heartbroken

[Moon]

We had the worst weekend.

In april we took in a Dane that needed a home. Some of you might remember the 'Great Dane' thread I started asking about Danes in general.

Reilly was nine months old when we got her. She was extremely thin, but being so young, most thought nothing of it.

She started throwing up her food last Thursday morning. I talked to our vet Friday, and they said we could bring her in, but it was more than likely a flu or virus and would run it's course in 24 hours, but I could bring her in for a 11:30 appt if I wanted. I was working and did not take her in. The throw up continued Saturday, and she was not eating much. Sunday she was getting alot worse. Really lethargic. We took her to the emergency vet clinic. They ran tests and had us take some of Reilly's blood to our local hospital for more tests. The results were that she had a reading (of some critical stat) of 16. Normal is 2. They said she was in the last stages of genetic kidney failure. Nothing they could do for her but make her as comfortable as possible and put her down. Needless to say, we're devastated. The vet said this is highly unusual, but even had we taken her in last Friday it would not have made any difference. Our poor girl did not even make it to her 1 year birthday (July 4th).

She was such a sweet, gentle and wonderful pet. We have lost pets before, but never so unexpected. Though she was only with us a bit over two months, she was a huge part of our family. We loved her so much. She was so happy all time, it's hard to believe she had this problem all along.

We took her to our vet for a check up when we first got her, she was so thin we thought she must've had worms, but she did not. The vet checked her out, we made the appointment and had her spayed. At no time did the vet say anything about kidney problems of any sort.

The emergency vet said the kidney problem was the cause for her not gaining weight.

I"m shocked at how attached I had grown to her in this short time. She was the first 'side-kick' I'd had. All other dogs had been my wifes or kids. I miss her so much it hurts.

 

[_RaT_]

Very sorry. I know very well what your going through. It's just tough and quite frankly so unfair.

 

[TonyV]

So sorry to hear about you loss Moon. Godspeed that you and your families grief passes and you can joyously recall the good times that you all shared with Reilly in the short time that she was here.

...Tony

 

[beagdog]

Sorry for you loss. Its a very difficult thing to handle, especially when it is so unexpected.

We too lost a good friend recently to kidney/liver failure. Her departure was also very unexpected and happened quickly. I have decided the good in it is that as painful as it was for us, at least she didn't suffer.

Again, I'm terribly sorry.

 

[Moon]

Thanks guys for the good thoughts. I needed them today. Just writting the post was therapeutic.

 

[GaryE]

Moon,

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Many cannot understand how we can become so attached to our best friends. I have an old dog and every day I wonder if it will be the last....

Wish I could give you the answer. but I can't.....

Take care,

Gary

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I just found this thread. Moon, I'm so sorry. I'm a pet lover, my little girl (a 2 year old 85 pound Akita) comes to work with me 2 or 3 days a week! I couldn't imagine losing her. One thing I do know is that it is easy to get very emotionally attached to a lovable pet in a very short time. I can only send my sympathies.

 

[Freds]

I'm very sorry to hear this, Moon. I know you were doing the best to look after her and give her a good life, but sometimes things just happen out of our control.
There's not much I can say that you don't already feel... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[shvl73]

I'm sorry to hear you lost Reilly. You gave her a good life while you could.

 

[GerardC]

Sorry to hear of your loss. I remember that thread and believe you gave it your all for her. She is no longer suffering now and will at least remember YOU for the life you gave her in her short stay.

 

[Soundguy]

Sorry to hear about you loosing a pet.. it's terrible.

Our neighbor across the street raises / used to raise dane's. He got out of it as they tend to have a shorter lifespan than other dogs. Inthe past 7 years he's had 2.. 1 passed about the time we moved in.. it was 6 or 7 ys old. His next one just passed last year.. ( it was about 5.. ) He couldn't bring himself to get another one.. he got a smaller dog instead.

Pets grow on you like family.

Again.. sorry to hear about the loss.

Soundguy

 

[Moon]

A big THANKS for all the kind words everyone. It means alot to me.
I was shocked at how emotionally attached my wife, son and I all got to her. Ofcourse our neice was also very attached. She had visited twice just to see Reilly. One poster mentioned the short life span as his reason for not having another, I thought I could handle it better ....shows what I know!

