My baby chihuahua, Zatanna, left us a week ago. (pics included)
It has taken me this long to even post about this. I haven't even really posted on DU because of it.
We noticed Zatanna was having some issues breathing late in the evening of Friday, January 27 and it got worse Saturday morning. I stayed up with her until we could take her to our vet at 8am. We were told we needed to take her to the Animal hospital 45 minutes away in Tulsa. We came home, got her ready and went down there. They decided it was best for her to stay at least one night. I was already having some anxiety issues because almost exactly 18 months ago, we took our little man, Voodoo, there and came home with a box of ashes. Zatanna was diagnosed with congestive heart disease almost three years ago, and since, we had been giving her three pills in the morning and three in the evening, as well as liquid medicine for her cough every night before bed. They placed her in an oxygen carrier, and we came home. Sunday, we went to visit her, and she was alert, tail wagging and a healthy appetite. We stayed about an hour, then came home again. We got an update that evening and said they were concerned, but the prognosis was looking better because they figured out the problem was not heart related.
Monday night, the news was more grim, but they planned to but her on steroids, keep her in the oxygen carrier, and give her some different meds. They said if there were any issues, they would let us know. 4:30am, they called and told me she was in really bad shape, and we needed to come down later in the day (now Tuesday). Two hours later, they called again and her heart had stopped, they brought her back using CPR. My husband and I got ready (I had only had an hour and a half of sleep), when they called again, and said, it was unlikely we would get there before she passed. My husband responded, "The HELL we won't!" We left 10 minutes later and drove for 45 minutes in complete silence, except for my occasional sobs and my husband sniffling.
We got there and were escorted to the ICU and there was our baby with a breathing tube down her throat and under a mountain of blankets because she couldn't regulate her body temperature. I reached under the blankets and her little belly was so cold, it startled me. My husband was crying, which he NEVER does. Zatanna, our 4.1-pound chihuahua, was laying mostly motionless with a tube in her throat almost as big as her muzzle. The vet told us after her cardiac arrest she was without oxygen for almost 6 minutes, and it was likely she suffered brain damage. She told us Zatanna might recover enough to go home at some point, but it was unlikely, and there was no guarantee she would be the same dog. It took us twenty minutes, but we finally decided to let her go. They unhooked her from all the machines, my husband held her back paws and rubbed her belly, I held her front paws and kissed her little baby head, like I had done every night for almost 10 years, and told her, "Daddy and I love you so much. Nite nite my baby." Then she was gone. We picked up her limp body and held her for the last time. The drive home was agony and again mostly silent.
When he arrived home, our last two dogs, Marigny and Laveau, sisters, were howling, screeching, and bolted into the garage. Laveau circled the car and scratched at the doors. My husband and I were still in tears, well, I was sobbing. Laveau actually had tears coming from her eyes. That made it worse. Marigny, who was Zatanna's best buddy, just ran around and around, whimpering. This past Friday, we went back to the hospital to get her remains and brought her home for the last time.
Now, let me end this with happiness and tell you about her life!
Born in April 2011, we got her four months later. We had just moved back from New Orleans. I had told my husband about her, and he went to our friend who had her. I came downstairs and there he was with her on his stomach. He said, "What if we call her Zatanna?" With all the pets we had, dogs, hamsters, fish, and birds, he had never named one of our pets! I called our friend and told her I would be by later with the payment. Zatanna now lived with us. For almost two weeks, she never made a sound...that soon ended. 
She became our most vocal dog and she was definitely a "Daddy's girl".
She would let us know when someone was at the door. She barked when she was ready to come back into the house. She loved going outside and sitting by the fence that faced the street so she could bark at passerbys! She barked at Daddy when it was nite-nite time. She loved laying with my husband, especially propping her head on his arm, which made typing difficult for him; he misses that now. She LOVED kissys! If you kissed her cheek, she would then turn her head so you could kiss her other cheek. You were only done when she walked off. Every night when I put her to bed, I kissed one cheek, then the other, then the top of her head, then cheek, cheek, and top of her head one more time saying, "Nite-nite baby, Daddy and I love you!"
She loved when my husband came home and always edged out the other dogs to get his attention. When I entered the room she barked loudly and ran circles around me. At some point, she started putting her tags in her mouth when I came in the room after an extended absence. We have no idea why she did it and why she only did it for ME! My husband constantly carried her around. For a long time, when my husband went to work, everyone went in their individual cages until I woke up and let them out. One day, I went into the bedroom and she was in the bed, not in her cage like everyone else. I assumed my husband forgot to put her in there...NOPE! Zatanna, we called her "Da Baby", had learned to open her cage and walk up the stairs next to the bed. We caught her doing this using a nanny cam!
She would push the other dogs out of the way if my husband was kissing on them. She had to sleep ON him. She also loved to lick him. She loved hot dogs, chicken, and treats. She was NOT a picky eater. She was best friends with Marigny. They travelled together often. Another quirk of her's was that she didn't jump down from the couch like a regular dog, she would stand on the edge and plop off like she was parachuting. It used to crack us up. Also, when she wanted to get up on the couch or another surface, like the bed, she would stand there, whimper (for me) or bark (at my husband) to pick her up. Of course, she was so small, she really couldn't jump high, but unlike the other dogs who would "push off the ground" as I lifted them, she didn't. She had to be picked up, no effort on her part. LOL!
