The vets have given Pearl a final inning
 

When she was 8, the vets found Pearl's heart murmur. The head vet, the guy who owns the whole practice, talked to me about it. "Her normal life expectancy would be 12 years. With this, she might go at 10," he said.

Pearl is 13.

Her heart is very much enlarged, and she will die of congestive heart failure. We know this.

For the last two months she has started having seizure-like cardiac episodes, where she has an arrhythmia and falls over, unconscious. She's out of it for 30-60 seconds, and then she recovers for 5-15 minutes. She's generally not in pain during these things, although she is anxious.

It happens when she's excited, or when she exerts herself.

Every time, I wonder if this is the last. If this is the one that gets her.

To keep her going as long as possible, she is on a cocktail of four different drugs. The vet has increased the number and dosage she's on over time.

For the last few days she has been reacting well to the last increase. This gives me hope that she will hang on for another few months. Maybe the move won't be so difficult for her, and she'll have a little time at the new place. Her EKG was improved at the last visit. Modern veterinary drugs are doing for my dog what major surgery did for my mom.

That's what I hope. I love my dog so much, you can't believe it. With all the change happening in my life, it is a favor the vets and the world are doing for me, keeping her going a little while longer.

Hang in there Pearl.

Wishing you a happy holiday season with Pearl, UT. I'm glad the vets are able to help her out with meds. Best wishes.

Best wishes for Pearl's health.

happy thanksgiving pearl

chill out little one. It's all gonna be alright.



Happy Thanksgiving to you too UT. have some turkey and some chill if you can too. you've been good, very good to Pearl, and she knows it. much love to both of you.

Knowing in advance, even 5 years in advance, doesn't help one damn bit. :(

Pearl has repaid her room & board many times over, and you've been loyal to her. Shows you can maintain a healthy relationship, if the other half holds up their end.

I remember suggesting you get another dog when you lost the last one, so Pearl would have company and you would have a buddy when Pearl eventually wore out. You didn't, and now with all the shit going on in your life, if that was a good or bad move.

Sorry, UT! :(

Crap. Pearl knows how loved she is, and you know how much she loves you in return. That's the amazing part. My heart is with you both.

That's really sad, UT. Sorry to hear and hope Pearl and you will still have some time together.

Very sorry to hear about Pearl, she's always been one of my favorite imaginary dogs.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you and Pearl - that she can help you move, and approve your new place, and that the parting, when it comes, is gentle to you both.

Sent by thought transference.

Oh, UT. UT & Pearl.

My heart goes out to you both.

I'm so glad Pearl is responding to her new dosage. I know how much you love her-ever since that first pic of her you ever posted of her little doggie self that I saw. I knew that she was beloved- she had that *look* dogs get when they get good love.


Like Carrot- *that* look.

No money. I tried briefly, but was skint when the time came, and had to bail on my breeder. And the thinking is, you don't get a dog when you're skint because you can't pay the vet to treat it properly if something goes wrong.

I will be looking to adopt, I think, when the time comes.

True, UT. Would you be able to pay for all Pearl's meds if you had another dog? Would she get all your attention?
I value Bruce's opinion, but just the way things worked out I think you made the right decision.

I can taste your grief in the back of my throat. It's so bitter to lose a living being that gave and received love so selflessly. And know your only real hope of consolation is it not hurting so much one day.

My love to you.
Pearl doesn't need it. She has your love and her life has been perfect from her perspective because of it.

I am so sorry to hear about Pearl's issues. The "fainting "spells, and the anxious after, are very familiar. My Freya did that for a few weeks, before she passed on. Freya had accute Boxer Cardiomyopathy... in english, an enlarged heart. The vet told us it would just be a heart attack that finished her, but it ended up choking because of the enlarged heart. One thing to watch for is a hacking coughing, sounds much like kennel cough or something stuck in her throat. If you do get unlucky enough to hear that, call your vet. It is a heart wrenching sound. But the vet may have meds or suggest the dreaded E word, but it might be the right thing for your baby. I have been there, felt that, and hated every second of it.
Value every second you have left with your baby! Screw the housework, curl up with her. Everything else can wait.

I am not trying to scare you, or make what you are going through worse. In fact, quite the opposite. If you know what could, or might happen, you may be more prepared for it. We had no clue, and waited days before calling the vet. We simply thought it was kennel cough.
We were not going to get another dog quite as fast as we did, but it ended up 13 days after Freya passed on, we were blessed with Aesa. If the right dog, or the right situation comes up you will know it.

My thoughts are with you and Pearl.

