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my husband just took my little dog to the vet for the last time. She is eleven years old. A miniature American Eskimo (eskie for short). Her name is Sasha. She was diagnosed with renal failure this summer, and for the past two weeks she hasn't been able to eat or keep anything down, or has had diarheah if she did. She's nothing but skin and bones now. Today I gave her a little piece of bread and she couldn't even swallow it. We don't have any children of our own. She's been our baby for eleven years. And now she's going to be gone. I am so very, very, very sad. I've been in mourning all week, knowing what we must do, but each day we kept putting it off, hoping something would change. But when she couldn't even swallow the little piece of bread today, we knew it was time. I know that she's not a person, but she's been my baby anyway. It's a good thing I'm a touch typist because I can't even see the keyboard or the screen right now. I'm all alone here. My mom and dad are at the temple so I can't call them. I couldn't get myself to go with my husband to the vet. I feel like a coward. But I've been sobbing the whole time he's been gone and I know that wouldn't have helped things along at all. He has to be the stoic one right now. When we got her she was just eight weeks old and she snuggled her little head up under my arm during the whole car ride home for eight hours. Little kids at rest stops thought she looked like a little polar bear. She's greeted me every day when I get home from work or just from a little jaunt to the store. She's slept in my bed for eleven years. She's snuggled up next to me while we watch tv at night, getting petted or licking me. Her fur is extremely soft and white. And I'm just so, so, so sad. Posts: 2713 | Registered: Feb 2000
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Oh, Sparky, I'm sitting here crying with you. I've had to take a pet to the vet for a final trip and it's so, so difficult. Yes, she wasn't a parent or a child, but nonetheless, she was indeed a member of your family. I pray for peace for you and your husband. In your heart, you know you did the right thing, but it doesn't make the loss easier to bear.
Are you familiar with the Rainbow Bridge poem? I hope reading it will help you.
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I'm so sorry Sparky. I know how them little furkids can become family members. It will be tough for a few weeks. I will suggest that you get a new puppy as soon as possible. You are not replacing Sasha, that can't be done. But you have an emptiness in your heart now and another little friend will really help you. I have been where you're at, just a few years ago and took the advice of a friend and am very glad I did. Take comfort she is at of her pain now, and you did the right thing in not making her suffer. I used to have a story entitled Rainbow Bridge. I'll see if I can find it and post it here for you. It will help you I think.
Gods blessings on you and yours.
Posts: 93 | Registered: Sep 2007
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Sparky, oh how I wish I could give you a great big hug. When my marriage broke down we had to take the dog to a dog's home, as I couldn't have cared for him by myself, he needed lots of time and exercise.
My brother in law drove me to the kennels, about 30 miles away, I sobbed all the way there and all the way back, and for several weeks afterwards. The sense of loss I felt was overwhelming. I share your loss and grief.
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It looks like we may have a reprieve. The vet said it wasn't quite her time to go yet -- the vet put her on fluids and special medicine to calm her stomach down and a few other things. Sasha's already doing better. She's perking up some. I didn't think it was possible.
Posts: 2713 | Registered: Feb 2000
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Yes . . . . . We won't be doing anything crazy, like a kidney transplant or blood transfusion or tons of other stuff. But if some fluids and a little medicine are all it takes to bring her back to her normal self, that's good for me.
Posts: 2713 | Registered: Feb 2000
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Sparky, I'm so sorry about Sasha's illness & your distress. I love animals & got teary at your first post. Even though as you say they are not "people," they are still part of your family. She's a beautiful critter that everyone would fall in love with.
Then I read your later post, that she might have some life left in her, & I was thrilled for both of you & hope this is true. I will keep you in my prayers; I'm not sure exactly what to say to the Lord on your behalf, except maybe to ask Him to comfort you, bring you happiness, & help you take the best care of your pooch. He will know what is right for you.
<hugs> for the Sparky's & Sasha.
