Letting a friend go

[Lakotapony]

:( On my Birthday I gave my greatest gift - letting my 11 yr old rottie Shasta pass quietly to heaven. I really miss her. She developed a rare facial cancer. Unfortuniately the vet I was taking her to didn't diagnosis it. The cancer we believe formed after they had done a root canal above the molar. The face would swell on and off and this was addressed each time with the vet who placed her on antibiotics and said the root canal looked fine. Since Jan. 03 the swelling never went away and continued to get bigger - the size of a golf ball at the end. I did take her to a specialty vet hospital where they did a complete body eval. The fine needle aspiration came back as inflammatory cells which made me happy that it wasn't cancer but they decided to do a deeper biopsy to make sure cancer wasn't there before furture treatment would be decided. That unfortuniately did come back as an aggressive cancer that had already deteriated the jaw bone. The night I picked her up she seemed her normal self. There was facial swelling the next day and the patch for pain controll was working but that night I had to supplement her with a pain pill too. That was 12/17/03. By Fri. nite you could tell she hurt and didn't want any of the special treats/food I bought for her. Dec. 20 th was my birthday and it was a hard decision to call the vet. I asked if I could give her stronger pain med he said he'd give me some but she wasn't going to get better esp. since they saw the cancer cells rapidly growing. We went to the vet later that afternoon - I was able to cook some canned white chicken meat in rice but all she would eat was the chicken. After that one shot she was releaved of her pain. I still have the other rescue rottie we adopted 12/31/02 - she's bording right now so I can spend some time with my other Sheltie/chow mix 30# 12 yrs old. I just need to tell someone about what happened to Shasta so maybe they won't try to save a tooth like I did - my regular vet says he feels it did stem from trying to save the molar - infection can get up into their bone area and antibiotic's can't effect that area to clean it out so over time - it was 5 years - it can turn into cancer. Hard lesson learned. Any one else hear of such a thing? My husband is in Iraq and I had to share the bad news with him. Of course he feels as if we've lost a child and sad that he never got a chance to see and pet her again. Thanks for listening. Angela

[Lakotapony]

My sister sent me this: If it should be that I grow weak, and pain should keep me from my sleep: Then you must do what must be done, for this last battle can't be won. You will be sad, I understand; but don't let grief then stay your hand. For this day more than all the rest, your love for me must stand the test. We've had so many happy years; what is to come cn hold no fears. You don't want me to suffer so.... the time has come, please let me go. Take me where my needs they'll tend, but please stay with me 'til the end. To hold me close and speak to me, until my eyes no longer see. I know in time you will agree, it was a kindness done for me. Although my tail its last has waved, from pain and suffering I am saved. Please do not grieve that it was you who had this painful thing to do. We've been so close, we two, these years don't let your heart hold any tears. Then there was a picture of a rottie.

[Ilovemypuppy]

I am so very sorry for your great loss. :(

[ilovemyrottie]

I am very sorry to hear about your loss. She is now in a better place without any pain.

[Joanne in NJ]

I am so very sorry for your loss. Eleven was such a wonderful age for a rottie to get to. So many of us lose our dogs much younger. No matter how long they're with us, it's never long enough though.

You did the best you could, and made the best decision you could at the time. I had an old dobie with a badly broken leg that had to be pinned. The bone was both broken and split. Literally if it was a half inch closer to his hock, he would have lost the leg. It also became infected.

3 years later, this past March 1st, we had to let him go. Bone cancer at the fracture site. Who would have known? Think of all the people and pets who have orthopaedic work done and never a problem.

God speed, Shasta. You're in good company. My Brandon, too, one morning let me know clear as words that it hurt too much and he didn't want to go on.

[Brooke&Ryan]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

Brooke

[mmgy]

Rest in peace Shasta. She's a true Christmas angel..........

[Luvs]

I am so very sorry for your loss. Take comfort in the fact that your beloved Shasta is now pain free. You gave her the best gift possible. You freed her from her pain even though it hurt you a great deal to do so. It is one of the toughest things about being a pet owner/lover. Unfortunately it never gets any easier to let them go, no matter how long they are with you.

I am truely very sorry for your loss.:(

[Birdie'sMom]

I'm sorry for your loss. Rest in peace, Shasta.

[pbach]

Shasta - Rest in peace beautiful girl.

Patty

[Sharon Marples]

I'm sorry for your loss.

[LORHEL]

I'm sorry for your loss, my heart goes out to you, 11 years, many happy memories, keep them close in your heart. Rest in peace sweet girl.

[thoradopter]

Angela,

You did what was best for Shasta, even though it was very hard for you to let her go. Please accept my sincere condolences.

The piece your sister sent and you posted was truly remarkable.

Linda

[Muckdogs]

The loss of a friend is always tough. Sorry to hear about it, yet glad you found the courage and compassion to do what must be done.

[Mucho's Mom]

I will shed a tear for Shasta...maybe Shasta and Mucho have already become friends at the bridge as I put my boy down 12/22. What a horrible feeling. My heart goes out to you!!