FIrst- a quick caveat... Sara is not dead, but she in no longer with us, as a member of our family...

Sara has been sick for just over a week, slowly getting worse over that time. After treating what we could at home, Sub Q fluids, extra love, special food, lots of research, and time, it finally could not wait any longer and we took her to an emergency vet Friday night as her vital signs were life threatening low, and she has bloody diarrhea. (For those interested, HR was at 36, Resp 15, Temp 98.8, ataxic gait, and extremely weak) These severe symptoms were a fairly sudden onset- she'd been inappitent, and lethargic for over a week, but most of her vitals were Within Normal Limits) We took her to the local E clinic with 5 pages of her symptoms and vitals from the last week.

At this point it's 90% sure that she's developed Addison's disease, but we could not afford the additional diagnostics to confirm it. The vet was SURE it was Addison's, just by her vitals, and minimal bloodwork values further supported the diagnosis. (Potassium of 8, Sodium was very very low, but I forget the number) Nor could we afford the emergency treatment she needed for stabilization and treatment (over $1000 estimate for 36 hours of care, potentially over a week in the hospital) or the lifelong care that she is going to need now. We made the agonizing decision to let our little brown dog go, as she was suffering. We signed papers to euthanize our little girl.

I know, from working on the 'inside' that sometimes, an employee of a vet office will be looking for a new dog, and it's been known to happen that they'll take a dog that was going to be euthanized. Employees often get generous discounts, and that could make Sara's care a manageable cost. I asked the vet if anyone would consider taking her, as she's just a wonderful little dog- too young to die. The vet we saw made an offer incredibly generous offer that she / the hospital would cover Sara's care and treatment for 24 hrs in hopes of finding someone that would be able to take her and give her a home, with treatment and care for her disease. With the right care, Addison's is highly manageable and Sara should be able to still live the full and happy life she deserves. It is also not a probihitivley expensive disease to treat, once the dog is stable, and maintained.

Sara has found a home with a member of the Eclinic's staff.

This breaks our hearts.... Sara was a member of our FAMILY... we love her, and are devastated that we cannot provide what she needs. Our only hope is that whoever got her will love her as much as we do, and she will find a place in the new family that is just as important as the place she held with us.

For those of you who knew she was sick, thank you for all the thoughts, prayers, and messages. You guys mean a lot to me/us, and are helping us work thorough this. It's a terrible thing to have to do... I feel like we failed her.

Please pray/hope/wish that her new person will cherish every little brown hair on her silly, trembling body just as much as we did.

Sara-Dog, we love you. I'm sorry puppy. We did the best we could.

We've not told the kids that Sara is no longer living with us- we sure could use some supportive thoughts as we have that talk with my 3 and 7 yr old tonight...


Edited by Kelly Byrd (12/04/2011 03:37 PM)
Edit reason: add a picture of our lovely Sara dog

Kelly...my heart aches for you.

Sara has found a home with a member of the Eclinic's staff. ... I feel like we failed her. ... We did the best we could.



Failed her? Not in any way, Kelly.

How could you possibly have done anything better than this? Both decisions, IMHO, from agreeing to euthanize her to waiting 24 hours for someone to step up who could manage the demanding protocol required, were exactly what your beloved dog needed.

This is what being a pack leader means: doing what is best for the pack member in trouble .... without regard for our own pain.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

Sara has found a home with a member of the Eclinic's staff. ... I feel like we failed her. ... We did the best we could.



Failed her? Not in any way, Kelly.

How could you possibly have done anything better than this? Both decisions, IMHO, from agreeing to euthanize her to waiting 24 hours for someone to step up who could manage the demanding protocol required, were exactly what your beloved dog needed.

This is what being a pack leader means: doing what is best for the pack member in trouble .... without regard for our own pain.

DITTO....110%. Sometimes life is just NOT fair & we have to do the best we can for those we love..it's not always what our 1st choice for outcome might be...but it is ANOTHER choice, non the less that works.

Be as truthful (without alot of details or elaboration) with the kids as possible. Both they & Sara deserve that. The SIMPLE truth is usally the best way. Letting them know that your decision was made out of love & in the best interest of Sara. I know, so hard to do. I've been there.

Hugs to you Kelly.

Thank you Connie.... and

Of course, hind site is 20/20. It's so heart wrenching to see the emails come flooding in, from Addison's based rescues, and local rescues, offering to pay 100% of her vet bills to get her back home with us, so long as we can afford her maintenance (which is something we could do).

IF we had signed for the $1000 estimate to stabilize Sara, we would have had help from the wonderful people on the internet to pay her bills and get her home.

I just keep trying to reassure that dogs live in the present, and not the past. While I can only hope we made a forever impact on Sara, she's going to live NOW, and she's such an easy dog she'll fit right in to her new family I'm sure. She's not crying every night, looking at where her bed used to be in our room, like we are. She's wondering when dinner is, and when she gets to go for her next walk.

Thank you, again.

"She's not crying every night, looking at where her bed used to be in our room, like we are. She's wondering when dinner is, and when she gets to go for her next walk. "



You are so right. Think of the kind of person who does this type of adoption.


And ... we decide based on what we know at the moment. How can we ever do differently? You decided right based on everything you knew.



PS

I'm grateful I have the pack members who came to me because I was better equipped to deal with certain chronic health challenges. And they are happy, too.

I'm so sorry Kelly...

Very sorry Kelly.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

And ... we decide based on what we know at the moment. How can we ever do differently? You decided right based on everything you knew.

I'm sorry for what your family is going through, Kelly. What Connie says really sums it up. Every so often, life throws us one of these major events where we have to make a quick decision with only the information we have at the moment. You will just drive yourself crazy thinking "if only...."

What you did for Sara was kind and loving, and that is what our dogs need from us.

Kelly I am so very sorry. I agree wholeheartedly with Connie and Anne, you are being the best pack leader you can be, and looking out for her best interests. That takes real courage and a big heart to do what you had to do.
Take comfort in knowing you did all you could, and that she is going to be cared for by someone who will take very good care of her.
I send you big ((((hugs))))