In memory of a wonderful dog
A little over a week ago I mentioned that our dog Owen was dying of lymphatic cancer. We'd decided to keep an eye on his level of pain and quality of life in order to make a decision about when to have him put to sleep. Back in April when he first got sick, he had really been in terrible shape (my mom was all by herself with him because my dad was visiting me in Ireland). The chemo treatments helped a lot: he gained back the weight he'd lost and had more energy and much less pain. It bought him almost four more months with us.
After the last chemo treatment, the vet told us there was nothing more they could do for him. His condition slowly declined since then. The past few days it started to speed up: he could no longer swallow his dry dog food and the wet food upset his digestion, and he was losing his eyesight. He was very stiff and had trouble breathing. We decided that since things would only continue to get worse for him it was time to have him put to sleep. We all had to tell ourselves that it had to be about what was best for him, not about us wanting to keep him around forever.
So yesterday my parents, my two sisters and I took Owie to the vet. He died very peacefully and quickly, with all of us petting him and telling him how much we loved him.
He was a wonderful dog and we are all missing him terribly. I hope that he's okay somewhere out there - that he's safe, and happy, and loved. We love you, Owen.
After the last chemo treatment, the vet told us there was nothing more they could do for him. His condition slowly declined since then. The past few days it started to speed up: he could no longer swallow his dry dog food and the wet food upset his digestion, and he was losing his eyesight. He was very stiff and had trouble breathing. We decided that since things would only continue to get worse for him it was time to have him put to sleep. We all had to tell ourselves that it had to be about what was best for him, not about us wanting to keep him around forever.
So yesterday my parents, my two sisters and I took Owie to the vet. He died very peacefully and quickly, with all of us petting him and telling him how much we loved him.
He was a wonderful dog and we are all missing him terribly. I hope that he's okay somewhere out there - that he's safe, and happy, and loved. We love you, Owen.