Misha The Black Lab's Last Weeks - A Little Help
Discussion
lost in espace said:
Since starting this thread today she has definitely gone down hill. She got upstairs, but is for the first time looking uncomfortable. She came and lay by me and just looked over her shoulder at me for a long time, she never does that.
We will go for our walk in the park and ring the vet on Monday. I am dreading having to get her downstairs and into the car if she has an issue at night she is so big.
Thank you everyone.
I had to get our 35kg 13 year old Lab downstairs on his final morning, I managed it myself (but I'm in my 40s and run / go to the gym) with someone in front of me in case I fell but he was quite calm/weak so didn't mind being picked up. When we got to the vets they had a solid stretcher they strapped him to to get him inside, it might be worth asking in advance when the time comes if you could borrow one to take her in?We will go for our walk in the park and ring the vet on Monday. I am dreading having to get her downstairs and into the car if she has an issue at night she is so big.
Thank you everyone.
MesoForm said:
I had to get our 35kg 13 year old Lab downstairs on his final morning, I managed it myself (but I'm in my 40s and run / go to the gym) with someone in front of me in case I fell but he was quite calm/weak so didn't mind being picked up. When we got to the vets they had a solid stretcher they strapped him to to get him inside, it might be worth asking in advance when the time comes if you could borrow one to take her in?
Thanks, my neighbour is handy and has alsatians so I think I would be able to get hold of him thinking about it. Update today on Misha. She is a bit slower, still eating, barking for walks and happy.
However her fur has lots of white spots that seem to be growing by the day, terrible dandruff, she has a few holes in her fur, shedding really heavily, and a two new small holes on her foot are bothering her occassionally as she has started licking that foot. And she is sleeping through the night from 9pm until 5am now, whereas she was getting up every 2 hours which I suspect is a bad sign.
However her fur has lots of white spots that seem to be growing by the day, terrible dandruff, she has a few holes in her fur, shedding really heavily, and a two new small holes on her foot are bothering her occassionally as she has started licking that foot. And she is sleeping through the night from 9pm until 5am now, whereas she was getting up every 2 hours which I suspect is a bad sign.
Time for a Misha update. She is good, sleeping until 430am now rather than waking every 2 hours.
In the last two days she has developed a real issue with her rear legs standing up from a lying or sitting position. She is bunny hopping with her rear legs and only just making it up the stairs. I have just given her some Loxicom that I have and we can see if it improves. I can see her being unable to get up in a few days, once up she is fine.
Still ravenous, of course being a lab. Enjoying walks, happy waggy tail. She doesn't seem to be in any pain.
In the last two days she has developed a real issue with her rear legs standing up from a lying or sitting position. She is bunny hopping with her rear legs and only just making it up the stairs. I have just given her some Loxicom that I have and we can see if it improves. I can see her being unable to get up in a few days, once up she is fine.
Still ravenous, of course being a lab. Enjoying walks, happy waggy tail. She doesn't seem to be in any pain.
My sympathy. One of our Standard Poodles is 10 now. Still no serious health issues bar needing an op to repair a snapped ligament. We know there are more days in the past than the future for her though.
During Covid we had to get a cat put to sleep. Before that the Covid protocol was phone on arrival, hand over pet and wait outside. Out vet threw that out the window. Our (adult) daughter was taken in with the cat and had him on her lap as it was done.
During Covid we had to get a cat put to sleep. Before that the Covid protocol was phone on arrival, hand over pet and wait outside. Out vet threw that out the window. Our (adult) daughter was taken in with the cat and had him on her lap as it was done.
Misha update.
Doing OK but slower to get up, worse on the stairs, coughing more (voicebox issue with food dropping into it). Still wanting walks, food, etc. But I think we are now at the end and it is best to get this done while she is still mobile and not in pain.
At the end of May we are going away, I can't expect or indeed trust family to look after her and it is not fair to leave her with my dog minder for 10 days when she could have an issue. So sometime in mid May if not sooner.
