We just can't seem to get a break lately. :shame: Just so much going on in our lives and it still feels like we are battling a storm.
My :heart3: dog, Wilbur, has been at the Evet for the last day and night. We just got him home this morning after seeing his "regular" vet. He has heart disease, an enlarged heart, high BP and low oxygen in his blood and that has been causing the rapid/shallow breathing and the reason we rushed him to the vet Sunday morning. He was in an oxygen cage for the night. His BP was very, very high and dangerously so. All I wanted was for him to be stable enough for us to bring him home today so the vet could come over to "set him free". Well, Wilbur will have none of that and insists that he wants to fight on. He is on three heart meds and I need to watch him closely over the next days. Like a helicopter mom. :heart2: It will be touch and go to see if the meds will stabilize him. The vets AND Wilbur want to give the meds a chance. We will not let him suffer and are ready (as much as we can be) to let his old body rest. But for this moment and this day, we will try. The vets say that these new heart meds (from Europe) can really give a pet some more quality of life. And, that is all we want at this point.
Yesterday, July 7, marked 7 years to the day that we rescued Wilbur's brother, Henry, from his life with his other family whom could not deal with his anxieties and phobias. At that time, Wilbur was just diagnosed with Mast cell cancer which he has since overcome. Henry was a blessing and I was grateful to have him come into our lives the way he did. Yesterday was Henry's seven year annv. with us. The boys are 14 1/2 yrs. old. Also, on the way to the Evet. We saw a rainbow in the sky, Larry and I. It was not raining - only misting in the distance. We thought that was the sign - it was Wilbur's time. HUH...... guess not...... not quite yet, Wilbur says.
We have been prepared so many times to let him go but I will say this.... my heart was broken in a million pieces last night feeling that this was it. I do not think I will ever be "prepared" to handle the pain and loss. The huge hole that will be my heart, never to be filled. It is something I deeply fear and dread, that emptiness. Wilbur has been my "constant" companion for 14 and a half years. A very, very, very special dog. AND, he has ALWAYS loved the cats, so very much. I know I am grateful for more time or days with him. My fear are the days after he is gone and how I will manage. I know you all know what I mean.
I am going to post some pictures here in this thread and then try to get some sleep with Wilbur today.
His actual paw print in a heart tattoo on my left forearm. I got this tattoo over two years ago. I chose that spot so that I could put my forearm to my own heart. Forever in my heart :heart3:
Wilbur on my left, Henry on right. My 50th bday - which I was grateful that he made it to!!!
Wilbur left (he always brings his dumbbell when he wants a treat) Henry right.
I love it when his left ear stands straight up!
"I help momma put away the kitty toys" :heart4:
Small angel on my back shoulder blade that watches over "Wilbur" Got this one five years ago.
My :heart3: dog, Wilbur, has been at the Evet for the last day and night. We just got him home this morning after seeing his "regular" vet. He has heart disease, an enlarged heart, high BP and low oxygen in his blood and that has been causing the rapid/shallow breathing and the reason we rushed him to the vet Sunday morning. He was in an oxygen cage for the night. His BP was very, very high and dangerously so. All I wanted was for him to be stable enough for us to bring him home today so the vet could come over to "set him free". Well, Wilbur will have none of that and insists that he wants to fight on. He is on three heart meds and I need to watch him closely over the next days. Like a helicopter mom. :heart2: It will be touch and go to see if the meds will stabilize him. The vets AND Wilbur want to give the meds a chance. We will not let him suffer and are ready (as much as we can be) to let his old body rest. But for this moment and this day, we will try. The vets say that these new heart meds (from Europe) can really give a pet some more quality of life. And, that is all we want at this point.
Yesterday, July 7, marked 7 years to the day that we rescued Wilbur's brother, Henry, from his life with his other family whom could not deal with his anxieties and phobias. At that time, Wilbur was just diagnosed with Mast cell cancer which he has since overcome. Henry was a blessing and I was grateful to have him come into our lives the way he did. Yesterday was Henry's seven year annv. with us. The boys are 14 1/2 yrs. old. Also, on the way to the Evet. We saw a rainbow in the sky, Larry and I. It was not raining - only misting in the distance. We thought that was the sign - it was Wilbur's time. HUH...... guess not...... not quite yet, Wilbur says.
We have been prepared so many times to let him go but I will say this.... my heart was broken in a million pieces last night feeling that this was it. I do not think I will ever be "prepared" to handle the pain and loss. The huge hole that will be my heart, never to be filled. It is something I deeply fear and dread, that emptiness. Wilbur has been my "constant" companion for 14 and a half years. A very, very, very special dog. AND, he has ALWAYS loved the cats, so very much. I know I am grateful for more time or days with him. My fear are the days after he is gone and how I will manage. I know you all know what I mean.
I am going to post some pictures here in this thread and then try to get some sleep with Wilbur today.
His actual paw print in a heart tattoo on my left forearm. I got this tattoo over two years ago. I chose that spot so that I could put my forearm to my own heart. Forever in my heart :heart3:
Wilbur on my left, Henry on right. My 50th bday - which I was grateful that he made it to!!!
Wilbur left (he always brings his dumbbell when he wants a treat) Henry right.
I love it when his left ear stands straight up!
"I help momma put away the kitty toys" :heart4:
Small angel on my back shoulder blade that watches over "Wilbur" Got this one five years ago.
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