one last summer.
Stoidela, you are one brave lady and I hope I can follow in your footsteps when the time comes.
Been there and done that, Stoidela; I empathize with you. I had to put 3 of my cats to sleep over the past several years; two to age (17) and cancer, and one, MY cat, Jason, due to liver disease. He was my companion for 14 years.
I’ve found that you have to realize their shorter lifespans will mean a parting one day, but if you have given them a happy home, and they bring you joy, both your lives have been blessed. It sounds like you qualify!
For me, quality of life is the bottom line; when meds no longer help, and they are in distress and miserable, it’s time. Jason was still comfortable and happy, but had started not making it to the litter box all the time, and the vet only gave him another 3 months or so, with medication. I chose to say goodbye to my friend while he could still enjoy life. He died purring, in my arms. My heart goes out to you with full understanding.
Stoidela,
My condolences. I had to wipe a few tears as I read what you and the others have had to go through. We lost our beautiful cockatiel, Tillie, this past summer to fatty liver syndrome. We did everything we could to try to undo the damage she had, but it just wasn’t enough. It was bad enough having to lose our little bird when we thought she was finally improving. I don’t even want to think about what hell it must have been to put your friend to sleep.
My thoughts are with you and everyone else here who has lost a beloved pet.
There’d better be one for animals! They deserve it a helluva lot more than nearly ANY human being I’ve met yet. (Stop hitting me, dear! I said “nearly” any.)
I’ve had the good fortune to share my home with several dogs, and been owned by several cats throughout my life. There is nothing easy about saying goodbye, but it is something that must be faced in almost every case. Just remember the good times your friend had with you, and be ready to offer your love to some other needy and deserving pet.
FixedBack
“Moderate strength is shown in violence, supreme strength is shown in levity.”~~G.K.Chesterton 1908