Very, very ill Beagle

[Beaglemom3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beaglemom3]

Just a note to tell you that Scooter, my beloved 13+ y.o.Baby-Beagle-Boy (pictured in my avatar) is gravely ill and is in the ICU at Tufts School of Veterniary Medicine in Grafton, Ma.
He was diagnosed with lung cancer with mets to the brain last October, so no hope for him. He was responding well to chemo & radiation palliatively since then, but took a turn for the worse yesterday having had chemo on Thursday. His quality of life has been very good since October, but things have taken a dramatic down-turn.
I adopted him at 8 months. He was a field trial show dog champ who broke from the pack during a show and was hit by a car. His then-owner took him to the vet and wanted to know what his chances of being a show dog were since he had a tib-fib fx. The vet told him 90%. His old owner said, "put him down". The vet said, "don't let the door hit you on your ass on your way out. Get out ". The vet put him back together and called around for a home for this little guy. I had just lost my Beagle Dixie to cancer/renal failure about two months earlier and when word got to my own vet, they called me. I've had him ever since. I call him "my love sponge". He was so needy and wanted to be loved.
If any of you have any connections to St. Francis, patron saint of the animals, will you ask ?
Thanks,
Beaglemom3 (Scooter, Lucy & Dixie)

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

So sorry to hear this. You can have my dog and I will even drive him up to you if you like. I love my dog but it is not fair to him that I am away for the summers.

[Carol C Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Carol C]

One of my two cats was diagnosed with cancer that has spread, so I can certainly sympathize. And my soulmate dog Pogo died of heart disease and even though I have another dog now, I'll never have another soulmate pal like Pogo. (I felt his life force pass through my hands when he passed on.)

I wish you the best in these difficult days. Beagles are awesome btw. I'm sure yours is your soulmate too.

Please read the Rainbow Bridge for comfort.

<Rainbow Bridge>

[Beaglemom3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beaglemom3]

So sorry to hear this. You can have my dog and I will even drive him up to you if you like. I love my dog but it is not fair to him that I am away for the summers.

Thank you, thank you, but your dog would miss you, Theresa and your son.
After Scooter passes, I am going to Ireland for a month, maybe even the summer in a rented cottage by the sea. I plan to buy a small house there as well. It's such a spiritual and restorative place.

B

[brucecz Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close brucecz]

So sorry to hear about your friend.

I had to put our 11 1/2 year old Great Dane down to end his pain almost 2 years ago. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do.

We have another 8 1/2 year old Great Dane named Ellie who I will miss greatly if she goes before me.

If you send me a regular emai at judybruce@wi.rr.com I will send you some poems ect that helped me very much and may be of help to you and comfort you when it is time to let your friend go.

Bruce

Just a note to tell you that Scooter, my beloved 13+ y.o.Baby-Beagle-Boy (pictured in my avatar) is gravely ill and is in the ICU at Tufts School of Veterniary Medicine in Grafton, Ma.
He was diagnosed with lung cancer with mets to the brain last October, so no hope for him. He was responding well to chemo & radiation palliatively since then, but took a turn for the worse yesterday having had chemo on Thursday. His quality of life has been very good since October, but things have taken a dramatic down-turn.
I adopted him at 8 months. He was a field trial show dog champ who broke from the pack during a show and was hit by a car. His then-owner took him to the vet and wanted to know what his chances of being a show dog were since he had a tib-fib fx. The vet told him 90%. His old owner said, "put him down". The vet said, "don't let the door hit you on your ass on your way out. Get out ". The vet put him back together and called around for a home for this little guy. I had just lost my Beagle Dixie to cancer/renal failure about two months earlier and when word got to my own vet, they called me. I've had him ever since. I call him "my love sponge". He was so needy and wanted to be loved.
If any of you have any connections to St. Francis, patron saint of the animals, will you ask ?
Thanks,
Beaglemom3 (Scooter, Lucy & Dixie)

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Oh, he's so sweet on your couch there! I will be thinking of you both.

[Beaglemom3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beaglemom3]

Thank you one and all for sharing. It helps, truly. I had to do this once myself and I know how truly heartbreaking it is. Worst day of my life, bar none.


I gave him a good life and I'll give him a good & gentle death when there is no hope for any quality of life.

Cicero, Virgil or one of the others said something to this effect:

"It is good that our animal companions don't live twice as long as our grief would be double".