She'll always be in our hearts! I feel we were lucky to have the short time together.

Thanks again guys!!!!

 

[Golfgar4]

Moon,

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. We've had Bailey (a Yorkie) for 4 years now, and I can't imagine what it will be like when we lose her. My wife says that I pay more attention to Bailey than I do her. Well duh, Bailey doesn't give me any honey-do lists!

Seriously, pets have a way of getting to the owners just because they don't expect anything from us other than the basic feeding and watering, and a WHOLE LOT OF LOVE. And the thing is, they give the love back so much more than we can ever give to them.

Keep the good memories, and Reilly will be with you forever.

 

[penokee]

Moon - Maybe this will help.
penokee

http://www.petloss.com/poems/maingrp/rainbowb.htm

 

[Moon]

Thanks penokee and Golfgar!!!!!
Doing better....rainbow bridge helped.

 

[Steve_Miller]

I'm sorry, I know what you are going thru. I've gone thru it before and I'm gonna go thru it again soon, My twelve year old lab/shepard mix has a lung tumor that completely takes up one lung and is starting on the other lung. She gets along for now, but the hot weather is starting to get to her. She likes to wade in the water at our cottage alot trying to cool herself. She can't run anymore as she has no lung capacity at all. She doesn't show any signs of agony yet, but when she does I've got to convince myself that I have to let her go without suffering too much. My last pure lab had lupus and she had to be put down at age ten. That so far has been the worse day in my life. I cried for a couple hours before I even went back to the vet where I had left her for treatment. The vet let us come back after they had closed and let her go. I'm very glad I went back, as she could barely lift her head, but she did and she wagged her tail and had that look in her eye. She knew it was time as well as we did. Sorry to babble but sometimes it helps to know that others care as much about their animals as much as we do. Again I'm very sorry to hear of your loss, but just remember all the good times you had together and how much fun it was and you will never forget, but you will get over it sooner or later. I've got to stop now as I got this big lump in my throat that I can't get rid of while typing this.

Steve

 

[billbill1]

We had our poodle put down just two weeks ago and my wife has cried everyday since. She brought us so much joy in her 16-1/2 years and being without her is unbearable. She had conjestive heart failure and she would cough and couldn't get her breath. Meds helped for about 9 months and then she started getting worse. I couldn't let her suffer and we took her for her final ride. I don't know if we'll ever go through that again, it's tough.

 

[44trxfun]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( She'll always be in our hearts! I feel we were lucky to have the short time together.)</font>

Hey Moon, I'm very sorry for your family's loss. It is so horrible to lose a friend--at any time, but especially when they are young. What you said (above), I find is true. I also believe a high quality of life is the most important "gift" we can give our dogs, and I trust Reilly's quality of life was high. I hope there is some consolation in that. This is kind of goofy, but I have one thing that so symbolizes my old beloved friend; whenever I see that thing, I think of her and it brings me some peace. Maybe a similar strategy could help you and your family. Peace to you all...

 

[riptides]

May you find comfort in the memories of your pet.

I find myself thinking of a similar situation I had two years ago. I find peace knowing that our pets time with us was short, but it was the best of times too.

Last night, my wife brought home TWO more puppies. After two years, it is our time for dogs again.

-peace and comfort for you.

-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Moon]

Steve,
Thanks for your post ....i don't consider it babble at all. You guys are great! Thanks so much for sharing your similar experiences, it helps!!!
Best of luck with your lab/shepard. That's sad, and tough to know when enough is enough. We lost our chocolate lab in May. She had been my dads while he was alive, once he passed we took her in since mom couldn't handle her. That was tough, but losing Reilly was tougher, partially because we'd just went through the grieving process with Whitney (the chocolate lab).
Whitney was 13, and had the same symptoms you describe with your lab/shep, could not run ....but she'd try for just a step or two, that puppy kind of bounce ...then she'd remember or her body would remind her she can't do that no more. She was sweet. She seemed fine right up to the end. She was not diagnosed with cancer or anything but old age. She passed one day while we were at work. Poor girl.

Thanks for the kind thoughts and the picture Steve!