coolbluewater

Just wanted to add my sympathies to those of you on this board who have lost their pets. Not everyone can understand.

My siamese, Sadie, died in November--not from her CRF, but from a brain tumor. I really agonized (and still do) about whether or not I should have had the surgery, but she was 5 1/2 pounds and I didn't think she would make it. Those Siamese are pretty tough--I'll send my best for easy Sub-Qs!

AnnMarie_C

Hi wow--thank you so very much for your understanding and encouragement. Killer (we wanted her to have a strong name to grow into) is a medium hair tortoise shell with a stark white chin. We found her at the Humane Society, a malnourished kitten someone found in a parking lot--she turned out to be quite the fuzzy wonder. Everyone I talk with, including the vet, says the same thing that we'll know when it's time--I pray that is true. I worry and wonder every day that we're doing all that we can for her and I stress over cutting back on her iv fluids but she definitely seems happier and less stressed. The vet is happy with how well she's doing but I feel as though we're waiting for her to die and I really hate that.

coolbluewater, I really feel for you. Agonizing over what to do is awful--I hope you find peace with your decision.

wow

This original post started by Bonnie has generated a tremendous outpouring of support. Throughout we have grown into a little community where we can reach out to one another while we struggle to make tough decisions around pet care & struggle to find peace with the decisions that we have had to make.We also grieve & we mourn & we hurt like heck when our beloved pets have to die.
When this post ends where will we, & our beloved furry friends, go to connect w/ each other?
I am wondering if any of you wld be interested in creating a site(totally independent of Fodors) where we cld go to help each other out when the need arises?
I do not have the technological ability( I can barely type! Lots of typos in my stuff!) to undertake a project of such magnitude or else I wld do it in a heart beat!
However, I wld be happy to assist w/ the day-to-day operation of such a site if somebody here wld undertake to get the thing up & running. So, what do you think?

AnnMarie_C

Well I love the idea and wish I had the knowledge / skills to set up such a site. I wanted to take a website development class through our local adult education school system but the course wasn't offered this summer--perhaps in the fall. Of course, such a site may already exist but I haven't sought one out--'I get by with a little help from my Fodor's friends'. ;-) Great idea, wow.

cmcfong

Starrsville, I am so sorry about Gracie. I have endured some pretty silly movies (Karate Dog and Winn Dixie to name two) simply because the dogs look so much like Charlie Boy. He was adorable. Catie looks like a bearded collie, such a cutie, and I love her dearly, but there is still a spot reserved for the Charlie Boy! We are a pack, you are right about that!!!

EJCrowe, I live in Pinnacle (after about twenty five years in Winston Salem) about three miles from the state park on Pilot Mountain. I am over there hiking any day I can. It is such a great park.

AnneMarie, our German Shepard found us (literally) after having been shot and run over. Blind in one eye, broken back and three broken legs. The vets gave her max a year. That was ten years ago. Two years ago she went into kidney failure and the vets said 24-48 hours. We did iv fluids for her twice a day for several months till she told us she had had enough. She is definitely weakening now and we know it won't be long, but we are glad we did what we could. You and your kittie are in my heart.

Nice to remember my darling Charlie Boy and all the other precious ones who have gone on. Thank you, ladies.

AnnMarie_C

cmcfong, thank you for sharing your story with me--it brought tears to my eyes to read about your German Shepard. They are determined animals aren't they? And with love they thrive. I'm sorry for the pain and grief you are experiencing and wish you and your beloved dog peace.

cmcfong

Peace to you as well, Ann Marie. I know it is a painful journey.

gomiki

I have followed this thread and feel compelled to post. My heart goes out to all of you who have had to make that tough decision for your beloved animal companion.

When I was about eight my teen neighbor shot and killed my beloved collie, Ricky, for no reason. It was a bit before Christmas and I was inconsolable and cried for days. (I'm crying now).

When my son was young we adopted Rufus-fondly referred to as the Dog From Hell. He was funny, smart and out of control. I had to make that hard decision when the time came.

I laud all of you who adopt rescue dogs. My sister in MI rescues Great Pyrenees and she is amazing.

I now visit and love my friends pets but will not have one of my own. Too painful for me. Many hugs and kudos to all of you and your pets, furry or feathered. My best wishes go out to you who are making those hard decisions.

