So another of Spitfire's age is lost

[Jess041]

I feel like maybe this post was inspired by Missy. I lost her last week. She was still incredibly active until her last couple days. I got another (Aussie) puppy at the end of July and Missy enjoyed chasing the puppy around the yard and even occasionally brought me a toy to throw in the yard.

Last Monday she seemed a little off but she was still eating and drinking fine so I wasn’t overly concerned. I thought maybe her arthritis was bothering her. Around 5:30 pm she had a seizure so I rushed her to the emergency vet. When they were trying to triage she was fighting them and crying out- very uncharacteristic of her. Bloodwork showed she was in acute kidney failure. Even after drugs to relax her, she was restless and clearly in pain. They wanted to do a urinalysis and hospitalize her for 24 hours, which was going to cost $4k. They wanted to see if a serious UTI was causing the kidney failure. At this point I felt like the right thing to do was let her go. A couple of my friends were there and agreed it was the right decision. She was 14 years 9 months old and lived a very long and full life. But I couldn’t watch her suffer anymore. I was terrified if I hospitalized her, something would happen while I was gone to take care of my other dogs. I was also concerned that if after fluids and hospitalization she was still in kidney failure, I would just be prolonging her suffering to keep her earthside for just a little longer. It’s never an easy decision, but I feel like I made the right one. I am heartbroken over losing her. She almost died back in July due to anaphylaxis, so at least I got nearly 4 additional months with her.

I wouldn’t stress too much about Spitfire. Just enjoy whatever time you have left with him. Keep him happy and comfortable as long as you can.

 

[SheepOfBlue]

I feel like maybe this post was inspired by Missy. I lost her last week. She was still incredibly active until her last couple days. I got another (Aussie) puppy at the end of July and Missy enjoyed chasing the puppy around the yard and even occasionally brought me a toy to throw in the yard.

Last Monday she seemed a little off but she was still eating and drinking fine so I wasn’t overly concerned. I thought maybe her arthritis was bothering her. Around 5:30 pm she had a seizure so I rushed her to the emergency vet. When they were trying to triage she was fighting them and crying out- very uncharacteristic of her. Bloodwork showed she was in acute kidney failure. Even after drugs to relax her, she was restless and clearly in pain. They wanted to do a urinalysis and hospitalize her for 24 hours, which was going to cost $4k. They wanted to see if a serious UTI was causing the kidney failure. At this point I felt like the right thing to do was let her go. A couple of my friends were there and agreed it was the right decision. She was 14 years 9 months old and lived a very long and full life. But I couldn’t watch her suffer anymore. I was terrified if I hospitalized her, something would happen while I was gone to take care of my other dogs. I was also concerned that if after fluids and hospitalization she was still in kidney failure, I would just be prolonging her suffering to keep her earthside for just a little longer. It’s never an easy decision, but I feel like I made the right one. I am heartbroken over losing her. She almost died back in July due to anaphylaxis, so at least I got nearly 4 additional months with her.

I wouldn’t stress too much about Spitfire. Just enjoy whatever time you have left with him. Keep him happy and comfortable as long as you can.

It was Spitfire has his days but is getting confused more and more at times.

 

[RikyR]

I feel like maybe this post was inspired by Missy. I lost her last week. She was still incredibly active until her last couple days. I got another (Aussie) puppy at the end of July and Missy enjoyed chasing the puppy around the yard and even occasionally brought me a toy to throw in the yard.

Last Monday she seemed a little off but she was still eating and drinking fine so I wasn’t overly concerned. I thought maybe her arthritis was bothering her. Around 5:30 pm she had a seizure so I rushed her to the emergency vet. When they were trying to triage she was fighting them and crying out- very uncharacteristic of her. Bloodwork showed she was in acute kidney failure. Even after drugs to relax her, she was restless and clearly in pain. They wanted to do a urinalysis and hospitalize her for 24 hours, which was going to cost $4k. They wanted to see if a serious UTI was causing the kidney failure. At this point I felt like the right thing to do was let her go. A couple of my friends were there and agreed it was the right decision. She was 14 years 9 months old and lived a very long and full life. But I couldn’t watch her suffer anymore. I was terrified if I hospitalized her, something would happen while I was gone to take care of my other dogs. I was also concerned that if after fluids and hospitalization she was still in kidney failure, I would just be prolonging her suffering to keep her earthside for just a little longer. It’s never an easy decision, but I feel like I made the right one. I am heartbroken over losing her. She almost died back in July due to anaphylaxis, so at least I got nearly 4 additional months with her.

I wouldn’t stress too much about Spitfire. Just enjoy whatever time you have left with him. Keep him happy and comfortable as long as you can.

So very sorry for your loss.

 

[Piper's mom]

It was Spitfire has his days but is getting confused more and more at times.

Sometimes I see Piper aging and worry about him…but then I wonder how much is an age thing and how much is he just being more obstinate BECAUSE he’s getting older. A great example is his hearing…he can be 5 feet away from me either inside or out and I’ll call him and he totally ignores me. If he’s interested in something outside (as in something he thinks is edible) he won’t even lift his head as I call Piper…Piper..PIPERRRRR!!! Then as he sees me headed his way he’s like WHAT??? But then we can be in the house on the bed or couch or he can be several feet away from me and I’ll say (very) softly to him Tickle Tickle, Tickle (a game we’ve played since he was a puppy where I threaten to tickle his back paw) and he hears me every time! So I don’t know…
So what I do instead is I now do a check up on him every 6 months instead of once a year with bloodwork. Nothing is a surprise and I feel reassured he’s doing ok.

 

[SheepOfBlue]

Oh and yes it was but I did not feel it was my place to post directly about Missy. She rocked, a true flyball Champion and fastest Sheltie in NAFA. Sca thought she might be insane but I am sure would have loved racing with her. He was faster with another sheltie in the other lane. Though I don't think he ever went fur to fur with Missy.

 

[Cindy]

pretty sure that Gavin made it to 17 and Dixie was almost 16........................

Gavin made it like 2 months past 17....his health took a big decline around 16. I think he had internal bleeding 'events' every 4-5 months from some sort of tumor (looking back at it now). It was a tough time when he passed (I was a mess), I had just driven him 2000 miles from mom's where I was staying with Mom while she was having chemo for 3 months. I returned a few months later after her surgery, Mom passed after 3 months in hospitals and facilities, and then I got Pico 10 days after I got home.

Really, all I can say it enjoy the good moments.
I made a point of trying to give him as many good times as possible; walks in his stroller (the stroller actually came with us on our trip to Mom's) and beach visits.
I had to make accomodations as he got older, but still tried to take him to his favorite places.
And I have the memory of Gavin sunning himself in my mom's backyard for hours. just enjoying the fall breezes.
If I had him put down before that trip, he never would have experienced that.