Sorry to hear this. Best wishes to you and your wife.
We lost ours May of last year - very, very similar to yours but a bit smaller. These are special dogs.
Putting a Dog to Rest Forever, our journey will come to a close this month
- Thread starter alarmguy
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We lost ours May of last year - very, very similar to yours but a bit smaller. These are special dogs.
Yeah, the heart murmur is due to failing heart valves. On a scale of five out of six with six the worst the doctor at the time even kind of mentioned close to a six.
This drug has been wonderful for close to a year when he was more like a two or three at the most, but then nature takes its course and it can only do so much as the valves continue to deteriorate.
As in previously mentioned within three days of him starting this drug in August 2023, he was like a new dog. It truly was amazing.
The drug improves heart function to make up for the leaky valves. As time progresses the valves continue to get worse and that’s when the drug can no longer help. We are at that point now.
Yes, we also have a prescription for a diuretic
In addition to the absolute unselfishness of letting your pet go peacefully, and before suffering makes the quality of life very poor, is the ability to let them go at home. Surrounded by the people that love him and in a familiar place, makes the moment so much more comforting. I recently had to go through the same with my Cruiser. Thank God there is this service and we had one of the most caring and compassionate people help with his last moments. With him in my arms and my wife petting him. And his 2 other companions right next to him on the couch. It was beautiful.
Anyway, thank you for taking such good care of your best friend, especially at the end of his life. Yes, time will ease this pain some. And when time is right, another will find YOU. We don't chose our pets, God brings them to us. Benson will be in a good place, waiting patiently for you.
Sums alot of things up:
This is fantastic, thank you.
Yes, the doctor coming to our house seems to be very compassionate. We had a long conversation with her on the phone and to her credit, suggested we visit with his regular doctor before we made our final decision. It wasn’t a requirement and she fully respected whatever we wanted to do .
We already know from past discussions with his regular doctor what he was going to tell us, but we did she suggested, and it was fantastic talking with him. We take very serious and explored every possibility, he assured us there is nothing further we could do for him and he is not going to get any better.
Believe it or not that actually helped us to be sure we are doing the proper thing or better said confirmation. Really appreciate your comments. Thank you.
So sorry about your dog. A few months ago, our dog was diagnosed with an enlarged heart too late for us to do anything. Our previous vet never told us about her enlarged heart. About 3 weeks ago, she had a stroke and I thought I would be taking her for her final ride, but she bounced back really well.
It appears to be difficult to breath, but, then she will hop up and start playing like always, only to start weezing and coughing. I will be surprised if she is still with us at Christmas, either from heart attack, stroke, or us putting her down. It's very had to watch and I spend every last second with her I can now.
Losing a pet is hard. I hope you are doing well.
It appears to be difficult to breath, but, then she will hop up and start playing like always, only to start weezing and coughing. I will be surprised if she is still with us at Christmas, either from heart attack, stroke, or us putting her down. It's very had to watch and I spend every last second with her I can now.
Losing a pet is hard. I hope you are doing well.
Yeah, we. knew last year was our last Christmas with him based on his doctors comments. We were watching him closely the other day, I think he was awake for less than 4 maybe 3 hours. Sleeps all the time now, can hear the congestion in his lungs. Many times he pops himself down where ever he is and falls asleep.
Not sure you if know he is blind, up until recently he was amazing, ALWAYS could find his way around the house, using his nose and following the walls and flooring texture. Now sadly he gets lost in the house, will let out a single bark every minute or two to let us know he needs help.
He also seems to, for the first time ever be losing interest in food or confused about it, he will circle around it for up to 10 minutes before eating. More or less he got picky about dog food.
Best wishes on your dog too, yeah, wow it is tough, this one has affected me more than any pet I ever had and I think all humans too. He was so in tune with my wife and I from the day he was a puppy 15 years ago, when he used to steal my wife's socks as she got ready for work and would run under the dining room table with them, so smart he would zig zag in and out of the chair legs avoiding my wife catching him *LOL*
Things have rapidly gone downhill. Like a clock, every day he would come into our home office (like right now) and lay down next to me. However recently he cant find the room. Today was a good day and he made it in here, *LOL* laid down right behind my chair but didnt think to go up on his day bed. This is what makes it hard, the times he is himself with us, he is VERY attached to my wife and I.
Taken minutes ago, how much closer can he get to me, I have to watch the rollers on the chair!
20 minutes after I took that photo, he woke up and found his day bed.
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Amazing isnt it? The way dogs bond with you?
My wife says if we ever got another she would want a rescue. IN some ways he was, being a schnoodle we got him at a bargain price from a breeder who bred a specialized hunting dog, his friend who was a breeder retired and gave him these dogs but he just wanted to humanly get rid of them. Being my wife has allergies this breed is important in that they dont shed, so it was a win win. ... He had three of them, this one was the largest but also the most shy when they came out of the room to great us. My wife and daughter were loving another one and for some reason I just felt I REALLY wanted this one as he crawled out on his belly to great us and of course they were all good with that.