I emailed the vet to ask what they think is best, sort of self doubting her diagnosis as it was January when we had the blood test that condemned her kidneys. But they just emailed back saying they had emergency appointments available every day I just need to ring, and gave me the option of a vet coming to the home for an extra £100. My wife doesn't fancy the thought of her being carried out of the house so the vets it is going to be in mid May.
Doing OK but slower to get up, worse on the stairs, coughing more (voicebox issue with food dropping into it). Still wanting walks, food, etc. But I think we are now at the end and it is best to get this done while she is still mobile and not in pain.
At the end of May we are going away, I can't expect or indeed trust family to look after her and it is not fair to leave her with my dog minder for 10 days when she could have an issue. So sometime in mid May if not sooner.
I emailed the vet to ask what they think is best, sort of self doubting her diagnosis as it was January when we had the blood test that condemned her kidneys. But they just emailed back saying they had emergency appointments available every day I just need to ring, and gave me the option of a vet coming to the home for an extra £100. My wife doesn't fancy the thought of her being carried out of the house so the vets it is going to be in mid May.
lost in espace said:
Misha update.
Doing OK but slower to get up, worse on the stairs, coughing more (voicebox issue with food dropping into it). Still wanting walks, food, etc. But I think we are now at the end and it is best to get this done while she is still mobile and not in pain.
At the end of May we are going away, I can't expect or indeed trust family to look after her and it is not fair to leave her with my dog minder for 10 days when she could have an issue. So sometime in mid May if not sooner.
I emailed the vet to ask what they think is best, sort of self doubting her diagnosis as it was January when we had the blood test that condemned her kidneys. But they just emailed back saying they had emergency appointments available every day I just need to ring, and gave me the option of a vet coming to the home for an extra £100. My wife doesn't fancy the thought of her being carried out of the house so the vets it is going to be in mid May.
Such a difficult time for youDoing OK but slower to get up, worse on the stairs, coughing more (voicebox issue with food dropping into it). Still wanting walks, food, etc. But I think we are now at the end and it is best to get this done while she is still mobile and not in pain.
At the end of May we are going away, I can't expect or indeed trust family to look after her and it is not fair to leave her with my dog minder for 10 days when she could have an issue. So sometime in mid May if not sooner.
I emailed the vet to ask what they think is best, sort of self doubting her diagnosis as it was January when we had the blood test that condemned her kidneys. But they just emailed back saying they had emergency appointments available every day I just need to ring, and gave me the option of a vet coming to the home for an extra £100. My wife doesn't fancy the thought of her being carried out of the house so the vets it is going to be in mid May.
My lab sends his best, as do we
Having made the decision to end things before our holiday at the end of May last week, my hand was forced over the weekend.
She continued to have issues getting up, the cough had become awful and constant, and she couldn't get down the stairs properly this morning. And the kidneys had failed properly as she started to drink massively. I called the vets and after a walk, a meal of sardines and dog food, we visited at 1pm. She was sedated at first, and went out like a light. I think she was a lot weaker than we had thought, the vet agreed it was time too.
I wanted to take her myself to the crem in Duxford, very nice people. I drive past there for work weekly it seemed a good place to have her ashes.
Meg the Staffie has slowed in the last week on our walks, so we can take it easier on her now on walks.
She was a very good girl for the 2 years we had her, and will always be my black Lab. Run free Misha, I will see you again one day.
Photo this morning in what was her favourite spot. Thank you everyone for all your input, it was invaluable.
She continued to have issues getting up, the cough had become awful and constant, and she couldn't get down the stairs properly this morning. And the kidneys had failed properly as she started to drink massively. I called the vets and after a walk, a meal of sardines and dog food, we visited at 1pm. She was sedated at first, and went out like a light. I think she was a lot weaker than we had thought, the vet agreed it was time too.
I wanted to take her myself to the crem in Duxford, very nice people. I drive past there for work weekly it seemed a good place to have her ashes.
