General Trying Not To Resent

[Sweetpea76]

My sixteen year old dog went down last night and cannot stand on her own. I rushed her to the vet in the wee hours of the morning, and they admitted her for IV medication and observation. It is touch and go, and if things do not improve by the morning I have a very hard decision to make. This dog is very much a part of my family, and we have had her longer than my youngest child. It is especially hard because she was very healthy and running around just the day before. She even managed to tear up my garbage a few days ago... so this is a shock. My kids and I are devastated.

My vet has done a runner and did not respond to my text or call. My logical brain knows that this kind of emotional mess is not something he can handle, but there is another part of me that is angry that he can't comfort me a little. He could at least return a damn text.

I'm leaving him be, one text is all I'll give him. He can process it however he is going to process it... but it's my turn to melt down and I'm too upset to f*ck with him tonight.

The kids and I are comforting each other... but it is not the same as having somebody to lean on. I'm trying not to be a shitty person and resent him for this when he is probably overwhelmed and unsure what to do.

 

[Wastinglight]

I'm so sorry to hear that @Sweetpea76. I too had this experience some years ago - my beloved 10 year old girl went from being full of life to being admitted to the vet hospital and dying overnight before they could stabilise her for surgery, in the space of 2 days. I can imagine what a horrible shock it was to have this happen, and not have your partner's support during this time only makes it worse. Sending hugs and thinking of you today. :hug:

 

[Sighs]

:hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug:

So sorry your beloved dog is unwell. Also sorry your vet is not there for you. Its really hard ALWAYS being the supporter never the supportee!

 

[Sweetpea76]

Thank you @Wastinglight... I've been blubbering like a baby all day. We're processing it, and the kids and I talked about her situation and quality of life and decided together how aggressive we are going to be with her treatment. They are teenagers, so we made the decision together. That does make me feel better, because I have been worried about how they are going to handle it. They did get to say goodbye to her this morning too, just in case. We are trying to balance hope and grief right now.

I don't know if I should even update him if worse comes to worst. On one hand, he has a bit of a "dog-thing" from Iraq. On the other, he has warmed up to her over the years and she usually hangs out by him to get scratchies when he is over. Now I have to figure out if texting him will piss him off more than not texting him on top of everything else.

 

[Sweetpea76]

Thank you @Sighs.

 

[Sighs]

I say bugger him. Don't even worry about whether to text or not to text. Focus on your fur baby and your kids.

 

[shimmerz]

My thoughts are with you @Sweetpea76 . Sending all the love I have to your loved puppy.

 

[Sweetpea76]

Thank you @shimmerz. @Sighs, I think I'm leaning towards the "bugger him" school too.

 

[Larksong]

@Sweetpea76 Thinking of you and your kids and your dear dog and wishing you all the strength and comfort you need to get through this. It's so hard, and something I've been through also several times. My daughter and I have loved and lost a couple of our four-legged babies over the past few years and each one took a piece of our hearts. I'm so sorry your vet can't be there for you, and your reaction is perfectly natural; it sucks so much that after all the love and care you've put into the relationship, he has to bail when you really need his shoulder to lean on. I understand your feeling all too well, but I agree with Sighs above: Focus on your fur-baby and your kids. You are obviously a very wise, patient and loving supporter, and I have no doubt your vet will be OK and come back around.

Warmest hugs to you and your family at this painful time.

 

[Friday]

Tear up your garbage? Like might have gotten into some bones or super delicious -non-edible- paper product?

My dog has been flat out, depressed seal/ hairy jellyfish, for a week. He has another intestinal blockage. Not his first, so I'm not super worried (yet). With bolus subdermal fluids (to keep his kidneys functioning, and hydration up), anti-inflammatories to help ease passage through swollen tissues, and antibiotics so he doesn't get a gut infection... Touch wood, to date everything has passed.

 

[Sweetpea76]

@FridayJones, we are worried that she got into something bad too. Her liver is very enlarged, so they are doing tests to see if that is the case. We also live in the woods, and she has been know to catch and eat the occasional critter. No blockages on the XRAY, so they did some bloodwork, and put her on some IV antibiotics, vitamins, fluids, and pain meds. She had a 103 degree fever when she went in. Now, we are waiting to see if she perks up with the meds by morning. It may be liver disease from old age too. If she perks up, we'll do a needle biopsy. I don't think she would make it through any more invasive treatment at her age though.

 

[Sweetpea76]

Thank you @Larksong