Great Dane
Cheesecake!
I haven't been on here much over the past 3 years so I'm not sure how much this post matters. I just need to get it out. A lot has changed, a lot has stayed the same but for the second time in... way too soon, I had to say goodbye to a best friend again last night.
The worst night of my life. I'm heartbroken and in shock.
Last night at 2 am my 2 and a half year old male Great Dane started to bloat. In case you're unfamiliar, what happens is the stomach fills with gas and fluid and then distends. It rotates, called torsion, twisting the stomach and pinching off the esophagus and upper intestine and trapping air, food, water etc. ... once that happens, their stomach lining starts to become necrotic and they don't have long to live. It's a horrible disease that can strike at any time with no warning at all.
I fed him late, usually 8 pm is his last meal, but last night... for whatever reason I fed him around 12-ish. About an hour later he started throwing white foamy mucus, his food and bile four or five times about every 5-10 minutes. Bloat is a reality with this breed so owners are always aware but he had done this before and I passed it off to an upset stomach or something he had eaten. It quickly escalated after that to unproductive vomiting, retching, restlessness and shallow breathing... my heart sank and I rushed him to the e-vet and the x-ray confirmed my worst fear.
Had an option of spending $6000 on surgery to save him but they give him a generous 25% chance of survival. I couldn't put him through it with such low odds... wouldn't have been fair. No matter how many times you go through it, saying goodbye is never easy. Comforting a family member as they take their last breath is something I wouldn't wish on anybody.
In hindsight, I’m guilty wasting an hr that could have saved him. When he started throwing up, retching… he had done it before so I watched him. I should have known. I waited until he showed signs of restlessness and shallow breathing… I don’t know if I did the right thing opting to let him go instead of going through with the the surgery. With such low odds… you know, I didn’t want him to suffer any more than he had to. Keep trying to convince myself it was the right choice.
My friend just lost two Danes in the last six months and we were talking health issues about the breed via Twitter and phone last night... if that's not cruel irony... :'(
I had Boots in the room with him during his final moments and after he passed, they put his body on a gurney to wheel him out. She blocked the door, growling and mournfully wailing, refusing to let them take her best friend away.
Life is not fair.
Run strong and free, my sweet boy...
The worst night of my life. I'm heartbroken and in shock.
Last night at 2 am my 2 and a half year old male Great Dane started to bloat. In case you're unfamiliar, what happens is the stomach fills with gas and fluid and then distends. It rotates, called torsion, twisting the stomach and pinching off the esophagus and upper intestine and trapping air, food, water etc. ... once that happens, their stomach lining starts to become necrotic and they don't have long to live. It's a horrible disease that can strike at any time with no warning at all.
I fed him late, usually 8 pm is his last meal, but last night... for whatever reason I fed him around 12-ish. About an hour later he started throwing white foamy mucus, his food and bile four or five times about every 5-10 minutes. Bloat is a reality with this breed so owners are always aware but he had done this before and I passed it off to an upset stomach or something he had eaten. It quickly escalated after that to unproductive vomiting, retching, restlessness and shallow breathing... my heart sank and I rushed him to the e-vet and the x-ray confirmed my worst fear.
Had an option of spending $6000 on surgery to save him but they give him a generous 25% chance of survival. I couldn't put him through it with such low odds... wouldn't have been fair. No matter how many times you go through it, saying goodbye is never easy. Comforting a family member as they take their last breath is something I wouldn't wish on anybody.
In hindsight, I’m guilty wasting an hr that could have saved him. When he started throwing up, retching… he had done it before so I watched him. I should have known. I waited until he showed signs of restlessness and shallow breathing… I don’t know if I did the right thing opting to let him go instead of going through with the the surgery. With such low odds… you know, I didn’t want him to suffer any more than he had to. Keep trying to convince myself it was the right choice.
My friend just lost two Danes in the last six months and we were talking health issues about the breed via Twitter and phone last night... if that's not cruel irony... :'(
I had Boots in the room with him during his final moments and after he passed, they put his body on a gurney to wheel him out. She blocked the door, growling and mournfully wailing, refusing to let them take her best friend away.
Life is not fair.
Run strong and free, my sweet boy...
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