The doggie thread

[aeromanda]

In addition to my cats, I have two dogs. They're both Pomeranians. This is Shakespeare


He is almost 15, he is diabetic, and he is blind and mostly deaf but we still love him.
And this is Shakespeare's biological mommy Josephine. (Shh...he doesn't know he's adopted. ;D ) Josie is 19 and senile but still a sweetheart.

[2metal]

Jan 15, 2011 0:51:37 GMT eclairscream said:

Jan 12, 2011 12:16:08 GMT 2metal said:

The two goggies, Noushka (girl) and Loki (boy, the smaller one) together

2metal gorgeous doggies.... is Noushka a Chow by any chance???

Thanks eclairscream!

Noushka is actually a purebred german shephard and Loki is some kind of husky/kelpie/Norwegian elkhound cross, he was a stray so we're not 100% sure, but that is what he seems to mostly look and act like.

[eclairscream]

Feb 5, 2011 12:38:33 GMT 2metal said:

Jan 15, 2011 0:51:37 GMT eclairscream said:

2metal gorgeous doggies.... is Noushka a Chow by any chance???

Thanks eclairscream!

Noushka is actually a purebred german shephard and Loki is some kind of husky/kelpie/Norwegian elkhound cross, he was a stray so we're not 100% sure, but that is what he seems to mostly look and act like.

Ah ok cool.. I used to wash doggies at the Animal Welfare League of Queensland (the pound) and we always had a little chow come in with the same name... she was gorgeous.

[isabel]

This is Isabel

Attachments:

[devil-may-care]

What a sweet face! ;D

[chariset]

Feb 9, 2011 23:57:49 GMT isabel said:

This is Isabel

Puppy!

Is she a Shiba-Inu?

[jess_lou]

So glad there is a dog thread here!! Not really a cat person myself, my kids want a kitten so I might change my mind in the future. I have 2 beautiful German shepherds, Brocky and Zappa. (named after racing legend Peter Brock, husbands choice, and frank Zappa, my choice). When I stop being a complete IT goon and work out how to post a pic, I'll show you my beautiful boys!!

[jess_lou]

I finally worked out how to post a photo!! Yay for me!!

This is my oldest dog, Brocky. He's 9 now, I love him to bits.

[aeromanda]

Aww! What a sweetie.

[jacqui]

Aww I had a gerrman shepherd not so long ago he was the biggest softee and loved cuddles ;D Usually whilst sitting on your lap especially if the weather was windy - he didn't like the wind

[SiljeMari]

German Shepherds are really beautiful dogs! I would love to have one myself, even though I'm more of a cat person ;D
Brocky is adorable, Jess_Lou!

[aeromanda]

I have some hard decisions to make and any input / opinions that you may have would be welcome. As I noted in a previous post I have two dogs Shakespeare, 15 and Josephine, 19. We have had Shakespeare since he was 4 weeks old. He is now diabetic and blind and half deaf. I am struggling with the idea of putting him down. He is on insulin twice a day and I am pretty sure that his kidneys aren't functioning that well. Despite being on the insulin he is still peeing rivers. Often, this happens in the house because he gives little to no warning that he has to go. (I spend a lot of time mopping.)He can't always make it to the door or doesn't have time to let us know he needs to go out. That's only part of it though. He used to love to go places but now because he is blind he gets upset when he is in the car because he doesn't know where he is. And since he is blind he doesn't walk well on a leash. So it is hard to take him anywhere. When I get home after being out, I can tell that he has been wandering around the house "looking" for me because he wanders toward the door when he hears it open. So he doesn't do much but hang out on the couch, and often, whine when he wants something. Then I have to try to figure out what that is and help him out. I am worried that not only is his physical condition worsening but his quality of life just isn't there anymore.

Then there is Josephine, who we have had since she was about 7. Physically she is doing quite well for a 19 year old dog. But her dementia has gotten quite bad. Sometimes she just wanders around the house like she doesn't know where she is. Most of the time when she has to go, she winds up making a mess in the house because she gets confused and just doesn't know how to get to the door to let us know she has to go out. She is getting more and more nasty with the cats when they get too close to her (although, honestly, I don't think they could care any less) and worst of all her separation anxiety has gotten really bad. It has gotten to the point where every time I leave the house for more than 15 minutes I have to give her doggie downers (Xanax). About a week ago I came home and she had wedged herself into a corner and was barking at the corner. I called and called her and when I finally found her and was in the room with her I said her name repeatedly and she didn't move or stop barking until I went to her and picked her up. Our roommate ( a friend who rents a room from us) has told me that she is inconsolable when I leave and although the downers have made it a little better she still gets pretty upset. My husband and I are planning a long trip to the UK this summer and I don't know that she would do well if we leave her at home with a relative. Not that that is why I've started to consider putting her down. It has more to do with how her condition has degraded and how stressed she gets day to day. But it is very hard because, aside from the fact that her teeth are falling out and she has mini seizures now and then she is pretty healthy physically. So I am agonizing over what to do on a daily basis. When I think about it I just feel so miserable because I love them so much. In part, I wonder if I am being selfish because, quite honestly, dogs aren't the perfect fit with our life style. At least on the weekends. On the weekends we tend to go out and they get left at home. Of course, we have to get back to give Shakespeare his insulin at 9pm or so which we do. But it isn't super easy taking care of them (especially with my health problems) so the idea that I was being selfish did occur to me.