I appreciate it Jaydaan. I understand exactly what you're saying wrt not trying to scare me. I'll watch for that symptom and it is good to know.

I always feel like Bostons and Boxers are similar, even though they are far different sizes. They're both clowns, with a square jaw.

Pearl had another episode tonight and it is always tough remembering that this shouldn't get me down. It's just so heartbreaking to watch.

Yes, he probably did, but a young healthy dog doesn't cost much to keep. And more importantly that was a few years back when I, nor I think UT, imagined he'd be in his current situation.

Enjoy your time with her, UT

She had a really bad episode tonight. She fainted in the middle of the yard while pooping. (Any kind of stress causes her trouble.) I carried her limp body inside and felt for her heartbeat. It was steady but much slower than normal. Arrhythmia. She was out of it for a good 10 minutes, her big eyes just lifeless. She then slowly recovered over an hour.

Now me, I had just gotten back from having a dead battery in north Philly. There's nothing so invigorating as waiting for a tow company for a jump start, in the hood, at night. And when I got home, my main hard drive tanked on me, as it's going intermittent while it too is dying.

And this is why I drink, because even though it's a slow poison, it's slower than everything else around me right now.

Oh honey. What a horrible night.

Damn.
Women send other women cyber-hugs; I don't know whether men would hate that, but I'll send some anyway and hope not to offend. You have lots of people here to stand by you. Lean on us, we're better than slow poison. :hug:

Oh UT, how awful! Hugs to you!

That is a crap night. Sorry man.

Drinking doesn't really help, and actually makes things tougher in the long run... but you know that. Masturbation is the answer. ;)

I hope things are looking better this morning.

Me too. So sad. :(

This thread is a total no-humor zone. So, I'm sure I'm going to hell because when I heard about this last incident, it made me think of Elvis.

But that doesn't mean that there aren't smiles to be had. "clowns with square jaws", chasing balls and getting bowled over like a cartoon snowball, radiating happiness at the promise of a treat or a scratch. Curled furballs of contentment, satisfied to be dozing at your feet or in your lap. Dogs are a huge net positive force in the universe. You're fortunate and she's fortunate.

I've had several dogs over the years, and I've had to deal with their deaths both fast and slow. They're just different kinds of agony. But that agony is transient; what is permanent is my happiness from sharing my life with beloved family members, the marks they've made on my life, the stories, the scars... the hair. I know your pain is real UT. But it won't last, your love and your memories will. I promise.

Despite V's humor ban, I continually read the title of the thread as "The vets have given Pearl a final warning"

And I picture a vet lecturing a disinterested Pearl who is gazing out the window looking at the kids playing ball in the park. Then turning to look at the vet with a look of "Sorry, what? Umm, are we done now? Cause I'd like to go out and help those kids bite that ball, they're doin it rong."

it's not a ban, really. even I didn't obey it.

I am sure Pearl is approaching things with a grin and grace, as she does. Sorry you are facing this journey, but she wouldn't want to be on it with anyone else.

I have a cow orker at the rehab who has a rescue. Let me know if you ever choose add a furry family member and I'll. Get you connected with her.

I liked this. :)

I was talking to my friend last night, the one who lost her brother. She was back and forth between tears and laughing. And that's what it's all about.

UT, how is Pearl doing?

Yeah, that post made me tear up a little. Who knew humor could be so gentle, and so perfectly attuned to a situation?

I hope Pearl is maintaining, UT.

She has an episode every few days. She hasn't had one since the last one. Other than that, she has slowed down but still has enough strength to climb the stairs, and jump onto the couch. She's kind of her normal self when she's not having an episode.

Tough bro. Hang in there.

Thinking of you both.

Dogs fill our hearts with love and break them when they leave us all too soon... >sigh<

Pearl just had an episode, so it's one every three days... that I'm aware of.

To bring two threads together, yesterday I took Pearl to the new place for the first time. She did me proud, both peeing and pooping on the outside. I wanted her to get an idea of it, get some smells down, so when the actual move happens it won't be as stressful on her.

Stressful on me is another thing, but it is what it is.

It's a great idea to take her there ahead of time, UT. Is it possible to repeat the trip a couple more times? (If she likes being in the car, that is.) All the best on moving day.

And good luck tomorrow night! Break a leg, or a guitar string, or whatever it is that musicians do. ;)

i hate to say this, but maybe its better to let her go. let her die in piece in her old home rather than going through the trauma of a move. i know it is a shitty thing to consider, but don't you wonder about her quality of life?

sometimes we you love things, you have to end their suffering

That's a judgement every dog owner has to make at some point Sarge. It's about balancing considerations. At a guess, I'd say that's probably a judgement Tony makes each and every day, sometimes many times in a day. Always balancing the symptoms and suffering against the joys and quality of life of the dog.

