Pets

There was no voodoo involved. We literally just cut a hole into the bag they came in. Then walked around with a continuous stream of ashes following us. After we were done, we both said that he was a really good boy, then we came back inside.

Regarding Ianx having to go through a different door, it was probably a cleanliness thing. Or more a "yuck" thing. People have difficulty with death, pet or otherwise. She probably didn't want your dead dog's ashes as debris inside the house while she's walking around in her bare feet.

I just realized this morning my two cats, Ayako and Kikyo, are 13 and 11. I had a beagle growing up and never thought I'd be a cat person since I'm allergic, but damnit if I don't love those two little shits. They're both healthy, in prime weight, and play like kittens so I tend to forget how old they are getting. Was just kind of a shock when we did the math.

Drakain_sl said:

I just realized this morning my two cats, Ayako and Kikyo, are 13 and 11. I had a beagle growing up and never thought I'd be a cat person since I'm allergic, but damnit if I don't love those two little shits. They're both healthy, in prime weight, and play like kittens so I tend to forget how old they are getting. Was just kind of a shock when we did the math.

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Nice. I have one who I only realized recently turned 18. Been around over half my life now. She is still active, just tires easier and had a harder time jumping.

Wow, tough call there, Blazin. You should ask how bad the CHF is (ejection fraction and any fluid build up) and I think that can guide you.

They probably put him on Lasix. :\ That's what we give for CHFers. Just realize that proper CPR means you're going to break his ribs.

Blazin_sl said:

Spent the night at animal hospital for my eight year old dauschund finding out he has CHF. My previous dog died in her sleep at 14 and was always healthy. I dread to make these decisions when emotionally involved. I don't want to watch my dog slowly suffocate to death but putting him down feels like I'm giving up on him. Any advice on how to weigh the decision from those who have been thru this?

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I only learned last year how much of a fucker that CHF is. Lost a 4 year old cat to it after prolonging his life by two weeks for the low price of only $3000 for the emergency stay when he had an attack. He was miserable the next two weeks he was home. He only was OK whenever he had increased oxygen.

Possibly dizzy and stayed under the bed.(he never did that before when scared) another attack two weeks later and I knew it was time to put him down. I still have a hard time when remembering it. Awesome cat and almost dog like with how social he was.

My heart goes out to you with your dog going through this.

I don't know why people do such outrageous things with their pets. If they are injured (broke a bone, got bit by a wild animal but survived, whatever) then by all means, fix 'em up. This whole pay thousands of dollars for chronic disease or cancer treatment and stuff, it's just nuts. Spend thousands, animal suffers for a few weeks then croaks. It's just not worth it.

I love my rescue dog but the day the doc is like 'well kidneys are failing needs dialysis' I'm saying goodbye. Maybe it's because I grew up around more animals than most but I don't treat them worse than grandma when she asked to go.

Palum_sl said:

I don't know why people do such outrageous things with their pets. If they are injured (broke a bone, got bit by a wild animal but survived, whatever) then by all means, fix 'em up. This whole pay thousands of dollars for chronic disease or cancer treatment and stuff, it's just nuts. Spend thousands, animal suffers for a few weeks then croaks. It's just not worth it.

I love my rescue dog but the day the doc is like 'well kidneys are failing needs dialysis' I'm saying goodbye. Maybe it's because I grew up around more animals than most but I don't treat them worse than grandma when she asked to go.

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This was my thought for quite a while after. If I had to do it again I wouldn't have paid. The issue was is the ER made it sound like it wasn't chronic, it wasn't going to be long lasting and it was a worth while investment for giving him extra years. Not an "at best" scenario of a few months, let alone a couple of weeks. I'm still kind of butthurt about that because when I think back to that trip with a more clear mind, it was nothing but a sales pitch taking advantage of emotionally distraught people. When in reality, the extension was nothing but money for them and misery for the pet and me. Only thing I will say is it gave me a small bit of extra time to get used to saying goodbye instead of just "well that's that" and getting rid of him.

But the lasix was misery, and I'd sadly suggest to anyone with a pet who has CHF and they have an episode of not being able to breathe, etc. Save them the slow death, don't leave them and watch (had another pet 15-20 years ago die of this, but didnt know until I saw the symptoms again with an actual diagnosis) It was hours of not realizing I was watching them suffocate on fluid. But I was also a teenager and didnt know any better, and it was at midnight.

As far as the decision to try and spend money for saving them, it's very difficult when it's a younger pet that you know hasn't had a chance to live a very long life. I lost a dog last year also but he lived to 14 and it didn't bother me anywhere near as much because it was a good stretch with a good pet. Surgery for his problems would have probably killed him because he already had a very slow heart rate and other chronic, but not fatal problems that just racked up over years with his health.

And to Hoss's question, CHF, at least I assume (for what I went through) is Congestive Heart Failure.

It's a shame that vets don't just prescribe Roxanol for pets. Would be better than having to go to the vet office to do the deed. -- Blazin, you have to wonder though that while the Lasix gets rid of the built up fluid in his body and lungs, what happens to his kidneys when you're giving it to him? I feel for ya man. Definitely set a threshold so your pet doesn't suffer.

Giving up a dog today. He's been with us for almost a year and has never bonded with anyone in the family but me. Actually I think he actively dislikes everyone but me, and hates my other dog. I think he also misses his own breed like crazy (he's a sighthound and spent his first 4 years on a farm with 20+ sighthounds and a ton of running space), so just seems miserable. This isn't the first time I've had to give up a dog before and god it feels shitty. So yup, I get to feel like a giant failure in that realm for awhile.

My mother adopted a dog that was a few years old after our dog of 13 years died (without consulting anyone, and nearly immediately after) . The dog just was a pain in the ass and didn't like anyone. Even though I was upset I tried to bond with the dude and he was just having none of it. I took him for a walk and it was a battle between him following me and then suddenly growling at me. He would sit in his crate all night depressed. My mom had to give the dog up and it was just crazy because the dude didn't want to bond with anyone.