Sorry that this post was so long. Again, I welcome any input you may have. Thanks.

[meimichan]

*hugs aeromanda*

I am honestly not sure what to tell you. My former kitty Cookie was diabetic for probably a third of his life, but he was able to do all right and more or less was in good shape up until the last several months (cancer did him in). But it sounds like you've got different problems to deal with entirely.

I'm not sure selfishness is entirely as large a factor as you think, just shows that you're considering it because you love your dogs and really don't know what to do. Them falling into ill health and making your life harder is an issue to deal with.

I don't know what to tell you. I guess it's more...are your dogs still having a good life, or are they suffering more now? But that's your call to make and good luck. That's a damn lousy situation and either way you get a crappy answer.

[snowsunflower]

[many hugs for aeromanda] I'm seriously sitting here hesitating because what I want to say hurts.

My suggestion is, concentrate on your dogs' quality of life, it will make the decision much easier. I know it will be hard for me when the times comes. But everything you just described says that your dogs need peace.

I just went through this with a co-worker last week. She had a boxer with a bad heart, and she gave the dog medicine and took it for checkups, until one morning the dog had a chest rattle. Her vet said there were still options to keep her dog alive, which would be expensive and time consuming, and the dog's quality of life wouldn't get any better. After a gut-wrenching afternoon, she elected to have her boxer put down.

Dementia. No one should have to go through this, or go through watching someone else go through it. But it's a part of life. I've seen it in people and in dogs. [not easy for me to say----------->] Dogs at least have a way out if their owners are courageous enough to let go. Please don't get me wrong, I don't condone putting dogs down. But if my dogs started wandering around the house, I'd consider it because there is no medication to correct it. You can dope your dog, but why? The separation anxiety comes from the dementia. It happens in people too.

Dementia is irreversible brain damage that occurs at the end of life [for some]. Sometimes other organs go, but when the brain goes.................................. it's hard to understand, comprehend, or accept. [sorry i've gone through this so many times on so many levels]

I'll pray for you babe

[inky]

I'm so sorry to hear about your babies aeromanda. The end of our friends lives is never easy but I think you need to take a step back and ask yourself who you are keeping these much loved companions alive for. The last, final and kindest thing we humans can do for our friends is to let them go. After thirty years with my canine pals I have two comments - 1) You have done a fantastic job of looking after them for many years. If only they were all so long-lived and 2) I think that, deep down, you already know that you need to get in touch with your Vet They deserve peace.

[dit]

Don't know if this will help. Based on cats, not dogs, but it's the same principle.

I had three cats until last week. One is an old lady of sixteen, the others littermates of twelve.

I wa told last autumn that the older cat has liver failure. The prognosis was not good. All the vet could do was get me to encourage her to eat a specific low-protein biscuit meal.

About two months ago one of the younger cats started getting thinner. He was generally OK but eventually started being miserable, not normally in his character. Initial tests proved nothing wrong but he started moping.

End result? The older cat is chirpy and eating well (touch wood). Nobody's told her she's ill so she doesn't act it. I know I haven't got her forever but she's happy.

The other guy? I lost him last week. Although he'd not been ill long he was miserable towards the end, I agreed to an exploratory op and it identified inoperable cancer.

The thing is, I knew he was unhappy so I had to make the decision. With the older cat, she's fine now. When she gets unhappy with her condition, I'll know what to do. I won't like it, but.....

And I'm the softest in the world, but sometimes you've got to follow your gut instinct. I know this won't actually help, but other people's experiences at least give you scenarios to look at.

Biggest hugs.

[aeromanda]

*receives hugs and gives hugs back*
Thank you everyone for your thoughts and your good wishes. It means so much to me that you took the time to read my post and respond with such kind words and advice. Your input has been very helpful to me and has given me a lot to consider and think about.

My former kitty Cookie was diabetic for probably a third of his life, but he was able to do all right and more or less was in good shape up until the last several months (cancer did him in). But it sounds like you've got different problems to deal with entirely.

