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SammyWinstonJack

(44,129 posts)
Fri Jul 20, 2012, 01:12 AM Jul 2012

My little Sammy girl is dying and I think she may be suffering and I am heartbroken.

She is my little five pound Yorkie that I have had since she was five months old. She is my baby.


On Monday I took her to the vet because she had diarrhea and I was worried. She had also been coughing and seemed a little spacey. While trying to draw blood, she became stressed, her tongue turned blue and fluid was coming out of her mouth.

The vet gave her a lasix shot, which worked immediately. He drew blood and took an x-ray.


She has an enlarged heart.

We have been giving her the lasix, but her stomach still seem distended and she is lethargic and not eating very much at all.

It's killing me to think she might be suffering.

I don't know what to do.

I know she will die and I don't want her to suffer any more then she has to, just because I don't want to be without her.

I don't know what to do and I feel so helpless.......I love her so much and I know I am going to lose her.......I feel sick...

She isn't even ten yrs old...........

I don't know why this happened to her.

I feel like it is my fault.
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applegrove

(118,022 posts)
1. So sorry. I watched my Monster get sicker and sicker. He'd hide in closets and under the bed.
Fri Jul 20, 2012, 01:31 AM
Jul 2012

Animals do not always show you how much pain they are in. I knew he was suffering so I did the only kind thing. He was calm at the vets. They gave him a drug IV to totally calm him. Then the final shot. It was very peaceful. I balled my eyes out of course. Been a year and I still miss the big guy. But I've never regreted taking him in to be put to sleep. It was the right thing to do.

TorchTheWitch

(11,065 posts)
2. Have a frank discussion with your vet
Fri Jul 20, 2012, 02:12 AM
Jul 2012

It really helps to get their honest opinion on what exactly the problem is, is it curable, is it a problem that can be dealt with where the pet can still have a good quality of life, is the pet going to die no matter what you do, what is the time-frame, and will they continue to get worse until death.

Then the really hard part... have a frank discussion with yourself. If the dog has a problem that is not curable, can't be dealt with where the dog can still have a good quality of life, won't last very long and/or will continue to suffer and the suffering will get worse until they die naturally then putting them to sleep is the most humane action.

In order to feel comfortable with whatever decision you make of course it's best to know everything you can about their prognosis and do your best to assess their quality of life honestly.

I know exactly how you feel in wondering why this is happening to your dear dog and wondering if you're somehow responsible. Of course you know these aren't rational questions, and it's the intense emotions you're feeling that are bringing them on. Try your best to look at the situation more logically (maybe after a good cry to work out these horrible emotions a bit). You know it's not your fault, and you know that sometimes bad illnesses happen for whatever mysterious reason at any age.

You may be in that terrible awful situation that probably all of us have gone through at one time or another with a pet where there just is no "right" answer because both possible scenarios suck so bad when we know there is nothing more we can do and the beloved pet is suffering. It's one of the worst stuck between a rock and a hard place type of situations I can think of. In the end you need to make the right decision for your pet and not what may be right for you but not what's right for the pet, and it sounds like you want to do the former - what's right for your dog.

I sooooo feel for you. This is just such a monstrous situation to be in where there is no outcome that isn't emotionally agonizing.


<--- BIG hug


Mac1949

(389 posts)
4. I know how hard it is to lose a family member...
Fri Jul 20, 2012, 07:58 AM
Jul 2012

but you mustn't blame yourself. Try to remember that, far from being at fault, you gave her a good life and a lot of love.

Stinky The Clown

(67,697 posts)
8. Everyone who has answered thus far knows exactly what you're feeling.
Fri Jul 20, 2012, 03:58 PM
Jul 2012

There is no right course of action and no right time. But we have the ability, with our pets, to do what we cannot do for our human loved ones. We can give them relief from suffering when the suffering becomes more than it ought to be.

I can't possibly know if that time is here for your Sammy girl. I can only wish you the peace of making the decision when it is time. No one else is qualified to tell you how or when to do that. As was suggested, an honest talk with your vet will help. You know the emotional side, the bond between you and Sammy. The vet knows the medical reality; she provides the facts. You provide the decision.

And please be gentle to yourself, too. When we take an animal into our lives, we know, from the very start that we are destined to outlive them. When the time is right, it seems to me, helping them cross in the best way possible is the greatest act of love we can give.

And we're all crying with you.

SammyWinstonJack

(44,129 posts)
9. Thank You All. The vet suggested we continue with the lasix for a few more day.
Fri Jul 20, 2012, 04:37 PM
Jul 2012

So we will do that.

She isn't any better but she isn't any worse either. She is holding on.

I am making her as comfortable as I can and attending to her needs.


She is pure love.

