Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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hugapitbull said:
Only in sharing do we heal.
Well said, thank you for sharing your experiences. Can't imaging going through what you did during those final moments.
Peace.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Shanna,
I'm so sorry to read this. I sent you an email earlier and had no idea that you went through this agonizing and haunting experience. That's why I put in my email that I hope you found peace with Trouble's passing, unlike me who still is not at peace with Mackenzie's passing. She responded to the first injection (the sedative) and it still haunts me to this day. That's why I still have such a hard time with this because it wasn't a peaceful moment, like it was supposed to be, like what you're told that it's going to be. I know I've talked to others about this too and it seems that it's much harder to work through this grief when you're not at peace with it.
I'm so sorry that you went through this too. I just can't even imagine. I'm glad you and Bob shared your story. This was something that was so hard for me to talk about. I'm still haunted by it although the memory is starting to fade away.
All my best to you and Bob and getting through this.
Kami, Angel Mackenzie and Kobe
My sweet golden Mackenzie. She became my angel on Dec 29, 2010 at the age of 8 1/2 although she was always my angel from the time we brought her home. She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in Sept 2009 and officially became a tripawd (front leg) on Nov 5, 2009. She will be forever in my heart and now she's running free with all of our other tripawd heroes. I love you Mackenzie!
Oh Shanna! How awful. I am so sorry you had to go through this. My heart is with you as you grieve. Thank you for sharing with us. It was heart wrenching to read, but you have given others a tremendous gift by sharing. Bless you, sweet Trouble. You are forever in our hearts.
Sue and Queen Nova
Dane Mom Sue at nova.tripawds.com and Mom to Beautiful Great Dane Queen Nova, a Blind Tripawd, who kicked cancer's butt from 11/08-03/13. The Queen is Spirit Nova now, but her legacy lives on here at Tripawds!
Shanna,
One of the WORST days Ever... was letting my special canine companion go. Over a year and I still cry!
Some days I feel guilty because I did it and other days I feel guilty for not doing it sooner! In the end, I guess I did the best I could do and know he knew that I loved him!
Trouble knew this too!!! You did your best and loved her so much! I am so sorry to hear how terrible this was for the both of you!
Thanks for being so brave and I send healing hopes for your broken heart!
Shanna,
This is absolutely horrible! I feel so badly for you and for Trouble's passing.
Tracy, Maggie's Mom
Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09
Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13
Shanna and Bob -
We can't imagine the pain you are going through right now. But please know that we are grateful for you sharing Trouble's story, even if the end was so hard. We now have good information for the future.
All our best,
Ginger and pawrents
Dear Shanna and Bob...
I havent been active much recently so just read about Trouble passing which made me really very sad,as she really was a simbol of hope to everyone facing that awful disease. But this story made it all even worse,I cant remember when have I cried that much last since my Don left me. Even more because that outcome was something what I feared the most when that moment came for him,and he passed so peacfuly that it even brought a smile on my face. It brought me such comfort like nothing else. So cant even imagine how you must have felt,making that most difficult decision and ending up with such traumatic experiance. I hope you will find strenght to overcome that,cause all you did was in Troubles best interest,none of it was your fault,and you should never try think otherwise,and I am sure Troubles Spirit understood that,even her body was struggling.
Thank you though for finding strenght in your pain to warn the others by sharing your devastating story.
My thoughts and prayers are with you....sending you lots of hugs
Daniela, Angel Dons Mum
I am so very sorry to hear of the experience you went through. Based on other suggestions I've read here, I will certainly make sure that Chloe gets a sedative prior to going to the doctor to cross over - hopefully many years from now. She shakes so badly every time she goes to the vet. Thank you so much for sharing, and am sending you many, many golden hugs!
Cathy
Shanna and Bob,
I am so sorry for the terrible experience you went through. I can't imagine how hard it was to share it with us, but I have to thank you for sharing and helping to make us aware of what can and sometimes does happen.
Jo Ann & Tasha
Tasha 8 years old, First cancer diagnosis 6/26/09, Last cancer diagnosis 9/26/09, Amputation 10/01/09, Loving our girl moment by moment.
Tasha lost her battle and became my Angel on May 4 2011. Forever in my heart….
oh my gosh, I'm so sorry you have such painful memories of your last physical moments together. I'm not a doctor and I'm not even a licensed technician yet, but in school we learn that you ALWAYS should administer a sedative before the euthanasia solution. Hopefully this way of thinking and practice will become a standard, as the final transformation should be one of peace and even happiness for everyone involved. Again, I am very sorry and I think of Trouble often.
<3 Laura and Invisible Jack
I couldn't help but cry reading your story. I'm so sorry you had to experience this. I wanted to thank you so much for sharing with us as it will definitley affect my choices when the time comes.
I am so sorry to read this! I had the same issues because Tazzie's veins were shot from chemo so I gave her an injectable sedative to put her all the way out and then I was able to use a small needle to hit a vein in her inner leg. I said my goodbyes as she got sleepy from the sedative. I would have preferred to hold her and talk to her for the final injection but this way was easier for her.
Pam
I want to thank all of you who commented - either publicly or privately. In true Trouble style, she had one more lesson to teach us all, and God, it was the hardest for us to accommodate.
I know this was upsetting for some of you to read, and it was difficult to decide to write and post it. If someone else is spared what we went through, the agony of writing it, of living it will seem a bit more bearable.
We are working through the grief as she taught us - a day at a time. Bob will carry the guilt for a long while, I am sure. And I will fight the emptiness. I simply still cannot believe she isn't here anymore.
You guys are awesome. We so appreciate the outpouring of condolences. As I've told some of you personally - Dog people are the best people in the world. You truly understand.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
I am so sorry that you had to experience your last moments with Trouble like this... As a former vet tech... we always warned our clients that this was a potential side effect of the euthanasia... even with a sedative before... Luckily it was always a small percentage of times... but when it did happen... OMG... that left a lasting impression.
Have you ever had anesthesia, or deep sedation for a procedure yourself before? I know in my case... I have had absolutely 'no recolection' of anything during that time... even though the doctor or nurse said I may have talked or said things during that time... I'm hoping that it's the same in the case of giving anesthesia/euthanasia to our dogs... that any stress they may feel at those seconds/minutes... quickly dissappear... as if they never happened.
I hope that you and your husband can think that Trouble forgot everything she felt those seconds/minutes and then peacefully went... I hope this can give you some comfort...
You and your husband are in my thoughts and prayers... I'm sending you both a big, fat loving hug!!!
Angel Jake and Wolfie's Mom
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
I wrote on March 21:
I am so very sorry to hear of the experience you went through. Based on other suggestions I've read here, I will certainly make sure that Chloe gets a sedative prior to going to the doctor to cross over - hopefully many years from now. She shakes so badly every time she goes to the vet.
I can't believe I wrote this just 2 weeks prior to having to actually do it. Thank you so much for sharing your horrible experience. Because you did, Chloe went peacefully. For that, I will be eternally grateful to you.
Cathy
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