It's impossible to know from the outside. But when you're inside that bubble it's all you really think about. It's there constantly in the back of your mind.

Dogs are simple creatues. They have simple pleasures. Quality of life for a veteran dog means enjoying their meals and their walks and their cuddles. As long as that's the case and they're not in pain then every day is worth it. Most dogs take their cue from their owner. Chances are Pearl will be ok with the move as long as Tony is, and as long as there are enough familiar smells in the new place. Maintaning as close to a familiar routine as possible is probably more important than familiarity of place.

She's not really suffering all that much, because during the arrhythmia events she loses consciousness and is not in pain. She's confused for a while but then she comes around. The hardest part is for me and I just find that to be my responsibility to a companion.

I do have the chance to take her to the new place several times, including an extended round tomorrow. I think she will be okay with it, when she finds that the bed and the couch are the same she's known her whole life. Even if they are in a new configuration and she has to be carried up the stairs. She has adjusted to change well in the past.

She'll have you and her bed, old dogs can be content with that. Merlin is content with cuddling and laying his butt up against the warm iron ash clean out door of the fireplace. I need to be that content. :)

Every time I see a new post in this thread, my stomach gets a knot in it, expecting the worst. I'm sure that's nothing compared to your feelings each time she passes out. Give her a snuggle for me, UT.

At first I felt weird about having this thread. I didn't know if I would want to document her decline like this, or whether you all would want to know. It's kind of grim. But it has been a relief for me to talk to you all about it.

I'll tell you what Spexx... when she goes, I'll start a new thread just to give her an official send-off. I truly don't know if that'll be days, weeks or months. It seems hard to believe that she's made it this far. This has been a weird gift to me. The last vet I worked with gave her all the credit, being a hardy dog, but we know the truth. It's been a three-way partnership of Pearl, the vets, and me.

I honestly don't know how'd I'd have coped with Pilau's last year had it not been for the cellar and being able to share that journey here.

I am glad that you are letting us in on your time with Pearl. Having seen the pics and heard the stories over the years, she feels like one of the pack.

I am also glad for this thread. Though i know what spexx means about getting a knot when a new post is made.

Dwellar pets make me happy, and i feel sadness when one passes. I cried like a baby for Pilau. Who i never met. But i felt like i knew him, you know?

I was glad the cellar was here, with everyone's kind words, when i lost Gaines last year.

I think the thing about the cellar is it creates a virtual family - core family members and also those distant relatives that you see at weddings and funerals. Even after all the screaming matches, knocking of heads, and getting on each other's nerves because we know exactly what buttons to push, dwellers will always cheer on each other's kids, celebrate each other's triumphs, mourn each other's losses, and even... umm.. fuck each other's cancers?

I know this has all been said before, but I bring it up to say that I, too, am glad for this thread, to hear news on a critter I care about, whether it's to hear of an episode or a good day. Whenever I see a Boston Terrier IRL I always think "Look, a Pearl!" And I suspect I always will.

Best wishes again, UT, during this tough time. Thanks for the updates.

Ha! me too :p

I'm glad that Pearl has already approved the pooping and peeing facilities at your new establishment. I wish her many more happy poops in the environs. I'm sure that with you, UT, and her familiar bed she'll find the move smooth sailing.

She'll be just fine as long as she's with you. You obviously love her and that's what we all want - canine and human alike - to be loved. Dog bless you both.

Well said Choco. Anybody I bash heads with on here, I also wish the best for.

Well said chocko from Crazy Cousin Zip ,
and that truly how i feel , Brothers and sisters Crazy Uncles , wacky Aunts , Distant Cousins from Way across the pond(s) , Etc,,,,
Crazy and eclectic , id have it No other way !!!

Pearl is in our thoughts as well toad

UT - I meant no ill wishes toward Pearl. I pray everything works out. I should have kept my mouth shut.

A Christmas Pearl.*

Attachment 41976

(*Not actually Pearl.)

No Sarge, no-one said that.
Dani's right - it's for every owner, who knows their dog - to decide.

No-one who knows you (specially UT) would have taken your comments in a way that was not intended. There will be a time when Tony lets Pearl go. Health may mean it's before he wants her to go. But you said nothing out of order.

Pearl, you old gem, you!

She now has this. :thepain:

Vet appointment for tomorrow night.

Oh no. Crossing fingers that this is something that meds will help.

Good luck, UT. Snuggles for Pearl.

Good luck, wishing you both courage and strength! x