1952-59 Ford I have a very sad & hard question to ask everyone !

I have 2 small dogs that are my wife's and my good boys as we always refer to them . They are our 2 Lhasa Alpso dogs that we have had for about 13 and 11 years now . The youngest had some problem last Friday and took him to his Vet . They did the blood work all that good stuff for $250 just to tell me my dog has arthritis ! That was a stupid thing for them to come up with and gave him some pain meds and sent him on his way . When my wife came home I told her it's his stomach that is having problems ! Well after a week and 2 more attacks with one of them today we took them to an Emergency Dog Hospital . Well after X rays , blood work and 4.5 hours , they told us that our precious little guy has bleeding in the stomach from a spleen that might be Cancer also ! They told us they can operate and that might stop it buy no guarantees . Well I asked how much was that and they said they just did one on a big dog while we were waiting. That price tag was $4000 ! I also just spent another $625 today on all the work and meds they gave us to keep him comfortable till his red blood count drops so low that he just goes to sleep ! I really don't car about the damn money at all , only about my babies ! It is tearing me into a million pieces right now and I am having a very hard time dealing with the waiting thing . They did wrap his stomach tight to help with a million to one shot of it healing ! He is bright eyed and just loving us up like always and playing with his best friend , the 12.5 year old Lhasa Alpso .
I know that a lot of you have been through this just like I have many times but it gets harder and harder every time ! This one is hitting me much harder than all the other ones I have had to let go for some damn reason !
I know this isn't car related but this little guy I call my Garage Puppy because he always loves to come out to the garage when I work on my car !

I might not be around much this week or next week till the end comes but I hope many of you understand the huge loss I am going through right now just waiting . Yes many say it only a dog but to me he is just the same as family ! It really fuc**ng ****s big time ! He is my best little buddy that has kept me company for over 10 years and the last 8 years I have been with them almost all the time since I got on disability plus has been there through all the pain I was in no matter what I said ! . The two of them can't go anywhere without the other one so I am very worried about my other little guy now . They have not been separated since they met but one time and that was for the puppy to get fixed ! Matter of fact when we went to look at the litter over 10 years ago my 2 year old dog , at that time , went with us to see the puppies . Well they all sniffed my dog but one puppy grabbed his leash and pulled him all over the yard , they played with each other for about an hour and they just have been best friends ever since .

I thank all of you for listening to me as the tears roll down my face but I am going to be loosing a very faithful friend here very soon ! I am sure many of you understand and some won't but he is a huge part of my life just like my own family !

Well I thank all of you for listening to me and maybe it might help me some for me trying to accept that I am going to loose a very close and dear companion and friend ! There will be a very cold and empty place where he sits between my legs in my recliner and next to me at my feet ! He was the second best dog I have ever owned in so many ways and the first best dog I have ever owned is still here with us ! That is also my other dogs very best buddy for life Friend too ! It's going to hit him very hard and I am scared he might end up with Melancholic ! I guess I am going to start puppy hunting sooner than I was thinking I would have . I have always had 2 dogs at different ages so the one will teach the other puppy all the ropes on how to get on his Daddy's best side for cookies and sleeping in my lap ! They are really great companions if you have never owned one . A dog is one of the very best friends you will ever have in life ! They will listen to everything you say or talk about , will bee there if you are sick or in good health , no matter what problems you have they will always be there just sitting there waiting for you to hug them and give them a big pa on the head . There is nothing like a cold wet nose ! I guarantee that one to you !

Thank you all for listening and can you put in a good word for the little guy to be that one in a million to pull through !
Thanks for all who listened and understood what I am saying !
Jim

 

Jim, Sorry to hear your friend is going through such a tough time. I have a friend who's little Dashound had cancer a couple of times and has had to have limbs amputated but always pulled through and is living a happy life so dont give up! These animals are very strong willed and can come through some amazing feats. If it does come to p*** that it should p*** away just remember that it may hurt to know you have lost something you love but at least you were able to love it for 10+ years and that is a blessing. Hang in there buddy.