She was a sweet little dog, often with her little baby tongue hanging out. We love her so much and miss her. I was so upset when we were driving home because, unlike when we came back after losing Voodoo when I saw a cloud that looked like a chihuahua following us, I saw nothing. Then, I saw, on our various video photo frames, there she was! Her picture popped up on all five of them as I passed by each one. One last goodbye.
= new reply since forum marked as read
I had to stop reading since I was crying too much. My little Chihuahua died 2 1/2 years ago and your baby sounds a lot like mine.
And you know I understand. What an adorable little dog, she was obviously loved. And she was also such a lucky pup since she had you... 
The pain is still very fresh. I was watching "The Simpsons" the other day and an episode that featured the song "I Want Candy" came on and I just sobbed. During her nighttime medicine routine, I would sing, "Who wants candy? Baaaaby candy!" She would wag her tail and gobble up her meds. My husband had to bribe her with treats, I didn't, I just sang to her. It will cause me to cry again when I hear the "baby shark" song, because we sang that to her too. When the doorbell rang or someone was in the yard, her hackles would go up from the nape of her little neck to her little tail and it looked like a fin, so we started calling her "baby shark" and singing the "Baby Shark" song.
The strange things we do for and with our pets.
You know that I lost my beloved puppy of 16 years and then a few weeks ago I lost my beautiful cat who I found as a kitten. It was a rough year. And it doesn't take a whole lot, I know, I'm so used to having them around, especially my pup since we were together much of the time and I can't help still looking for him. Even just sitting on the couch, he was always napping next to me or on the next cushion. And it's not like I've never lost a pet before, but other than the dog I grew up with, I've adopted senior dogs. Two of them lived past 18, but my Jack was still with me the longest. And initially people - having nothing else to say - would ask if I was going to get another dog. But right now I'm just missing my little guy - he was such a constant part of my life for so long. And I know that you feel the same... 
Sending you and your hubby hugs and condolences for the loss of your "baby". One of my uncles who has 2 chihuahuas (slightly bigger size than your little lady) got attached to the breed (he always had German shepherds in the past).
Zatanna looked like a sweetie and I expect she was "hand on hip" mouthy. 
Both of you gave Zatanna all you had and I know she will be missed.
We got attached to chihuahuas because my husband picked out Voodoo as a puppy. He thought he was a baby rottweiler because of his markings...and an obsession was born. Also, we are convinced the baby was a drag queen in a former life because when she walked, she literally "sashayed". LOL!
Thank you for your condolences. 
Best to you guys.
She was and is loved so much. I miss kissing her lil' baby head. 
it hurts so much. My deepest condolences; 
Thanks for sharing Zatanna's sweet little life. I understand completely.💔
You don't expect something like that with your furbaby! No words. 
for you and gentle crossing for Zatanna.
For Christmas, I got my husband a t-shirt that reads: "I would push you in front of zombies to save my chihuahua!".
i'm a chihuahua mom too. When my first chihuahua Chase passed at 15 3/4 years old, I had his little casket engraved "the best dog there ever was." My vet told me then there will always be that one dog - I think Zatanna was your husband's one dog. Chase was mine. Now i tell people that Chase was the dog that convinced me I never want to live without a dog again.
Now we have little Chai - got him almost immediately after Chase passed. He's my best friend and constant companion through this pandemic. He's tiny too, but due to a catastrophic neurological event, he's been on steroids and crashed the 5 pound mark. Fortunately no pain, but he lost the use of his right hind leg. He's improved but it's beginning to look as if there may always be a deficit and he's only 3 years old.
There's nothing quite like a dog for unconditional love. I am so sorry for your loss. She had a great life with you!
She was definitely "a daddy's girl". I think you are right about his need to have another, as he has been searching for another chihuahua like her. He and I grieve differently, and he is having a time of it himself. I simply cry.
There's nothing quite like a dog for unconditional love
AMEN!
Thank you for your condolences and sharing your story. It makes my heart happy to know there are so many who love chihuahuas they way we do.
Spoiled! But we loved doing it.
Thank you for your condolences.
She was a pistol. She was full of life, energy and needy for kissys. I miss that.
As you can see, it took me two days before I could even respond because I knew I would be weepy...I was right.
... they worm their way into our hearts, tremendously enrich our lives, and then are gone far too soon.
I hate feeling sad, but I love that I got the time I did with her. She was a special lil diva.
...I am not Jewish, but I am a student of history and religion, and I appreciate the information and perspective you bring.
And again, so sorry for you loss.
Gawd. Nothing hurts like when a furkid departs the mortal coil. 💔
Healing vibes on the way to you, hubby, & your pack.
It is painful and soul-crushing, but to have her in our lives was a blessing.
Yes, I can imagine. I know the feeling well on both ends of the spectrum.
And what a beautiful, compelling love story you guys shared with her. I was so moved reading the story that I was lost in the text till her first pic appeared on my screen, that completely melted my heart. So much personality in that little face as she mouths her tag for you. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Wishing you peace, as much as possible, as you struggle through this time. May her memory be a blessing…
I am glad you enjoyed our story. She was a little diva and typical of the "spoiled youngest child". She was so full of life and personality. When I find it, I will post the picture of her in her babushka. She actually liked wearing scarves.
Thank you for your kind words.
