tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603883426306376921.post5014811465553068934..comments2023-05-13T08:06:33.385-04:00Comments on Lilies and Elephants: A Little Perspective From a Very Scary WeekendMaya Northen Augellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02469306092296810650noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603883426306376921.post-35727706273861276822015-05-27T14:44:45.690-04:002015-05-27T14:44:45.690-04:00Thank you so much. That does honestly make me feel...Thank you so much. That does honestly make me feel better - not that you had to go through it with your dog or certainly yourself, but the perspective that you give. If she was a puppy or young adult, with lots of life ahead of her, that would be one thing. But mastiff's do not have a long life span. And you're right, she wouldn't know what was happening. I hope it doesn't come to that decision. And god forbid it does, I hope we know when "the time is right" and do the gentle and best thing for her so that she doesn't suffer and isn't in pain, but knows how loved she is. For now, I plan to spend as much time as I can with her because she's so attached to me, and I know that makes her feel better. <br /><br />A while back, I read a blog post "from a dog" that was entitled something like "today is the day I will die." It was about a dog's last day when his owners knew they'd have to put him down later that day. They brought him to all of his favorite places, let him eat all of his favorite food, and did everything they thought would make it a great day. It was so sad, but also such a wonderful thing they did for their dog on his last day. It put it in perspective. Making a dog suffer like that, with little prospect of getting better, is really something the owner does for themselves, not the dog. Maya Northen Augellihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02469306092296810650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603883426306376921.post-45235773470580971692015-05-27T13:22:07.643-04:002015-05-27T13:22:07.643-04:00I am so sorry to hear about Cinn. I know she is yo...I am so sorry to hear about Cinn. I know she is your baby and has been with you as your anchor through many difficult transitions in your life. I'm not one for prayer, but will be hoping that they can figure out what is wrong and that it is something treatable.<br /><br /> I remember when Sophie was diagnosed with cancer. She was 12 or 13. She has a swelling in her jaw and we thought it was just a bad tooth they would have to pull. Instead it was Jaw Cancer. Francis and I really debated how much treatment to give her. She had a few minor procedures, but we just couldn't see putting her through the misery of chemo and a surgery to remove half her jaw. Even though it made us feel like uncaring "moms" we also could not see spending $10-15K on medical treatment to add an extra two or three years to the life of an older dog when we had fledgling retirement accounts that needed attention. Five years later we are both at peace with the decision. She lived a good life and had a peaceful end at home, surrounded by her people. But it was SO hard. <br /><br />Several years later, I was faced with illness myself. I am certainly glad it was treatable and, had I not had insurance, I would have spent anything I had to battle it. But, I recall being in my hospital room after an extremely invasive surgery. I was miserable (my doctor later told me it was one of the most painful surgeries and recoveries. Awsome!) I remember thinking to myself that if I were an animal who could not understand what was happening to me, or even a person who had no chance of recovery, I would not want to go through the surgery. It completely confirmed for me the decision that was made regarding Sophie. I agree with your comment that it is very important for us to try to distinguish what we are doing for us versus what we are doing for them. <br /><br />I sincerely hope it does not come to anything that serious. My heart is with you and Cinn.<br />Maurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01684747396994972505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603883426306376921.post-1525757301739259782015-05-27T10:14:21.361-04:002015-05-27T10:14:21.361-04:00I certainly hope so! And yes, at least her short t...I certainly hope so! And yes, at least her short term memory isn't as good as ours, at least for details like this. I'm not sure she'll enjoy going to the vet again Saturday, as I'm sure she has some memory of it, but at least she's not contemplating and analyzing it. Maya Northen Augellihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02469306092296810650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603883426306376921.post-26986475319507939972015-05-27T09:38:09.055-04:002015-05-27T09:38:09.055-04:00Cinn has a lot of supporters out there so many be ...Cinn has a lot of supporters out there so many be if we all do our Tinkerbell wishes she'll make it through this valley and get back to her normal self. It is some comfort to know that, at least from her point of view, she has probably forgotten all about the events of the weekend.EMMLPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13731327600470046504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603883426306376921.post-46749220019715611162015-05-27T09:37:51.518-04:002015-05-27T09:37:51.518-04:00Cinn has a lot of supporters out there so many be ...Cinn has a lot of supporters out there so many be if we all do our Tinkerbell wishes she'll make it through this valley and get back to her normal self. It is some comfort to know that, at least from her point of view, she has probably forgotten all about the events of the weekend.EMMLPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13731327600470046504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603883426306376921.post-86631259379615137092015-05-26T13:28:04.334-04:002015-05-26T13:28:04.334-04:00Aww thank you! I felt awful for the emergency vet ...Aww thank you! I felt awful for the emergency vet - all she was dealing with were crises (of course), and it must be awful to have to constantly deliver that kind of news. Thank you for the happy, healthy vibes! I intend to spoil her as much as I can! Maya Northen Augellihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02469306092296810650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603883426306376921.post-20863498717878650232015-05-26T12:59:04.414-04:002015-05-26T12:59:04.414-04:00Reading this made me want to hug you! I have been ...Reading this made me want to hug you! I have been a Vet Tech for 15 years and I am an animal owner. I know how it feels to be the one to deliver news like this and the pet owner to hear this news. I will be thinking happy, healthy vibes for you. Spoil her rotten! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11494559352879455896noreply@blogger.com