Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Question I never wanted to have to ask, Part II:
So Mika can't walk anymore as of tonight. She's panting, but still her smiling self (the girl actually has laugh lines). So if she's still in the same condition tomorrow and continues to seem pain-free, do we take her today to a vet who we don't know, but is open on Sunday (for you know what - cry!) or is it ok to wait until Monday and bring her to her regular vet.
Sorry to be asking, for my sake and yours, because if you reply, it probably means you've gone through this too.
Hugs to both of us,
Mari
If it were me and she seems to be in no pain I would probably take her to her regular vet on Monday. It is a hard thing you are going throughand we are thinking of you.
Coopsdad/ Kenneth Blackburn
http://cooper.t.....ipawds.com
the monkeydogs only THINK they have invaded the tripawd state
Our old guy didn't have cancer - but he did get to the point where he could no longer walk, or had difficulties standing/not falling over. Through the last few weeks he seemed still very happy, alert and enjoyed his favorite things. We made the decision to wait until his 'spark' was gone. And that's exactly what we did - within a week he went from our happy old man, to a shell of himself - like he'd already left and was just waiting for his body to follow.
We may have waited a day or two longer than we should've, looking back. I kind of wish we'd done it while he was still happy - it was heartbreaking to see him that way.
Personally I would say if you feel confident that she isn't in any pain, and she still seems happy, you could likely wait if you would all feel more comfortable at her regular vet. Does your regular vet have an emergency line? You may also be able to call and get in touch with him and see what he thinks you should do. (I'm not sure if your vets charge for phone calls after hours, ours don't) That might help take some doubt away with whatever you decide to do.
Like I said in your other thread, I'm so sorry that you're at this place in Mika's journey. Hugs to you, whatever you decide to do will be with love and with Mika's best interest.
That is the question I am struggling with. My oldest is falling all over the place and struggles to walk. She seems happy just lying around and getting dinner brought to her. She can make it outside with difficulty to potty but has to rest before she tries to come back inside.
She pants all the time, but I think she is still wishing to be here. What to do? I think all of us have hated to be in this place but have had to make a choice for our friends.
I will be watching this thread with interest, because I am wondering the same.
Elizabeth and Sammy
Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in the right front leg 8/23/10,
leg fractured 8/27/10,
leg amputated 8/30/10
http://sammyand.....pawds.com/
I couldn't begin to say how special Sammy is to us. Living and laughing with and loving this wonderful boy is priceless.
Mari
I am sorry you are facing this. I can't answer your question, but guess you need to follow your judgement based on the way and you are monitoring Mika's comfort level. How does she get outside to wee or poo? Is she eating anything? And can the panting be a sign of pain (sometimes they pant when in pain, and it can be hard to judge pain). Does she still brighten up when she sees things that she likes?
Their comfort or pain level can change quickly, so you might plan to wait until tomorrow, but keep the option of going to an emergency vet open. Will your vet make an emergency visit, to the clinic or your home, if Mika starts to seem uncomfortable? You might also talk to the vet who is on duty today to explain the situation. (I could not have that conversation personally when in your situation, but had someone present who was composed enough to make the call for me when it was Tazzie's time. We were out of town and were extremely fortunate to find extremely compassionate vets who helped us.)
Again, I am so sorry and wish you and Mika comfort and peace during this transition.
Susan
Well she made it through the night just fine...if you consider us both being up until 5AM and then fitfully dozing until 9:30 "ok". 😛
We told the kids what was going to be happening and carried Mika outside to spend the rest of the day watching the girls play and squirrels and birds frolic. Made an appointmet with the vet for tomorrow afternoon and have the option of bringing her in at 2PM today if we need to do so.
She's still in good spirits and eating her treats, but she had a pee pee accident in her bed and since she can't stand up anymore...
I'm sure she'll spend the day today panting and smiling and the idea of bringing her in tomorrow is just KILLING us, but even though she's happy, she tired - like she just came back from a long, fabulous vacation, but is now ready for an extended nap. She looks at tells me, "I'm happy, but tired. Very tired." and I don't want to prolong this until she's miserable.
My sister is making a 5 hour round trip drive to say her goodbyes. We'll have one last sleepless night, I'm guessing, and then we will, with all the sadness in the world, do the right thing...
Mari,
I'm so sorry. My heart breaks for you today with this decision.
Comet didn't seem in pain either and it happened quickly. She couldn't get up. She even had a burst of energy after being in the oxygen tank and getting an IV. Her head was raised as they wheeled her to me to be put down. The vet said it's because her blood pressure has been raised and it was temporary.
