I think I've had enough stress now....

[springmom]

Our older Irish terrier, Pippin, has not been herself for several weeks, and has been coughing, has slowed down quite a lot, and just generally not been in good shape.  I had "chalked up" the cough to the mold or the dust with the remediation and renovation after Ike, but the house is totally clean now and walls are now up and new paint and all...and if anything, she's worse.

So we went to the vet today, and Dr. Kay said her lungs were very noisy.  X-rays revealed a very enlarged heart (on the right side) and in the lungs something that she said looks like "Westy lung", a fibrotic disease that West Highland Whites are prone to.  It's ideopathic, so there's no sense of how or why.  She is now on theophylline (a bronchodilator), prednisone, and a VERY expensive cough pill called Torbutrol.  She and Dempsey are staying at the vet's over Thanksgiving as we will be out of town, and the nurse said she's working so will keep a close eye on her.

The outlook is not good.  At best, in Westies, even when the medicine works well, it buys about a year.  Pippin's life expectancy hinges on whether she responds to the meds or not.

We just lost Jackson earlier this year, of course, and I fear that Pippin will not be far behind him.  Her quality of life is clearly suffering, and she is obviously miserable.  Still, she does perk up for Dempsey (EVERYBODY perks up for Dempsey, lol) and still LOVES to visit with the neighbor children.  So hopefully she can live a quieter and more sedate life for awhile.  However, I will at some point have to make "the decision", as the alternative is suffocation.

It has been a heck of a time lately around our house.  I had to leave an electrician here working to figure out why the junction box in our master bedroom ceiling wasn't working and he had to call another electrician to help HIM.  Guy showed up about 1:00 and just left about 5:45.  Seems the sheetrock guys almost cut through a live wire, and it broke all the way as this guy was moving the wires around a bit to see what was going on.  Got back with the dog and three bottles of pills to find two electrician trucks, not one, in the driveway.

I am ready for everything to go right for just one day.

Jan

[Jonmerritt]

I understand how you feel, over the past year we have had to put down three, long time four legged family members. It hurts alot, it still hurts. But that is the part we don't like to deal with, knowing they have a shorter life span. But the joy they bring us in that short lifespan, does make it worth the pain we have in the end. And we never want to see them suffer in any way.

[Bob F.]

Really sorry to hear that. My gal Dakota, a lab/GSD mix is 11 and has health problems, namely, seizures and arthritis. Dreading the day, eventhough we have Turbo. Turbo will necessitate a new pup immediately! I'm afraid he grieve himself to death when Dakota goes. She's always been there and he won't be seperated.

I'm sure you'll do the right thing when the time comes, not until! Prayers and good thoughts!

Bob

[grampster]

Warm fuzzies sent your way from Michigan, Jan.

[Thernlund]

I remember when our now-5-year-old Beagle, Abby, was diagnosed with Addison's Disease.  (Info on Addison's)  She was listless, cold, didn't want to move.  Pretty much all the symptoms of death, but her eyes were open.

We took her to the vet and they did test after test.  Addison's, being rare, was the last test they did, and it took a couple days for the results.  Bingo.  The vet calls and says to get her to the emergency center ASAP.

So I truck her there fast and furious, tell them money is no object, and sign the papers for admittance.  My wife finally gets there from work and they have IVs in Abby and she's wrapped up in a blanket in a kennel cage.  My wife... went... to... pieces.  The doctor, a nice young woman, started choking up at the sight of my wife crying and pawing over Abby.  I could barely keep it together.  Ooof.

Three days and $2200 later, she was back to good.  We have to give her fludrocortisone capsules twice a day now.  Kind of like how diabetics take insulin, Abby takes fludrocortisone.  Runs us about $50/mo, and we feel it's worth it.  Shes a good dog.

I feel your pain Jan.  There was a moment when "the decision" was upon me.  I was fortunate enough financially, and Abby medically, to be able to avoid that decision.  I can't imagine what it would have been like to have to make it.

Best wishes, Jan.


-T.

[Brian Dale]

You're in our hearts, Jan. We all hope for the best for Pippin, and for you and archerandshooter.

[Doug Wojtowicz]

My best wishes for you, arhcerandshooter and Pippin.

I'll put in the good word through Penelope, Duchess and Duke.

