(From Snooky)
I took her to the vet, we tried pepcid AC, and other meds. At one time, she was taking as much as six pills a day. We did a whole bunch of blood work on her.
She had Cushings and Grade 0ne tumors. In a way, the Cushings was a blessing, for, it produced enough steroid in her blood, it actually kept the tumors at bay for a time.
Those test for Cushings, the vet told me, come up surprisingly similar to the Valley Fever which is out here, and can be fatal. But Jeramy, the vet here, said that she way still way too active to have Valley Fever.
We took her back to the vet, got more meds, more tests, and she still got worse. I remember that the vet back home had told me that that when her tumors had taken over, and the steroiden, from the Cushings, no longer was able to fight the tumors, -- she would fail to eat. Well, she would not eat her food last night, and that chow-hound of a dog, never lost a meal. So I knew,-- it was time.
I took her to Jeramy Grossbard DVM., in Gold Canyon. We have been there before a couple of times in January. He put a catheter in her leg, out of my sight, then I held her as he gave her a shot of valium, to make her relax, followed by the shot that stopped her heart. She went peacefully in my arms, being kissed and hugged, as my tears fell onto her shoulder. She was so skinny-- just flesh and bones.
The last time she had gone to the vet in Maine, she had weighed in at 69 pounds. Today, she weighed a mere 48 pounds, most of which, she had lost in this last week. She was unable to keep water down. I was feeding her sips of water around the clock, a tablespoon at a time. Last night I lay on the floor with her on her mat, and another dog mat pulled next to hers, and I stayed with her, keeping her warm with my love and my body heat. I think she knew the love I had for her.
She was the best dog, a real buddy. If it's possible to have a dog as a soul-mate, then she was mine. Those that don't have and love dogs might not understand this. But she was my best buddy for a dog.
She was my first obedience dog, conformation dog. I learned fast, how much I did NOT know. She was the one that got me into Therapy dogs. She was fabulous in that field. She could sense when a patient needed a little extra attention. She traveled in the motorhome with me through the United States, Mexico, and Canada. She was my traveler, my companion, my buddy. I will miss her insistent bark at four O'clock to remind me to feed the dogs. Her voice had gone to but a whisper at he end, signaling to me that there was a lot more involved in her throat and upper stomach, that met the eye.
She was tired, she was ready to go. As a Cherokee once said--"Today is a good day to die". Today in Arizona it is cool yet sunny. She is at peace now. I will take her ashes back to Maine with me. She was the best dog. She taught me a lot. I hope to see her again someday, on the other side. You can call it Heaven, call it the Rainbow bridge, call it what you may. I hope that all good dogs go to heaven. Sandy died at 9:35 A.M. Arizona time, which would be 11:35 A.M. East Coast time in Maine. Snooky
Snooky sends out her thoughts on events in her life. My wife and I enjoy them very much. If you would like to share in her writings, send her an E-mail at Snooky51 at aol.com.