On February 4th

[hzl eyed grl]

On February 4th, I lost my baby girl. I had to put my dog down. It was unexpected so I didn't have time to prepare for it, so it's been very, very, very hard to move past it.

One morning I got up and she was shivering and acting a little strangely. I took her to the doctor and he said that she might have a bulged disc in her back and I could pay about $5,000 - $10,000 for an MRI and operation to possibly correct it and it still wasn't a guarantee. He gave me three medications for her and we went home and he told me it could lead to paralysis. When I brought her in the door and took off her harness, I believe that was the last time she actually walked.

She deteriorated from there. Her hind legs did, in fact, become paralyzed. I called his office and then he called me back and said I could bring her the next day for a narcotic pain shot or patch. I took her in the next day and there was another doctor. He said that the shot would only last about 3 hours and didn't recommend it, plus is would back up her bowels. I knew she was in pain. He said that she wasn't.

I took her home and I was so confused and mad at the vet that he didn't help my dog. My mom was here with me and when she went home, I lifted Maggie on to the couch with me and she was in so much pain she started to whine/whimper/cry. I called the pet E.R. place and we took her in. That place was SO kind to us and my girl. I knew it was time to put her down. God I miss her so much. They took her in the back and brought her out so we could say our final goodbyes and they had to sedate her because she was panting to rapidly due to pain. Words can't even express how much my heart hurts that I no longer have her. My house seems so empty.

My birthday is next month and instead of presents, my mom and boyfriend (who are planning my party) are asking that if the guests were planning on getting me a gift, donate money instead so I can get a puppy.

People who aren't dog/animal people may not understand how hard it is to lose an animal that you're close to, but this has been so hard. I don't have any children. She was my "kid". lol She was a puggle. (pug/beagle mix) I miss her little snorts and her snorting and snoring. Good Lord it's been lonely without her! I wish it was easier, but it isn't. I know it's normal for the hurt and heartache, but I'm ready for it to be easier already. And in all honesty, it is slightly better, but my mom and boyfriend still hear from me when I'm having a tough time.

I called my vet on Tuesday (last week) and talked to her doctor which is the main doctor. I told him that the only reason I went in the last time was because he said to come in and she would get some pain medication and when I went in, she got none. The doctor said she wasn't in pain, didn't even touch her, and sent us home. I asked him if he would reimburse me for that visit because I wouldn't have gone in if her doctor hadn't told me to. (We've been going to that vet since like the 80's too.) He was really nice about everything and did say that he would reverse the charge.

Anyway..... I just needed to vent about my little girl. I loved her dearly and she'll never be forgotten. I just hope I can get another dog as smart as she was, because she was pretty smart. This time, though, I want a dog that DOES NOT shed. lol Having hair everywhere is something I won't miss, though I'd trade it back for her in a heartbeat.

 

[zinfamous]

 

[TraumaRN]

Remember the good times stay strong :''(

 

[kinev]

My condolences. It's always hard losing a family member (and, yes, pets are family members). Do you have any pics or favorite stories you'd like to share? That usually helps a little.

 

[Maleficus]

I lost both of my dogs in a 1 year period, It's incredibly hard and I'm very sorry to hear that.

The latest dog that I lost, Summer, was truly special to me. Not to take anything away from the other dogs that I have owned and loved, but Summer had a unique intelligence and capacity to communicate (at least it felt like communication to me). She passed away on Halloween night, and I still think of her everyday.

 

[hzl eyed grl]

I'll post a couple of pictures. The first one was taken at my grandma's house. She was hiding under a pillow with just her face (and my toe) peeking out.

Wut u say?

The little pink thing was her fist toy...her favorite little pig.

This was a few years ago.

And on here, I lifted up the covers one night and saw her and thought it was too cute to resist taking a picture.

I e-mailed myself one more picture. I'll go upload it and post it next.

 

[datalink7]

"We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made."
~ M. Acklam

Your post made me very sad. I'm sorry for your losse

 

[hzl eyed grl]

One of her very, very favorite things to do was to sit on the back of the couch and watch for people and dogs and cats and cars or whatever else might happen to cruise by my window.

I can relate to you, Maleficus, I don't want to take away anything special I had with any other animal I had, but Maggie and I definitely did have a special connection. She was so smart, she knew when I was upset, she was just an all-around great dog. It's going to be hard to find another one, but I think for me to be able to move on, it's going to have to happen. When I come home, it's too quiet.

I used to leave the tv on for her anyway, but when I came home she was always so happy to see me. I'd tell her to get on the bed and after I was finished putting down my purse and stuff I'd rest my forehead on hers and I'd rub her ears for a minute until she calmed down. So I'm going to have to leave the tv on now just so when I get home it's not so damn quiet! My mom's idea of getting my friends to give me money instead of presents was a good one. I'd much rather be able to get a puppy vs. some stupid shower gel or something. haha

Love you, Maggie Mo!