 

well i been there a few times. last year early in the year we had to have my wifes old cat put to sleep. he had a toumor on the side of his head. that just kept growing to the point we just didnt think he was comfortable no more . then her dog was going crazy , literaly. we would let her outside and she would run circles around the house like she was doing laps, the dog was never that active. then she was going blind and deaf . started not being able to control her blader. then she she started getting viscious twords us. so we had to have her put to sleep. then my big 145lb. 12yr old rotweiler started getting worse. he had bad hips for years . he started having more bad days then good. we used to go for long walks around our 6 acre yard daily. he got to were he could not make it , he used to play in the creek nightly and get big rocks out. well he started not being able to get out of the creek. but his heart and mind were still strong. jst his body going bad. then he went blind, but still knew where everything was unless you parked something in his way. he ran into the cars several times. but when he got to where he coulnt walk at all i had to make the hardest decision ever. once again we had to have him put to sleep. it was a rough year for us and much loved animals. they were all very old and lived good happy lives and were all loved very much. but when they were no longer comfortable and i felt like wer were being selfish. we had to do it. alot of people told us we waited to long.

i know what your going through jim. i dont want to do that again for along time. as of now the dogs we have still have not got the same feelings as our old ones did.

 

Sorry to hear about your dog Jim. We are also pet owners ans have gone through some of the things you too have. Enjoy them while you have them.

 

Thanks for all the very kind words . It's so damn hard to have a Little guy going like that that was OK just a couple weeks ago I guess . He was just like always but something went terribly wrong last week . It pains me ans my wife so much because for once in his live time , I can't hug him and make it all go away ! I know when he goes he will be in good hands and be with my other dogs to play with and wait for us one day to join them . I am worrying about y other on so much because they were best buddies for almost 11 years ! My oldest one was given a second chance because about 9 years ago he got Lyme disease and we almost lost him . To this day I still don't understand how he pulled through that crippling , painful disease > pray for a miracle once again for my little guy to pull through but I think I ran out of miracles this time . I wish and pray he will but not getting my hopes up at all .

Thanks again for all the kind works and your thoughts ! I will let everyone know the turn out when the time comes . I am just trying to keep my mind busy and not to think about this so sardining news we received today .

Jim

 

Jim, Very sorry to hear about your best buddy. I know just how you feel. We just went thru almost the same thing a little over 1 1/2 year ago with our two Sable Shelties. My best buddies Munchkin ( Munchy 13) and Brandi (9). Munchy went deaf but still did great, As she knew all my hand signals and had Brandi to help her and like your dogs my girls had always been together since Brandi was a pup and were never apart. Brandi learned all the tricks and rules from Munchy. When Brandi was a pup the vet told us that she had mammary gland cancer and she would probably not last very long, But she made it for 9 years without any kind of problems. But finally Munchy's old age caught up to her and we had to put her down. And when the time came it was a very very sad time for me and my wife it was like loosing one of our kids, And was even worse for Brandi loosing her best buddy as she didn't even want to go walking the trails in our woods anymore that they both loved to do so much everyday. It was only about a month later that she just gave up and couldn't even get around anymore as her cancer had come back, So we had to put her down also. It was a very hard time for me to loose both of my best buddies in such a short time. I didn't even want to walk the trails myself anymore. I told my wife that I didn't want anymore dogs. But one day my grandaughter was here and my wife saw another Sheltie puppy in the paper for sale and my grandaugter asked if we could go and just look at it, So we went to just look and the rest is history as we came home with an 8 week old blue merle Sheltie puppy (Shadow) and that was the best medicine I could have ever asked for. ( Saved from a puppy mill) So now I have a new best buddy that is a ball of fire and makes me take our daily walks out on our 7 acres of trails two to three times a day. She is always at my side (Even at night next to me sleeping on the bed that the other two dogs never did!!) and out in the shop with me wacthing eveything I do. So it has helped take the loss of my two girls that are now over the rainbow bridge where all good dogs go to wait for thier master to come to them. I hope every thing turns out ok for you and your little buddies. The best medicine is to give another little buddy a loving home. Like I have done. Best of luck to you and yours, Ken

 

Jim,
I know I'm new to the group and don't know you well,but, I think I can understand the pain you're experiencing and I sympathize. Pet's are people too and the loss of a companion is never easy. I hope your pal is one of the lucky ones, and if not, that your great memories help you through the loss.
Trikepapa, RonC

 

Jim, I know where you are at my friend. Our cat, this past week, we have had to take to the vet. she is 15 years old and raised her since she was born. I mean like the palm of your hand. I have choked up couple times at work this week. She to is not doing well. I really know how you feel and I was struck when I read the post. boy it is tough. I know, my prayers are there for your little guy.

 

Jim,I know how much our pets can mean to us they all have different personalities like people and can share a special place in our hearts,our eldest cat had some medical issues when she was about 4 and the Vet we had was not doing her much good.I looked on the internet and came across www.prayersforpets.org so we posted there and she started to feel better,I had a feeling to change Vets and it was a step in the right direction she improved a bunch.Several weeks later my wife's sister was telling us that her husbands' aunt had lost their little dog and after 2 weeks and putting out posters they had no results,my wife told her about the site and the morning after guess who showed up scratching on the door? he was looking pretty hungry but was OK.

