Really hard time for my Mum at moment. She's had Dylan a 10 year old choc lab from 8 weeks. She retired when they got him so he has been her constant companion all that time. He got her through losing there elderly golden retriever and was with my dad on walk when he had his fatal heart attack staying with him till police brought him home. His health hasn't been great last few years has painkillers for hips and on thyroid tablets ( thank god for pet insurance) but he now seems to be having real problems waterworks wise. He can be dribbling urine for ten mins and then need out again almost straight way they have done water samples and said something about crystals but said bring him back at end of week but he had a really bad weekend and mum had to get him in vet first thing today they are scanning etc just waiting to hear now. Poor mum is in bits as she lost last chic lab at 8 to pancreatic cancer so she is convinced its tumour. Ive been upset obviously as he's a much loved family member but with her living alone with him now I'm dreading what we will do when "the time" comes. I know no one can do anything to make this easier but just needed to share with other dog lovers as I know you will all understand. Thank you x
Re: Helping Mum get ready to say goodbye i think I am sorry to read about Dylan and having lost three dogs in the past three and a half years , I empathise completely . Its a tough time , deciding when to let go, only those who are with the dog 24/7 can really judge as they see the subtle changes that others may miss . I can only really add that dogs have no perception of their ages , all they care about is being with those who love them and being cared for . Your Mum must try to take some comfort from knowing that , despite a long illness , she has stood by him and done all she can .
Re: Helping Mum get ready to say goodbye i think Very, very tough time for your Mother, but all may be well. There is an op and medication for dogs with crystals in the urine, so fingers crossed for you.
Re: Helping Mum get ready to say goodbye i think Hoping for the best for your mum's much loved lab. Very difficult time for you all.
Re: Helping Mum get ready to say goodbye i think Oh so sorry to read this,will be tough on you all ....sending my very best wishes to you xxx
Re: Helping Mum get ready to say goodbye i think So sorry, I am thinking about you, your Mum and Dylan. Sending lots of positive vibes and hugs xxxx
Re: Helping Mum get ready to say goodbye i think Thinking about you all. Fingers crossed the vets can help x
Re: Helping Mum get ready to say goodbye i think Fingers crossed your vet news is more positive than you anticipate xx
Re: Helping Mum get ready to say goodbye i think Thank you all so much. We picked Dylan up at five he was so good vet was lovely and did lots of tests sending off blood and urine samples and he also drained Dylan's bladder as he said because of crystals and what he called Sludge he wasn't emptying fully had a good clean out by what we can gather and bless him he seemed a lot more himself when he came out. He's home with Mum now and all tucked up on sofa has antibiotics and changing him to a dog food prescribed by vet for older dogs with urinary tract problems. Results back in about a week so fingers toes and paws crossed for duly dog and mum. X
Re: Helping Mum get ready to say goodbye i think Sounds positive fingers crossed the results will mean the condition is treatable
Re: Helping Mum get ready to say goodbye i think And fingers crossed here too. Hoping it's treatable.
Re: Helping Mum get ready to say goodbye i think Thank you everyone I've passed on messages to Mum she is feeling a bit more optimistic now as she says we know Dylan won't be with us forever she just needs to know he's not suffering and she is doing all she can. X
Re: Helping Mum get ready to say goodbye i think So glad he is a bit better now. Hope they can find a treatment to keep things under control and his new food helps too
Re: Helping Mum get ready to say goodbye i think I'm glad Dylan responded so well to the vet treatment. My old lab got a bit dodgey with his water works. I thought it was just old age, he was 15, and because he was on water tablets but I told the vet and he was being put on antibiotics for something else. His bladder control went back to normal so fingers crossed the antibiotics and diet will do the job for Dylan.
Re: Helping Mum get ready to say goodbye i think Thank you all again . Just thought I would lighten the mood with an update and hopefully give you a glimpse of Dylan's personality and possibly my mad dog obsesses mother. As I posted Mum was given new food and more tablets for him. Well Dylan doesn't seem to know he is a lab and is really picky eater and dissects any tasty treat to get rid of tablets! Mum is old hand at coaxing him but she just had me in stitches( what a change from yesterday) . She made sure he was really hungry after walk etc mixed his old food with bit of new , and said he spent half hour huffing and puffing picking new food out bringing it to her and spitting it at her feet! She then put tablet in Dylan's prefererred tablet treat he sucked off liver sausage and dropped tablet in water bowl! She said she just said to him ( she lives alone with him so poor dog is used to her waffling at him poor dog) lol " well if that's what you want Phyllis (his nickname!) I hope you waste away that'll teach me for trying to save your life starve and when your winky falls off don't coming crying to me! Even at times like this Dylan manages to cheer us up. X
Re: Helping Mum get ready to say goodbye i think ;D Glad to see she is regaining her sense of humour. She might have to resort to putting the pills in the back of his throat and tipping up his head and stroking his throat. Works pretty good, but it is tricky to do just right.
