Posted on 12/06/2010 4:16:26 PM PST by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle
Several weeks ago, my 14-year-old lab/chow mix, Wally, began making loud coughing/choking noises every half hour or so, for no readily apparent reason. The second day of his doing this, we took him in to the vet, and -- after x-rays and ultrasound -- he was diagnosed with DCM (dilated cardiomyopathy). What this means is that Wally's heart had enlarged to the point where it now presses (with increasing frequency) against his esophagus, making it steadily more difficult for him to breathe. (Hence, the bouts of choking/coughing).
The vet prescribed various medicines for Wally -- Tussigon (cough suppressant); Furosemide (diuretic); and Enalapril (lowers blood pressure) -- but the condition is an incurable one, and they are, primarily, to ease his discomfort. The prognosis, given his relatively advanced age, is that he might conceivably (although not likely) live as long as another four to six months; or possibly start to suffer strokes and/or heart attacks within the next month or so. This afternoon, Wally's vet gently advised me that I might want to start thinking about the possibility of euthanasia, should that latter scenario begin to seem the likelier of the two.
I've never had to deal with the possibility of having my own dog -- whom I adopted from the animal shelter when he was a mere two weeks old, give or take -- put to sleep. (I'm not even altogether certain I actually could do such a thing, although I absolutely do NOT want him to suffer, should it ultimately come to that!)
Has anyone else here ever dealt with this situation (dilated cardiomyopathy, I mean) in one of their pets... or any sort of canine consumptive heart failure, for that matter? Should I be holding to the hope that he'll simply expire peacefully in his sleep, when the time comes; or am I going to have to do what I LEAST want to do, and have him preemptively put to sleep, in order to spare him what might end up being terrible pain?
I hope this has all made sense; I'm feeling horribly dazed and numb, right now. Any advice or counsel from fellow FReepers who've been there themselves would be hugely appreciated. Thanks.
You have my deepest synpathy.
It’s time for your very special friend to cross over to the other side. Be with him when the time comes, and hold him gently, and tell him how much you love him.
Don’t let your friend suffer. Release him from his struggles. You will be together again someday.
Google “Rainbow Bridge.”
My heart and prayers go out to you...My lovely Lola died in august of this year and I put a tribute up on Freeper to her...in it I described how she died quietly at home....
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2566350/posts
The unbelievable meaningful and compassionate responses I received from Freepers was the most comforting to me, along with my close friends. I am now at a place where I can begin to Freepmail and thank them.
Do not rush...take your time, make your beloved Person in a Fur Coat as comfortable as possible...You will know, I never thought I would know...
I had arranged—asked—2 years ago (Lola was 13 y/o then) my vet who was wonderful, whenever it might be needed when the time came, would she come to the house. She said , of course yes. When Lola’s time came I called the vet that morning, but pupster quietly slept into heaven 2 hrs before the vet came. Please Try to set it up now..to at least prepare and get agreement for the vet to come to your house, if needed.
The doggie will be there with you, and then he will go to Doggie Heaven. I also will be glad to recommend some books if you want to deal with all this.
But mostly, know that your soulful companion loved you very much and had a wonderful life and you will meet again, somehow. He trusts you now to care for him and help him on his journey. Feel Free to freepmail me if you want.
I’m looking at my 14 year old and dread the day I have to make that decision, probably not long from now. I’ve put two down and it hurts, but your dog counts on you to be the adult. It hurts, but mine has been good to me and when she is in pain, she can count on me to do the right thing.
My prayers for strenght and your pet is not in pain.
Do him a favor and have him put down. He will only suffer and feel pain if you let him continue.
Dont put your pet through the ordeal of a stoke or heart attack. These things are hard enough for a human with reason and intelligence to understand what is happening to them to deal with.
With the added comfort of dying in familiar surroundings your dog should go peacefully.
He finally lost so much energy from not digesting food that there wasn't anything else we could do. I think he knew it, too, because he eventually just laid down and only got up to get water or to go potty.
-PJ
My heart goes out to you Kent.
‘Go with me on difficult journeys.
Never say I cant bear to watch it or Let it happen in my absence.
Everything is easier for ME if you are there.
Remember, I love you.’
be brave and let your beautiful dog go.
I have 2 13 year old dogs myself, and I know when “it’s time” I will do the right thing, but I will bawl like a baby.
I’ve never faced it with a dog, but with cats. I know many will say “that’s not the same thing”, but a beloved pet is a beloved pet, regardless. To actively take steps that will ensure their death seems a betrayal of all they meant to us.
Wally has had a wonderful life and been a true companion; now it’s time for you to see that he doesn’t suffer his way to the end. It sucks and it will not be easy, but that’s what you owe him. Believe me that time will help you see that.