 

[hzl eyed grl]

datalink7 - I'm sorry it made you sad. Thank you very much, though. I really like that quote. Luckily I have a mom that doesn't mind being called at all hours because she has a hysterical daughter on the other end of the phone. lol My boyfriend is great too. I'm going to have him look at puppies with me. I haven't had a puppy in a really long time. I'm hoping one of the Humane Societies will have puppies when I go looking!

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Sorry to hear about your loss. How old was she?

 

[esquared]

Sorry for your loss.

 

[hzl eyed grl]

I adopted her from the Humane Society in VA in '06. They told me back then that she was about 2 or 3, so that would make her about 7 or 8.

EDIT:

Thank you, esquared.

 

[CurseTheSky]

People who aren't dog/animal people may not understand how hard it is to lose an animal that you're close to, but this has been so hard.

Agreed. I've lost family, and it was hard. However, losing some pets is almost just as hard.

Last year we had to put down my 12 year old Siberian husky. He was very independent and head strong throughout his early years, but he mellowed out in the middle and became very loving at about 8+. We were buddies - whatever room I slept in, that's where he had to be. If it snowed overnight, he would wake me up at 6 AM to go play in it, and prance around trying to entice me to come have some fun with him. Sometimes, he refused to eat unless I sat down to have a meal. Best of all, if he knew that I was angry, upset, or frustrated, he would do something ridiculous like chase his tail until he either grabbed it (and yelped), or gave up and barked at it for not cooperating.

Near the end, something went majorly wrong. Kidneys - who knows. His blood tests were all off the charts, and he could hardly stand. The hardest part was how he looked at me. He knew he was dying, but he didn't want to let go because he knew we were like brothers. I laid his head in my lap and rubbed his ears as the vet put him down. I still miss that dog dearly.

My condolences. A lot of people don't understand how close people can be to their pets. It's hard to move on, but the best way to look at it is the fact that they're no longer in pain. God knows I wish someone would do the same for me if I'm at the end of my years and suffering greatly.

Best wishes to you.

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

That sucks, bigtime.

 

[Away]

I am very sorry for your loss. She was such a cute puppy too.

 

[skyking]

I'm so sorry.

 

[SeaSerpent]

It sucks....sorry for your loss. I lost my Mal nine years ago. We bought a new house and the fence was not tall enough. He jumped the fence after the first day and was hit by a car.

I often think about how I let him down.

 

[eits]

:rose:

i'm so sorry, heather.

 

[IcePickFreak]

Sorry for your loss. I had to put my previous dog down when he was only 6 years old after he had a stroke during the middle of the night, which in turn left him with paralyzed rear legs. It's definitely one of the hardest things I've had to do, and being a sudden thing makes it all the worse. In situations like that though it's the right thing to do for your best friend.

It wasn't until I got my next puppy a bit later (who's currently 5 years old and 130lbs ) that it made it a bit easier because I found it made me think of when he was a puppy, and how he was versus the new puppy. May sound odd but made me smile instead of sad. Dogs are awesome. I do have a picture of him in the kitchen by the food dish & water that I see every day.

 

[hzl eyed grl]

CTS - Your story is great. One of my good friends has a siberian husky and he says, "I love you." He's awesome. Sounds like you had a good one too!

SeaSerpant - I think that thinking that way it just being too hard on yourself, but God knows I would have thought the same thing. You can't help what happened. I'm sorry that it happened that way.

Thank you, Bobby. She meant a lot.

Thank you to everyone else as well.

EDIT:

IPF, you're right. I knew it was the best thing for her. I couldn't see her try to scoot around, dragging her legs behind her and be in constant pain just because I didn't want to lose her. That would have been incredibly selfish. I'm glad you got another one, though.

 

[erikistired]

losing a loved pet is one of the hardest things to do. so here's a picture of my puppy to cheer you up.

 

[guyver01]

People who aren't dog/animal people may not understand how hard it is to lose an animal that you're close to, but this has been so hard.

I'm not a dog person, so i don't "understand" ... but i do sympathize with your loss... my condolences. Know that she is no longer in pain... and is running around in that big dog park in the sky... chasing squirrels and having fun.

 

[hzl eyed grl]

losing a loved pet is one of the hardest things to do. so here's a picture of my puppy to cheer you up.

Awww What a sweetie.

I'm not a dog person, so i don't "understand" ... but i do sympathize with your loss... my condolences. Know that she is no longer in pain... and is running around in that big dog park in the sky... chasing squirrels and having fun.

Well thank you for sympathizing. The part where she isn't in pain is the most important one to me.

 

[mcurphy]

I am sorry to hear about your loss. I have had a similar experience and I know what you must be feeling. Dogs are like family members and it is very heartbreaking when you lose them. :'(

Nice looking dog. What kind of dog was she? Looks like a Puggle maybe?

 

[hzl eyed grl]

I am sorry to hear about your loss. I have had a similar experience and I know what you must be feeling. Dogs are like family members and it is very heartbreaking when you lose them. :'(

Nice looking dog. What kind of dog was she? Looks like a Puggle maybe?

Yes. She was a puggle. I'd never heard of them until the Humane Society called me to tell me they thought they'd found a little girl I'd like.