Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Fritz has received his angel wings today.
Since my last post Fritz was getting more and more uncomfortable. We had him in the hospital over the weekend for fluids and they upped the steroid dose. But it just was not helping his fever very much. Then a new issue - he could not get up on his back legs from a lying down position at all. It was almost like paralysis - except if you lifted him up he could hop around. The oncologist thought maybe cancer somewhere else causing this - e.g. a brain lesion. At any rate, we stopped seeing any doggy joy in his face for days. We did add pain meds back in and that helped him be a bit more comfortable. Just seems like the cancer was outracing anything we could do for him. So we made the very agonizing diecision to have the mobile vet come today and end his life. It may seem like a sudden decision, but we just did not want him to get more miserable and more uncomfortable and be in a panic situation while we were trying other ways to help him. Reading Tripawd Tuesday reflection from Spirit Dakota's mom was tremendously helpful to me. Fritz was the sweetest dog I have ever had as a companion and iit broke our hearts to make this decision. But we do both feel that this was the best outcome we could give him and so will try to accept the pain of losing our dear firiend.
Oh Nancy, I'm so very, very sorry to read this, I know how your heart must be hurting so much. Please know we send our condolences and love to you and your pack. As hard of a decision as it was, you gave him the gift of releasing him from pain and setting his spirit free, and you did it with love in your hearts amidst relative calmness. No dog could ask for more at the very end.
Fritz's love, his lessons he taught you and the good times you had together will always live on in your heart. I wish we could have gotten to know him better but at least you had a wonderful life with a very special dog. That kind of love never fades.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I am so sorry you lost Fritz. He had quite the life and was so handsome!
One of the things people here struggle with fairly often is timing. None of us want to make our dogs just exist and suffer, but neither do we want to rob them of good days. It's really an impossible task we set before ourselves, one that requires either that our dogs talk to us or that we have a crystal ball. That's why we often say we'd rather make the decision one day too soon rather than a day too late. And you're so right--when it becomes an emergency, it's just awful.
Thank you for loving your boy so and for helping him leave before he was miserable. I understand how quiet and clean the house may be now. It feels so wrong. I wish that you find peace in the days to come and that you begin to remember Fritz with joy as you look through pictures and share stories about him. He is too big to live anywhere but your heart now, but that's where he fits.
Shari
From abandoned puppy to Tripawd Warrior Dude, Dakota became one of the 2011 February Furballs due to STS. Our incredibly sweet friend lived with grace and dignity till he impulsively raced over the Bridge on 12-15-12.
Dakota's thoughtful and erudite blog is at http://shari.tr.....pawds.com/
Good grief, didn't see this comng. I'm so very, very sorry. You gave Fitz every chance possible and he ave ithis best too.
He's such a lovely dog...a lovey sweet and gentle soul.
I'm glad you were able to jave hm home these last few days andhe could be surrounded by love and his lwn surroundngs when it was tme for his transition. You made some good memoris, you got to love and spoil deeper than you ever thought possible. Fitz got t lap it all up and carryt with him. You gave him the ultmate gidt of love when he needed it the most. That's a selfless love, a pure love, an u conditinal love.
Your days and nights will be rough for awhile. Bib by bit, a glimpse of hapy memory will come back to you. Your broken eat will start to heal as the wnderful life you jave with Fritz cmes floodng back.
We are still here with you. We celebrated withyo and we cry with you. Your Fritz...and you...nspire us all. Thank yo for sharingyour womderful Fritz with us. He is a hero and heroes are NEVER forgotten.
When you can, we would love to see more pictures of Fritz. He beautifies our site!
Surronding you with the grace of Fritz,
Saly and Happy Hannah
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!
Nancy,
Just caught up and read the sad news about Fritz. So sorry for your loss.
Esther and her Snoop
I'm so sorry for your loss.. I just caught up on reading some posts and was sad to hear of your sweet boys passing.
The bond that we have with our Tripawds, just can't be explained, except to another Tripawd owner.. other dog owners just don't get it. We all know exactly what you are going through, and what it will be like in the days to come...
I'm not going to say that it gets better, cause, you know what? everyone is different.. sometimes it does.. sometimes it doesn't... but I can tell you that that handsome boy loved you to the last breath.. as much as you loved him. He was in such good hands, and he knew it. I'm sorry that he didn't get to enjoy your mini vacations, but, he is still with you. He is in your heart, always will be.. and when you find a moment, close your eyes, open your heart and you will feel him there...
Christine.... with Franklin in her heart♥
Franklin, he was the Happiest Dog on Three Legs! Diagnosed 09/26/2012 with Osteosarcoma, amputated 12/4/2012. Had a wonderful 5 1/2 months painfree until he ran for the Bridge on 5/15/2013. Always in my heart, and always a guardian angel of my pack... You can follow his Tripawd Adventures, before and after, in my blog, Frank'n'Farter!
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