Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I'm also so sorry for you. Can just say like others here that you've absolutely did everything you could for Levi. And I'm sure you will bond to Koa real strong. Our thoughts are with you.
Gunilla, Penny and Wilbur
Oh, I'm just so very sorry about Levi. This is heart breaking.
Please don't have regrets or bad memories as your last, he was a very, very sick boy and like you said, the cancer had gone to his brain so he wasn't himself. And he may have had some sense that you were sad but didn't know how to deal with it since he was very sick. Also keep in mind, the final moments are so profound right now because of the shock you are in but they fade. You'll start remembering the happy face he had.
May Koa give you comfort and the good memories give you peace.
My deepest condolences to you and your family.
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
Oh, I'm so sad for you. 
I bet Levi and Spencer have met in Heaven and are running free. They both know that they were very loved here on earth and that they are missed. You did the right thing. Each of those seizures had to have been hard on him. I'm here for you anytime that you need a virtual shoulder to cry on. ((hugs))
Jac and Angel Spencer. Spencer was 5.25 years old. He fought a grade 3 fibrosarcoma, started on his shoulder. Left front leg amputated in August 2011. 15 weeks of chemo finished 12/22/11 (mytox and adria). Lung mets found on x-rays 12/28/11. Started carboplatin 1/6/12. Went to Heaven on 2/27/12. I miss him like crazy every day. See his blog here: http://spencer.tripawds.com/
Our hearts go out to you, we know how difficult this decision was, and we understand how you feel, completely. It's not an easy thing to have the power to set our beloved companion's spirit free, but what an incredible gift we can give by releasing them of pain and hurt that will only get worse in time. It's hard to see that right now, but I hope eventually you will see that it was a gift of love, by making sure that Levi doesn't have any more pain.
Please know that one awful day like today doesn't cancel out all of the wonderful days you had together. One day, that's all it was, and it cannot take away from the years of memories you shared, and all the good times.
Last week, we saw this beautiful video at Blog Paws, and hope it brings some comfort to you at this sad time. Again, we are so, so sorry. Our time together is never long enough. {{{{{{hugs}}}}}
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I'm so very sad to hear that Levi has passed on. It is such a difficult and traumatic time for you all.
You gave Levi such a beautiful life, he was such a blessed boy and was so loved.
Sending biggest hugs
Joanne & Lylee
http://lyleegir.....ipawds.com
So very sorry to hear about Levi. I wish your pack peace and comfort during this very difficult time.
heather & spirit shadow
I'm so sorry. I don't know your story because I am new here, but I am sorry. The Turkish have a saying, "May it pass quickly". It sounds like you are holding on to guilt and feeling like you failed him, and sometimes when people feel like that they do not want the grief to pass quickly because they feel like they ought to feel the pain for 'failing'. All I know is cancer and a big seizure - and that is enough to tell me that you did nothing to fail Levi. You did the kindest thing for Levi.
You must pass through the stages of grief. Denial, Bargaining, Anger, Depression, Acceptance. You will bounce between some of these stages for a while. One day feel better about it, the next feel like you can't believe he's gone. That's ok. Just feel what needs to be felt. Allow yourself to do this and you will reach Acceptance, the part where you can celebrate his life. So for the first four stages - Denial, Bargaining, Anger, Depression - May they pass quickly.
So sorry for your loss. Please don't Robt yourself. You did the right thing. It is so hard because our furbabies can't talk to us and tell us when it is time. Sending you hugs.
Spirit Chili Dawgs pack
Diagnosed with OSA: 5/2/2011 Ampuversary: 5/11/2011 OSA returned in hip: 8/26/2011
Chili Dawg crossed the Rainbow Bridge on 8/30/2011 & is now pain free. He was my heart dog, and I miss him every day.
I'm doing a little better today...If I stay busy it helps. I am relieved that he is no longer suffering. The last few weeks were pretty bad on and off. I hated seeing him laying on the couch not wanting to get up at all. I'm glad I don't have to see the suffering. He also couldn't walk well after the seizures started which was very hard to see. I know we did the right thing but I just wish those final moments at the vets office wouldn't have been stressful for him. He wouldn't look me in the eye and was nervous. I just hate it that that is what our final moments were like. One minute we're all happy riding in the car, and the next he is all nervous and was kind of fighting the tranquilizer. Once he fell asleep I held his head and we gave him the final shot right away. I didn't want to drag things out. Now I wish I had waited a few more minutes and seen him peacefully sleeping. Maybe that would have left me with a better image. Hopefully that will all fade with time. We are trying to decide how to have him buried. I don't really want him cremated. I struggle with that process for some reason. It is very expensive to have him buried at the pet cemetary. $775 We thought about bringing him to our house but we won't live here forever and then we will have to leave him here...not sure what to do...Thanks for all of the encouraging words.
Levi was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma 7-7-11
Ampuversary 10-14-11
Lung Mets Discovered 1-4-12. Chemo seemed to not be working so we switched to Artemisinin and other supplements. In May, Levi developed a sinus infection and started having seizures. The cancer had moved to his brain. We let him go 6-26-12.
Whenever you are distraught about that image, flip a switch in your brain and change the movie. Play the "remember when?" game, and think of a time when you were all having a blast, loving life. Pretty soon it will become automatic and you will remember the good times over the bad. It will happen, I promise.
As for cremation. The advantage is that Levi will always be with you wherever you go.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I am glad you are doing a little better. I have to agree with Jerry about the cremation issue. 14 years ago we buried our first dog on my in-law's property. They are still there but I know that eventually one day they will pass and it is unlikely the house will stay in the family, so that is a bit sad to me. I've also always been a bit unsure about cremation, but we had Merlin cremated because we move so much that we knew we would end up 'leaving him behind'. It is hard at first to have their ashes but over time it becomes comforting. One day when Zeus goes 'on to his next adventure' as Charon would say, we will also have him cremated. He and Merlin were littermates and we really want them to be together again so we will spread their ashes somewhere together. It is a very personal decision for each family. I wish you peace in the decision that you choose.
Lisa
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
we agree with jerry and with lisa, we've chosen cremation for all of our pups...when my time comes, i want all of our ashes to be intermingled, and then, well maybe scattered to the winds. whatever you chose, know that levi will always be in your heart and his spirit is now free.
charon & spirit gayle
Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included). She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.
Love Never Ends
We also chose cremation. But you have to do whatever feels right for you.
I hope Koa is feeling better and that you are helping each other through this. He must be missing Levi too.
Jackie, Angel Abby & MBBunny Rita
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
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