 

Hey there Jim. Very sorry to hear about the troubles you are having with your pup. We had one of our little guys get hit by a car a couple of months ago and we were devastated. By some miracle he made it out with only some cuts and bruises. We had to take him to the emergency vet because our dogs only get hurt on the weekends, and it cost close to a grand- but I don't have to tell you (or any pet owner) that money means nothing when it comes to our four-legged friends.

We have had friends in the last few weeks who have has their dogs p*** after very long, good lives- it sounds like you have given your great lives as well. Just like any other members of our families and friends, we can only love them as much as we can while they are with us. I am sure that you have given both of them a lot of love.

My girlfriend works at a local animal shelter and we see a lot of hard cases on a daily basis. The great news is, they are a no kill shelter which means that every animal- no matter how old, or what their ailments may be- they will have a home for as long as it takes to find them a home. If any of you in the group are looking for an addition to your family, please make sure to adopt from a no kill shelter- these pets have sometimes had unfortunate lives and need your help and love.

I rarely pray, but I will say one for your little guy tonight. I hope that you feel better as well.

Take care,

Scott

 

Hey Jim ,I feel for you and mrs Jim . Always ****** awful losing a pet . Try to focus on the happier times spent with your canine pal .

 

Sorry to hear it Jim. I truly know what your going through, since I have been through it myself. I lost my baby girl (English Mastiff) a few years ago to cancer. All I could do was watch it slowly kill her. It got to a point, I couldn't take it any longer and took her to the vet, to have her put down. She came in the room from being prepped, laid her head down on my lap while I sat on the floor with her, and I watched her die in my arms. Part of me died that day, I still cry when I think about it. --- So you have me in your corner brother, I feel very sad for you. I know I will have to go through it again with my new baby in a few years. Hopefully I will have a puppy or two from her before that time comes. ==== There is no comforting answers for something like this, especially when you are so attached to the animal. People like us, tend to place a very unique attachment to our pets, that in many ways, mean more to us than friends and family.

Just love your puppy and do what you can to make them compfy, but if at all possible, don't make them live with to much pain, and if you should find that you have to put him to sleep, don't let the vet do it away from you. Make him do it while the baby is in your arms. It will tear you up, but I believe that its better for the pet to p*** on in the arms of a loved one.

Regards...

 

I think Ferrell said what I'd say better than I could.

With every beginning there is also an end, and our job as parents is to make the middle part as good as we possibly can.

Each of the many furry friends I've had over the years still lives in my heart, as does the knowledge that I did my very best to make their time on earth as pleasant as I could.

I have also made the mistake of holding on far longer than I should before letting them go. I, too, believe that preventing as much suffering as possible is also my responsibility. Of the many mistakes I've made in my life, it is being selfish at the end that I regret most.

Holding them close in love as they p*** is also one of my most precious memories of each of my friends. They trusted me to do the right thing throughout their lives, and they trusted me still, right to the very moment of their final p***ing, to do everything important together, even this most intimate act of saying goodby.

I also give and get great comfort at that moment of parting by promising each one that I will see them again very soon, in God's good time, and that we will all be young again and run and play as we once did, our big family together once more.

With my entire soul I believe this.

 

Here's to the ones that love us and the ones we love. Thanks for sharing Jim. It made me think of saying good by to my 15 year old puppy. I remember telling the vet that day about all the times I told the little guy to stop barking and to get down that and I wish he would jump up and bark one more time. Thanks again for sharing. They are special. Getting another dog won't replace your old friend, but it will be another good friend. Take care.

 

Hang in there I can't Imagine going through that with my little buddies I love them more than most people I know

 

