My Old Friend

Chevelle_Nut · #1 05-02-2010, 02:58 PM

My old friend is lying next to me, she is 16 years old, brown fur and about 9 pounds. Lately my buddy has been getting more and more feeble, blind in one eye and her teeth are falling out. It has been a long time since she has laid with me on the couch, I have a feeling she won't be with us much longer.

Sammy is a miniature dachshund. In her later years she has gotten the dachshund attitude but she has always known I am the boss.

I have started to prepare the kids for her end of life, she has been essentially our first child. We decided we will have her cremated and keep her ashes close to us. It will be hard when she passes but we will always have the memories of our little dog.

grandsport · #2 05-02-2010, 04:22 PM

I know exactly what you are going through. I think everyone here knows how I feel about dogs,in fact Malibu is here on the front porch with me now as I type.There is a special bond with a dog and their owners,been said many times before. Just prepare yourself and the family for what is about to happen,and you should get another one asap. People say I never want another dog because it will never be the same. I totally disagree,as I gave another rescue dog a chance for a great life when my Collie,Mercedes died May 13th of last year.Sure,it's not the same,but I think of the great life another dog will have here! Btw,the ashes of Mercedes are in the console of my SS.Good luck to you!

rak1 · #3 05-05-2010, 02:59 PM

As long as you keep her in your hearts she will be with you forever. Best of luck to you and your family in this tough time.

Chevelle_Nut · #4 05-05-2010, 10:30 PM

I took my buddy to the vet today because the area where her tooth is swollen is not much better. The vet looked at her mouth and said it looks like a cyst that was rapidly growing and mouth cysts are very aggressive and cancer could be in other parts of her body. The vet said she could operate but my pup needs some antibiotics first but then she said the cyst most likely will come back.

We have decided to give her antibiotics and keep an eye on the growth. Our country vet is great, she gave us her cell phone number and said for us to keep in touch and let her know if anything happens. I want to let her peacefully live out the rest of her life, if the pain gets too great we will take the next step.

Thanks for all of you kind thoughts.

Hank70SS · #5 05-06-2010, 06:23 AM

Sorry, that's always a tough decision. You want to keep them near you but you don't want them to suffer.

Chevelle_Nut · #6 06-20-2010, 08:54 AM

My old friend is still around. Her mouth cancer is causing her cheek to swell to the point where an abscess actually had a microburst through her cheek this morning. We called the vet (yes on a Sunday) and she told us to bring her in in the morning, she was scheduled for surgery on Thursday but she is boosting it up.

We will make this he last surgery, we feel that the poor dog is suffering, if she needs any more surgeries we will put her down. It is like we are taking care of a child again.

chevguy65 · #7 06-20-2010, 09:05 AM

Sad times but your friend will live on in your hearts and memories.
I told Gary about my last dog and the love I had (have) for her and she still makes me smile when I think of her.

In fact, as I was telling Gary, I found a picture of her the other day and took it out to show my brother. We both sat and talked for over an hour about the fun times and love shared for her.
She was a remarkable dog and she always knew when we needed some puppy lovin's.

I miss her dearly and would like to have another dog but where I live there is not enough room. I believe a dog needs space to be able to live and won't cage a dog just to fit my greed to have another one.

My last dog, Bobby, had over 40 acres to romp and claim as her domain and she lived a wonderful life.

I feel for what you and your family are soon to go through but remember she will live on as long as you let her in your memories.

flash · #8 06-20-2010, 09:32 PM

Our last weiner dog passed away peacefully a while back .She could not hear and was almost blind (16 years old) but she was happy til the end. I went to her kennel one morning to take her to the vet to put her down and she nuzzled up to me with her tail wagging and I could not do it. She lived another 6 months and loved every minute. I still look to where her kennel was in the back yard expecting to see her .I will miss her forever but have decided its not fair to keep one in a kennel as we travel a lot so we are childless for the first time. We had many weiner dog children over the years and miss them all.

Chevelle_Nut · #9 06-22-2010, 08:21 PM

Tonight my little dog Sammy is at peace, the vet peacefully put her down while she was sedated, cancer had taken over her body. She is not suffering anymore. Funny, we considered her our first born. We cried together as a family and now we can deal with the grief and move on. Someday we may get another dog but no dog will be able to replace Sammy.

Somebody posted this on TC, it really means a lot. Thank you:

Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

grandsport · #10 06-22-2010, 08:38 PM

So sorry to hear this and I can feel your pain,but you did the right thing. I would never let my dog suffer only to have her another month or so.It will be tough for a while,as they are definately a family member. I have my Mercedes photo in my profile and I look at her every day and think of the good times and the great life I gave her,and I am sure you will do the same.Maybe she and Sammy will hook up and play.

Just a quick story. When I got back from the vets without her,her best friend knew something was wrong. Avis and Mercedes were great pals,and I liked Avis,but she was not my favorite.For reasons unknown,Avis immediately hooked up with me.She was hurting and she knew I was too. From that day,she has never left my side.In a way she did take Mercedes place,not the same of course but she did fill a gap and made things easier. Being #2,I guess Avis did try harder.

Hang in there my friend and God bless.