We had a cat named Mr. Rhett for 10 years. For 5 of those years he was diabetic and we gave him insulin twice a day. He did well for most of those years. It wasn't until the last few months that he took a down turn. Shakespeare's diabetes has progressed so much quicker. That has been part of my consideration, I let Mr. Rhett's condition progress to complete organ failure before we put him down. In hind sight I see that I should have put him down much sooner. I don't want to do the same thing to Shakespeare. But sometimes, like when I or MOH come home, Shakespeare seems so excited and happy that it makes me think "well, maybe he is ok..."

I'm seriously sitting here hesitating because what I want to say hurts.

Thank you for saying what you had to say anyway. It is a difficult situation that hurts in and of itself which is why I burdened all of you with it; because I wanted unbiased (or maybe biased but in a good way) advice. I needed to hear people's honest opinions.

My suggestion is, concentrate on your dogs' quality of life,

You are right. I just find that so hard to do because I am so close to them. Like I said above sometimes when they act happy I think maybe I am reading into the situation too much and things aren't as bad for them as it seems...

Also, thank you for saying what you said about dementia. I have always found dementia (in people) very sad. And I have had to deal with it on a personal level. However, I never equated what my Josephine has been going through with what people go through. At least, not really. I never really realized how much it must be affecting her until I read what you said.

The end of our friends lives is never easy but I think you need to take a step back and ask yourself who you are keeping these much loved companions alive for.

My husband and I have been posing this question to ourselves for a while now. I've been bringing the subject up to him on and off for a few months now and he usually avoided the topic. But when I finally cornered him into telling me what he thought this was his biggest concern. Were we keeping them alive for our sakes or theirs?

I think that, deep down, you already know that you need to get in touch with your Vet

As much as it hurts to say it, I think you are right.

I know this won't actually help, but other people's experiences at least give you scenarios to look at.

No dit, it did help. Knowing that there are people out there who have been through the same thing and understand is incredibly helpful. I am sorry to hear about the kitty you lost last year.

I think another factor in putting off the decision about the dogs is that over the last year we have lost a dog and three cats. And quite honestly, I don't want to go through it again. But putting off the inevitable is simple selfishness on my part. I don't know that I can lose both of them at once but I think that on Monday I need to call the vet and make an appointment for Shakespeare. I am choking up thinking about it but I know it has to be done.

Again, thank you so much, to all, for your input. You gals here really are the best.

[pie]

Aeromanda, I've just read through your post. I don't really know what to say - probably what has already been said. It strikes a chord with me too as my dearest doggie had to be put down a few years ago. I still think about him a fair bit.

*sends lots of big hugs*

[devil-may-care]

I've been reading through the latest posts, and I feel just terrible for you, Aeromanda. I've never been faced with the decision you have to make. It's been made for me twice before by my vet. I had two cats (at different times) that met with unfortunate accidents and had to be put down. Even though it's been almost 25 years, I still think of them.

I agree with what everyone has said. Someday I'll be where you are, and I hope I have the foresight and courage to make the proper decision.

My thoughts are with you, YOH and your furry family.
*Massive Hugs*

[crumbs]

Thinking of you and your lovely dogs too. It's so hard letting go. But I'm sure you'll do the right thing cos you love them so much.

Big hugs.

[key]

May 6, 2011 20:17:09 GMT aeromanda said:

I have some hard decisions to make and any input / opinions that you may have would be welcome. As I noted in a previous post I have two dogs Shakespeare, 15 and Josephine, 19. We have had Shakespeare since he was 4 weeks old. He is now diabetic and blind and half deaf. I am struggling with the idea of putting him down. He is on insulin twice a day and I am pretty sure that his kidneys aren't functioning that well. Despite being on the insulin he is still peeing rivers. Often, this happens in the house because he gives little to no warning that he has to go. (I spend a lot of time mopping.)He can't always make it to the door or doesn't have time to let us know he needs to go out. That's only part of it though. He used to love to go places but now because he is blind he gets upset when he is in the car because he doesn't know where he is. And since he is blind he doesn't walk well on a leash. So it is hard to take him anywhere. When I get home after being out, I can tell that he has been wandering around the house "looking" for me because he wanders toward the door when he hears it open. So he doesn't do much but hang out on the couch, and often, whine when he wants something. Then I have to try to figure out what that is and help him out. I am worried that not only is his physical condition worsening but his quality of life just isn't there anymore.

