I'm sad. :(

akhensley81 · December 2010

It's too early for a GM thread and my head isn't in a good mood this morning anyway.

I know there's a lot of dog lovers here so I'll get some moral support I hope.

Yesterday was about the saddest day of my life. My mom called me first thing in the morning and told me that our dog Baxter has kidney failure only has a few days left. H and I dropped everything and headed to my parents' house to spend the day with Baxter. My parents are likely going to have her put down today, she hasn't eaten since Thursday, she can't keep water down, and yesterday she didn't move off the couch once all day.

I haven't really been through this before. We had a dog when I was little, but she passed away when I was 4 or 5 so I don't really remember.

We got Baxter when I was 15 years old. She's a bichon frise with a life expectancy of about 10-12 years. She would have been 15 in March. I know she's lived a long, wonderful life. But this still sucks big time.

I don't even want to go to work today.

Here's a few pictures of my girl, just because I feel like sharing.

JadziaDax · December 2010

Aww I'm so sorry to hear this. At least you got to spend some time with her yesterday, and you'll be happy you did when you reflect back in the future. Your dog lived a very long life with a loving family. Focus on the memories you had- and know it's ok to be sad, A pet is a member of the family.

New MIL · December 2010

I'm sorry! We lost our 15 year old cat to cancer last December- they are truly a member of your family and you can grieve the same way. Honestly, our pets are some of the only relationships we have that are completely unconditional and non-judgemental! They always think you're great no matter what!

Your pup did have a wonderful, long life and I'm so glad you had that time with her!

akhensley81 · December 2010

Yeah, I'm glad mom called yesterday and we were able to come down and spend some time with her. The vet told them that as long as she seems comforable (she had been whining and crying earlier but they gave her something for the pain), that she would be OK for a little while to give us all a chance to say goodbye. One of my brothers is home from college for break, and my other brother is going to try to come home from Detroit. I really hope he gets a chance to see her.

[Deleted User] · December 2010

I'm sorry to hear about Baxter. It's not easy losing a pet, especially one you've had for so long. But at least you got to spend the day with her. It sounds like she was certainly well loved.

september's bride · December 2010

Aww.

This is very sad news. I lost my cat in June after 15 years, and it's a terrible, horrible thing to go through. I still cry over it. My thoughts are with you and your family.

Missy recommended "For Every Dog an Angel" (or for me, "For Every Cat an Angel") and it was such a sweet book. As silly as it sounds, it brought me some comfort.

crfische · December 2010

Aw, I'm sorry, Hensley.

baystateapple · December 2010

Oh, AK, I'm so sorry

Losing a beloved pet is so hard. She looks like a beautiful puppy.

akhensley81 · December 2010

Thanks, everyone. I just talked to my mom- she made it through the night and is resting comfortably on her little bed at my parents' house. They are pretty torn whether to let her pass on at home, or take her in today. They're going to see how today goes.

My new job is in the town where they live. If they bring her to the vet, I might see if I can go with them. We'll see.

emilyinchile · December 2010

I'm sorry AK - it's always tough to lose a doggie. I'm glad you got to see her and that she wasn't in pain though.

mandapanda78 · December 2010

Oh AK. Hugs. Nothing but hugs.

Mrs.B6302007 · December 2010

Aw, I'm sorry AK.

andy71781 · December 2010

I'm so so sorry AK. We had to say goodbye to our family doggie Zachary who was 15 and I know how tough it is.

Think of all the pets who aren't loved and taken in and what life would have been like for Baxter if you hadn't opened your heart and home to her. She had a very happy life and is a very lucky doggie.

mkrupar · December 2010

I'm so sorry to hear that AK. Losing a pet is hard. I'm glad you got a chance to spend some time with her yesterday. Just remember the good times and the long life she lived. I'll be thinking about you and your family today. ::hugs::

pinkpinot · December 2010

Awww I'm sorry AK :-(

L-Bride · December 2010

I'm sorry AK. I don't really have any words of wisdom or advice since I haven't had to go through it before. I'm actually worried about this when my dogs "time" comes. I know it's going to be so sad.
I hope you feel better.

LDYGTR13 · December 2010

No fun. I'm so sorry to hear about Baxter! We had to put our dog down because of kidney failure a few years ago on Mother's Day. It was rough. Pups get so listless and just don't want to do/eat/drink anything. My dog actually bit my mom when she came into the room and started pettin him - that's the only way we really knew something was going on.

