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#11
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#13
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"Jo Firey" wrote in message ...
I have a really tough decision to make and maybe could use some purrs and prayers for guidance. Our tiny poodle is almost 16 years old. Her twin sister died several months ago. She has had heart trouble for several years but the medicine controls it. She is blind. She used to get around pretty well, but now has a hard time getting in from the back yard in daylight and bumps into things getting around the house. She has gradually lost her hearing and is now stone deaf. So she mostly stays on the bed, (a waterbed so she can tell where the edge is) or on the sofa if we will put her up. We have to carry her outside to do her business as she will no longer go willingly. She is good in knowing when her feet hit grass what she should do. And accidents are getting more frequent. She still follows her nose around the house, likes to be held and likes treats. But I'm not sure she finds the water as often as she should and she doesn't eat her ordinary food very well. She seems very anxious when she is moving around. My spouse thinks she is fine. I'm not so sure. I owned her mother and delivered her myself so it will be hard to let her go, but I'm thinking it is time. Hi, Jo This sounds very much like our toy poodle, Claudine, when I was in high school. She lived to be 17, and was blind and deaf for the last year or so of her life. We used to come in and stomp around hard on the floor so she would know we were there from the vibrations - if we touched her and she didn't know we were there, it frightened her. She was frequently incontinent, which also upset her. She'd had epilepsy all her life, and for many years had severe arthritis which made it hard to get around. At the end, she had cancer and her kidneys were failing. Still, she seemed comfortable in our presence and comforted by her routine, and the time to say goodbye did not come until the vet confirmed that he thought she was uncomfortable at best, and there was nothing we could do to give her a better quality of life. Really, a decision like this can only be based on your knowledge of her and how the way she acts reflects the way she feels. I would like to suggest talking to your vet about how she likely *feels* on a daily basis. I believe it might help in making a decision, and it's what I would do under the circumstances. Whatever decision you make, we are sending loving purrs to you and all your family. ------ Krista |
#14
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"Hopitus2" wrote in message ... I can see where this thread could be a take-sides argumentative statement for one view or another, but don't want to go there! From what you say re your old poodle's behavior, every RB pet we've had (only the Akita was not a cat, but he was no different) gradually went down a slope accelerating to first refusal to eat, then refusal to drink, then -to our observation - non-painful, non-stressful descent into RB trip. We made them comfortable, surrounded by their peers and hoomins (we weren't feeling so great ourselves from grief but you can't force old pets to eat/drink and the key word here was *not suffering*) till the end came (the Akita's RB trip was much more stressful to us only because he lasted twice as long as any of the cats did). None of them had any diseases that we knew of, but were just *old*, thin and feeble (if you live long enough and have enough pets you get to know that look). Of course we cried and grieved but their earthly remains are all in our huge backyard, where I still go and talk to each of them now and then. None were young or middle-aged when they left this earth for the RB; none were "sick". Some folks cannot handle this method and prefer the vet's needle; if any of them had been suffering I would have taken that merciful route, but not to spare *our* distress. What you do depends on which type of hoomin you are......I believe as long as the pet knows it is still surrounded by those who love it and is not in pain or miserable discomfort it should have the dignity of a natural death. But then what I do for a living necessitates seeing death pretty often (of hoomins, in an ER) and then again, there are no children in our home. I believe I side with you, on this matter. If an animal is suffering or in distress, then it's time to end that suffering and be merciful. However, if as someone suggested, it is a matter of convenience..... And what about the quality of life consideration--or would it be argument? I used to watch Ginger while she slept, and sometimes she was obviously dreaming, as her paws would move as though she was chasing something. So, pets sleep a lot and have their dreams. Which sounds pretty much like business as usual. Otherwise, it's the enjoyment of a full tummy, a drink of fresh water, the kind touch of a friend, and a good place to curl up for another dream. That's not a bad deal...... for any of us. Jack |
#15
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"Jo Firey" wrote My spouse thinks she is fine. I'm not so sure. I owned her mother and delivered her myself so it will be hard to let her go, but I'm thinking it is time. Jo, I'm so sorry, that is a very hard decision to make. Many many purrs that you make the one that is best for the poor girl. -- Marina, Frank and Nikki |
#16
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Hopitus2 wrote:
An excellent article. Our vet tells us that cats are even *more* stoic animals than dogs, and extremely difficult to tell when they are in pain until it's really overwhelming. That's what our vet told us, too, about Gaspode, not to feel bad that we didn't realize he was in pain until it was too late. We did feel bad, of course, but yes, that was our experience, he hid it well, just seemed a bit less social, until he couldn't breathe properly or get around. Ann -- http://www.angelfire.com/ca/bewtifulfreak |
#17
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Thank you all for your input. The whole issue is something Charlie will not discuss
and I needed to "discuss" it somehow. For now we will focus on meeting her needs as they change and increase. Blocking off "her" room will give her more security when we aren't able to keep an eye on her and will be much easier than in the puppy days when the litters loved to climb. I could likely keep her "in" with a ribbon at nose level. -- Jo Firey "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." "Jo Firey" wrote in message ... I have a really tough decision to make and maybe could use some purrs and prayers for guidance. Our tiny poodle is almost 16 years old. Her twin sister died several months ago. She has had heart trouble for several years but the medicine controls it. She is blind. She used to get around pretty well, but now has a hard time getting in from the back yard in daylight and bumps into things getting around the house. She has gradually lost her hearing and is now stone deaf. So she mostly stays on the bed, (a waterbed so she can tell where the edge is) or on the sofa if we will put her up. We have to carry her outside to do her business as she will no longer go willingly. She is good in knowing when her feet hit grass what she should do. And accidents are getting more frequent. She still follows her nose around the house, likes to be held and likes treats. But I'm not sure she finds the water as often as she should and she doesn't eat her ordinary food very well. She seems very anxious when she is moving around. My spouse thinks she is fine. I'm not so sure. I owned her mother and delivered her myself so it will be hard to let her go, but I'm thinking it is time. -- Jo Firey "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." |
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