[NAGDU] Update On My Girl

Mon May 8 16:18:20 UTC 2017

Twice, I have been able to get a vet to come to my home and put the dog to
sleep in a place where the dog was comfortable.  Both those dogs had come
to hate going to the vet, and Echo even hated getting in a car.  I was
really glad they could end their lives at home.  If I have a choice next
time, I'll do that again.  Both times, I made an arrangement with a
home-visit vet ahead of time.
Tracy

> Quality of life: Is she in a lot of pain with the limp? That's probably
> not
> an issue. Kidney failure produces poison. She'll get sicker and
> suffer--not
> eating, maybe dehydration, vomiting. This is not what you really want for
> her.
>
> I am not Tracy, and my dog, Sonja, was not a guide, but when she was too
> weak to keep herself clean--that was when I made the decision. My
> ex-husband's dog had cancer. When he reached the point he had blood in his
> urine and nothing was really making him better we, knowing that he
> wouldn't
> get well, put him down though he was still sometimes lively when the meds
> took their full and temporary effect. You are the only person who can
> decide
> from what you are seeing in the dog if the time has come. If it has, sit
> with her as much as you can, cuddle her, say loving words to her,
> including
> how much you care for her, and then take her. It will not be easier for
> you
> to do whether it is tomorrow or next month. It is one of the hardest
> decisions we make, partly because of the power in our hands. But consider
> all the things you see in her and decide if she has a quality of life and
> if, in spite of your love for her, you can let her go if she doesn't. You
> are in my prayers, Dani, and anyone else who is facing this issue right
> now
> is as well.
> Cindy Lou Ray
> cindyray at gmail.com
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tracy Carcione
> via NAGDU
> Sent: Monday, May 8, 2017 9:13 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Tracy Carcione <carcione at access.net>
> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Update On My Girl
>
> Hi Dani.
> I'm very sorry to hear your girl is so ill.
> If she was doing well on Previcox, is it possible to try that again?
>
> I've had to put 3 dogs to sleep.  It's very hard.  I do my best to figure
> out if my dog is still enjoying life.  If I think Yes, I wait.  If I think
> No, I let him or her go.  It's an awful decision to have to make.  I try
> hard to put my dog's needs first, when I have to think about the end.
> Sending good thoughts your way.
> Tracy
>
>> Hi, Everyone.
>> Peg was on Deremaxx and her limp seemed more pronounced, she seemed
>> more anxious, and wasn't right digestively. I asked the doctor what
>> the other alternative was, and she said I could either go back to
>> Previcox or try Rimadyl. I opted for the Rimadyl, though she did well
>> on the Previcox.
>>
>> She's been on the new meds for a week, but her appetite's been sketchy
>> at best. She threw up Sunday night and Monday morning, and doc put her
>> on a bland diet. She ate willingly, but I had to make homemade broth
>> and rice--she wouldn't touch the canned stuff.
>>
>> Her loss of appetite started Thursday, though she drank water and
>> wanted to go out. She didn't seem dehydrated, but by Saturday I was
>> worked something was up. David took her to the vet and we found out
>> that her kidneys are functioning at 25 percent. She's being given
>> fluids at home, is drinking, and hardly eats.
>>
>> We take her back to the vet tomorrow, but David and I talked about
>> needing to let her go. She's herself mentally, but not physically.
>> It's been hard to watch her not eat, and I can't see having to watch
>> her starve herself just so selfish Dani can keep her girl around.
>>
>> I'm trying to write this without crying, but it hits hard at
>> unexpected moments. What did I not see? She's been on kidney diet food
>> since December, and doc says kidney failure comes in older dogs.
>>
>> She's lived a good long life, has been, and still is faithful, and
>> will always be my girl. Tight-fisted Dani wants to squeeze every last
>> moment she can get with Peg. Am I being mean to keep her around? Will
>> I be a bad Mom to put her to sleep just because she won't be able to
>> eat and things will get harder for her, bah the no-pain-for-CRF-thing.
>>
>> All of this to ask you guys to hold your babies close, love them long,
>> and love them hard.
>>
>> More Later,
>> Dani, rambling, struggling with herself, grateful for your support
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> NAGDU mailing list
>> NAGDU at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> NAGDU:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/carcione%40access.n
>> et
>>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> NAGDU mailing list
> NAGDU at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> NAGDU:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/cindyray%40gmail.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> NAGDU mailing list
> NAGDU at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> NAGDU:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/carcione%40access.net
>