Goodbye to a Good Friend

Hello everyone, I've had a pretty rough week. Last Sunday, I noticed my dog Bart had a strange cough. It wasn't a deep cough from his lungs, but rather a hacking cough from the back of his throat, like he was trying to clear his throat. He sometimes in the past had got a hair caught in his throat, and I thought that this was the reason for the hacking cough. But on Monday he was still hacking often, and he now had a wheez in his breathing. So Tuesday morning I took him to the Vet. I was expecting Brochitus, or maybe Pneumonia. The Vet took x-rays, and told me he was terminal.. his lungs were completely solid with Cancer.

I brought him back home for a last few days of pampering and lovin'. The vet said he was not in pain, but would loose his appetite, and slowly loose energy. The vet said that he should be OK for about a week.

I took him with me to a family dinner on Tuesday night, where he got to successfully 'beg' for all kinds of 'people food'. No reason to hold back, he wasn't going to have any new bad habits for very long.. He enjoyed bits of Lasagna, garlic bread, even ice cream. He seemed to hit the jackpot with people 'sneaking' people food under the table to him. He had a great time.

Yesterday, Wednesday, it was obvious that he was very ill, the cough didn't get worse, but he didn't have much energy, and almost no appetite, even for 'people food'. I spent a lot of time with him, took him for several short walks, and sat outside in the grass with him while he napped.

Well, last night was an uncomfortable night. Bart never relaxed, I can't tell if he ever slept.. I know that every time I woke up and listened for his breathing, it was still fast and shallow. It used to be his breathing would slow down when he slept..

This morning , Thursday, he was full of energy, went to the bedroom door, walked briskly down the stairs and waited at the door, tail wagging to go out.. he peed and pooped.. I had managed to get him to eat some beef stroganoff last night.. but not much.

This morning when he was done, he didn't want to come back inside. it was cool, about 40*, so I thought maybe he wanted to walk or wander around,, but he just stood there in the yard.. kind of confused looking, I went up and petted him, he barely wagged his tail.. I think he had used up all his energy going outside to do his business. He seemed dazed. His rate of breathing didn't change, it was already very rapid.

Finally he decided to move towards the house. but once inside laid himself down. I got a cup of coffee, and when I went past Bart on the way upstairs to shower, he coughed, and coughed up a quantity of blood.. Well, that decided it..

After my shower, Bart and I went out on the back deck, sat on the steps and soaked up some of the morning sun, But Bart was restless, couldn't get comfortable, breathing was fast, like 2/second, like panting, but through his nose. Very shallow breaths.. his lungs were full of cancer.

So I took him into the vet this morning, and held him while he went to sleep. Always a very tough experience..

I took him out back, to the north end of the farm, to the pet cemetary. I dug him a burial spot next his other canine friends, and put him to rest..

It was a beautiful day to take Bart for his last 'walk' to the north end of the farm.. And he's resting now.


Gotta go, can't see throught he tears.

Greg L

A Prayer.

Sorry to hear about Bart. Seems he had a good life with you on the farm and plenty of room to run and play. You made his last few days as comfortable and happy as you could. We had our shepard Chewy put down this past spring and watching him take his last breath was one of the most heartbreaking things I think I have ever seen so I can understand what you are feeling.

Man..... I am so sorry... I've been there and know EXACTLY how you feel... I am speechless.... I don't even know what else to say other than my thoughts are with you. It is so damn hard to lose such a loyal companion... Keep your chin up, he is in a much better place now.

Wow man ... that totally sucks, big time. I dread the day I have to go though this. My first pet I was too young to really remember much (although I do remember him pinning me in his doghouse ...), my second pet stayed with my ex ... and my current 4 cats are all only 7 years old, give or take.

I wish I could bring a 30-rack over to try & cheer you up. Your post really brought me to tears. You gave him the best life possible, & for that, you should be eternally happy.

Ohhhh, Greg, I'm so sorry to hear that you had to lay Bart to rest. A dog doesn't ask for much, yet gives so much in return. The one thing they ask is that you have awareness to see when discomfort turns to suffering and the strength to lay them to rest when it does. You timed it perfectly. I cry every time when that day comes..... even now have a few tears for Bart. I think they can tell, they know what that trip to the vets is all about, and ya know, deep down, they are saying thank you.

So sorry to hear about this, it is so tough when a pet passes...

Greg, sorry to hear that your beloved friend has gone to the field in the sky. Your story was a great tribute to a good friend.

You love, laughed and lived with him and it does not get better than that!

Sorry to hear and so sorry for your loss.

That's a sad story Greg but thanks for sharing it. Take care.

You're a good man to have cared so much - that it hurts so much now.

That's a great picture of him

I'm so sorry to hear he's gone. Sleep softly big guy.

Greg, sorry to hear about this and what you are experiencing, we lost our dog this past summer so I know how tough it can be.

Even though putting a pet to sleep is a tough decision to make and to go through, keep in mind that just as Bart was a loyal friend to you for his while life, your last act of loyalty to him was to make sure he didn't suffer.

Greg, that was a beautiful tribute you gave to Bart, thanks for sharing with us. And thanks for taking such good care of him.

A great tribute to Bart. Thanks for sharing it. I know how hard it is to take that ride to the vet and hold them at the end. A person much wiser than me said it's the price we pay for their love and loyalty. They trust us to do the right thing when their quality of life is intolerable. I'm very sorry for your loss. The pain is great but it does eventually get better. I went through this 3 years ago and swore I'd never get another dog as it is too hard to let them go. In the end it's worth it all. Two months later this little came to me.

Sorry for your loss Greg, its always hard to lose a friend. You have a great way with words, I know it wasn`t easy.