Thank you all for all the kind words and the prayers and thoughts for my baby boy as I call him . His will not suffer from pain due to what is wrong . He is on 2 different pain meds and an antibiotic for infection . The Dr told us that he will just get weaker when the time is near due to the loss of his red blood cells . He was actually a replacement for the last one we Los and had to put down . I have done that before and held on till it was finished . That was the hardest thing I have ever had to do . My wife dd that with out last dog . I said the last time I will never buy another dog to all the damn pain I went through BUT ended up answering to an ad in the local paper about a litter that was a home bread litter . There was a huge difference between a dog bread at home and one from so called pet store . Our other dog is a puppy mill dog and got him from an ad in the paper where the owners kept the poor little pup in a small cage from 6 am in the morning till 6 pm at night and then they kept him in a small kitchen . When we paid for him and rescued him from that terrible way of living the first thing I did was get rid of that cage . He is now 12 & 1/2 years old with Lyme disease and doing well . He still goes crazy when his Daddy has to leave the house and my wife tell me they both whine till I get back home ! Being on disability for the last 9 years , I have grown very close to my 2 babies and we tell people they are . I will guarantee you I will have another little baby hear befor long so my oldest one will have a buddy to play with when he looses his best friend . Yes it really hurts bad and I still cry when I think about the other little guys we have had since we have been married and May 12 will make it 28 year now ! We have always had 2 dogs so they have someone to play with when we aren't around . Plus it's a tradition with us that the oldest pup has to help train the new pup all the things to do and not to do PLUS how to get the goodies out of Dad ! It really helps to train the new puppy much better as well because they watch the oldest one go do their thing and where to go . It works good for us so far so will keep doing it that way . I am very worried about my oldest because he is mush closer to him than the other dog we had . Yes they both sleep together in bed with us too !
Yes I know that it will get easier as time goes by and I know one day all my best little buddies will be waiting for me so we can all be a big happy family once again . I still think I have one dog that will not leave my house because out the corner of my eye , many times I see a small shadow go up and down the hallway from the living room . I know what it is and which one it is also ! YES I do believe in ghosts as I have many proofs if their existence recorded and on sounds . Yes the wife and I ghost hunt and have been lucky enough to get some very good things on tape already . I mean very clear words not just sounds .
Anyway we are both hanging in there the best we can and my baby boy is doing fine and begging for bites just like always . He is getting all the special things he really enjoyed to eat . He loves deer & rice with some special dog food mixed together , eggs , chicken and steaks ! Yea that's good food but then nothing is too good for our little friends !

Thanks for all your prayers and you just never know what GOD might be able to do or have in mind for my little best friend !
GOD Bless !

Thanks again ,
Jim

 

it's funny you mention seeing the "shadow" out of the corner of the eye. I remember when I put my angel down, when leaving the vets, I got a few hundred yards down the road and had a sinking feeling that Angel was chasing after the car. I had to stop, get out and open the back door till I felt that she was in the backseat. Then I closed the door and went home, opened the back door and left it open while I opened the back door to the house. Still feels like she is here. I have her picture on my wall with her dog tags hanging from it.

Well anyhow, maybe by august, I will have puppies in the house again.. if anyone needs a new best friend... We have to love them, they love us unconditionally...

 

Pleased to hear you're all hanging in there Jim , I've gave both our dogs a cuddle yesterday for you . We have a 5 year old red heeler ( Australian cattle dog) and a 6 month old red nose pitbull - great playmates and wonderful pets.

keep us all posted on how your little guy goes .

 

Angel is a beautiful dog . Sad to see her with such a short life .
There is nothing any better than a cold wet nose and your best friend that will love you no matter how bad of a you day you had at work . They are the best listeners in this word and some will even talk back to you like my one does ! He is truly a sweetheart and very lovable . I will post the picture of my 2 boys one day soon if I can figure it out on the group but for now I'll just have to wait and keep myself together for my dogs ! I know some people think we are crazy but until you have a good dog that loves you , you will never understand what we are all talking about ! They will give you unconditional love forever no matter how sick they are and put a smile on your face when you are down and also be very happy with the wagging tail when you come home each day !
A truly great companion !

Again , Thanks for all your great support and comments !
Jim

 

Jim, isn't it funny how all of us tough guys are turned to mush over a little ball of fur? We have been turned town to rent 2 houses in the last weeks because we have seven cats. We said that would be like giving up a child. So we keep looking. Hope things go as well as possible for your little guy. Be strong. Think of all of the good times together. And remember, he will always be with you. And out of the corner of your eye you WILL see him.

 

I took him and his buddy for a car ride today to see his beauty hair stylist . Yes these dogs don't shed hair so we have to take both of them to a beauty parlor about every 3 months to have their hair cut ! The lady that cuts his hair has been doing him for 10&1/2 years now since he was born so she got to hold him , love him up some and I took a picture of those 2 for her to keep for her wall of dogs she has done . She was totally shocked at what I had to tell her about him . She just couldn't believe it at all .
Anyway he had a great time today going for a car ride and not getting his hair cut or go to the Vets ! The weather was really nice this afternoon so he was outside enjoying the fresh air and "Porch Sitting" as we call it . Both my dogs are home buddies but when the weather is nice out they love to go out on the rear deck and just lay down and look over their domain ! That is porch sitting to them is a real big thing and they love to do that when I am cutting the gr*** or working in the garage ! He had a really good day today and he gets whatever he wants to eat . Dog food is on the very bottom of his list . He is enjoying good deer , chicken and for being good boys they get their Pup-Peroni sticks as treats as well .
Just taking one day at a time and just loving him up all that I can !
Thanks again for all your kind words and prayers !

