About to lose my best friend

S

swage

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Feb 23, 2010
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Westlake, OH
#1
photo2mdy.jpg


In October my dog was diagnosed with bone cancer in her jaw. I elected to get the surgery after test had showed it hadn't spread. The last several weeks she hasn't been herself. Coughing and lack of energy. I took her in today and x-rays showed the cancer had spread throughout her chest. Basically I have a couple months left with her. Losing a pet is never easy. Losing one that has been very special to you can be as painful as it can be life changing.

Letting go was - is - the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, unbearably difficult. She is my friend. A friend I will never forget.
 
#2
Re: About to lose my best friend

Meet Colt and Kimber:

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They'll be 3 years old in two weeks. I can't bear to think of the end times.

So sorry to hear of your bad news.

They sure are amazing friends.
 
#3
Re: About to lose my best friend

There are no words dude. I'm sorry for your loss. I'm also regretting when the time comes for me because I know it won't be easy.

Stay strong and know that your life was much better because of her.
 
#5
Re: About to lose my best friend

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Slapchop</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Stay strong and know that your life was much better because of her. </div></div>

And hers because of you.
 
#6
Re: About to lose my best friend

Sorry to hear, we all know how tough it is losing a best friend. My old mans dog got hit by a car last week, he was a mess when I talked to him that day. He never had a dog he cared for until that one, all the other dogs were just hunting dogs to him. I dread the day our chihuahua passes, she means a lot to me but it will be a very hard time for my wife. I know she will end up a mess over it, I can't even mention the thought of it without her crying.
 
#7
Re: About to lose my best friend

Thanks for all the kind words. I've been in a daze all day. This is my first dog. We had a family dog growing up but this dog was mine. From the moment I brought her home the first day until now she has never left my side. She has given me a reason to smile each and every day. It's amazing how quickly ten years can pass. It never feels like enough time.
 
#9
Re: About to lose my best friend

I know how you feel. I had a rottie that was having a very difficult time just getting around because of old age and finally had to make the decision to put him down, now I have a lab in a similar situation. which I'm not looking forward to.

Its extremely difficult but just know that sometimes its for the best since they'll be at peace.
 
#12
Re: About to lose my best friend

Swage,

I have been through this so many times. We got our first dog, a Dobe in 1964. We have 4 now, two Jack Russells, a Lurcher (greyhound border collie) and a Tibetian Mastiff. It is hard to see them go. It is never easy.



Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...
 
#13
Re: About to lose my best friend

Damn it man^^ put dust in my eyes.

Sorry to hear the bad news, it is never easy to lose. Enjoy the time you have left and all the great memories. Many tears fall everytime. Godspeed and peaceful sleep.

Eric
 
#14
Re: About to lose my best friend

Sorry man. I have a gsd that had pythiosis a few years back and found some experimental drug on the Internet. Amazingly it worked. We had already resigned to the fact she was leaving us. I love my dogs like kids and hate to see them suffer
 
#15
Re: About to lose my best friend

Sympathies to you, my friend. I can't even fathom how I'm going to deal with the loss of either of my boys. Both of them are right around four, so I'm thankful it's hopefully not something I'll have to deal with for quite some time yet.
 
#18
Re: About to lose my best friend

Swage, I tried to send you a PM but it won't from my phone. Look up vitamin B-17. Do your own research and form your own opinion but I have a Boxer with cancer that we have used it on her and has prolonged her life for sure. I learned from a man with terminal colon cancer and doc gave him like 3 weeks to live. long story short, he used the injectable 500mg version and that has been over 5 years ago and he still lives. 500mg is a cure , 100mg is a maintaining dose for people. 100mg will be a cure for dogs per my Vet. Our Boxer is about 75Lbs and our vet said 75 to 100mg for 75lbs, about a mg per pound. again you do the research and form your own , informed decision. As for me, if I had cancer and a doctor or vet said that there was another possible cure, I would try anything as not trying is giving up. Thats just my opinion. I hope and pray that whatever you do, you have more time with your precious and beautiful baby. May God bless, Tommy
 
#19
Re: About to lose my best friend

Few things in this world are as hard as losing your Dog. Do everything you can to make sure her remaining days are every bit as happy as the time you've spent together so far. Take comfort knowing you were/are as good a friend to her as she is to you, and that all good Dogs go to heaven.

Prayers your way.

-Paulus
 
#22
Re: About to lose my best friend

Nothing sucks like this experience. The important part is : Don't let her suffer. Remember the Vet has a financial interest in keeping them alive. Almost all of them will tell you there is this treatment and that treatment. I'm not saying they are lying, but it is in THEIR best interest if you keep her alive.

I was devastated when I had to put my yellow lab down BUT my thoughts were:

I have the power to end this suffering.
It is NORMAL for these animals to have a short life span.
The procedure is completely painless.