[Outbreak]

I've been there, too. Taffy was my first dog, a beagle, and in her last months had a few tumors(just fatty I think) and had become incontinent. Eventually the vet said it was about that time. My dad hated the dog(we secretly think he liked her, likes the new one even more, and even more secretly), so I manned up, took the box from my sobbing mother and sister when they came home from the vet, dug a hole in the back yard and took care of business. I was my typical stone-faced self the whole time, but trust me, I feel your pain.

[eskimo jim]

Jan,
I hope that Pippin recovers quickly for you.

Jim

[gaijin]

Mrs. Jan -

Sorry to hear the news about Pippin - it's never easy having a canine friend get ill, is it?

I hope the medicine works and he's (?) back to health soon.  Based on personal experience, take lots of pictures.  It'll help for when the time comes that he's not there for you.

R.

[armoredman]

Big hug for you and Pippin. Best of luck.

[Mrs. Armoredman]

  Mrs. Jan, I know where your comming from with your doggies being ill. I am so sorry that you may or may not have to make the hard decision. My DH and I had to do the same thing with our beloved Sam. He had cancer that they could not fix. My little sweet Sam crossed over to the rainbow bridge last year. It tears your heart out when you loose your best furry friend.


  I hope you have a better week. Can you please keep us all posted please? You were there for me and my husband. Now I would like to be there for you. Crossed paws and hugs for you and your beloved Pippin.

[Elza]

My heart goes out to you, Jan.  I, too, am a great animal lover.  I’m 55 years old, 6’1”, 250 pounds and not exactly noted to be soft hearted.  However I cry like a baby at the loss of an animal.  I make no explanation, excuse, or apology.  I care far more for my animals that I do many people I’ve known.

The single worst aspect is having to put one down.  We all have to experience it sooner or later.  One thought I hope that you will keep in mind if/when the time comes:  It is the last act of love that we can show them. 

[Mrs. Armoredman]

 Elza, I applaud you sir.  It is heartbreaking when your best furry friend crosses over to the rainbow bridge.

 It is not unmanly to cry and show that you really do love animals. Thank you sir for showing us that men do care too. I foster dogs that have been abused,left in a house with a open bag of food and water. Puppy mills have been busted for the rotten things they do.

  Jan your a good person and we all are here for you.

[springmom]

It is indeed the "last act of love", that is true.  Since our first Irish terrier, Rosie, came to us in 1988, it has fallen to me to be the person there for the dogs in their last moments.  A couple of years after we got Rosie in 1988, we adopted a Doberman, Aristotle (nicknamed "Harry" because that was all our middle son could say when he was little) who developed severe dysplasia and had to be euthanised at age 3.  Rosie herself went over the Rainbow Bridge in 1999, followed by her dear friend Gracie (Amazing Grace How Sweet The Hound) in 2002.  Jackson came to us in 1999, Pippin in 2000.  One of our former pastor's funniest stories was of coming to our house in 2000 to bless our house (an Orthodox Christian tradition done every year after Theophany...aka Epiphany in the West...and before Lent) and hearing what must have sounded like the hounds from Hades all going at it at the front door when he rang the bell.  Seems Pippin took umbrage to Jackson and Gracie crowding her out at the door and so there was a 3-way dogfight while Fr. Stephen stood there, vestments on and holy water in hand.....)

Jackson had to leave us earlier this year due to lymphoma.  Now Pippin looks toward the Rainbow Bridge herself.  We are looking at acquiring a third dog before she goes, so that Dempsey won't be alone when that day comes.

It is a hard thing, but part of our responsibility as pet owners.

We leave the ranch tomorrow to go back to Spring, and I'll pick them up from the vet Monday morning.  We'll see how things are at that point.

Thanks to all for your good wishes and prayers.

Jan

[Doug Wojtowicz]

I try to think of something to say to make you feel better... all I can answer is that I was so glad I was able to hold Penny and sing to her as she crossed.

I got a dry shoulder, but only one, 'cuz I'm getting the other sleeve all teary.

Allergies or somethin'...   :'(

[THE NORSEMAN]

Crud. Sorry Springmom.

 One of the few times in life I literally cried was holding my first dog while the vet euthanized him.  He was with me from the time I was 15 until I turned 25.

   

[Mrs. Armoredman]

  I agree Jan it is a act of love. When we put to sleep out sweet Sam pup he was ready to go to the Rainbow Bridge. He was there when I was sick, when I miscarried 2 times and he never left my side. Now thats love.

  My prayers are with you still Jan. I have 2 shoulders for you to cry on if you need them. HUgs to you and your family. Give your doggies a kiss for me..