Posts: 12837 | Registered: Apr 2005
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Sparky, I am sorry to hear about your loss. Animals and humans can forge incredible bonds. I think some animals are fortunate to go to homes where they are loved so much and cared for so much. Sasha was so lucky to have your family!
Posts: 3434 | Registered: Feb 2005
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I just read that there may be some treatments to help. My sister has a very old dog who they were able to treat to help her be more mobile as my sister hopes to have her for another year. She was feeling so good that she was being naughty.
Posts: 3434 | Registered: Feb 2005
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I just talked to the vet. She said that Sasha is much more perky now, is starting to eat and has been able to keep it down. That in itself is a remarkable change for her. She had lost three pounds (and when you only weigh 11 pounds to begin with, there's not that much to lose), so I thought there was no way she could recover from that. But apparently she is! The vet is keeping her over the weekend to make sure she is stable, then we'll bring her home. The vet says that she could live a very long time with this condition, but she may have several more episodes like this. I don't know if I can handle many more episodes like this, but we'll see. Thanks everybody, for your hugs and prayers. They were (and still are) greatly appreciated.
Posts: 2713 | Registered: Feb 2000
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Keeping my fingers crossed for you and Sasha!
you wrote, " I know that she's not a person, but she's been my baby anyway." No matter, she is Heavenly Father's creature who you love! Posts: 8579 | Registered: Feb 2005
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Good news so far, Sparky. I am being cautiously optimistic & will keep all of you in my prayers.
Losing a beloved pet is tough. Even though they're not our kids, as Nita said, they are creatures that Heavenly Father has given us to share love with. For some folks, a pet is the most loving presence in their daily life. Some pets don't cause as much grief & trouble as other people do! It is comforting to know that animals & all forms of life have spirits, & they will be resurrected in their own sphere & element. I believe the sphere & element for critters like Sasha is to keep us company, & since body & spirit are eternal, that means we will see them again.
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That's good Sparky. We took our 14 year old cat Tasha into the vet this past summer. She spent the night, was diagnosed with kidney failure and we had to put her to sleep. I hope you get more time with your pet.
Posts: 1998 | Registered: Oct 2005
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I just brought Sasha home from the vet. My husband got a call today that the vet that she was in pain and her anemia was worsening, and we should consider that maybe now was the time to put her to sleep afterall. When we went to do so, the vet that called wasn't there, but another vet was. Sasha was walking around the room, following commands (sit, down, kiss), and alert. Her tail was down, and she acted very tired (I would be too with all that barking going on day and night around me), but the vet on duty said he agreed with us that it wasn't her time afterall. In fact, he felt embarrassed that we had been called and told to do so. So, she's home with us now. She's curled up into a little ball, getting some much needed rest. She's been petted quite a bit in the last hour. We'll see how the night goes. If nothing else, prayers WERE answered so that she could come home to get and give a little more loving with her family.
Posts: 2713 | Registered: Feb 2000
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My wife and I have had to put down 2 dogs this year with essentially the same symptoms. I understand and sympathize with you. I know what you're going through and we've been there.
The first to go was Penny, a Boston/Beagle mix. She had been with us the longest of all our dogs. We got Penny when my wife worked at a pet store. We were living in an apartment that didn't allow cats and dogs. And Kathy would sneak in puppy after puppy, but then would take them back to the store. And finally there was the one dog she really did have to have, so we had a friend with Boston's keep her till we moved.
Then Sassy, a Chihuahua passed away a couple months later. The funny thing about Sassy is that we never wanted a Chihuahua. But, my wife being a dog trainer came across a family that was having problems with their Chihuahua puppy. But, when they learned that she needed knee surgery they just her to us. My wife got a 50% discount on surgeries so we took care of the knees with the idea that we would sell the dog to recoup the surgery cost. But, then she became our dog.