Meg the Staffie has slowed in the last week on our walks, so we can take it easier on her now on walks.
She was a very good girl for the 2 years we had her, and will always be my black Lab. Run free Misha, I will see you again one day.
Photo this morning in what was her favourite spot. Thank you everyone for all your input, it was invaluable.
garythesign said:
Oh my
That has really got to me.
You have my profound condolences
RIP lovely girl
Me too, I've been dreading this post. But I am glad that the OP is at peace with the decision; that is all you can ever ask for.That has really got to me.
You have my profound condolences
RIP lovely girl
All the best, OP (and Meg). I will miss Misha - run free sweetheart.
All the best OP - I'm sat here in floods of tears for the way you've handled this so well.
Merlin got diagnosed with a shoulder soft tissue tumour last week. Checked insurance, and due to his age/policy he's not even got enough coverage for the CT scans the referal vets want to do. I took settlement from last job at the end of the year, and whilst I enjoyed some time off for the first time (and so did Merlin!) - getting the next gig is proving harder than usual. So no cash in the kitty.
Just waiting for our vet to let us know what other options there are, and what the prognosis is.
Meanwhile, he's better than he's been in ages thanks to some new anti-inflammatories - and it's breaking me inside.
All the best.
Merlin got diagnosed with a shoulder soft tissue tumour last week. Checked insurance, and due to his age/policy he's not even got enough coverage for the CT scans the referal vets want to do. I took settlement from last job at the end of the year, and whilst I enjoyed some time off for the first time (and so did Merlin!) - getting the next gig is proving harder than usual. So no cash in the kitty.
Just waiting for our vet to let us know what other options there are, and what the prognosis is.
Meanwhile, he's better than he's been in ages thanks to some new anti-inflammatories - and it's breaking me inside.
All the best.
Thanks Sway please don't get too upset we were at the end of the road and Misha had a great time with us. Feeling a lot better today but there is a lot to adjust to.
My thoughts with Merlin. I had insurance but it was a joke to be honest, gave up in the end. Our vet got taken over by one of these big companies and the prices went up overnight. It is very tough being the owner of an elderly pet, when we took these two on we had to say that there was a budget and we weren't going to exceed it. I trod on Meg's leg earlier, she hates the vet so much there is no way she could be treated and it would be pointless having a 13 year old Staffie fixed up. Do let us know how you get on.
My thoughts with Merlin. I had insurance but it was a joke to be honest, gave up in the end. Our vet got taken over by one of these big companies and the prices went up overnight. It is very tough being the owner of an elderly pet, when we took these two on we had to say that there was a budget and we weren't going to exceed it. I trod on Meg's leg earlier, she hates the vet so much there is no way she could be treated and it would be pointless having a 13 year old Staffie fixed up. Do let us know how you get on.
lost in espace said:
Thanks Sway please don't get too upset we were at the end of the road and Misha had a great time with us. Feeling a lot better today but there is a lot to adjust to.
My thoughts with Merlin. I had insurance but it was a joke to be honest, gave up in the end. Our vet got taken over by one of these big companies and the prices went up overnight. It is very tough being the owner of an elderly pet, when we took these two on we had to say that there was a budget and we weren't going to exceed it. I trod on Meg's leg earlier, she hates the vet so much there is no way she could be treated and it would be pointless having a 13 year old Staffie fixed up. Do let us know how you get on.
It's not the loss of Misha, it's the way you've handled it that's got me choked up.My thoughts with Merlin. I had insurance but it was a joke to be honest, gave up in the end. Our vet got taken over by one of these big companies and the prices went up overnight. It is very tough being the owner of an elderly pet, when we took these two on we had to say that there was a budget and we weren't going to exceed it. I trod on Meg's leg earlier, she hates the vet so much there is no way she could be treated and it would be pointless having a 13 year old Staffie fixed up. Do let us know how you get on.
Really not sure I'm strong enough to do the same if needed...
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