Anyway, good for you getting rescues. We know a number of people with them, my wife says if we ever get another she wants to rescue one too. IT will have to be a non shedding type though. I think my wife and I right now dont think we will ever have another dog, again, right now. We just feel it would be unfair because it will always be compared to our present one.
Very sorry for your loss.
Only real problem with dogs is they just do not live long enough.
I have the cremains of my four dogs on the floor in my bathroom closet. Planning on scattering soon.
Only real problem with dogs is they just do not live long enough.
I have the cremains of my four dogs on the floor in my bathroom closet. Planning on scattering soon.
It still hurts.
The hurt lasts a very long time, they become family.
My sincerest condolences.
Sincere condolences. It is never easy. I've put down our dogs, cats, and horses. I always make sure that I am right there with them. It is important for them to know that they are loved as they go through that experience. A piece of you goes too when you feel the life leave them, like you've been hollowed out a bit.
Alarmguy - sounds like you are a terrific dog dad, and you did everything you could for your dog with his best interest in mind. That is the mark of a quality person. That will give you solace as time goes on. The other thing I have learned, and I know that it is intensely personal, the grieving process, that is, but go out and adopt another dog if you can. There are so many animals that suffer at the hands of careless and / or cruel people, and we need more people like you. You can't take all of them, but whatever dog you get in your family will be a lucky dog and will repay that loyalty.
God bless and sincerest condolences.
Alarmguy - sounds like you are a terrific dog dad, and you did everything you could for your dog with his best interest in mind. That is the mark of a quality person. That will give you solace as time goes on. The other thing I have learned, and I know that it is intensely personal, the grieving process, that is, but go out and adopt another dog if you can. There are so many animals that suffer at the hands of careless and / or cruel people, and we need more people like you. You can't take all of them, but whatever dog you get in your family will be a lucky dog and will repay that loyalty.
God bless and sincerest condolences.
Thank you for you message
Found his way into my office again today. This time right on his day bed. This is the part that tears at you, yet you can hear the congestion in his lungs. Because of his "hair" fur people do not even realize he has no eyes until we tell them.
I wouldnt have traded this dog for anything in the world, even after his eyes had to be removed. I learned so much about moving on in life, from a dog no less. I swear, back in 2020 (ish) when they were removed, not even weeks went by and he adapted so much so, our regular community walks as we stopped and talked to people no one knew. HE would walk perfectly down the sidewalks and keep himself centered by touching the grass on the side of the side walk. It was amazing. Not only that, but I have video I showed my family, EVERYDAY on those walks, now years ago, he even would stop at the correct place to cross the street to return home like we did everyday when he could see, I still dont know how, I guess scent of that area.
Just now ... (he sleeps almost all day and night now, is awake for about 4 hours a day but when he is, he still surprises us at times and that makes it hard because my wife and I feel that bond and how he looks up to us)
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BTW- to all dog and maybe cat owners. If you have an I-phone we put an Apple Air Tag on him. You can buy an AirTag holder for a dog collar. Should he have ever got lost an air tag would increase the chances of him being found. We also had him chipped and of course all contact info on his collar.
07-30-2009 to 10-08-2024
Rest in Peace Benson. "Love you to the moon and back"
One day our ashes will be released together, the dust settling on a forest floor and so the cycle of life starts again.
Our bond can never be broken. Your love of life and determination to over come obstacles was even a lesson to us and an inspiration to others. You overcame what was labeled by some as impossible.
Fairwell my friend, there will never be another you and you will never be forgotten.
Rest in Peace Benson. "Love you to the moon and back"
One day our ashes will be released together, the dust settling on a forest floor and so the cycle of life starts again.
Our bond can never be broken. Your love of life and determination to over come obstacles was even a lesson to us and an inspiration to others. You overcame what was labeled by some as impossible.
Fairwell my friend, there will never be another you and you will never be forgotten.
wemay
Site Donor 2023
They are family. Loved and missed more than some human family members. My heart goes out to you.
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Ive never been so affect by a death like this has. Gosh it is hard. 15 years of a best friend, loyal companion and a bond that was nothing short of amazing. The night before he laid on my chest almost like letting me know he was going to be ok. Typically he gets antsy in a short period of time when I hold him, not so with my wife. But Monday night he just laid there on my chest as I petted him and was even allowed to hug him tight as he had his head up against my chin. It was an amazing feeling, that I will never forget because in-between, he lifted his head up and licked my hand 3 times, then laid his head back down. May not surprise some but he wasnt a licky kind of dog.
He was in no rush to get down off of me.
Yeah, my wife and I get it. Both of us never had this type of loss with such extreme emotion.
We had a DR come to the house, administered a strong sedative as my wife and I stayed with him and kissed his head. Dr. was great and let us know every step and what would happen next. Once clearly in a deep sleep, she administered the drug directly in a vein. I watched his breathing slow down in a matter of seconds until it stopped. After some time, she intensely checked for a heartbeat and then the Crematorium came, wrapped his body in his favorite blanket and then their blanket. Took him away for a private cremation but we opted not to attend. They will return his ashes this week along with his paw print.
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