And I do look forward to the Rainbow Bridge.

wow

Oh, Gomiki, what a horribly traumatic thing for you, Ricky & your family to have to go through. What the heck was wrong w/ that neighbor of yours? I do hope that they were able to get the kid the help that he so desperatley needed for his problems( b/c I am sure that there must have been many problems). I am also sorry for your loss of Rufus. In some ways, I am like you in that I feel so much pain I do not think that I cld go through this again. But, I know I will have to w/ my surviving cat. He is here in my lap now(my lap cat!!, purring contentedly as I type. The 2 of them always sat in my lap...cuddled up together. They were always together! That is why he misses his sister so much. Sometimes I think it has a lot to do w/ "muscle memory"....it must feel terribly strange for him to not have her little body snuggled up against his.
Anyway.... the decison to open your heart to another beloved pet can be a tough one. But, I guess we cld say the same about any loving, enduring relatioship. It hurts so darn much to lose somebody you love. But, when we build a wall around ourselves to sheild future painful losses, we are also building a wall around future happiness & companionship.

wow

That was supposed to be a smile not that hideous grin....don't know how that got there....extra bracket maybe....

wow

....so many typos...shield, decision, relationship & others....I can spell...I just can't type!!

cmcfong

Don't worry, Wow (love your screenname) the sweetness of your message and your caring come through, loud and clear!

wow

Hi, cmcfong...I love my screenname too. If
I had not been in such a hurry to register, I may have had time to figure how to use the the capital key for W. Wow w/ a small w seems a little odd!

cigalechanta

this thread has flooded me with memories
In July I lost Misha, for one year I barely left my house to take care of him because he was blind and had alzheimer's(canine cognitive syndrome)
My place had to be secure blocking places where he could get stuck or fall down stairs. We invested in baby gates and piled books everywhere(those I since sold as they were painful reminders) We have since adopted a mini poodle from a shelter, I call him Pastis, he is a bad boy but we love him.

cmcfong

Perfect, Mimi. I am so glad you put all that love to good use. I am quite sure Misha would approve. I love the happy tales (tails?)!

gomiki

wow, thank you for your kind words. And I never saw one typo...just read the words from your heart. Please give your "lap cat" some rubs from me

As far as I know nothing happened to the boy. I must admit that I hated him.

Your idea for a special site for pet owners dealing with tough choices is very good. I wish I could help w/that but am computer challenged. Typing is about it for me.

cigalechanta

gomiki, I hope you'll adopt another one day. I can't imagine my life without a dog and cat.
I burst with love looking at those faces,

GoTravel

wow, yes, we did the sub Q fluids for a while but the stress on him going to the vet is what made us quit doing them.

This was my second kitty to pass from feline renal failure. The first one, Sweetie, we did the sub Q fluids at home.

Instead, he drank tuna juice by the gallon. I would squeeze all the juice out of a can of tuna into a bowl and he would lap it up.

Also, for some reason the summer is always hard on them. My siamese would always drop weight during the summer and gain a little back in the fall.

Also, I let them eat whatever they wanted. For Sweetie, she loved cantalope and cheetoes. My siamese loved Beeforoni and turkey.

Whatever you do, don't feed your cat that heinous catfood the vet insists the cat needs to eat.

It is liver protein that is 'supposedly' less harsh on the kidneys. There is no scientific evidence that protein is hard on the kidneys and studies are finding the opposite.

It is just as important for the cat to eat.

Birdie

Do not take veterinary advice off of a travel board. Talk to your vet. There are many different types of kidney disease. Yes, the first priority is to prevent malnutrition in your cat but the commercial kidney diets do more than provide a certain level of protein. They also provide a better balance of electrolytes for the kidneys. In some cases of kidney disease you need to be very careful of the sodium levels (canned tuna can have very high levels) So if your vet recommends a commercial kidney diet, try several types and introduce them gradually to see if your cat will accept them. If they still won't eat the commercial food then talk to your vet about a proper home-made kidney diet.

Scarlett

Just a word about feeding ailing or just very old pets..Our 18 year old , diabetic Abbyssinian, started having kidney probs and started getting picky about eating. When giving insulin, they must eat to metabolise the insulin. So whatever appealed to him, we used! Turned out that good ole Baby food works like a charm!
A tablespoon of baby food and a pet will take a pill, eat when otherwise they refuse to eat, it is very fattening, but in this case, that was a good thing.
Our friend and Fodorite Gyppielou, has a wonderful Vizla named Max.
Max was hit by a hit and run driver a couple of weeks ago and thanks to the neighbors, Max was alive when Gyppie got to him, he is now at home, broken but mending..and taking his pills in a spoon full of baby food when he was spitting them out, otherwise
So if you have a weak, thin, sick pet, go buy Baby food..it is not hard on kidneys or livers etc..