I'm hoping that this is no more than the worst post-chemo day, but he was so limp in my arms carrying him out to the car that it looks like much more.

Bruce, thanks & I will email you. Carol, thanks. BF, you're the best.

[Beaglemom3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beaglemom3]

Oh, he's so sweet on your couch there! I will be thinking of you both.

That's his naughty boy place as he knows he shouldn't be there, but I always let him & his muddy paws up without too much scolding. I have a small back room in my house which I use as my office. The sun shines right onto the old sofa and there he stays.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Jeanne Really you can have mine. My Wife Jackie will not miss him at all, my son might miss him at first but will be happy he no longer has to clean up after him.

[Beaglemom3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beaglemom3]

Jeanne Really you can have mine. My Wife Jackie will not miss him at all, my son might miss him at first but will be happy he no longer has to clean up after him.

Oops, I thought your wife's name was different, sorry.

I just want my Scoot-Man and I want him whole again. I'm all too jumbled to consider anything else right now, but thank you.

Jeanne

[vinolover Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close vinolover]

My thoughts are with you also.

We've had seven dogs and three cats over the past 29 years of our married life. They were all great friends to us. We're now have one dog and one cat who are entering the senior citizen years.

I know how hard it is when they get sick like Scooter. He was lucky to have had such a wonderful life with you. And you were lucky to have such a sweet pet.

[Beaglemom3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beaglemom3]

You can substitue any other breed for "Beagle", this is how it was sent to me.


The Gates of Heaven were guarded by St. Peter. Four canine friends approached and stood waiting for permission to enter. They were asked for an account of themselves.

The poodle was first and, leaping forward proudly, he said, "I am the showman, winning many prizes for my beauty. See how fine I am? There was none better than I in my prime. I was my master's pride and joy." He demonstrated his fine show stance.

Next, the Labrador, black and glossy: "I am the Field Champion, keen for the gun, never missing a bird. I worked hard for my master."

Then the German Shepherd, keen and alert. "I guarded my masters, keeping them safe. No strange foot trod the paths without my permission. They feared not with me around."

"And you sir," said St Peter, "come forward to me. What of you?" The dog replied, "I am a Beagle—maybe not so good, I confess. I pursued the cat, fell to temptation, and stole food. I forgot to return to my masters' call, leaving them to worry, then showed my disapproval at being left alone by chewing their shoes. Oh, and there was also my bad habit of barking at the garbage collectors...."

"But what did you give them?" asked St. Peter.

"What did I give them? I gave them light in their eyes and laughter in their voices."

St. Peter opened the gates and waved the Beagle through.

[Keitht Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Keitht]

Also been there and got the T shirt Our dog had been healthy despite the fact that he was blind. He had been 'killing' his blanket by shaking it and hit his head on the table leg. At first we thought he was just concussed, but when he was no better next day I took him to the vet. The vet said that miniature poodles often had weak suspensory ligaments holding the lens in place and that he had hit the leg so had they had snapped. All the dog could see was light and dark. Incredibly, within about a week he was charging round the house; up and down stairs; jumping onto furniture etc. People coming to the house didn't even realise he was blind. We left all the furniture in the same place so he quickly adapted. He wouldn't go out for walks but we had a decent garden so he was happy. He was like that for about 5 years. Then suddenly he started having stomach upsets and losing weight, finally going off his food. We knew then something was seriously wrong. He was diagnosed with cancer of the liver and was put to sleep the same day. The vet said he had a week left at max and that his condition would just deteriorate.
You have had the double edged sword of the extra time, but knowing what was to come. Keep your chin up and remember the good times.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

I have no comfort to offer you other than Scooter has had a full life of love that he has found with you. Undoubtably better than what his initial lifeline would have dictated.

Remember all he has brought you and I wish you the sight and strength to do what is right by your best friend when the time comes.

Yours.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

I have no comfort to offer you other than Scooter has had a full life of love that he has found with you. Undoubtably better than what his initial lifeline would have dictated.

Remember all he has brought you and I wish you the sight and strength to do what is right by your best friend when the time comes.

Yours.

What Lawren wrote here are exactly my feelings too. All I hope for is that your your dog will not suffer.

Beags, I know the feeling well as we have gone through it too many times already. I really sympathize with you during this difficult time. Pets can mean a lot to us. It would be nice if a miracle would happen. Sometimes they do but not very often.

A cyber hug for you.