Preparing to say goodbye to my boy

dawnie1972

Some of you may remember my previous posts. My 10yr old dog Milo got ill Dec 2011 with liver problems, after hospitalisation and 12 months of medication in Jan 2013 he got the all clear.
However, in May of this year he got ill again, another stay in hospital and 12 tablets per day. However this time his body hasnt responded to the medication. We tried a specialist antibiotic and he showed minor signs of improvement ie minimal weight increase, minimal blood reading increase. However 3-4 weeks ago his weight started to take a nose dive and it became apparent that the medication wasnt working. He went to a specialist vet and had an ultrasound where they found no tumours but an abnormal liver etc. Last wednesday he had a biopsy (which was very risky but was our final hope). Yesterday I got the results. He has advanced stages of Chronic Hepatitis, the vet has said that at the maximum we have a few months left together. I've had Milo since he was 8 weeks old after rescuing him from the pound where he had been beaten and abused by men and was going to be put to sleep. He's 10yrs old now and we are a unit, we fit together, he doesnt work without me and I don't work without him. I havent stopped crying since I got the news yesterday and cannot contemplate a life without Milo. My heart is ripped apart.

kellyt86

Just wanted to send my condolences and my thoughts are with you.

Try to think of all your happy times, and the wonderful life you gave him.
And enjoy your precious last moments.
Lots of love xxx

paulineb_2

Make the most of those few months

My cat was diagnosed and dead from pancreatic cancer in 6 weeks, never had as much as a sniffle in his life

And since then Ive rescued 3 other cats but I wont ever forget him

You might not feel like it right away, but always another animal who needs a home

I never got my cat zeus to replace shadow who died, but I was happy I got zeus and it made me think that in some way, shadow would have been happy for me, giving another cat a home.

I had ten years with shadow, he was like the other half of me, when he died my heart felt like a lump of lead

And you dont get over it, but in time you might feel like taking in another poor soul who might be getting put to sleep.

Nod_Off

I am so sorry

I lost my doggy soulmate to acute hepatitis 9 years ago now

I hope you and Milo still have some quality time left together. You have given him a lifetime of love so he'll never be too far away from you.

zaksmum

Oh Dawnie. So sorry. Sending you hugs

Dimey

Oh Dawnie, I'm in tears for you and Milo.
Just love him and look into his eyes when you tell him, so he knows.
If you work, take time off to be with him more at this sad, sad time. He'll feel reassured when you are close by.
Poor Milo x

skintandscared_2

I am crying reading this. I am so sorry, I can't imagine how hard this time is for you. You and Milo are so lucky to have had each other to love so much. I want to go home now and hold my 11 week old puppy a little bit tighter. Sending virtual hugs x

Mrs_Z

I so feel for you. I'm in a same situation with my dear cat, soon to be 17ish. We have now reached a point where her quality of life has started to get compromised. We have done as much as we can for her and whilst she would still probably 'last' few more weeks or couple of months, I think we will call it a day next week. This is ripping my heart into pieces, it's a first time I've had to make a decision, second time losing a pet and boy does it hurt.

Every time I'm thinking of having to say the last good buy - I'm in tears, in the bus, supermarket, driving my car, writing this post.

I don't think you ever get over losing your companion, you just learn to live with the pain.

Hugs to you.

marmitepotato

I felt the same about my old boxer girl. I had her 13 years, she was my shadow. One afternoon she collapsed in the garden, OH and I picked her up and took her to the vets. We left her there for the vet to run tests but we knew what was coming. She was bleeding internally from her pancreas, there was nothing we could do. We held her as we let her go, telling her she was a good girl, the best girl. I wanted these words to be the last she heard........

We went home and cried and cried. At night I would reach out for her by the side of my bed, and she wasn't there. I would come home to an empty house and say out loud 'I know you are still here'.

Gradually, gradually, I came to terms with it. I knew she wasn't going to last forever, and we knew we did the right thing for her.

Six months on and we were looking for a new family member. We found her and she found us. A totally different character but occasionally I will see glimpses of my old girl in her ( must be a breed thing), this comforts me. My old girl is forever in my heart, my eyes are watering as I'm typing thing. OP, it's going to be a tough time for you, but you will come through it. Sending you my best wishes is this tough time for you and Milo. Xxxx

Katiehound

Hi Dawnie

Sorry to read your post because it brings back such sad memories. I had to come to terms with my best ever girl being pts within a few weeks of diagnosis , and it was so hard. Here I am dripping tears on the keyboard and it was 4 years ago. Only this week I packed away all her red rosettes and gave the others away to be recycled for other animal charities.

What can I say? It is really hard because you want to do what is best, both for yourself and for Milo. Whatever people say it sounds trivial because it is a huge part of your life. Take each day as it comes. Remember the best times and all the great things you have done together, but I would also say please let Milo go sooner rather than later- you don't want your most precious pet to suffer.

Take care. Thinking of you.

My beautiful hound could never be replaced but I had a new girlie about 2 months later (not what I planned) as my old boy was pining away. She is lovely and a different character but Katie will never be forgotten.

calmspirit

I can barely see the screen through the tears.......sending you hugs and to milo too..........so many of us feel your pain as you lose your loved one.....my heart goes out to you both.

Perhaps in time you may feel it's right to take another little soul in need into your heart and into your home ......in memory of milo

hugs xxx