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- Nov 25, 2013
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We had a very bittersweet weekend. Saturday was filled with lots of running around and playing. Both dogs chasing the naked guy around the house like he was an interactive toy. Our German Shepherd Vash spent the majority of the day following Nigel around and making sure their brother Basil wasn't playing too rough. Always the protector of us all.
Sunday morning started a little strange but nothing seemed out of place until later in the afternoon. My husband got out of bed, gently stepped right on Vash - then promptly fell backwards and onto the floor to avoid hurting him - and the old guy didn't even growl or make a peep. Just sat up and looked at him with his sweet drooly face.
We didn't notice anything was wrong. Vash was being his usual self. He barely ate breakfast, but breakfast had never been his favorite meal of the day and he would skip it whenever possible. And he curled up on the floor next to my husband's spot on the couch while we watched TV.
Nigel was the first one that alerted us to something being wrong. We were sitting in the office; doing computer work, and Vash decided today he was going to lay down next to his dad. Usually when we are in the office he is by me since my computer is closest to the door. Nigel was trying to play with him, get him to move. He wouldn't play. Wouldn't move his head or his feet. We thought he was sleeping at first, but then Nigel started mewing at him. That is when we noticed his temperature had dropped drastically, his gums were grey and he was very lethargic and didn't want to move.
Vash had been in the last stages of kidney failure for the past year. He never showed any symptoms other than frequent urination and excessive drinking. We made the decision that when his time was up we were going to let him go peacefully and at home. In as little pain as possible, but with his whole family with him.
We hoped desperately that this wasn't the end. We gave him water, I tried to get him to eat some easy on the stomach food and for a while he was getting better. He hopped up on the couch and Nigel started playing with his tail. He was responsive and played back for a little bit. This lasted for a couple of hours. He looked to be recovering, getting some color back in his gums and his temperature wasn't so low.
And then he threw up.... And it all went downhill from there....
The vets here aren't open on Sundays. I had some pain medication for him already, so I forced him to eat it with a little bit of water to help it dissolve. We knew it was our last day with him at that point. We knew that it would happen eventually. We knew kidney failure wasn't a cure-able condition. That doesn't mean it didn't hurt when it happened.... It was just so sudden.
It took just a couple of hours. A couple of hours of hugs and kisses and cuddles. A couple of hours left with our big old guy. He passed away in my husband's arms, his paws in my hands, at home, in his crate where he felt safe and comfortable. On a crate pad I had just made for him a few weeks before that he loved more than he would admit. He wasn't in pain until the very end. We kissed him, told him we loved him. Basil and Nigel were right beside us when he went. They could tell he wasn't well, they were just as heartbroken as we were and still are.
This is one of the hardest things I have written. He was my husband's first dog. My stepchild. Our oldest.
Rest in peace, you beautiful sweet grumpy old man. We will love you for the rest of our lives.
He went to heaven with his favorite blankey, Kong ball, the crate pad/bed I had made just for him and a piece of our hearts.
I have created a memorial fund for him with all proceeds going to a German Shepherd rescue in Texas. If you would be interested in it, or would be willing to share it with your friends on social media please let me know and I will PM you with the details. I don't know if I can post it here.
Thank you very much for your friendship and support.
Sunday morning started a little strange but nothing seemed out of place until later in the afternoon. My husband got out of bed, gently stepped right on Vash - then promptly fell backwards and onto the floor to avoid hurting him - and the old guy didn't even growl or make a peep. Just sat up and looked at him with his sweet drooly face.
We didn't notice anything was wrong. Vash was being his usual self. He barely ate breakfast, but breakfast had never been his favorite meal of the day and he would skip it whenever possible. And he curled up on the floor next to my husband's spot on the couch while we watched TV.
Nigel was the first one that alerted us to something being wrong. We were sitting in the office; doing computer work, and Vash decided today he was going to lay down next to his dad. Usually when we are in the office he is by me since my computer is closest to the door. Nigel was trying to play with him, get him to move. He wouldn't play. Wouldn't move his head or his feet. We thought he was sleeping at first, but then Nigel started mewing at him. That is when we noticed his temperature had dropped drastically, his gums were grey and he was very lethargic and didn't want to move.
Vash had been in the last stages of kidney failure for the past year. He never showed any symptoms other than frequent urination and excessive drinking. We made the decision that when his time was up we were going to let him go peacefully and at home. In as little pain as possible, but with his whole family with him.
We hoped desperately that this wasn't the end. We gave him water, I tried to get him to eat some easy on the stomach food and for a while he was getting better. He hopped up on the couch and Nigel started playing with his tail. He was responsive and played back for a little bit. This lasted for a couple of hours. He looked to be recovering, getting some color back in his gums and his temperature wasn't so low.
And then he threw up.... And it all went downhill from there....
The vets here aren't open on Sundays. I had some pain medication for him already, so I forced him to eat it with a little bit of water to help it dissolve. We knew it was our last day with him at that point. We knew that it would happen eventually. We knew kidney failure wasn't a cure-able condition. That doesn't mean it didn't hurt when it happened.... It was just so sudden.
It took just a couple of hours. A couple of hours of hugs and kisses and cuddles. A couple of hours left with our big old guy. He passed away in my husband's arms, his paws in my hands, at home, in his crate where he felt safe and comfortable. On a crate pad I had just made for him a few weeks before that he loved more than he would admit. He wasn't in pain until the very end. We kissed him, told him we loved him. Basil and Nigel were right beside us when he went. They could tell he wasn't well, they were just as heartbroken as we were and still are.
This is one of the hardest things I have written. He was my husband's first dog. My stepchild. Our oldest.
Rest in peace, you beautiful sweet grumpy old man. We will love you for the rest of our lives.
He went to heaven with his favorite blankey, Kong ball, the crate pad/bed I had made just for him and a piece of our hearts.
I have created a memorial fund for him with all proceeds going to a German Shepherd rescue in Texas. If you would be interested in it, or would be willing to share it with your friends on social media please let me know and I will PM you with the details. I don't know if I can post it here.
Thank you very much for your friendship and support.
rip vash! I hope you find comfort knowing he had a wonderful life with you all. You all loved him so much and he will know this. Prayers and love send during this difficult time
