It's time to say good bye to the goodest of boys

Droolinggimp · 19 Aug 2021 at 12:43

Unfortunately I will be saying my last good night to my boy later this afternoon. He is 11.5 and had a great life. Full of fun, love, comfy beds and sofas, getting under my feet, drooling at the kids high chair on 3 occasions now hoovering up dropped food.

He will be greatly missed.

About a month ago he started to bring up food after eating, a few weeks ago he was bringing up clear slime after drinking. He has lost lots of weight, muscles deteriorating fast, not him self. He doesn't appear to be in any physical pain but we know he's not feeling well. Blood test came back with result that point to effect from nausea and sickness so nothing too serious, if thats the right word.

He has not eaten the last two days, drinking to replace lost liquid from bringing up the clear slimy goo.

I decided to call it last night at 3am. Yes, we could take him back to have a scan, x-ray more tests but at his age there's not a great deal that can be done. I think it's just his time to cross that Rainbow bridge.

Here is to 11 years of love and the best companion and family could ask for.

I love you dude.

2021-08-19_12-28-10 by Christopher Sharples, on Flickr

2021-08-19_12-27-41 by Christopher Sharples, on Flickr

2021-08-19_12-26-55 by Christopher Sharples, on Flickr

Droolinggimp · 19 Aug 2021 at 13:00

We all know this day will come but you don't think about it. When it does come its like a truck hitting you face on...

Droolinggimp · 19 Aug 2021 at 17:27

Hi.

Well, he is now crossed the rainbow bridge. Chasing after his old friends, rolling around in the long green grass, ******* up against nice flowers. Hopefully he has met up with my Mum and Dad. He never met them but I am sure they know him.

Today was the first time 11 years he didn't pull on the lead walking. I think he knew where he was going. We waited in the carpark and I had that father-son chat. Telling him how much I loved him and how much he meant to me. He never really looked into my eyes this last few days and waiting at the vest was no exception. I don't know what that means, perhaps he didn't want to see me upset and I do actually think this is the reason. The Vet was really nice. We had a chat about him and how he has been and she agreed, we made the correct choice in what to do.

He was a good boy inside. Lay down on the rug they game him. Didn't bother about the canular as it was inserted. I had a few minutes to tell him he was the best thing that ever happened to me and our family, apart from the kids. Even then I think he trumps the kids

. I lay with him, wrapped my arms around him and watched him slowly fall asleep. It was quick and painless. He got heavier and heavier but spiritually lighter as he released his suffering and pain and finally at rest.

I had a minute with him and the vet gave him a fuss too.

When I got back home it was like a weight was lifted from my shoulders. I felt good not guilty but a relief he is safe and sound and not suffering.
A s I am typing this my 1 year old is eating at his high chair. Food on the floor which I have to now clean up. No Labracuum to do it for me, that is what I will miss and brushing hairs up everyday, and telling him to get off the bed at night, and picking up poo in the garden. The list is endless.

Be free Louis.

Droolinggimp · 19 Aug 2021 at 21:46

Cheers for the messages guys. It's been hard this last few hours, BUT, I have a friends dog I am looking after this week with us. I agreed ages ago and we had him before my Louis got really bad and I think he will help us with this early stage. He's not our dog so we don't have that bond. (lovely Collie) He tippy taps on the flooring but different to Louis and I think this will help with the transition for when he goes back to his own home. We will only smell and here the collie and not our Louis.

I hope this makes sense

Droolinggimp · 20 Aug 2021 at 09:44

To the posters who say it was or a possible hasty decision and that he could have had a few more years, yeah in a way I can see where you're coming from. The thing is he was very weak, tests came back with nothing apart from the sickness symptoms. Not eating for 3 days, had no energy, the not pulling on a lead, realistically it was because he had no energy. I walked him a different way to the vets so he really didn't know where he was going.

End of the day I felt he had nothing left in him. I guess its easy for me to say as he is my dog and I know him, whereas you guys will not. This is in no way flaming you for your opinion by the way. The vets told me, if we had him back in for more tests, at the rate he was wearing out he may not have lasted another day anyway.

Don't get me wrong, I have been thinking about it all night, did I make the right choice, could he have been saved. I don't know to be truthful. Even for another 2 days of him suffering even though they may have had something for him, I didn't want him to suffer any more. He has seen me suffer a fair few times and he was upset and supportive as much as he could have been. I don't think he would have wanted me to suffer with him during this time.

I feel bad now.