It is a blessing to have the power to do this. Mother nature is a bitch and most of the time there is nothing we can do about it. At least in this case, modern science has progressed enough that we have a painless way to stop the suffering.

When you cross the line between prolonging life and prolonging death, it is time for <span style="font-style: italic">us</span> to do the suffering, so they don't have to. That, my friend, is a real act of love.

MD
 
#23
Re: About to lose my best friend

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nomad0001</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Nothing sucks like this experience. The important part is : Don't let her suffer. Remember the Vet has a financial interest in keeping them alive. Almost all of them will tell you there is this treatment and that treatment. I'm not saying they are lying, but it is in THEIR best interest if you keep her alive.

I was devastated when I had to put my yellow lab down BUT my thoughts were:

I have the power to end this suffering.
It is NORMAL for these animals to have a short life span.
The procedure is completely painless.

It is a blessing to have the power to do this. Mother nature is a bitch and most of the time there is nothing we can do about it. At least in this case, modern science has progressed enough that we have a painless way to stop the suffering.

When you cross the line between prolonging life and prolonging death, it is time for <span style="font-style: italic">us</span> to do the suffering, so they don't have to. That, my friend, is a real act of love.

MD
</div></div>

Wow. That is eloquent and just right on.

I can remember we had a dog growing up, and she got a really bad infection that she couldn't recover from. The day came, and Dad took her to our farm. He let her run and play in the fields and have a time. Then, with her sitting by his side, he put her down with one shot from his pistol. She was buried out there by him that afternoon, overlooking the field where she'd had such a great time.

We couldn't understand him at that time, and I harbored a lot of resentment toward him for a while for what he did. But as I look back now, with dogs of my own, I realize how hard that must have been for him, and what a gift he had given her in easing her suffering... his own pain be damned.
 
#24
Re: About to lose my best friend

Quality of life is always better than quantity. There is a fine line and regardless of how much we cry or want to keep them with us, you always have to do what is best for your best friend. Sad we can't do this for our beloved family members when its truely needed.
 
#25
Re: About to lose my best friend

So sorry. I went through the same thing a few years back with my GSD. I will not tell you it gets better. What I can tell you is that unless you pick a parrot or a turtle they just don't live as long as we do. You have to think of it that way. Dogs have a lifespan that is possibly the worst to handle that there is. If they only lasted a year we would not develop enough of a bond to truly be attached to them. If they lived 25 or 30 years they have a good chance of outliving an owner. That 10 to 12 year thing is just so hard to deal with. Take lots of pictures and videos. I have a nice electric picture frame with his pictures on it. No matter what I will never forget him. One more thing, don't try to "replace" him with a new dog and don't give up on dogs. There are a lot of them out there that need luvin'
 
#27
Re: About to lose my best friend

I stayed home with her again today. She still has a healthy appetite and we went for a walk this evening. She brought a stick home with her and I let her bring it in the house. She's sleeping next to it right now. I'm intensely private and dont usually share many details about my life, but somehow sharing this helped to cope with the reality that I'm losing her and my life will forever be different without her.
 
#28
Re: About to lose my best friend

I'm sorry to hear about the cancer. I had to put down my little Cocker Spaniel Rudy before we moved out here to Florida. He was given 6 months to live almost 2 years ago because of cancer. I felt like the kid at the end of "Old Yeller". She'll let you know when the time is right. Good luck
 
#29
Re: About to lose my best friend

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nomad0001</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
When you cross the line between prolonging life and prolonging death, it is time for <span style="font-style: italic">us</span> to do the suffering, so they don't have to. That, my friend, is a real act of love.

MD
</div></div>

How can you say it any better than that?
I just hope I can remember it when the time comes.

That is a great picture.
Do you have any more?

photo2mdy.jpg
 
#30
Re: About to lose my best friend

I lost my 14.5 year old border collie Buster 13 months ago, and it still hurts like hell. You have my most sincere condolences.

I have lost 4dogs since becoming a "grown up". It never gets any easier.
 
#31
Checking in on a buddy

I have been away for a while and wanted to check in. As I have read the post on her I have not seen any updated material. Is your best friend still with us? I truely hope so and hope that the B-17 and diet helped. It is always a tough situation that we go thru when these things come up. I have a male Boxer that is 10 now andis having a issue with head shaking, something like a Parkinsons type shake and it is starting to worry me. Hope all is well and im praying that it is. You can post a response here or PM me if need be. T
 
#32
Sorry Swage. That's a tough one. I know this is a 'dog' thread, but we have a cat, Big Jack, that has a big tumor on his neck. We're going through the same thing.
 
#33
JC, I told Swage about Vitamin B-17 being a natural cure for cancer a while back and gave him enough info to make his own informed decision about it. As I have used it with great results on my female Boxer. I don't know the results from his use for his dog as he hasn't replied yet. if you want some info on it and my story, plus a few others PM me and I will give you the details. It is truely amazing. I am not saying it will work 100% of the time but it is always worth a try. Also have a little story about a diet program that a guy used on his Yellow lab that also worked wonders. Hit me up and we will either talk thru SH or we can call each other. God Bless Bro.
 