Jim

 

Jim, I'm sorry about your pal. The Bulldog in my pic is one that I lost over a year ago and there isnt a week goes by that I dont miss her. She died of cancer of the spleen, she died in my arms. That dog was about the only comfort in life I had at the time. My life started to sound like a bad country song for the year before, my wife left me, I lost my house, all of a sudden I only got to see my daughter every other week. If it were not for that dog, I'm convinced I would have been in a worse place. It didnt matter what I had, or didnt have or how pissed off at the world I was, she liked me. I believe god kept that dog with me until I could be "ok" with life, and then took her. I now have an Olde English Bulldogge named Hank, who has turned out to be one of the best dogs Ive ever had, and I'm certain you will find a new pal too.

 

Everythings going to be just the way it is supposed to be. We had to put our dog of 13 years down last year, she was arthritic to the point of not being able to walk. One of the hardest things I ever had to do, but I know for a fact she is happier now!

Animals are amazing and help us in ways other people can't. Hang in there Jim!!

 

Know exactly how you feel, my friend. Been there in the past, like most of us. I've got two dogs right now, and I tell all but my closest friends that they're better companions and friends than 90% of the people I know. You don't get over it for a long, long time. Just do the best you can and think of the good times.

 

glad to hear it jim, is the hair cutter a regular dog groomer or a people groomer? that is willing to do dogs.

 

I have a dog groomer and has done my one dog since he was a puppy and that's over 10 years !
The other older dog has been going to her as well for even longer !
I took him up to the groomer and she got to get a picture with him ! She really loved that and loved my dogs too . They are very gentle and will just sit there and lest you cut them and everything without any problems !
It's the nature of the breed ! Very loyal , very , very lovable and great little watch dogs too . I don't mean the yappy ones either !
Just a really great companion and they love to be loved up and love to sleep in your lap or next to you on the couch !
I couldn't ask for a better dog and I have owned all kinds of dogs in my 57 years ! My last 3 dogs have all been the same breed . The next one I get will be too !
By The Way , he is still hanging in there really well and doing OK ! He is a great friend !

Jim

 

Good to here he is doing OK.

 

Thanks !
Just going one day at a time and letting him do and eat whatever his little heart desires ! We know it will take a Miracle but just never know what the man above will do sometimes ! He is going to the New much better Vet Dr. Thursday if he is still here with us . Then we can find out some more answers if any . Just very hard but loving him up a lot this week and he is being really spoiled big time ! He is eating better than me this week but I haven't really been hungry either since we got the bad news . I am spoiling my other little dog as well . I worry about him more than me because that's his best buddy !

Jim

 

Jim , your last line above is probably a lot truer than many of us realise . As I said earlier we have an adult red heeler ( male , de-***ed) and his playmate had always been our second cat " Jethro" ( the first is a grumpy old bag) when Jethro went, ( firestone deasese) the red heeler did notheing but lie on the porch with his face burried in his paws! - I kid you not . He would get up to go do his toilet duties , and he would get up to eat . Otherwise he just sulked, remember he is only 5 years old so normally very lively . We got the pitbull pup (female) for a playmate for him . She was 16 weeks when she came home and as soon as we introduced them you would swear someone had just plugged old Tobys tail into a wall socket! wide bright eyes again and full of energy ! So yes you will need to consider the other dog when your little pal moves on Jim .

Keep us all posted . Rod .

 

Well the belly wrap they put on has apparently helped mend the hole for now . He is doing very well and acting pretty much normal except doesn't eat the dog food he has always eaten . He is being spoiled on chicken , burger and deer but worth every piece !
Now the bad , the Dr tells me all it's doing it plugging one hole until it finds a new one . We are just enjoying every second with him and doing the best we can . It's very hard doing the waiting game since we know he has a tumor that we can't operate on . If he was 5 or 6 years old we might have been able to save him . So we are just very grateful for every day we get with our little boy ! The meds are what's getting costly . They are costing me about $65 for 5 days supply ! So the money for my car I am spending on my little guy right now and the car can wait !
Anyway we made it another week and he isn't suffering at all !

Jim