What happens next part II?????

[25yearsmlc]

sorry about your dog rick.

Weirdly, our 11 y/o pug woke up a month ago and could not use his hind legs. He kept falling and collapsing. My h is an MD but years ago he was first an animal doctor. He said that the pug had a stroke of sorts in his spinal area,

but strokes can be blood clots. They can be fatal or paralysing to the dog and ours was definitely paralyzed. He kept trying to stand but only his front legs worked.

So we decided we had nothing to lose and we gave him an aspirin, on the off chance that if it was a clot, it might dissolve it.

Rick, it worked! Less than an hour after the collapsing began, it ended! Like a miracle. Since then we give him a baby dog aspirin every other day to lower his blood clots (plus I think it helps with his arthritis).

So even though your dog is old, it's possible he has something you could help. But I don't know your dog's symptoms. And 12 y/o is old for a lot of breeds.

Rick, Your wife didn't say no. But if she said yes, she'd be signing his death warrant. Maybe she felt you dumping that decision on her, like "Mom said we had to put him down"... Who wants to make that decision???

Just discuss it frankly with her, calmly and with empathy.

I'm sure you all love the dog--don't accuse your wife of not caring about the dog's suffering... so talk, ask questions about her thoughts on whether maybe the dog could get better but what does SHE think the dog feels, and get a decision made, and then implement it. Participate in whatever decision is made, Rick. Do NOT let your wife handle this alone.

IF you guys are taking the dog in, perhaps you could do it as a family, b/c your d may want to come and

then all together your family can say good bye to the dog (if that is the decision).

Then you can gently let her pass away with the love of her family around.

It can be a beautiful, bittersweet bonding experience and it is a lot nicer for the dog, I'd imagine.

Again, sorry about your family pet for they really are family members...

((( )))