LauraMax - how is Cosmo
- Thread starter hiitdogs
- Start date
LauraMax
Cathlete
Hi Carola--so sweet of you to ask! Cosmo is hanging in but I've been sleeping on the couch for the last few weeks b/c she can no longer make it up the stairs. It's been extremely stressful & exhausting.
Strange thing is, her smell has changed & I think that's a bad sign. I don't know if it's the meds or what--she almost smells like she's decaying inside.
Anyway, I expect another couple of weeks & it'll be over. She still has some spirit & is playful once in a while--generally a happy dog except when she has to climb stairs or get up first thing in the morning. Hopefully she'll make it through the holidays but I don't have high hopes.
Thanks for thinking of me--how are you doing?
Strange thing is, her smell has changed & I think that's a bad sign. I don't know if it's the meds or what--she almost smells like she's decaying inside.
Anyway, I expect another couple of weeks & it'll be over. She still has some spirit & is playful once in a while--generally a happy dog except when she has to climb stairs or get up first thing in the morning. Hopefully she'll make it through the holidays but I don't have high hopes.
Thanks for thinking of me--how are you doing?
LauraMax
Cathlete
Thanks guys. Kathy, it was so weird, it was like she had this last spurt of energy for about a week & then took a turn for the worse.
While she can still make it up the stairs, veeeerrrryyyy slowly, the major problem is getting up in the morning. She just can't do it. She scrambles, she cries, she elbow-crawls to the top of the stairs, but I couldn't take seeing it anymore so I figured we'd all be better off sleeping downstairs.
<sigh> I miss my california king pillow top.
But I'll miss my best friend more.
While she can still make it up the stairs, veeeerrrryyyy slowly, the major problem is getting up in the morning. She just can't do it. She scrambles, she cries, she elbow-crawls to the top of the stairs, but I couldn't take seeing it anymore so I figured we'd all be better off sleeping downstairs.
<sigh> I miss my california king pillow top.
But I'll miss my best friend more.dogs2birds
Cathlete
Laura,
I'm so sorry to hear about Cosmo. You are such a good dog mom. Hang in there!
Suz
"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." - Anatole France
http://www.picturetrail.com/dogs2birds
I'm so sorry to hear about Cosmo. You are such a good dog mom. Hang in there!
Suz
"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." - Anatole France
http://www.picturetrail.com/dogs2birds
smartyjonesc2s
Cathlete
Laura,
i am so sorry to hear that cosmo's problems are getting worse. i thought about you on october 24th as i had to put my sweet little black pug, gomez, down after 13 1/2 years of great life. i haven't been on the forums lately either, and was wondering how cosmo was doing. while gomez' passing is so fresh, it makes me cry to think of what you are going through.
a friend of mine helped me to realize that though gomez was not in any pain, he was suffering mentally because he could not do the things he wanted so badly to do. gomez was wearing diapers , and he would fall on the floor and not be able to get up. he cried all the time because he just wanted to follow me around, and he couldn't. his backend was just gone. making the appointment just about killed me, but i took the next day off to spend with him, and he walked into the vet's office on his own, and he was so brave. i stayed with him to the end and it was hard but i know he was at peace and never had to be helpless again.
i am not trying to divert the attention of this thread off of what you are going through or upset you by saying all of this, but i just want you to know that i, like others on this forum, understand how difficult this decision that you will have to make is. you have done so much for cosmo, and she knows it. when the time comes, just remember that she will again be playing and running around like she did as a puppy.
anyway, i will keep you in my thoughts and will do some more crying of my own for you and for myself.
gayla
i am so sorry to hear that cosmo's problems are getting worse. i thought about you on october 24th as i had to put my sweet little black pug, gomez, down after 13 1/2 years of great life. i haven't been on the forums lately either, and was wondering how cosmo was doing. while gomez' passing is so fresh, it makes me cry to think of what you are going through.
a friend of mine helped me to realize that though gomez was not in any pain, he was suffering mentally because he could not do the things he wanted so badly to do. gomez was wearing diapers , and he would fall on the floor and not be able to get up. he cried all the time because he just wanted to follow me around, and he couldn't. his backend was just gone. making the appointment just about killed me, but i took the next day off to spend with him, and he walked into the vet's office on his own, and he was so brave. i stayed with him to the end and it was hard but i know he was at peace and never had to be helpless again.
i am not trying to divert the attention of this thread off of what you are going through or upset you by saying all of this, but i just want you to know that i, like others on this forum, understand how difficult this decision that you will have to make is. you have done so much for cosmo, and she knows it. when the time comes, just remember that she will again be playing and running around like she did as a puppy.
anyway, i will keep you in my thoughts and will do some more crying of my own for you and for myself.
gayla
LauraMax
Cathlete
Oh Gayla, I am so so sorry about Gomez--I don't know if you're aware but I have a pug also, I really feel for you...
Your description sounds exactly like what I'm going through with Cosmo. No diapers for her, but all she wants to do is be with me & she'll climb the stairs even when I'm just using the bathroom (yeah, I'm in there yelling "don't come up Cosmo! I'm coming right back!"). I tried putting up a baby gate but she just knocks it right over.
But she's OK most of the day--it's mornings & nights that are tough. And this is all b/c of arthritis--she's not even sick.
