Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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It's been a little over a year that I lost my beloved Zoey, 8 year old rough coated collie. My thread was started on this forum back in May, 2013. She had amputation and then was gone less than 4 months later. I had come home to find her very low energy. She started coughing and coughed up some blood. I immediately called both the vet and my husband. My husband and 19-yr old daughter drove her the 5 minutes to the vet and that was it.
My last memory is of her staring at me out of the back windshield of the car. I've always been there when any of my animals have been euthanized, but with her, I just couldn't do it. She was my girl, closest to my heart.
To this day, I question what I put her through (read my original thread to see the horror of her almost dying from the sedation medicine used during surgery. I still hear her cries and screams. Was she ever happy again after amputation? All I can remember now is the bad.
Did I choose to euth her too soon?
I'm just still so angry that she was only 8 yrs old. I do love our remaining dog, but not like I did Zoey.
I just miss her every day. I'll never stop questioning myself.
Does anyone else feel this way?
WOW.... what an honest and heartfelt and heart-wrenching post... I am so sorry. I didn't know your story but I feel your pain. My girl, Shelby, lost her earthly journey almost 7 months ago. And in my heart, I do know I did all I could for her BUT there is still that part of me that wonders what things I either 'ignored' or 'didn't see' for the longest time.
Shelby was my soul mate ... my heart dog. I miss her every single day of my life. I long for the time in which we will be together again because I have to believe we will meet again because that is how I keep going on. Life isn't the same . I have a new dog now, Jasper, and I do love her but not the same. It will never be the same. I feel horrible thinking or saying that if I could, I would trade Jasper for Shelby ... and Jasper is a great dog.
BUT it's less raw ... but it's always there. I have grown to respect and accept the 'pain' ... the numbness.
I know that Zoey knows you were with her. She is still with you! She understands!!! She knows your bond will never be broken and she loves you very much. This is the hardest part of our journey with our beloved fur-babies ...
You did all you could for her and you gave her the greatest gift - the release from the pain of her sick and tired body.
Sending you love,
Alison with the Spirit of Shelby fur-ever in her heart (and little Jasper too)
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Oh please don't question yourself. It is all still very painful. It sucks to have a dog that young pass. I get it. My Jake lived less than 6 weeks post amp and was a little shy of 8 years old. I will read your thread and glean a little happiness to refresh your memory.
I think we all feel that way. I could not be in the room when my Jake passed. I actually hid in the bathroom. It still brings me to tears. He was there for me his whole life and in his last breath I couldn't be there for him. I knew that it was his time to go and I knew that if I was there I wouldn't have ever been able to let him go. You are not alone by any means. Its really easy now for us to look back and see all the things we could have/would have done differently. We now see what the future held. We do what's best for our pups with the information we have at the moment. You loved her. I can tell so much just by your post. You didn't let her suffer and that is the last act of love we can give them. My pup did not battle lung mets, and from what I've read here I pray to God that I never have to walk down that road b/c it can be a painful, ugly, scary thing. You protected her from that. Cancer took her body, it'll never ever take the love between you, the memories, the great life she had. The last thing cancer can invade is our good memories. You have so many good memories and she would want you to remember those b/c those are what mattered. Her death was only a millisecond in the span of her life.
Many hugs to you today.
Mom to Tripawd Angels Jake (2001-2014) and Rosco (2012-2015) and Tripawd Tanner. “Whatever happens tomorrow, we had today; and I'll always remember it”
I'm so sorry. {{{{hugs}}}}
I think everyone here has questioned their decision to proceed with euthanization, it's a heavy burden for humans to bear and your feelings are so common, you are not alone. Something that might help you overcome these painful feelings is to keep those 8 wonderful years together closer to your heart, rather than focusing her last days on earth. It's hard, but when you start to feel sad, think of it as flipping a switch and let those happy times flood into your heart and surround it with love.
Creating things like a photo collage, scrapbook, garden memorial, any kind of thing that can visually show you how much love you two shared will help you focus on the happy times when you feel down. Remember too that she is never far from your heart, the energy that was her spirit is still present, that never dies, it just changes form, and she is still a part of your life.
I hope this helps. Of course coming here and venting is why we are here so if you'd like to share more of her life with you to help you heal, please do OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
{{ zoey1}}
Oh gosh, just reading this has me in tears. Unless the grief is impacting your ability to function and do normal every day things (wake up, get out of bed, groom yourself, etc), this is normal for many of us. Our animals are our friends who see us in the most real moments of our lives. We don't edit ourselves for them and the love we get back just is amazing. We develop rituals and inside jokes. We're never sure how these happened, they just do, and we enjoy these just for us moments every day.
Cancer is a thief. It robs us of our loved ones long before their time. I've gone through it with people and with animals and its always the same emotions.
I couldn't be there for my horse. The last things HE heard was me screaming as my mother dragged me away and my father held him for the vet. He had just had another heart attack and was fighting to stay with me. He tried to make me laugh and stop crying. He was very upset that I was so upset but I don't think he ever knew he was facing death. All of his organs were shutting down but he was fighting to stay with me. I couldn't let him die such a slow and painful death but I couldn't be there either.
It is our nature to question everything we do. Or didn't do. Or perhaps should have done sooner. Or later. You made the best decisions you could with the information you had. I hear so often that is always better to let them go early than to let them go too late and have to agree with that. I have waited too long before too and that causes just as much heart break. No matter what, it just isn't easy to lose them. Even when you know the moment was the right one, it doesn't make it less painful. I am 37 years old. I have had dogs since I was 10 years old and only ONE has ever died of natural causes and in his sleep. That was my second dog who I got at a shelter because we knew his time on this earth was limited. He spent that last 3 months of his life with me and that's the only dog, the ONLY dog, I have complete peace about his death. Every other death of dog, horse, or cat has me questioning myself if I let myself.
I do what Jerry suggests. Within a week of saying good bye, often the same day, my husband and I go through all the photos, and remember each moment. We find we forgot about a lot of events and those photos really help. Now we have videos too but the photos help more.
Ingrid with Nixon and Cookie
You are definitely not alone in your feelings. It's actually 4 months today since I had to let my Leland go. I was putting him to sleep on what would have been his 4 week Ampuversary and he was only 4 1/2 years old.
I still have sadness in my heart as well as anger over why this happened to my boy. I don't understand why his health went on such a downward spiral and I still have no idea what the growth in his knee was that started us on this journey. The only thing I've been told by vets/surgeons is that the biopsy showed it wasn't cancer but they've never seen anything like it before and have no idea what it was.
I cannot tell you that the feelings you carry will completely go away but they do lessen some. The journey with our Tripawd is an intense one and that is what really strengthens our bond with them (in my opinion) and because of this bond it's really hard for us when we have to let them go.
I'll be keeping you in my thoughts and sending you a hug.
Sahana and her Angel Leland
November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014
May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!
Sahana....sending you extra hugs today....love to you.
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
No matter how you choose when faced with cancer and/or amputation and/or euthanasia for your animal (who can't tell you what they would decide), there's going to be doubt and guilt, but you have to accept that even when you make the best choice you can at the time, it doesn't guarantee a happy ending. That's the cancer's fault - not yours. There are people out there who neglect, even abuse their animals - YOU are a fine human being! Zoey knew it in life and she knows it from the other side.
Yoda&Mom united: 9/5/06 …….… Yoda&Leg separated: 6/5/09……… Yoda&Leg reunited: 10/14/09 ……… ……………….………….………….……. Yoda&Mom NEVER separated! …………………….….……....….…… Though Spirit Yoda currently free-lances as a rabbit hunting instructor for tripawds nationwide
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