Mattsmom277
Active Member
I've lived in the same place over 7 years now. Direct across from me is a woman who has become a dear friend. She lost her husband about 2 years before I moved in. She has two adult kids who live out of town and no family in town. She has a extra strong bond with her dog and she also has a cat. As our friendship deepened we've taken to adopting her on family dinners, holidays, birthdays, bbq's etc. She used to kennel her dog when she'd go away to visit her children but a few years back the dog caught kennel cough and with her increasing age, it was hard to get it under control. Since then I've asked her to not risk the kennel again, not to mention the expense. So for many years now I've been her dog and cat sitter. I love both of her animals. Her cat is skittish but the dog is a warm doe eyed girl who we all adore.
Anyhow, it's been obvious that the dog is declining and fairly quick. My neighbor built a ramp (she's nearly 70, she did it HERSELF, I wanna grow up to be like her!!) off her deck from her bedroom when it became hard for her dog to do stairs. Despite arthritis and hip dysplasia the dog has always seemed still very happy, coping with her new limits etc. But in the past few months she has changed. She doesn't greet me at the door anymore. Last time I dog sat she never once went outside, refused food all day, stayed on her dog bed the entire day (from early morning to late at night). I thought it was her time, she was that down, and stayed with her in the house until my neighbor came home. I thought what a trickster when she got up and wagging tail greeted her "mom" after refusing to acknowledge me all day.
My neighbor had her to the vet this week and a mass that is cancerous was found above her back leg, along the hip on the left side that has been causing her the most issues with mobility. I haven't been inside my neighbors house for a few weeks, and I have seen the dog but outdoors and I greeted her but she was laying under a tree so I let her be. The vet gave her pain medication and said to prepare to have her put down. My neighbor spoke to her children and to me and one other neighbor and none of us thought the dog needed to be put down right then since she seemed relatively comfortable and still enjoying life. The thing is that none of us have had much contact with the dog for at least a few weeks - month.
So I'm pet sitting today and I went by about 9:30 to give her medications. There was a note to me to say that she won't eat but to try but not stress it. It said she will eat her pill in peanut butter but that's the only thing she is showing interest in (she has a PB fetish this dog). Well she didn't greet me and she wouldn't even take the PB which meant she didn't get her pain medication. I felt so sad for our furry friend, her eyes look glazed. The scary part for me was the SMELL. Now my neighbor is a clean freak and the house is always spotless and smelling fresh, never before could I ever tell she even had pets. It was so bad when I walked in that I thought she had soiled somewhere in the house but sadly she had not and it must be coming through her pores, perhaps from the cancerous mass? I don't know. Her breath? I don't know. I just know that in order to not be sick to my stomache I opened some windows in spite of the a/c needing windows shut, and I sprayed deodorizing spray.
Sadly, I think had her kids, myself and this other neighbor known this was the state of my friends dog we would have advised her differently Wednesday about putting her down. The poor thing is very uncomfortable, no interest in food or her treats or PB, without medication she will suffer more. Ive been back twice today, going about every hour to check on her, see if I can get her to stand up and greet me, try to get her to drink (bring the bowl to her). I've put ice cubes in her water in case that makes it more appealing in this heat.
I feel horrible having advised her not to bring her back to the vet just 2 days ago. How on earth do I tell her that I do think it is time? I hate like heck to be switching my mind on my friend but her beloved pet is now past enjoying even basics of life. It is her time. If I can get her to come outside with me at all today I'm going to take some pics of her under her favorite weeping willow tree and have it framed later on for my neighbor, and a copy for easy child who will be so sad to lose our furry neighbor.
I don't want to upset my neighbor, but it's time. What on earth do I say???
Anyhow, it's been obvious that the dog is declining and fairly quick. My neighbor built a ramp (she's nearly 70, she did it HERSELF, I wanna grow up to be like her!!) off her deck from her bedroom when it became hard for her dog to do stairs. Despite arthritis and hip dysplasia the dog has always seemed still very happy, coping with her new limits etc. But in the past few months she has changed. She doesn't greet me at the door anymore. Last time I dog sat she never once went outside, refused food all day, stayed on her dog bed the entire day (from early morning to late at night). I thought it was her time, she was that down, and stayed with her in the house until my neighbor came home. I thought what a trickster when she got up and wagging tail greeted her "mom" after refusing to acknowledge me all day.
My neighbor had her to the vet this week and a mass that is cancerous was found above her back leg, along the hip on the left side that has been causing her the most issues with mobility. I haven't been inside my neighbors house for a few weeks, and I have seen the dog but outdoors and I greeted her but she was laying under a tree so I let her be. The vet gave her pain medication and said to prepare to have her put down. My neighbor spoke to her children and to me and one other neighbor and none of us thought the dog needed to be put down right then since she seemed relatively comfortable and still enjoying life. The thing is that none of us have had much contact with the dog for at least a few weeks - month.
So I'm pet sitting today and I went by about 9:30 to give her medications. There was a note to me to say that she won't eat but to try but not stress it. It said she will eat her pill in peanut butter but that's the only thing she is showing interest in (she has a PB fetish this dog). Well she didn't greet me and she wouldn't even take the PB which meant she didn't get her pain medication. I felt so sad for our furry friend, her eyes look glazed. The scary part for me was the SMELL. Now my neighbor is a clean freak and the house is always spotless and smelling fresh, never before could I ever tell she even had pets. It was so bad when I walked in that I thought she had soiled somewhere in the house but sadly she had not and it must be coming through her pores, perhaps from the cancerous mass? I don't know. Her breath? I don't know. I just know that in order to not be sick to my stomache I opened some windows in spite of the a/c needing windows shut, and I sprayed deodorizing spray.
Sadly, I think had her kids, myself and this other neighbor known this was the state of my friends dog we would have advised her differently Wednesday about putting her down. The poor thing is very uncomfortable, no interest in food or her treats or PB, without medication she will suffer more. Ive been back twice today, going about every hour to check on her, see if I can get her to stand up and greet me, try to get her to drink (bring the bowl to her). I've put ice cubes in her water in case that makes it more appealing in this heat.
I feel horrible having advised her not to bring her back to the vet just 2 days ago. How on earth do I tell her that I do think it is time? I hate like heck to be switching my mind on my friend but her beloved pet is now past enjoying even basics of life. It is her time. If I can get her to come outside with me at all today I'm going to take some pics of her under her favorite weeping willow tree and have it framed later on for my neighbor, and a copy for easy child who will be so sad to lose our furry neighbor.
I don't want to upset my neighbor, but it's time. What on earth do I say???