TorchTheWitch

(11,065 posts)
12. That's actually a good thing
Fri Jul 20, 2012, 07:58 PM
Jul 2012

At least as far as how "good" such a situation can be. Now you have a few more days at least to ponder what to do and when to do it so you at least won't be in the position of having to make a snap decision... gads, I can't imagine having to do that with a situation like this. I was fortunate in losing both my previous dogs that I had a lot of time to know it was coming, decide when the time was right, and spend as much time with them that I could.

As my saintly vet advised me... treat every day, every moment, you have left with your beloved pet as a gift and rejoice that you were able to have that one more day, or two more days, or however much time is left and that you made the most of it. He's a very very wise man.

If you feel you can, keep us posted on what's happening or how you're feeling. We're all right there with you.

haele

(12,581 posts)
10. When we had to take Shari in last year, the vet told us -
Fri Jul 20, 2012, 05:53 PM
Jul 2012

"If she isn't going to be able to get better, and she can't keep on in this situation, this is the greatest gift we can give her. She doesn't understand what's going on, all she knows is that she is hurting and you are hurting, too, and she will just be miserable for the rest of the time she has. She doesn't understand time, every minute to her is forever, so she won't be afraid to go."

It's not your fault she's got heart problems. You must remember this, no matter what.
The worst thing with having these creatures share their lives with us is that their dependancy is like having permenant children - for the most part, they don't live as long as we do. And we usually always have to make that final decision for them.

So sorry to hear what is going on with her. But she loves you and you love her, and for her - that's forever. She won't blame you if you decide her suffering should end.

Haele

Walk away

(9,494 posts)
11. If her gums or tongue turned blue that is from lack of oxygen. Are they giving her Lasix...
Fri Jul 20, 2012, 05:59 PM
Jul 2012

because of a heart condition? That is usually why they prescribe a diuretic. Did they give her heart medication as well? They might be able to increase her meds to give her some relief.
I have had dogs with heart problems and when they become symptomatic it is really scary but adjusting her heart medication can bring them right back. Is she also on Enalapril, Enacard or digitalis?

p.s. I am not a professional but I am a Dog Mom who has seen the symptoms you are describing.

 

Bigleaf

(2,050 posts)
13. Sounds like Lymphangiectasia. I'd bet that the distended stomach is fluid buildup. Your vet
Tue Jul 24, 2012, 07:12 PM
Jul 2012

might have to tap your babys abdomen/chest to relieve the pressure. Small Terriers, particularly the Yorkie, are predisposed to this ailment.

Here are some links to info on Lymphangiectasia:

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_intestinal_lymphangiectasia.html

http://voices.yahoo.com/diagnosing-dogs-intestinal-lymphangiectasia-6537278.html?cat=53




irisblue

(32,829 posts)
15. it is never,never,never your fault. grief sucks x 1 billion.
Wed Jul 25, 2012, 10:33 AM
Jul 2012

Last edited Wed Jul 25, 2012, 12:52 PM - Edit history (1)

since i cant read the replys, on this apple phone, this may be old news. did the vet think its time? there is a med called cafragot ( i know i misspelled it) it kinda acts like pepto bismol for us but w/o the runs. it can, help a lot with dogs vomiting and lack of appetite. will she eat if you hand feed her? shredded chicken broth and rice ( no salt in the broth). an ice cube every half hour or so. Boiled skimmed ground sirlon in small hand fed bits if she likes that too.
I cant read any of the replys from our friends here, Im on a borrowed phone. I wish only the best for you and your baby. I am so so sorry.
heart dogs, they leave such holes in our hearts.

PotatoChip

(3,186 posts)
16. So sorry Sammy
Thu Jul 26, 2012, 09:51 AM
Jul 2012

It really is hard to know when the *right* time is. On the one hand, you definitely don't want them to suffer, but on the other, it is so difficult to let go, even though that may be the best thing.

Did the Vet offer any advice as to whether or not there is a way to keep your Yorkie a little longer while still comfortable? Some kind of med or something? Is the lasix helping?

I wish you the best at this sad and difficult time. And try not to feel guilty. These things happen. Your little girl knows that you love her no matter what.

CountAllVotes

(20,854 posts)
18. Maybe it is Sammy girl's time
Thu Jul 26, 2012, 12:37 PM
Jul 2012

You'll know when it is the right time and maybe now is the time.

To me (after losing two of my cats back to back in Dec./Feb. of this year) I'm still heartbroken about it but there was nothing more I could do.

I knew the time had come and it was up to me to stop the suffering and the pain and all of the sad yowling to be heard non-stop for almost 4 mos. straight -- yowls of pain and dying is what they were.

If this is where your girl is at now, you must do the right thing and we all know what "the right thing" is during times like this.

Ten years almost is a good age for any dog/cat to live to be and Sammy is very lucky to have you as her keeper. Remind yourself of this now and then please.

Hang in there and know we are here for you.

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