A Long Time to Post - Page 1

Not looking for sympathy, but finally decided to get this off my mind and enough time has passed that I could finally do it and because everyone of us have had dogs that have passed.
On December 22, I had to put my German Shepherd Carla to sleep because she had pale gums and collapsed in the house. I took her to the ER Vet, an Ultrasound was done, and there was bleeding around her heart
and they diagnosed it as Hermangiosarcoma with a poor prognosis. She was 9 and would have been 10 in January. This happened on December 22.
The next day, December 23, my old guy Laser, who would have been 13 on Valentine’s Day collapsed in the yard. My sister and I had a heck of a time getting him in the car. Again.. back to the ER Vet, they did an Ultrasound and Laser had an enlarged spleen and fluid in his stomach..Hermangiosarcoma AGAIN! Not related at all and totally different bloodlines.
There was a post a little while back If dogs had feelings. When Carla didn’t come home, Laser knew it, and I do believe he had his heart broken because they were good buds.

I went from 2 dogs to no dogs in 26 hours. 

Everyday is a gift with our dogs.
Dawn B.

Dawn, so sorry for your losses! How devastating for you!

 

That is not the first time I've heard of dogs dying so close together. I posted here about a month ago re. my friend's huskies, a brother and sister. They were both up there in years, but when the sister collapsed, and had to be euthanized due to kidney failure, her brother howled all...night...long! As they were kept in an outdoor kennel, I am SURE the neighbours weren't happy!

The next day, the male collapsed and was taken to the vet, where he was diagnosed with a major heart attack. He, too, had to be euthanized.

Yes, they DO have feelings...

So sorry to hear about your dogs, that is an especially rough time of year to deal with such a big loss. You are certainly right every day with them is a gift, and they definitely do have feelings. I think the most important thing my dog has taught me is to try to live more in the moment like she does. They sure know how to enjoy life even though it's way too short for them.
I hope you can find relief in thinking of the good times you had with them.

I am so sorry Dawn.  I understand the waiting to post because it is still too fresh.  It took a bit of time before I was able to post about losing my 16 year old Ronin.  Ronin was still very much interested in his world and eating well, he could no longer get up without help and needed a diaper at night because he would sleep so soundly from the pain medication (severe beatings left him with arthritis in his final years) that he would have an accident.  He would have what I affectionately termed "sneak poops" and I would very carefully clean them up so he would not know.  He had his bad moments and a few times when I took him in, he rallied and we went home.  Then one day, he let me know in no uncertain terms he was tired and ready to cross.  I had to wait until the office opened the next day to take him in and that night, Quint brought his favorite "pretty cow" toy and laid it next to Ronin's head, and then would not leave his side the entire night, Isis too slept next to Ronin.  I loaded him up and the other dogs as well and we went to his veterinarians.  The whole office was in tears since they had known him for so long.  But everyone took one look at him and knew, he was done and with the dignity he had all his life, he let us know it was ok to let him go.  When we got home after, Quint, the youngest and closest to Ronin, took all the toys and brought them to Ronin's bed and built a shrine (there is no other word).  It still brings tears even now as I post (here at work, trying to hide it).  Hugs........ 

Hugs and prayers...

I had two cats, brother and sister, husband and wife, and best friends... When the female crossed, the male laid down with her all night long. After Shw was buried, night after night he would search the house, looking for her, and cry and howl.

Another cat, years later, after realizing his dog was not coming back, got seriously depressed. About 8 months later, I got a baby GSD, and about 3 days later that cat was back to normal... A whole "new" cat...

Animals grieving a loss is common. There is research showing they feel and exhibit emotions, including love.

Heart felt condolences to you. Awful enough to lose one, but both in such a short time must have left you battered.