Then there is Josephine, who we have had since she was about 7. Physically she is doing quite well for a 19 year old dog. But her dementia has gotten quite bad. Sometimes she just wanders around the house like she doesn't know where she is. Most of the time when she has to go, she winds up making a mess in the house because she gets confused and just doesn't know how to get to the door to let us know she has to go out. She is getting more and more nasty with the cats when they get too close to her (although, honestly, I don't think they could care any less) and worst of all her separation anxiety has gotten really bad. It has gotten to the point where every time I leave the house for more than 15 minutes I have to give her doggie downers (Xanax). About a week ago I came home and she had wedged herself into a corner and was barking at the corner. I called and called her and when I finally found her and was in the room with her I said her name repeatedly and she didn't move or stop barking until I went to her and picked her up. Our roommate ( a friend who rents a room from us) has told me that she is inconsolable when I leave and although the downers have made it a little better she still gets pretty upset. My husband and I are planning a long trip to the UK this summer and I don't know that she would do well if we leave her at home with a relative. Not that that is why I've started to consider putting her down. It has more to do with how her condition has degraded and how stressed she gets day to day. But it is very hard because, aside from the fact that her teeth are falling out and she has mini seizures now and then she is pretty healthy physically. So I am agonizing over what to do on a daily basis. When I think about it I just feel so miserable because I love them so much. In part, I wonder if I am being selfish because, quite honestly, dogs aren't the perfect fit with our life style. At least on the weekends. On the weekends we tend to go out and they get left at home. Of course, we have to get back to give Shakespeare his insulin at 9pm or so which we do. But it isn't super easy taking care of them (especially with my health problems) so the idea that I was being selfish did occur to me.

Sorry that this post was so long. Again, I welcome any input you may have. Thanks.

So very sorry. Katie, my childhood cat, developed liver cancer. My mom let me know that she would never improve, that she would suffer.

Loving does mean knowing when to release a pet from suffering. It may be kinder to take them both together.

[aeromanda]

Again, thank you all so much for your kind words. You have truly helped me to be more honest with myself and face facts. Knowing that there are people who understand and empathize makes it a little bit easier. I talked with my husband about it and he has finally come out and said that yes, he does think that it is time to let them go. He asked when I wanted to do it (because he wants to take off from work so he can be there at the vet with me) and I said this week coming up. He made one request. Our 15th wedding anniversary is this week and he doesn't want to associate it from now on with Shakespeare's death. So he said since it has been this long already could we wait an extra week. My husband does not get emotional about anything (he didn't even cry at his dad's funeral) and he's taking this much harder than I anticipated he would. It may be selfish but we are going to wait until the week after our anniversary. I know that one can always find a reason to put something unpleasant off if one looks hard enough. But now that I have made the decision I am going to follow through. It is just going to be very hard; as it always is.

[dit]

Biggest hugs, aeromanda. It sounds as if you will be wise to wait. May I suggest you discuss it with your vet too? The fact that you have taken professional advice at this stage will help you later to feel you have done the right thing.

[aeromanda]

May I suggest you discuss it with your vet too? The fact that you have taken professional advice at this stage will help you later to feel you have done the right thing.

That is a good point dit. I am planning on calling the vet this week to set up an appointment for next week. I'll talk to her then and make sure that we are on the same page and she agrees with our decisions. It is not something we will put off for long but I think we can wait until after our anniversary.

[inky]

I remember losing my first boxer at the age of 5 1/2 months (long story and still painful even after 30 years). What really knocked me for six was the reaction of my (then) hubbie. He was a roughtie-toughtie bloke, covered in tattoos and looked a real hard case. Perfect example of never judge a book by it's cover. He cried like a baby when Bella went. It hit me harder than losing her. I think a word with your Vet will put your mind at rest. Enjoy the time you have left with them. Do something special with them, make them special meals, take them to lovely places to potter around, spend time with them. I feel for you and OH but you should always remember that you have given both your pals wonderful lives. If only all companion animals had that experience

[dit]

Vets can be incredibly supportive. I've been with my team for years, and it meant a lot when I lost my cat two weeks ago that the receptionist said, "He was an incredibly lucky boy to have lived with you". They even sent an 'on the sad loss of your pet' card last week. Those are people who care.

[eolise]

Lots of doglovers, yay!

These are my dogs. The photo is about two years old, don't have others on my computer at the mome.
fltr: Kaiya (5), Dribbel (11) (yea, I know what that means in English ) and Romy (3):



This is my fave dog, Kaiya, with long hair

[snowsunflower]

Here's my pack

missypproductions.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/teammissyp.jpg

I'm staying home today cuz Benj is under the weather. I wanted to make sure he's ok.

[eolise]

Cuuuuuuuuuute, Snowsunflower!!!

[snowsunflower]

Thanks Dutch_Mayniac They are my pride and joy! You're doggies are adorable!!! Dogs are the best creatures on the planet as far as I'm concerned.

I just got back from the vet and my little Benjamin threw his hip out! I was like, "You're kiddin'." But he's 9 years old and still thinks he's 2. I have to watch him for a few days, and thereafter, cuz he loves to jump, leap, sail, glide, fly, and everything else you can imagine an active dog doing. I love that little dude, I'll do anything for him.