It's rough. I'm glad you got to say goodbye though! You'll be happy you did! Good luck!

kikibaby · December 2010

I'm so sorry, AK! *Hugs* I know how hard it is.

Snippylynn · December 2010

Hugs girl.

missy68 · December 2010

I've been there, almost a year to the day. And I was with her (we took her in, because she was in pain), because we didn't want her to go alone, looking for me/John (and I knew she would), and I didn't want to find her.

If that's the option, be with her. You'll think you can't do it, but let your family be the last thing she sees. You all are who she loves.

And the book September mentioned is a nice book. I had put it in my cart at Amazon 2 years ago for my aunt, and never ordered it. Right after Maggie was gone, I went to buy something, and there it was.

garcias1 · December 2010

I'm very sorry about your dog. My parents have a bichon frise too. They got her when I was in 8th grade, and she was my first dog. She is 13 now. She is definitely showing signs of aging. I feel so sad for her, because she wants to be hyper like she has been all of her life, but she gets tired after getting so excited (like when I come home to visit). I will be very sad the day that she passes away.

georgia_bride09 · December 2010

Aw, I'm sorry, AK. T&P to you and your family.

mica178 · December 2010

I'm sorry AK.

Birdie1483 · December 2010

I'm so sorry AK

My heart breaks for you.

akhensley81 · December 2010

I think at lunch today I'm going to run to Barnes & Noble and get a copy of the book September recommended - maybe one for me and one for my mom. I just checked it out online and there's a lot of really nice reviews.

[Deleted User] · December 2010

((((HUGS)))) to you AK. I am sorry to hear about your dog. I know that has to be hard. At least you got to spend some time with her.

Pirata13 · December 2010

Awww!

We had to put my oldest cat down 2 years ago right after we started dating, and I I still get sad about it. But remember all the good times and what a great life she had thanks to you!!

JanoBean75 · December 2010

I'm so sorry you are going through this. Losing a furry family member is so hard.

Beachy730 · December 2010

I'm so sorry AK. I still remember how hard it is and we put our old dog down 5 years ago. It definitely gets easier, but I still cry if I think about that day and how sick she was.

That's great you got to spend time with her now and it will definitely help a lot. My brother had moved away when our childhood dog passed away, and it was extra hard on him because he didn't believe she was sick enough because he never saw her bad.

As hard as it is to think about your parents bringing her in when there is a chance she could make a recovery, once they stop eating for a few days it's highly unlikely. I remember being mad at my parents that they had an appointment to bring our dog in the next Monday because I was convinced that she was going to start eating again and be fine. Then all of a sudden over the weekend she got extremely sick and would have died in our home if we didn't bring her to the emergency vet that day to be put down. Then we felt horrible we let it get to that point. So as hard as it is just think about all the pain and discomfort she will be spared, and you will have great memories of her instead of ones of her being extremely sick.

And I'm definitely sending you hugs.

akhensley81 · December 2010

dnb- As much as I would love to believe that she could make a recovery, I know the best thing for her now is to pass away. Especially after seeing her yesterday, I felt so bad for her. That's my major conflicting emotion right now. Am I feeling badly for myself? Or am I feeling badly for her because I know she's suffering?

She just looked so helpless laying there on the couch. I got the feeling that she knew what was going on, and why all these people were coming over to see her. My mom had called a couple of family friends who came by throughout the day yesterday too.

My mind has been spinning through a lot of memories with her though, which has been nice. We were all reminiscing yesterday as a family too, and I'm sure we will more this weekend for Christmas. THAT is going to suck- not having her there for Christmas. I had taught her to dig in to a gift bag and find her Christmas present, which was great- until she started digging in to other people's gift bags thinking the gifts were for her. Hehe.

Beachy730 · December 2010

Haha that's cute.

Yeah it stinks that it is Christmas time. One of my aunts had to put her lab down late on Christmas Eve the same year that my dog died, and Christmas always hits her hard when she thinks about it. But you have the right thinking of talking about good stories and memories.

Yeah it's really hard, but the best thing is to put her down before she gets too bad. The day my dog died she got really sick, and was trying desperately to get away from us because she knew she was going to die. She kept going to the door to go outside, and then would walk to the back of the house to get away from us. It was really sad, and she was falling over and I hated seeing her like that and knowing we let it get that bad.

Okay and now I am crying.

I'm sad. :(

Re: I'm sad. :(

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