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greendragon
Sr. Staff
Apr 23 2008, 9:44pm
Post #26 of 29
(52 views)
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Am I too late to add my own {{{hugs}}}?
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I feel for you so much, Tintalle. But I agree with what other people have said; you know in your heart that it is time. As Frodo said, 'I know what I must do... It's just that I'm afraid to do it.' I know it's easy for me to say it, but don't be afraid; be happy that you had such wonderful years with your faithful pet, and be happy that you can do this last great act of love and kindness for him. It is a noble sacrifice to end his pain at the expense of causing yourself pain; that's the greatest love you can show him at this time. This may be a controversial thing to say, but in my family we are all pretty much of the opinion that it would be humane if it were legal to do this for humans, too. I know there are MANY shades of grey, it would be very hard to police it, etc, etc and I don't wish to start a debate on the topic! I just mean that, hypothetically, it would be nice to be able to spare our loved ones drawn out pain at the end of their lives. I hope you'll be able to be strong for your dog and will be comforted by the love you have shared; that never goes away. Your friends are here for you, Tintalle.
'There are older and fouler things than orcs in the deep places of my fridge...' 'You never know what will happen next, when once you get mixed up with TORnsibs and their friends.'
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paleostone
Bree
Apr 23 2008, 9:48pm
Post #27 of 29
(50 views)
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I had to put down my dear Stoney for mental problems despite a healthy body
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He had had a disease at 1 year called coonhound paralysis. A disease that strips the mylin sheeth off all the nerves so that they short circut. In one day he lost all ability to walk or even raise his head and I had to spoon feed him water. I carried him in and out of the house for months and watched this powerful German Shorthair go from 70lbs of muscle to 40lbs of skin and bones. I took him everywhere, even to school to help me set up my classroom for the fall. He had a red wagon I pulled him around in. During the many months he was sick he never once whimpered, never once snapped and never once let himself urinate or defficate in the house. He always happily tried to do what he could. First he would raise his head, then he could finially roll up onto his elbows, next he started dragging himself around by his front legs, Weeks later he could sit if I kept him balanced. Eventually he stood and slowly began walking. A year later I would drive out into the country, find a nice quiet road and would let him run beside the car while I held the leash. It was all I could do to keep him to a trot (which is the muscle building gate) and I usually had to let him run at least a mile before he slowed down and settled in to a 15mph trot. (I am too old and fat to actually run with him) We struggled back and a year later he went back into the show ring and began to win points on his championship again. I was one point from finishing his championship when I quit. I lost the heart to show him again when at one show a woman stood next to me and told his breeder (she didn't know he was the breeder) what a poor dog he was and how he had no muscle. I realized then and there that the show ring isn't about the heart of the dog and she had no idea of the courage of this dog and while he was no Arnold he was a healthy boy once again. We had 4 more happy years then the disease came back but this time it affected his brain and he began to have seziures. Every time he had one he was less the Stoney I knew and more a strange dog I had never met. He seemed to lose himself. My daughter is special needs and each grand mal seizure wasa traumatic event with her literally climbing the walls to get away. His siezures became more and frequent, I couldn't stay home with him to protect him during the day and my daughter was becoming terrified of being at home. I finially had to take this beautiful, physically fit show dog into my vet and put him down, by then his brain had suffered so much damage I wasn't even sure he knew me as any more than the person holding the leash. I cried for months and still have his ashes. It took a terrible disease to bond us and terrible disease to seperate us. I have put many other animals to sleep but that was the hardest because there was no visual cue and we were so close. The thing that I hold in my brain when I do it is that dogs live in the eternal NOW. They never dwell on the past or worry about the future. They do not fear death because they can't contemplate it happening to them but they do fear pain. That is real and that is part of their experience. That perspective helps me. There is a show on TV here called Emergency Vets and they recommend picking three things that you dog loves to do. When the day comes that they can't do 1 or more of those anymore you know its time.
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Penthe
Gondor
Apr 24 2008, 9:41am
Post #28 of 29
(38 views)
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The love in your heart for your dear dog will never go away.
No improvement is too small or trivial to be worthwhile.
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Gaffer Gamgee
Bree
Jun 23 2008, 7:44am
Post #29 of 29
(37 views)
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Our collie is now almost in the same condition - eyes failing, dragging her legs around. We have decided to put her down, and it's happening tomorrow. It's not going to be the same without her.
Heed the words of the Gaffer. For even if they not be wise, they are worth listening to.
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