For my personal feelings...I couldn't let her for one moment suffer even if I had another hour or two with her because I was so afraid she'd die the hard way. Once I asked the vet if she was dying and he said, yes, I had to let her go and let her go fast. I felt like it was a race against the clock because her brother died by going into cardio-pulmonary arrest. I would hate myself if I let that happen. After all, I spent 12 years protecting her from any harm.
I can only offer this advice as a person who has dealt with many deaths...My dad at early age, my only sibling and my dogs - let Mika go peacefully. I would have my children say their goodbyes and tell them it's time for Mika to go to Doggie Heaven. But there are so many wonderful things in doggie heaven and she'll have such a great time there because she'll be running, playing and eating all sorts of treats! Tell them we celebrate that she is going because she'll be happier. And don't let them go with you to the vet. The end of life experience is memorable and it's not what you want them to remember.
And also for yourself, emergency clinics seem to be better equipped for end of life. I worried about ever taking Comet to the one but we did. But I have to say, the entire staff and vet was amazing. They made us feel like they loved her as much as we did. They seem to have experience in grief. The ER vet even wrote a long note in a card to us. My own vet didn't.
You have to ask yourself, can you personally handle her dying in your arms at home? It sounds poetic but it can play on your emotions later. It can leave you scarred. You may even start questioning yourself; the big what ifs. It's better to let a vet confirm to you that she is dying so the questions are gone in your mind and you'll know you did the right thing by her.
I write all of this through teary eyes and a heavy heart for you today. I'm so sorry. I'm just so sorry.
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.
I am so sorry for the position you are in, I know how hard this decision is to make. We lost Ruby a little over a month ago, I prayed that I would no when, I would see the signs, I did, it was in her eyes. What ever decision you make for Mika will be done with love and compassion. If you are more comfortable with her regular Dr. and she isn't in pain then cherish every last moment you spent together and release where you are most comfortable.
I will be thinking of you all today, my prayers are with you.
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….
Thanks so much for the additional thought, Comet's mom.
For today, she's good. She's happy, eating, drinking, alert, and her panting has stopped (for now, at least). Even tomorrow will seem too soon, but I, like you, would rather err of the side of caution and not risk something going wrong and having her suffer. You'd never know that she was having any problems seeing her now, except that she can't get up.
So here we are, the whole family outside in the somewhat the blustery, but sunny day, and the kids are fawning all over her. Mika's a happy girl to have the rare opportunity in this household for some undivided attention. You should see this pup's smile lines.
Tomorrow is another day...and I'm dreading it.
So sorry to hear that you have to lose Mika. It's never easy to do, but just remember that you are doing this out of your love for her.
Our Skyler probably could have lived another couple of weeks, but what would the quality have been like for her? We decided it was her time, and wanted her to go in dignity.
Cherish every moment with Mika. Sending you lots of golden hugs!
Mari,
This is the time in this cancer journey that we all knew was coming, but we are still not ready when it gets here. I like the advice of going to your regular vet tomorrow, with the emergency vet ready just in case.
Maggie let me know on a Tuesday night that it was time. I was able to medicate the pain temporarily, but I knew we were at the end. I called the vet on Wed morning and made an appt for the evening, with the caveat that if the pain broke through we could come right in.
My parents were able to spend part of the day, and we did many of the things that she liked that day. One thing that day gave me though, was confirmation that the time was right. We were able to see the vet that Maggie had known since she was a pup. Linda had helped us through the last 4 difficult months, and I was glad that she was the one to help Maggie across.
Nothing about this is easy, but this is the last gift to you can give to your ever faithful companion. I know that as time has passed since that difficult day I have not regretted it at all, and it gives me peace and comfort to know that I was able to make the best decision for Maggie at the right time.
Sending you strong and peaceful thoughts for today and tomorrow.
Karen
Oh Mari, I'm just now catching up on what's going on. I am so very sorry.
Mika's condition sounds a lot like when my time came. Same thing. I woke up one day and just couldn't walk. That was when my pawrents knew it was my time. Lots of things led up to their decision to make that dreaded phone call, but they too knew it was the right thing to do. Things progressed the way the textbooks say they will, and I gave them many signs that I too was just tired.
My heart aches for you. Please take comfort in knowing that you gave your girl such an incredible, beautiful life. A love like that lasts forever, it never goes away.
{{{{hugs}}}}
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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