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Post by Havock on May 17, 2018 17:34:15 GMT
Well she's fine for now, just an 11 year old shepherd doing her thing (which is deciding to be three, from time to time) and we give her good meds, but still, it's pretty much the twilight of her life, like I said: Her breeds (mom's and dad's) don;t really live that long (although she certainly exhibits some hybrid vigor in that she's quite big and aside from her hips, super-healthy (aside from the usual age related things; he sight is deteriorating a little, but that's honestly to be expected.
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kaernak
Junior Strategist
Either pray to Menoth or feel his fury. You'll burn either way.
Posts: 172
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Post by kaernak on May 17, 2018 20:51:14 GMT
Yeah, theirs suffered on till she was 16 and at that point the quality of life was so bad they had to make that tough call. Enjoy pets while you can. They may be just a small part of your life, but you are their whole life.
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Asmoridin
Junior Strategist
Getting back into the game after too long a hiatus!
Posts: 323
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Post by Asmoridin on May 22, 2018 16:29:51 GMT
Just remember to spend as much time as you can with your animals. They love you! Make sure they know how much you love them too!
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Zaku
Junior Strategist
Posts: 224
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Post by Zaku on Jun 12, 2018 8:53:30 GMT
I feel for you, I am upset I wasn't around for my dog I grew up with when he had to put down.
I was in the military, and my parents knew how attached to Chili (our Afghan Hound) I was so they didn't tell me how bad he was starting to suffer. He lived much longer than he should have for his breed, and what made it even more impressive is that he held on to his health when he was quite a bit larger than your average Afghan.
I ended up getting seriously hurt in the military, and after a month in the hospital was given 3 weeks of time off to help my recovery. I ended up going home for 2 of those weeks, and when I gimped my way into my parent's home, Chili the 15 year old Afghan acted like an absolute puppy. He never left my side while I was home, and spent the whole two weeks cuddling and lightly playing with me.
Less than three days after I left home to go back to base, he gave up on life and had to be put down. It absolutely devastated me, I knew he was getting to be quite old but my parents held off telling me how bad he was doing while I was there. Before I showed up, he would rarely move, and would have to be carried outside to go to the bathroom, or into bed at night. He had been just struggling to stay alive, using as little energy as possible, and moving as little as possible so he wouldn't be in as much pain.
Apparently after I left, he just lost the will to keep going and just layed himself down in my bed at my parent's house and just waited for death. Between dealing with the pain of the intensive abdominal surgery, and 46 staples in my gut... I got to deal with an intense emotional pain from Chili's passing as well.
However, what made it better for me, was thinking about how happy he was for those last full two weeks of his life, and that I was able to see him one last time, letting him know that I hadn't left him forever, and that he still meant the world to me. Thankfully the rest of my immediate family, who he also adored, were there for him at the vet when they put him down, and they said he seemed to be at peace.
Dang. Got my eyes all watery typing this up.
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eathotlead
Junior Strategist
PP forumite since 2004
Posts: 259
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Post by eathotlead on Sept 12, 2018 23:06:26 GMT
Guys, I think I'm glad I didn't see this post when it first went up. My perfect poochy daughter of 16 years had to be put to sleep in July for all the reasons you've listed... hip dysplasia, approaching blindness, pain. I've been lucky or blessed in life, I guess, because this was the single HARDEST thing I've ever done. Alas, chocolate labs: perfectly loyal, unconditionally loving, smart as a whip, cutest among all God's creatures, do not last forever. She was so long-lived that she somehow seemed permanent. I still tear-up at her thought. I'm trusting the months will turn sadness into fondness when I see a pic or a video of her. At least we have the aforementioned wooden box, toys, a little dedicated area in our living room - and of course my house will never be free of her shedding.
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Post by Soul Samurai on Sept 13, 2018 11:02:17 GMT
That's a beautiful photo of the snow. My condolences.
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Asmoridin
Junior Strategist
Getting back into the game after too long a hiatus!
Posts: 323
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Post by Asmoridin on Sept 13, 2018 13:09:55 GMT
Sorry to hear about your doggy, eathotlead .
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Post by deathbymelancholy on Sept 26, 2018 18:33:03 GMT
I'm glad to see other people are getting some use out of this thread as well as myself. Condolences to all of you that have posted. And thanks. Still been a hard year without mine.
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Post by Havock on Sept 26, 2018 19:44:53 GMT
Yeah, sucks, it will get better though. Pets are there for a good time but they just don't have as much time as we do.
My parent's dog -or our dog really-, is starting to get old, as in, it's starting to go a bit faster, she's 11 now, on her way to 12, and while she is... Happy and upbeat, she just has less energy, she doesn't seem to be too bothered by her hip dysplasia anymore, but that has more to do with not running through the woods like a lunatic anymore.
But her eyesight and hearing are... Well, going worse, nothing that you would not expect from a dog her age: Throw one stick left and she darts off right and comes back with another, but she still has fun.
And still doesn't sound like a dog well into the thirties of kilograms should: For those not in the know, most shepherds can bark, it's just that when FUN ENTERTAINMENT OF ENJOY is taking place, it pitches into a high-pitched, eardrum-destroying yelp. She still does that :v
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