Comments on: Strengthening the Bond With Your Animal – Pet Hospice

By: shanendoah@life by pets

shanendoah@life by pets — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 22:05:56 +0000

I actually started my blog as a way to deal with the guilt and grief I was feeling regarding the loss of our Australian Shepherd, over a year after we lost him. I’ve never regretted trying the surgery, just that we didn’t go visit him sooner that day, that his last conscious hours were spent in a kennel surrounded by people he didn’t know. I was expecting him to come home, it kills me that Moree didn’t know we were there at the end.
With our Lab/Pit mix, we did choose palliative care, for many of the same reasons you made that choice for Shadow. Smokey had hemangiosarcoma. We could have extended his life by six months or so if we’d chosen surgery followed by chemo- this for a dog was traumatized by getting his nails trimmed. We knew that if we went the agressive route, it would be for us, not him. Sadly, we only had a week before we could hear the fluid in his lungs and knew it was time.
We still took him to the vets’ office for the end, but having made the decision, and having that last week with him meant everything.

We are lucky enough that we are able to choose as our regular vet a vet that is also a 24 hour emergency clinic. This relieves a huge amount of stress for me as I always know where we’re going, we know the staff, and we know the vets.

By: Amy@GoPetFriendly

Amy@GoPetFriendly — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 03:50:56 +0000

What a touching and valuable post. I’ve only lost one dog as an adult and I still wish I’d handled things differently. Things could have been worse, but I wish Blitzen had been able to pass on in our home, in his bed, where he was comfortable and felt loved rather than in the veterinary emergency room where I imagine he was scared even though we were there with him. These services these people provide are invaluable. I’d definitely consider this option.

By: Chandra

Chandra — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:50:38 +0000

Thank you for this post – for promoting the idea of thinking about hospice before you need to and for sharing your own painful experiences. I recognize some of my painful experience in your stories about Christie and Agatha and Shadow’s passings. It’s going on two years since I lost my best friend, Daley, and I still can’t talk or write about his last hours. It’s hard to not to have regrets but I do think there’s a chance of lessening them if we think about death before we need to. The process is a mystery to many of us yet it will happen to each and every one of us. I will be sharing your post and the links you provided with friends. Thanks,
-Chandra at Daley’s Dog Years

By: one person's view

one person's view — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 01:41:55 +0000

Shadow looks like she was absolutely beautiful. How amazing that she surprised you like that, living past her “expiration” date.

I think it’s rotten luck that the end had to come outside regular vet hours. Let go the guilt about Christie– I’m sure are dogs are no more anxious to leave us than we are to let them go. And good for you for giving thought to a topic most of us would rather avoid thinking about. I love your blog because I can always hear the moral reasoning behind your writing, and true morality is so rare these days. But you have it. In spades.

By: Pamela

Pamela — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 01:08:53 +0000

Thanks. Yes, that post left me shattered for the rest of the day.

And given your recent worries about your sweet little conehead, I thought you’d understand.

I’m thankful that pet hospice is becoming more widely available and hope that it will help many people avoid the regrets I (and many other pet people) have had about their friends’ passing.

By: Pamela

Pamela — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 01:06:30 +0000

In reply to Jodi & Kolchak. Wow, sounds like you found a very caring vet. That can be such a comfort. One of my greatest sorrows was that Agatha and Christie weren't seen by their regular vet when they were ready to go. I hated having to go through that with strangers.

By: Pamela

Pamela — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 01:05:06 +0000

In reply to Greyhounds CAN Sit. I'll be keeping an eye on pet hospice. Do you have in in NZ?

By: Pamela

Pamela — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 01:04:28 +0000

In reply to Laura. I've also been fortunate in finding excellent vets. They do amazing work. And for a lot less money than you might think.

By: Pamela

Pamela — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 01:03:39 +0000

In reply to Julie.

The people who work in hospice take on the job of guiding those of us who aren’t dying through the process our loved on is going through. They do amazing work.

And I’m pleased that people are recognizing the need for this help with our animal friends.

I’m sorry to hear about your friend, Yogi. We’re often left wondering if we made the best decisions. But it’s so fortunate you were able to be with him when he passed.

By: Pamela

Pamela — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 01:00:18 +0000

In reply to Rumpy Drummond. Having a compassionate vet you can trust is so important. It sounds like you were fortunate to have someone looking out for Sage along with you.