Guest Cielo Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 I am waiting for a call from the hospital so I can bring Demas home. He stayed there last night on a pain drip to help him be comfortable and is coming home with a pain patch. I took him in yesterday so that a few of the other specialists could examine him and his records. His primary doctor even sent his records to Dr. Suzanne Stack (greyhound specialist) to see if she had any ideas. She doesn't. No one does. We are rapidly running out of tests and exams and he's just getting worse and worse. They are thinking of performing an endoscopy on him today. The doctors are now using phrases like "How much further with this do you want to go?" and "If it was my dog, I would be thinking of letting him go." I don't know what to do. I am not ready to let him go. This came on far to suddenly - I've had no time to prepare. And we don't even have a diagnosis. If we did I'd at least be able to make an informed decision. Without knowing I can't give up hope that there is a cure. But he is in so much pain and is just a skeleton. We are keeping him fairly comfortable with very high doses of steroids and pain medication but...What type of life is that? He still can't eat much so his weight is dropping rapidly. I am just so frustrated I could scream. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greydogluvr Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 I am so sorry. This has been a terrible journey. Please know that you have the support of many here in whatever you decide is best for your precious boy. Follow your heart, you know your baby better than anyone. Prayers for a turn around. Demas sounds like a special boy with a strong spirit. Illness is just never easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NevadasMom Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 Can you have you Vets call OSU? Carol-Glendale, AZ Trolley (Figsiza Trollyn) Nevada 1992-2008...always in my heart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverfish Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 (edited) Believe me, I know how hard this is. My own opinion is that it isn't any kind of life to keep them drugged up on heavy-duty pain meds when there is no hope. This is what Renie was like when we saw her at the specialist's that last day and she really wasn't our Renie any more. She had no interest in anything, she was just glazed - and even on methadone, she still felt pain. We made the decision to let her go because we felt that keeping her alive (there WAS no hope) was purely for us, and not fair to her. You have clearly done all you can do. If there is another specialist you can consult who may know more, then fair enough. I think I might go for the endoscopy, just to know for sure I'd done all I could, but if there was no clear answer, or if the answer was 'no hope' then I would let him go. That's JMHO, and it's important for you to feel comfortable with whatever decision you make. No-one can make it for you. There's only other thing I'd want to check out - and he's seen so many specialists I feel I'm asking you to teach your grandmother to suck eggs - has anyone done a tick panel for him? The initial stiffness is something I've never heard associated with Addison's, though I know it can cause pain. Living in the UK, I have no experience with tick disease in dogs, but reading on this forum has taught me the symptoms are many and varied, and often start with stiffness. Unless it takes too long to get the results back, I think I'd want to check that out. In the meantime, you could ask if there's any harm in putting him on doxycycline just in case that's what it is. I wish you the best of luck in coming to your very difficult decision. I know how hard it is when you have no diagnosis. Been there, done that. Edited January 17, 2009 by silverfish The plural of anecdote is not dataBrambleberry Greyhounds My Etsy Shop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Cielo Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 Yes- he's had a tick panel done and it was negative His doctor just called me. Demas is much, much worse. He now can't use his back lets and they are having to walk him using a sling. This may be in part due to the pain medication. They are going to wean him off the medication and see if that helps his walking - of course he'll then be in pain but I might be able to take him home. My husband is gone until Monday and I don't want to do this by myself. I know that sounds so weak and selfish. But I really don't want to make this decision by myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinM Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 So sad. My heart is with you and Demas. Continued prayers. ROBIN ~ Mom to: Beau Think It Aint, Chloe JC Allthewayhome, Teddy ICU Drunk Sailor, Elsie N Fracine , Ollie RG's Travertine, Ponch A's Jupiter~ Yoshi, Zoobie & Belle, the kitties. Waiting at the bridge Angel Polli Bohemian Ocean , Rocky, Blue,Sasha & Zoobie & Bobbi Greyhound Angels Adoption (GAA) The Lexus Project Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverfish Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 I'm so sorry. The plural of anecdote is not dataBrambleberry Greyhounds My Etsy Shop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lauri Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 When Miles was at this point, and we still had no POSITIVE diagnosis, we had to let him go. Once the weight was dropping rapidly, he was losing 2-3 lbs. a week. In the end his heart ws ready to go out. Seriously...there have been times that I know I should have let him go sooner. He was miserable and sad and hurting. ANd what kind of life did he have being pilled, drugged and syringe fed? None! It's not worth the dog going through so much pain. I totally feel for you as I just recently went through this. ANd it's hard! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greytgrandma Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 :grouphug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest PiagetsMom Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 This is the hard part of having and loving pups. We owe it to them to do what's best for them and they depend on us to be strong enough to do that. I guess the sentiment that sticks in my mind is, "Better a day early than a day too late" and have them suffer and be in pain. I know how hard it is - I don't think you can ever be prepared for it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaliforniaGreys Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 My heart breaks for both of you. I don't know that there's such a thing as being prepared. I can't stand the thought of Demas being in such pain with no relief. You love him and will do what's right for him. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you both. Missing my little Misty who took a huge piece of my heart with her on 5/2/09, and Ekko, on 6/28/12 For the sick, the lost, and the homeless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tenderhearts Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 I now know it's better to let them go one day too soon rather than one day too late. It's still too painful to talk in detail about my first greyhound Bart, but we did have all the arrangements made for a myelogram and back surgery at K-State the following Tuesday. What my mind couldn't grasp was what the vet was telling me when I ask if my then fiance and I could take him home where he would be more comfortable till then, and Bart was already deteriorating by the minute, and he touched my shoulder and said, 'You'll know when it's time'. I will never forgive myself for the pain I saw in that dog's face when my ex-fiance rushed him back to the clinic that evening to let him go. :cry1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest GreytMuse Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 My prayers are with you all -- what an awful time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galgrey Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 I'm so sorry to hear this. Cynthia, & Cristiano, galgoAlways in my heart: Frostman Newdawn Frost, Keno Jet Action & Chloe (NGA racing name unknown), Irys (galgo), Hannah (weim), Cruz (galgo), & Carly CW Your Charming Princess http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?i=1018857 "It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life, gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are." -- Unknown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jodyksam Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 I'm so sorry - you will know what to do and will have the strength to do that Mom to Daisy (1999-2012), LB (aka Little Bit), and Sammy James (aka Sammy or Buddy) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DustysMom Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 I feel your pain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest trevdog Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 Sending hugs.. I can relate as well..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4greyhounds Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 I am so sorry, we will be praying and we hope and pray their is some kind of break, I know that has to be heart breaking.... :grouphug :hope :hope Darlene Mom to: Aladdin, Sophie ,Pongo, Jasmine, Relic Forever in our Hearts Champ at the Rainbow Bridge. Let a greyhound race into your heart Adopt Bay Area Greyhound Adoptions INC. Naples/ Fort Myers Chapter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAVED2 Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 Two years ago I lost three of my boys in a month , lie on the floor with them for a while and look into there eyes and listen to there sounds , you will know when the time has come. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Cielo Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 Thank you everyone for your thoughts and kind words. At the request of his doctor, I went to see him at the hospital. His doctor didn't think I should take him home and he was right. I took one look at him and knew that I would only be doing it for me and not for him. I brought a shirt of my husbands with me and put it under his nose. I blew into his face when the time came so he'd know we both were there. Thank you again. Many of you I remember from when I first got Demas and was an active member of this board. It is such a comfort to know you all are there. I will post in the rememberance section when I am more together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tenderhearts Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 :grouphug :grouphug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LoveMyJoseyBean Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 Hugs. I am so sorry. :grouphug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrairieProf Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 I am very sorry. The shirt of your husband's was a wonderful idea. I'm sure Demas knew he was loved. With Cocoa (DC Chocolatedrop), missing B for Beth (2006-2015)And kitties C.J., Klara, Bernadette, John-Boy, & Sinbad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan41 Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 I am so sorry. You were the best mom. Run pain free, Demas. Linda, Mom to Fuzz, Barkley, and the felines Miss Kitty, Simon and Joseph.Waiting at The Bridge: Alex, Josh, Harley, Nikki, Beemer, Anna, Frank, Rachel, my heart & soul, Suze and the best boy ever, Dalton.<p> ....for all those hounds that are sick, hurt, lost or waiting for their forever homes. SENIORS ROCK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RooCroo Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 My husband was away when Sissy's time came, and it was one of the hardest things I've ever done. There's a reason for everything, and I'm sure there was a lesson in it for me. You've just done the most selfless, loving thing that can ever be done. It's also the most painful. Our tears and prayers are with you. Look for the little signs that will tell you Demas is running healthy and pain free until you all meet again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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