R.I.P Shadow

[Aubrey's Reptiles]

We had to put down our 15 year old Lab/Terrier mix tonight . This is the first dog that I have had to do this to and it's not sitting well for me ( I get very close to our dogs). I stayed until the end with her and it's something I will always remember.
She had started acting funny over these last few hours ( prancing, not laying down, coughing, wimpering) and once I took her in we found out that her stomach turned on her. It would of been emergency surgery and I don't believe she would of made it through. These last 2 years she had developed Irritable Bowel Syndrome ( at which one time we had to rehydrate her after she vomited all night by using a needle and saline bag at which point we almost lost her) and has had an ACL tear that we healed via natural means. She responded well to the medication and was living a good life.
She had also dodged being put down once before when she was 2 yrs. old. My sister worked as a vet tech. and Shadow was to be put down since she was at the clinic for so long. My sister was on the floor sitting to pet her when she jumped into her lap and she has been in the family ever since. She was the type of dog that would jump into your lap and if you were laying down on your back she would run up and lay right next to you with her head on your shoulder.
Now comes the hard task of telling our 5 year old son that his playmate is no longer with us.
Thanks for listening everyone.
Here is a photo of her a few years back when she was at her best. RIP Shadow......

 

[Jeremy Letkey]

Shawn, sorry for your loss.

 

[Ccrashca069]

I am sorry for you loss of your beloved Shadow. I think it was fate for you to have her all these years and care for her. Maybe you will find anouther dog that will be like her. She really sounds like an amazing dog.

 

[David Loftin]

I am so sorry. It sounds like she had a great life and time with you guys. Its really hard to say bye to family.

 

[PacHerp]

Shawn,

I can sympathize with you completely. On November 15th, we had to put down my family dog. she was 16 years old. she was my first dog, and she had been in decline for about a year, loosing weight (she was a fat one due to her thyroid) and getting irritable and weak. My parents took her to the vet to find out she had advanced bone cancer, and she would have a week at most.... that was the day.

so... that is my story... it is sad, but I know they both lived a great life.

I am so sorry for your loss...

we can get through this together!

 

[Aubrey's Reptiles]

Thanks everyone for the kind words. And Brittney, I'm sorry to hear of the passing of your family dog. It looks like both of our dogs had good, long lifes.

 

[Alusdra]

GDV (Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus, stomach flipping or bloat) is a horrible condition. It's good you noticed it so quickly and took her to the vet, otherwise she could have had a very long, painful death. I'm sure you made the right decision. It's never easy. She had a long happy life with you guys.

 

[techgirl]

I'm so sorry about Shadow. I know it's going to be hard to tell the 5 yr old about it. I had to go through that when my 7 yr old Borzoi died and my then 2 1/2 yr old saw it happen(she suffered a pulmonary embolism, it's instant death). To this very day, she brings up Bambi, she doesn't quite understand the full story but know she's not coming back. Children do grasp certain situations to a degree and deal with it a lot better than us. Good luck with that. I know it's not easy.

 

[Mel&Keith]

Shawn, I'm so sorry for your loss. We had to put down one of our dogs a couple of weeks ago and it's one of the hardest and most selfless decisions a person can make. Shadow was lucky to have a long and happy life with you that would not have had otherwise. I'm sorry your son lost his playmate, thankfully children's hearts are more resilient than ours and he'll have warm memories of Shadow forever.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Shawn, I am so very sorry your beloved friend is no longer with you. Our pets really are family members, and when one has been with us for so long it leaves a huge gaping hole in our hearts to say goodbye. I won't tell you you did the right thing... you alread know that. Making the decision of end our friend's suffering is one of the hardest things to do, but is the most unselfish and loving act we can make.

I had to make the same decision a few years ago with my longtime friend, Max. He was my Min. Schnauzer who amost made it to his 17th birthday when he started having brain seizures one night and didn't stop. He played up until the day before he died! I held him in my arms during the euthanazia, and wept so hard I didn't think I would ever stop.

My thoughts an prayers go out to you and your family, and hope that your son will have fond memories of his playmate, Shadow.

 

[Aubrey's Reptiles]

Thanks again for the support, it has been comforting. The night we knew Shadow was sick we had awoke my son to come down to give Shadow a hug and kiss because my wife and I had the feeling that this was it. We had explained to him at the time that she was sick and I needed to take her to the doctor. He was concerned and as we found out yesterday (after telling him of Shadow's passing) he had a feeling that she was going to pass on but did not mention it to us until last night. When we did tell him last night that she did not make it he was understandably upset and confused as to where she has gone. My wife and I explained it as best as we could and I believe he has an understanding of where she is.
We were given a paw print of hers that night and we had decided to get a private cremation done as her ashes will be placed in an urn that we plan on engraving and placing on our mantle so that she will always be home. My son has already expressed that we should get another dog which we plan on doing sometime down the road. We hope to be able rescue another dog from being euthanized, just as my sister did for Shadow so long ago.