You know, it just kills me that I'm gonna have to put my dog down b/c of arthritis. You'd never even think about doing that to a human.
Your description sounds exactly like what I'm going through with Cosmo. No diapers for her, but all she wants to do is be with me & she'll climb the stairs even when I'm just using the bathroom (yeah, I'm in there yelling "don't come up Cosmo! I'm coming right back!"). I tried putting up a baby gate but she just knocks it right over.
But she's OK most of the day--it's mornings & nights that are tough. And this is all b/c of arthritis--she's not even sick.
You know, it just kills me that I'm gonna have to put my dog down b/c of arthritis. You'd never even think about doing that to a human.
peanut1129
Cathlete
Hi Laura,
I'm so sorry to hear about what you are going through with Cosmo. I know how tough that can be. I haven't been around 'here' that long but I was just wondering what steps you have taken in trying to alleviate some of Cosmo's pain? I only ask because I have a 14 year old Spring/Lab Mix who has terrible arthritis and about a year ago we started him on Adequan injections and he is like a brand new dog. He is on medicine also(which I'm sure you have tried with Cosmo) and between a new medicine(Metacam) and the injections my dog is doing great. I was just wondering if you had tried/heard of these injections.
My dog also can't do stairs and if my DH is away(as he is now) I have to sleep on the sofa too. So I know exactly how you feel.
I'm so sorry to hear about what you are going through with Cosmo. I know how tough that can be. I haven't been around 'here' that long but I was just wondering what steps you have taken in trying to alleviate some of Cosmo's pain? I only ask because I have a 14 year old Spring/Lab Mix who has terrible arthritis and about a year ago we started him on Adequan injections and he is like a brand new dog. He is on medicine also(which I'm sure you have tried with Cosmo) and between a new medicine(Metacam) and the injections my dog is doing great. I was just wondering if you had tried/heard of these injections.
My dog also can't do stairs and if my DH is away(as he is now) I have to sleep on the sofa too. So I know exactly how you feel.
smartyjonesc2s
Cathlete
it is so difficult especially when you know that their mind is still good and they are fighting their difficulties just to be close to you. i remembered that you have a pug, and he will have to help comfort you through the difficult times ahead. I will tell you that the hardest part was making the appointment to have it done. After that, I just tried to enjoy every minute with gomez and he got to eat anything he wanted that day as he loved to eat more than anything. my vet is so awesome. he is very gentle and softspoken, and just helped me to know that i was doing the right thing for gomez.
you just enjoy every minute you can with cosmo and know that she wont be in any more pain once it is over. i will be thinking deeply about you and sending supportive energy your way and know that you both will be getting cyber hugs from me.
gayla
you just enjoy every minute you can with cosmo and know that she wont be in any more pain once it is over. i will be thinking deeply about you and sending supportive energy your way and know that you both will be getting cyber hugs from me.
gayla
smartyjonesc2s
Cathlete
Jennifer,
i totally agree with you about the adequin....i had a dobie who developed arthritis at a young age, and when he started showing signs of trouble getting up, we took him in to the vet and they started him on those injections. it made a world of difference, and he is still going and almost 9 years old now. so that is a good point to ask....
i totally agree with you about the adequin....i had a dobie who developed arthritis at a young age, and when he started showing signs of trouble getting up, we took him in to the vet and they started him on those injections. it made a world of difference, and he is still going and almost 9 years old now. so that is a good point to ask....
LauraMax
Cathlete
Huh, I never heard of those injections. Right now Cosmo is on prednezone, MSM, glucosamine, & vitamin E for the arthritis. She's also on emoxicillin & SAM-E for some kind of liver disease (which evidently is not life threatening as long as controlled by meds).
She's 16 & I've been told she was gonna die 4 times before. I know she's OK on the inside, but like Gayla pointed out, I wonder if it's making her crazy not being able to do the things she used to. The worst is watching her try to stand up in the morning--the fear & frustration in her eyes just makes me want to cry.
She's 16 & I've been told she was gonna die 4 times before. I know she's OK on the inside, but like Gayla pointed out, I wonder if it's making her crazy not being able to do the things she used to. The worst is watching her try to stand up in the morning--the fear & frustration in her eyes just makes me want to cry.
hiitdogs
Cathlete
Oh Laura,
it sounds like you are in the same shoes I'm in. Jake has been progressively getting worse. I am hoping he'll make it through the holidays.
It is soooo hard with these "old" guys. You want to do the right thing for them and not let them suffer but part of me still wants to hold on to him. He has his good days and bad days, the bad days are getting more than the good days.
He also is on prednisone, glucosamine, vitamins, you name it. I am just at a point where I think I am going to take him off because of the side effects that prednisone has on him and I just need to prepare myself and my family (but mostly myself) to let go.
Keep me posted on Cosmo.
Carola
it sounds like you are in the same shoes I'm in. Jake has been progressively getting worse. I am hoping he'll make it through the holidays.
It is soooo hard with these "old" guys. You want to do the right thing for them and not let them suffer but part of me still wants to hold on to him. He has his good days and bad days, the bad days are getting more than the good days.
He also is on prednisone, glucosamine, vitamins, you name it. I am just at a point where I think I am going to take him off because of the side effects that prednisone has on him and I just need to prepare myself and my family (but mostly myself) to let go.
Keep me posted on Cosmo.
Carola