Posts: 10866 | Registered: Oct 2004
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Sasha's improved a lot since yesterday. All she did last night was sleep. But she did eat and drink, and she kept the food down, something she hadn't been able to do for a while. We took her back to the vet today to get another shot to help with her anemia, and she actually barked at another dog and bounced around a bit. So, while she's still quite sick, she's much happier here at home, and in no pain that we can tell. As long as she's happy, alert, and in no pain, I say she should stay here with us, instead of chasing bunnies in the sky.
Posts: 2713 | Registered: Feb 2000
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FlyByNight, I can't imagine having two go in such a short time. But then, this is the only pet I've ever had. I also can't imagine getting another pet after Sasha, but ask me again six months after Sasha's final day, and we'll see what I say then.
Posts: 2713 | Registered: Feb 2000
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We put Sasha to sleep today (Saturday). She had been doing better and better over the week and was nearly back to her old self, but Thursday night into Friday she took a turn for the worse. By this morning it was apparent that she was in a lot of pain and the vet said that her illness was in a vicious cycle that would never improve, so we decided it was time. This last week with her was very sweet and I'm glad we had that chance to spend that time with her. I dreamed Friday night that we had a fence around our house (we don't) and she kept escaping so that she could run free and fast like she used to. I decided to interpret it as we were keeping her here and we had to let her be free from the pain. I'm sure she is running freely now. The house is quiet now. She is missed. Posts: 2713 | Registered: Feb 2000
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Sparky, I'm sorry to hear about this. I've been down this road myself a few times and it's never easy, even when it's the right thing to do. The grief can be just as real as with the loss of a human loved one. I still miss Cassie Brown, our shelty-dachsund mix that we lost almost 20 years ago.
Posts: 5983 | Registered: Feb 2000
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Sparky, I am sorry for you loss. It sounds like you had some special time together in recent days. It is hard to let go of a pet that you have loved and also has been apart of your life for eleven years. I do think Sasha is free now.
Posts: 3434 | Registered: Feb 2005
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Sparky, I'm really sorry. Sasha was a special dog and Nauvoo will miss her too.
But I am so glad you had a few more days with her. I don't think it is an exaggeration to say that the Lord granted one of His tender mercies in allowing you a little more time with her. Yes, Sasha is now free & safe in the animal spirit world. Posts: 12837 | Registered: Apr 2005
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Sparky, I'm so sad for you. Our kitties are like our kids since we can't have kids, and I totally sympathize. Just remember, you will see her later.
Posts: 1793 | Registered: Jul 2004
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I'm sorry that you've lost your dog. I had a 15-year old little female Lhasa Apso/Poodle/Terrier mix (a "Lhasapooter") that we had to put down 4 years ago. We had raised her from a pup and the kids loved her and she loved them and enjoyed playing with them.
My younger daughter would put the dog "Pepper" on her bicycle seat and pedal standing up all the way down the street to our neighborhood park. There Pepper would go down the slide on her own and let my daughter put her on the baby swings. She would play with the other children at the park and loved being around them. It was very hard on us to lose her.
Now I have a little female cat, a Russian Blue/Chartreuse mix named "Belle". We have had her 15 years. She was always a small cat but she's been losing weight and has a cyst on her neck. I'm taking her in next Monday to see if the vet can do something. For some reason this cat picked me to be her favorite. She cries for me sometimes if I'm in another part of the house and sleeps right next to my head at night. I know she won't be here with us on earth forever but she is the most loving animal I have ever known. Losing her will be almost like losing a member of our family.
I do believe that we will have our pets in our lives after we leave here and that is a comfort to me.
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She's curled up into a little ball, getting some much needed rest. She's been petted quite a bit in the last hour. ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
We'll see how the night goes. If nothing else, prayers WERE answered so that she could come home to get and give a little more loving with her family.
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All the critters in Nauvoo are happy to have you back among us.
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Sparky, I'm really sorry. Sasha was a special dog and Nauvoo will miss her too. 