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#34
There is no greater loyalty or love than that from a good dog. It's amazing how close you can become to your pets. It's a testament to her/your best friend how you talk about her and are doing your best to make the best decisions. My heart hurts for you swage. It's such a blessing to have them in your life that letting them go just takes a piece of you. I wouldn't change a thing as I was lucky enough to have the best dog of my life so far when times were very tough. Many years later, I still think of that dog and how we got through some crap times together.
 
#35
Loosing a friend two or four legged huts more then words can express. I still pray for the souls of all the friends i have lost over the years, if you never forget there spirit will live on with you until it is your turn to go home. MM
 
#39
Just checking in to give everyone an update. On the advice of bondoscustomz1 I ordered some B17 back in February. I started with 100mg per day for six weeks then bumped it up to 200 mgs per day. I do believe it has helped prolong her life, but the cancer remains and she has continued to lose weight rapidly. I stopped the B17 last week as her appetite is almost non-existent. I did manage to get her to eat a steak today. She has her good days and her bad days. At this point she has already outlived the two months the vet had given her. I'm grateful for every day I get to spend with her and as long as she isn't suffering I am ok with continuing her care.

Thanks for the comments and well wishes.
 
#40
I know how you feel Swage. I lost my pit bull to Lepto about a year and a half ago. It was the choice that I struggled with.
While I wanted him home with me, the vet said he would die of blood poisoning slowly. I chose to put him to sleep and let him have peace.
He passed on in my arms and I will never forget him, his collar hang from my truck rear view mirror. I see him every time I look up!

Stay strong and hold on to pictures so you can see her whenever you want to.
 
#41
I've said it before, and it bears remembering when a pet is suffering: Dogs don't fear death like people do.

Being afraid, or upset at the impending loss, is simply not an emotional event for them.

If you are there, and take care of them in the moment, that's all that matters.
 
#43
I had to put my yellow lab Bozworth down about 7 months ago, cancer. It still hurts to think about it but then I think of the joy my family brought to his life. We got Boz from a Non profit org. called Paw Pals, they said he had been living on the streets for a while and was a mess but figured they give him a shot. So they gave him all his shots, neutered him, dewormed him and he came out pretty good in the end so they put him up for adoption. We only had him for six years before the cancer set in, I liked to think those are the best six years of his life though. Hang in there man ... Time will heal the pain when he is gone.
 
#44
Over the many years I have had to have 3 dogs given the eternal nap. Knowing it's coming doesn't make it any easier. Just try to spend as much your "friend's time" with her as you can. Remember the good times you both have had. Help her go out on a good note. But don't let her lay and suffer because YOU don't want to do it. At this point your first thoughts should be for her.
 
#45
swage said:
Just checking in to give everyone an update. On the advice of bondoscustomz1 I ordered some B17 back in February. I started with 100mg per day for six weeks then bumped it up to 200 mgs per day. I do believe it has helped prolong her life, but the cancer remains and she has continued to lose weight rapidly. I stopped the B17 last week as her appetite is almost non-existent. I did manage to get her to eat a steak today. She has her good days and her bad days. At this point she has already outlived the two months the vet had given her. I'm grateful for every day I get to spend with her and as long as she isn't suffering I am ok with continuing her care.

Thanks for the comments and well wishes.
Click to expand...

Hi Swage,

I have had four large breed dogs die within the last two years. One was the best dog that I have ever owned, and It was very difficult for me and still is. Two of them had a cancer that spread to the lungs. Once they start coughing and show very depressed activity, It doesn't get better.

I encourage you to go ahead and have your dog killed ("put to sleep") as soon as you can. You will not regret it doing it any earlier. I have been there and I understand how it is, they give so much and you would like to do the same for them.

Sometimes the best thing you can give is the end.
 
#46
Swage,
It says a lot about you that you care this much. Too many people dont. And as fortunate as you are to have her she is equally fortunate to have you.

This really sucks to all git out and it darn sure sucks to have this much dust in my eyes.

The last one we had to put down really bothered me (and still does everyday). Honor her gift of life she has shared with you and dont let her 'hang in there' too long.

If you can, do something special to honor/remember her by. We buried the last one looking over the hill near a shade tree he liked and, everyday as I roll out of the house, I remember him when I see that tree.

Be strong brother....
 
#48
Damn man, my heart goes out to you. I didn't catch this thread originally, but I have a hard time reading stuff like this without shedding a tear. I have three healthy English Bulldogs, and I love each of them like family. I would kill for them.

My sympathies.

-Bob
 
#49
Man, I'm crying for you brother. I've been down this road twice and it ain't easy. When the time comes, lay down with her, hold her in your arms and look into her eyes... you will be her last sight and she will be at peace knowing you were there till the end...

Molon Labe
 
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