OnTheBrink Posted April 9, 2008 Share Posted April 9, 2008 I gave custody of our beagle Molly to EX. Now she's very sick. She's 2x the weight she should be, her breathing is labored, she's not eaten in a few days and she's not pooped. EX took her to the vet and she apparently has some swelling around her heart, but not the heart itself, as well as fluid in one lung. She's on a couple medicines, as well as some prescription dog food, which she won't touch. She's only 6 years and and I'm so %$#*&% mad at EX for letting her get like this! If she doesn't eat anything by tomorrow, she has to go back to the vet again. Poor Molly May McIntosh Puppy Girl! (yes, that's her name; I named her myself) :crying: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soph the vet Posted April 9, 2008 Share Posted April 9, 2008 Sorry to hear your pup is in such distress, Michelle. Sounds like congestive heart failure? given your description, that would be one of the most common causes of pericardial fluid or pleural fluid. Did the vet test for heartworm or was the dog on heartworm prevention, just because she is rather young to develop CHF for other reasons, though not totally unheard of. I'm guessing they have her on some kind of diuretic which should help her breathing by eliminating some of the fluid build-up. They may also have her on a drug to improve cardiac contractility, but not always. It certainly sounds serious but many cases can be managed successfully for years. You probably want to look into diet changes to get weight off and not overload her heart and kidneys with sodium and protein. Soph Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnTheBrink Posted April 10, 2008 Author Share Posted April 10, 2008 They did test for heartworm and other parasites; all came back negative. They tested her thyroid, took blood from her paw, checked for cancer. All was normal in those areas. Just fluid in her lung and around her heart. I hope she recovers. My dd will melt into the ground if something happens to her Molly-girl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asher Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 I hope Molly gets well soon. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnTheBrink Posted April 13, 2008 Author Share Posted April 13, 2008 She's being put down Monday. We are devastated. She's the best dog ever. :crying: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canada_Mom Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 I'm really sorry to hear that Michelle. I'm at a loss for words at the moment, but I'm sad that you and your dd are having to go through this loss right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lollie010 Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 I am so, so, so, sorry. We suddenly lost our beloved beagle a few months ago and life will never be the same. Beagles are the best. I wish I had words to help. I am truly sad for you. Laurel T. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camibami Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 I'm so sorry. Losing a dog is so hard. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca in TN Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 I am so sorry about your dog. We had to have our 17yo dog put to sleep at Christmas. We have had to do this with other pets over the years too. It is very difficult when they are part of your family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 She's being put down Monday. We are devastated. She's the best dog ever. :crying: nt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*anj* Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 Oh Michelle, this must be so hard. I'm sorry that you have to go through it. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nancypants Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 I'm so sorry. I know how hard it is to lose a family pet! :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WTMindy Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 ((((huge hugs!!))) I'm so sorry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remudamom Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 I'm so sorry. Right now I'm sure it's no consolation realizing that this is the way life works, but I'm praying that the pain will ease for you one day, and that you are able to comfort your children. I am sad for you and your dear doggie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mamagistra Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 Aw, Michelle...that is heart-breaking. :( I am so sorry for you and your dc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rose in BC Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 It's very, very tough loosing a pet. Blessings to you all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unicorn. Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 Aww, I'm sorry. For you, your dd, and your beloved beagle. ((((Michelle)))) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 You all are in my thoughts. Our Ginger (boxer) took a bad turn in Dec. The kind words the board wrote helped so much. I couldn't talk about it to people in person b/c I'd cry so hard. We had to euthanize her, too. Nothing is like the solid, furry, warm love of a dog. And beagle ears are so great to stroke and play with. Beagle ears are the perfect size! Our vet made a plaster imprint of Ginger's paw. Maybe yours can do that? Or you can get a kit at a craft store? It is comforting for me to have it. You are doing the right thing, the loving thing to end his pain. I tell my kids that all the time! Kind regards, unsinkable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom2legomaniacs Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 I am so sorry to hear this news. These pets are all the more special because their adoration for us is unconditional. What a difficult loss you all. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnTheBrink Posted April 13, 2008 Author Share Posted April 13, 2008 Thank you all for your kind words, hugs and prayers. I got the news Friday, just as I arrived at the home school conference. I talked to dd on the phone several times Friday and Saturday and when I got home Saturday, I went over to Ex's house to pick up dd and spend time with Molly and say a last good-bye. I even brought her my left over Linguine Bolognese from dinner the night before. When I came in the house, she did get up and come greet me with her tail wagging. She plopped on my lap and we sat on the floor while she scarfed the pasta down. We then spent the next hour just petting her and talking to her, telling her what a good dog she is, how much we love her and that we'll miss her. She just sort of went to one of us after the other, getting love and pats. She then tried to lie down, but couldn't really find a comfortable position and her breathing is horrible, just horrible. And, all that fat I though she had? Tumors. I don't know why they ruled out cancer last week, but I didn't go to the vet, so everything I heard was 2nd hand from EX. We left and I brought dd home. She was in such shock over it and kept saying, "I can't believe this is happening. Why is this happening? Molly never did anything wrong!" Today, we went to church and dd got a lot of support and comfort from her friends, which is what she needed. She is not going with EX to have her put down; it's just too much. Ex has decided to have Molly buried in a pet cemetery in a shared burial, so there will be a grave we can visit and it won't be in back yard and it won't be a constant reminder to dd. There's already talk of getting a puppy later in the summer (seems odd to me to talk about that when Molly's sitting there, but I guess she doesn't know what's being said.) So, all that besides the exhaustion from being at the hs conference has done me in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TN Mama Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 How very sad... I am so very sorry. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura in VA Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
readwithem Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 :crying:Oh my. I'm so sorry. Hugs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soph the vet Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 So sorry, Michelle. Psalm 36:6 is a verse I often share with clients at euthanasias. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen sn Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 My heart is with you. Are you planning a memorial or graveside service for the kids? We even had a small table set up with pictures and flowers and rocks and shells......whatever the kids who loved him wanted to place there. One neighborhood kid put his favorite car for a while. When he had peace he took it back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melinda TX Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 So, so sorry. Will be praying. M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenschooler Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 I'm so sorry to hear that. I know you're losing a part of your family - we have a beagle, and they're just so lovable. I'll be thinking of you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnTheBrink Posted April 15, 2008 Author Share Posted April 15, 2008 It has been one heck of an emotional weekend. EX emailed me late Sunday night, telling me Molly had made a turn for the better, and was eating, pottying, playing, trotting around the yard. He was baffled and not sure what to do. So, Monday, he called the vet before taking her in to be put down and the vet examined her again, and said she was responding to the steroid treatment positively. She said that the steroid treatment will only work a short time, maybe a few months. What did we want to do? So, EX calls and asks me my thoughts. I wasn't sure. On one hand, the treatment only delays the inevitable, but, otoh, as long as Molly is happy and feeling ok, and as long as he wants to pay for the steroids, why not enjoy her a little longer? The vet said if it were her dog, she'd do the steroid treatment, as long as Molly showed improvement and no suffering. So, we opted for that route. EX reports that she is perky today and eating well. (I'm sure it was the expensive Linguini I fed her that did it.) In the mean time, EX is taking dd to see another dog for adoption. He feels that maybe having a second dog might make Molly's loss a bit easier for her to deal with, and she knows Molly is still sick and that the treatment won't cure her. The vet supported that, saying a new, younger dog might make Molly happy, too. So, we'll see what happens. Part of me thinks we should have just put Molly down and let her go, the other part of me is glad we have her for a little longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 My df had a dog with cancer. She feels she was able to extend the dog's life by feeding her "homemade" food--would you like her recipes? She believes she extended Cindi's life by a couple of years this way (not saying she did, just saying she thinks she did). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*anj* Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 Wow, Michelle. That is pretty amazing. Hopefully your sweet Molly will enjoy a few more happy, healthy days. I think it's really nice that you and EX are able to work together on this. I'm sure it's helpful for your dc to see the two of you this way. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mamagistra Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 Wow! I do hope she continues to improve. :) Last year we lost our beloved dane mix to cancer that wasn't discovered in time. He was debilitated so very suddenly that we had only a matter of moments to say good-bye. :( May you have many happy days with Molly. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unicorn. Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 Well I, for one, think that is wonderful! Every day that she is still here is one more precious day, for her and your dd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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