Sparkler's appetite is off

[Grace]

And yet ANOTHER COMPLICATION: next week I have a petsitting job Sunday-Friday at a home way out in the country taking care of 5 cats and a dog.. and now it turns out the dog is terminally ill, with a grapefruit-size tumor on his spleen. He is still having good days, enjoying his nice long walks and being happy and friendly, but he could crash at any time, and I may have to deal with that, i.e., take him to the vet for his shot. Another person is doing some of the pet care too, and we will both be in on anything that might need to be done. His person will also be available by cell phone.

They are going away and leaving their dog who is terminally ill? He could crash at any time?

That sucks

[pomtzu]

They are going away and leaving their dog who is terminally ill? He could crash at any time?

That sucks

Agreed! No way I could ever go away and leave one of my furkids if it was that seriously ill. To begin with - I wouldn't even be able to enjoy myself and would constantly worry about what was happening back at home!

Hoping that you don't have to deal with the inevitable, Pat.

[phesina]

Thank you, Gretchen and Ellie. I have to say I agree with you both.

I've known Mary (the owner) and pet-sat for her for a long time. She has given Bear (the dog) and all her pets very good care and love and lives. Bear is 11+ years old and is a medium-size dog of mixed ancestry.

After I'd already said I would pet-sit, she later got ahold to update me, saying they'd been to the vet and "Bear is dying of cancer." I thought she was next going to say she was cancelling the trip. But rather, she asked me if I thought I would be up to handling what might possibly happen or if she should make other arrangements. She said he could have several good weeks (not months) yet, but he could go downhill fast. The vet gave her a list of signs and symptoms to watch for to bring him in.

I said I'd like to come out and see how Bear is and get a sense of things. Bear was so happy to see me! He and Mary and I took a nice long walk together. I've known him for a long time, and he's a really sweet dog. I felt that, if he does need to go to the Bridge while she's away, I would as soon be with him to say goodbye to him.

Mary said she has thought this through and gone over it with her vets and decided to go ahead with her trip, which is to some remote forest in California where she can be alone to commune with nature and meditate for a few days. She feels that her and Bear's long and good times doing so much together are more significant than a possible brief end-time apart. I guess she feels she really needs the time away and the solitude right now.

Today she said he's doing fairly well, good appetite, likes to walk, a little more in the way of frequent pees.. he seems happy and alert, no scares or downturns.

With luck he'll keep on keeping on like this and there won't be any emergencies.

What an additional headache with all this happening in the midst of the window-replacing and cat-boarding.. Sparkler and Poppy are going to be the hardest ones to catch for THAT..

Sigh, with luck all will go smoothly.. Meanwhile, thanks again, everyone, and again please keep the prayers and good wishes coming..

[Grace]

Thank you, Gretchen and Ellie. I have to say I agree with you both.


Mary said she has thought this through and gone over it with her vets and decided to go ahead with her trip, which is to some remote forest in California where she can be alone to commune with nature and meditate for a few days. She feels that her and Bear's long and good times doing so much together are more significant than a possible brief end-time apart. I guess she feels she really needs the time away and the solitude right now.

Baloney!! I'm sorry, Pat, but you don't want to know what I am thinking of this woman right now. She should be there for Bear, and commune with nature later. What a load of crock!!

[pomtzu]

Baloney!! I'm sorry, Pat, but you don't want to know what I am thinking of this woman right now. She should be there for Bear, and commune with nature later. What a load of crock!!

Well Gretchen - I guess people handle issues such as this, differently. I know I could never do what she is going to do, but that's just me. Last summer I elected not to go away anywhere because of Sparky's declining health. He was not in any absolute danger of passing within a specified time, but at the same time, he could have gone at any time. If I had gone away and he passed when I was gone, it would have devastated me and left me with guilt till the day I died. He (and Myndi) have always been there for me thru good and bad, and I needed to do the same for him - and will for Myndi when her time comes too.

[Grace]

Pat - just a thought or two.

You need to get it in writing, that she will not blame you if Bear should pass while in your care. Also, she needs to let the Vet know, in writing, that you have her permission to make end-of-life decisions for Bear.

[Grace]

Well Gretchen - I guess people handle issues such as this, differently. I know I could never do what she is going to do, but that's just me. Last summer I elected not to go away anywhere because of Sparky's declining health. He was not in any absolute danger of passing within a specified time, but at the same time, he could have gone at any time. If I had gone away and he passed when I was gone, it would have devastated me and left me with guilt till the day I died. He (and Myndi) have always been there for me thru good and bad, and I needed to do the same for him - and will for Myndi when her time comes too.

Like you, Ellie, I would never go away, knowing that one of my cats was seriously ill. For one, I would feel so guilty I wouldn't enjoy myself - even if communing with nature. It would be like leaving a sick child

[phesina]

Oh, I'm with you there, Gretchen and Ellie. I could never just go away when any one of my babies was seriously ill. If I was off "meditating" or "communing with nature," that's all I'd be thinking about including how guilty I'd feel if anything final did happen.

If Bear should need a vet trip (for any reason), I will get Mary on the phone before any decisions are made.. and if it looks like end-time, I'll call FROM the vet's so she can tell them herself what to do. Before she leaves I am going to find out from her just what instructions she is leaving with the vet in the event that I (or Amy, the person doing some of the morning visits) bring him in.

I thought it was interesting that she's going to have her cell phone with her during this deep retreat.. and now that I think of it, I'm going to ask her if it's going to be on all the time or if she's only going to check it from time to time and if so how often.

Bear is NOT going to be put down before Mary tells the vet to do so.