God bless.
yes...our beloved Copper died 1/30/2009 of congestive heart failure..prayer thread:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2175570/posts
saddest day of my life and my dad died later that year...
little copper had a heart mumur that we were aware of....three days before she died she had a coughing fit, and i never picked up on it...she seemed fine the next day but the coughing punctured something....
i stayed up with her the night before she died as i knew something was wrong and wanted to take her to the vet first thing in the morning....about 6AM she waddled over to my side, laid down and died....
still really hurts to this day and bothers me i did not take her to the vet in the middle of the night...
we were “lucky” in the sense little copper was never sick except for the heart mumur....two weeks later my best friend lost his dog, but the dog had been sick with diabetes and basically withered away....
point is, i would not reccomend you keep the dog alive for your sake....good luck and God Bless...
who has the doggie ping?
were you on the Mark Levin show talking about Sampson?? something about letting him have his meatloaf and mashed potatoes??
i’m being serious....
try this site
http://www.healthyhappydogs.com/HeartDisease
Dog Congestive Heart Failure and Other Dog Heart Problems
- Dog Heart Disease
Do NOT wait until your dog is diagnosed with some form of canine heart disease before you act.
Congestive heart disease in dogs is relatively common, as are other types of dog heart problems. It’s far more prevalent in particular breeds, which run the gammut as far as size is concerned - from Great Danes to Poodles, Doberman Pinschers to Cocker Spaniels, and Boxers.
But canine heart disease can and does occur, often, in any breed.
And by the time your vet diagnoses heart disease, the advice can often be to take your dog home and make him or her as comfortable as you can for the short time s/he has remaining. What devastating news! And more so because it’s actually preventable.
Even if your dog is unlucky enough to already have canine heart murmur, or other heart disease, it may not be too late. It is treatable in many cases, even though your vet is unlikely to point you in the right direction. Vets are essential for our dog’s wellbeing, but most of them are drug / surgery oriented, as a result of the training which they receive.
But there is an alternative to what your vet may recommend for many ailments and conditions.
There is certainly an alternative to taking your dog home and making him or her comfortable when diagnosed with dog heart disease. And there is an alternative to sitting back and hoping that heart disease doesn’t develop in your dog. And it’s all natural.
The most likely cause of heart disease of all types (enlarged heart, heart murmur, dilated cardiomyopathy - DCM - or heart failure), is though to be an L-Carnitine and Taurine deficiency. And there’s no way of telling if your dog is deficient in these nutrients without conducting a biopsy of the heart tissue. As you might imagine, this is not an investigation which is routinely performed on living dogs.
But the great news is that L-Carnitine and Taurine have been proven to increase life expectancy in dogs by improving cardiac function to the extent that heart disease can be prevented from occurring, improved or even reversed.
What are L-Carnitine and Taurine?
L-Carnitine is a natural protein-like substance which enables cells to carry fuel, in the form of fatty acids, to the heart.
And Taurine is an amino acid found naturally in the muscles of the body, and most abundantly in the heart tissue. Taurine maintains cell membranes, regulates heartbeat and protects the heart from calcium overload.
So it stands to reason that a deficiency of these nutrients is likely to result of some form of heart disease.
Don’t delay - Start supplementing your dog’s healthy heart with L-Carnitine and Taurine
The best one (be very careful - there are some inferior products being sold) is made by the Five Leaf Pet Pharmacy and you can get further info and/or order your supply by clicking here.
I had to put my baby of 17 yrs down, probably should have done it a year earlier.
The vet came to the house and I held her head while the drug was administered.
I'm crying right now......that was 9 yrs ago.
Hardest thing I have ever had to do.
Don't let Wally suffer.
Thoughts are with ya.
The last time was my cat Sammy, she was 22 years old and suffering horribly from kidney failure. I had to do this one alone. It was hard, I cried my eyes out. Took her home and buried her. Thought about her for several months with that kind of sinking feeling. And yet I felt comforted knowing, that God's creatures go to be with Him. Especially I believe the animals that have become our friends and part of our family. I know this is controversial. But, I also know they are God's creatures, He created them. He also loves us more than we can ever imagine and what we feel and think are important to Him. He is a loving Father.
It'll be hard, but, do what's best for your friend.
>> *Note: this does not apply to people.<<
Why not? I know. People have insurance that will pay for all those expensive treatments that will only serve to prolong death.
Where ever you are I hope your waiting for me
Sitting down under a shady tree
I'll be coming ,walking ‘round the bend
Looking for my old friend.
I just went through this with one of our dogs before Thanksgiving. He ruptured his spleen and was bleeding internally. the MRI revealed cancer.. there was no good prognosis. It was sudden He was 10years old ...I loved him very very much.
It is important to let them go and tell them it is ok to go.
Ive had to do it with several other dogs.
It is difficult but I think is the right thing to do . We all held our dog and told him how much we loved him and cried ....the vet administered first a pain killer( morphine? ) then whatever it is that they use. Our dog just shut his eyes and died. we took him home and i buried him on Thanksgiving . People who came over joined us in a service for him.
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