Another sucky day tale

So today was my real sucky day.

I had to put my 11 year old beagle "Opiey" to sleep.

Started a month ago with him not eating much at all. And that is odd for a beagle. After 2 weeks I took him to the vet. Blood work and stool sample indicated decreased liver function and possibly an infection causing the lower numbers all around. So antibiotics and pain meds to try to get the numbers up. Then he stopped eating all together. Thought maybe it was because we were covering his food with the meds. So back to the vet. I chose the cheaper way by having an x ray rather than an ultrasound to see if there was a blockage anywhere. Something near the stomach but nothing showed as being blocked. A shot of prednizone and we went a couple more days.

I finally got the ultrasound done on Wednesday. A real run around until I found someone who was in the office and could do it. Got it done around 1:20 PM. Technician comes out and asks if the dog had a thing about carpet ?? Seems like what showed up on the x ray was actually carpet fiber from the loop carpet throw rugs we have by the front door. He has chewed on this when he would get sick to help him throw up. Anyhow he had a big ball of carpet in the stomach and a string that was traveling through the small intestine.

The vet operated on him Wed night. Thursday morning he was his old self. Then turned south by lunch time. Then back up by 4 then back down after that. The vet called and told me that he needed overnight monitoring and that the vet didn't have the capability. So off to the local vet 24/7 emergency facility last night. He spent the night and was still getting worse. They suspected sepsis infection. I received a call at 11:00 today. He was getting worse. He was too week from not eating in almost a month and would require another surgery with no guarantees. So I had to make the call to put him out of his misery. He was so medicated by that point that I knew he wouldn't even know if I was there so I told them to do it and I would be down later. I couldn't let my companion be put through any more pain. I made the decision that I thought I would never do. Then I lost it.

I buried him by the side of the house where he sat every night protecting us from the ravaging wildlife. Our other dog is confused. He keeps looking for his traveling buddy. These 2 have been together almost their whole life.

This will not be a good Christmas for me. He was the alpha dog here on the property. Everyone who ever came here or who we knew, knew Opiey. He was the official greeter. Until he started wandering, he went to work with me every day. My truck was HIS TRUCK. He owned it. I always left the door open for him. If I couldn't find him, I'd look in the truck and there he would be.

R.I.P. Opiey

This has been hard to type. At times I can't see the keyboard.



Rick

Rick, so sorry to hear about this, it's a bad thing to have to go through, been there a few times myself. Even though you made the best decision for him it still sucks.
R.I.P. Opiey.

One of the hardest things to do Rick but you did whats best. I have one that's 14 with a torn ACL so the Vet said to just keep her comfortable, I know it won't be easy, when that day comes she will be beside her pal that I had to put down a few years ago.

Sorry to hear it my friend.

The hardest part and I forgot to post, was that he wasn't in any pain when we went to the vet.

He walked in there with his tail a wagging. Never would have suspected any problems.

36 hours later I put him down and feel like I failed him somehow. Like I should have noticed the problem sooner and acted sooner so he would have not been so sick that he couldn't fight it. Or that I should have taken him to a more experienced and better equipped vet.

I'll be second guessing myself for a while. It was my duty to protect him.




Rick

god blessed you both.....your job was to love him.

Sorry to hear that, Rick. You know they are a true member of the family when it hurts to see them go......

Sorry for your loss, may the good memories heal your pain.

Sorry for your loss as well, the second guessing and wondering if you could have done anything differently will gnaw away at you, but you did the best you could, as any devoted dog owner would do.

Sorry to hear of your loss. The final responsibility of having a beloved pet.... allowing them to not suffer. You did all the right things, perhaps even went further than most. You gave Opiey a good life, there's no second guessing that.

He was a good dog with a good owner living in a good home. You did the best you could under the circumstances. Take care Rick.

Rick, having to put a dog to sleep is a terrible thing to go through. It sounds like he was your partner for a long time. It is a thankless job to have to make the decision to put them to sleep, but I believe it is the right thing to do when they are in pain and/or suffering.

They give us everything they have and only ask for some clean water, food, and a warm spot to sleep. I have two four legged friends in the house, and I dread the day that I have to part with either of them.

Rick, this has always been real special to me, that's why I'm sending it to you my good friend.

Rick... I am so sorry for your loss. You no way let him down. you tried as hard as anyone. we can never second guess the unknown nor predict . His spirit will live on within and will re-emerge again

Rick, I am very sorry for your loss.