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my senior dog name thor

sweetdawnmarie Oct 22, 2006 01:53 PM

im at such a loss when it comes to my senior husky, he is about 11 or 12... and it feels like he is fallen apart on me. i rescued him when he was about 5/6 yrs old. he was beaten, his ear was chopped off as well as his tail. he was 2 weeks close to being put down at the rescue center, they worked with him for 3 years and couldnt get close to him, he bit everyone that came in contact with him. i took one look at him and fell in love, this pure white all messed up dog stole my heart. i brought him home and i tell ya it wasnt easy. everyday was a battle to be able just to touch him, days turned into months and the next thing it was a year when i was able to touch him or have any form of closeness with him. he bite my hubby day after day(still a problem there). but time moved on and i never gave up on him and im so glad i didnt for the relationship i have with him is priceless. the problem i have with him is he is getting old and he is has alot of issues that is happening to him, he is falling down, he cant hear me as well anymore, i talk to him and sometimes he cant find me.... a few months ago, i went out the front dog and came throu the backdoor, and there he was at the front waiting for me as always, but i came up behind him and was calling his name within a foot of him and he couldnt register where i was.... when he goes up the stairs he has been fallen down them as he is climbing up them, then he gives up and goes back down...... the problem lyes here in this, everytime in the past, which is few, when i take him to a vet, it is horrible all the vets are scared of him, and he is just as scared....it takes months to undo the fear of one visit with him...they have to relax him to the point of almost kill him to be able to touch him and he fights it all the way, he can take off all mussels and collars and full harness in seconds. is what thor is going throu, is this normal or do i have to make him suffer and bring him to a vet??? thanks dawnmarie

Replies (7)

Chelle Oct 24, 2006 12:18 PM

This is the part of getting old that is tough. If it were my dog, I may be considering making that final decision to let him cross the bridge. Deaf, blind, and having trouble moving makes quality of life tough. I'd find a vet that came to my home for this final moment and let him go in peace. IMHO
-----
Chelle and the rest of the crew including, but not limited to Kita and Taiko (the shiba inu wrestle maniacs), Adi (reserved and dignified tabby cat), and all 28 reptiles

sweetdawnmarie Oct 24, 2006 02:07 PM

do they still have vets that come to your house? it has been so long since i have heard of one.
i have thought of putting him down, i guess its the thought of it that is so hard. i have worked very hard with him just to get him where he is and to have it all come to a end, makes it feel like he got short changed. then again, maybe its me that feels like i got short changed im not really sure. i love him, there is just something about him.....
thanks for listening and for responsing, its well appericated
dawnmarie

Chelle Oct 26, 2006 10:40 AM

It's never easy to loose a best friend and the choice on when it's time to let them cross the bridge is very personal. My pets have always seemed to "ask" for it when it's their time.

In my area, most of the vets will come to a home for that purpose. They understand it's a personal and emotional time for an owner. Many also don't want an owner driving home crying. You pay a bit more, but it's so very worth it.

I don't know your dog and I may be wrong. Yet, from what I'm reading, going to the vet for treatment is not really a viable option.

I'm sorry your friend isn't doing very well.
-----
Chelle and the rest of the crew including, but not limited to Kita and Taiko (the shiba inu wrestle maniacs), Adi (reserved and dignified tabby cat), and all 28 reptiles

sweetdawnmarie Oct 28, 2006 07:30 AM

thank you, no it's not easy to make these decisions. to come to terms with letting go, it's a process. i know in my mind i have to let go, yet in my heart wants to hold on to him. i never want him to suffer, he has suffered enough in his life. my goal with him was to give him peace, love and a balance life so he could act like a dog. i do believe i have achieved those goals.....
thank you so much for listening to me, i needed to sort things out in my mind and i have.....
dawnmarie

itobean Oct 24, 2006 01:45 PM

I completely understand where you are coming from. I had two dogs that were similar to your 1. Otis passed away last year. This is the first true pet of ours (husband and I's) that we've lost and it's been the hardest thing in the world to go through. There are many times that we still cry because we miss him sooo much. It's so hard to see your true buddy get old and die.

We adopted (I found her on the side of the road) a pure-bred Husky female about a month before Otis passed away. (Fate works in mysterious ways.) She was abused, she had heart worms, her ears were chewed up from flies, her neck was scarred from being chained up. It was a long road of both healing her physically but also emotionally and mentally. It took her some time to trust humans again. But luckily for us and her two big brothers (husky mixes from the shelter) Lexi came around within about 6 months and she is nothing short of pure joy! She is the most grateful little girl in the world for any sort of attention!

Have you thought about finding a vet who comes to your home? Maybe he wouldn't feel so threatened if he was allowed to stay in his own environment. Have you considered talking to a behaviorist? Our vet was both which helped us considerably.

Just some thoughts and options. My thoughts are with you! I'm so sorry!!

Becky

sweetdawnmarie Oct 24, 2006 03:05 PM

thank you for your kind words.... as well, im sorry for your loss.
is that a picture of lexi? very beautiful.

you do invest alot of time working with a animal that has been abused. thor isnt my first abused dog that i have worked with, yet he is my extreme thou. he has touched a part of me that no other animal ever has. he was such a sad case in his younger years. he still has alot of issues, i guess i just ran out of time in helping him get over those issues. i just want so much for him to have, what i thought he desevered.
part of me knows it is his time, for me to do the right thing. then there is the part of me that just cant let go. he has his off days and i start to cry, then he has his good days and i try to convince myself that he is fine.
i guess maybe all im doing is trying to come to terms with what is happening. im not really sure
thank you for listening and for responsing
dawnmarie

itobean Oct 25, 2006 08:04 AM

Yep, that is Lexi. She's my pride and joy.

Please know that we are all here for you!

I've had a hard time this morning. I've been babysitting a rescue husky and I soooo want to keep her. But my two boys won't have it. They are growling at her and barking at her incessently. But I guess my "children" need to come first. But it's sooo hard. She is a sweet, sweet girl. Her original family was in the military and they were transferred and for some reason couldn't take her. Anyone in the Savannah, Georgia looking for an awesome, beautiful, Sibe???

Becky

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