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[tessa_s212]

Two weeks ago he stopped eating. We thought his back was bothering him again, as in the past one of his symptoms of his arthritic back pain was a lack of willingness to eat. However, we could always get him to eat hamburger/rice or chicken/rice even if he woudln't eat his dog food. When his pain meds for his back didn't work after 2-3 days and he turned down all food presented to him, I knew it was more serious.

Last Wednesday was his first visit to the vet. After expensive testing, we found that he had elevated liver enzymes and WBC. He was diagnosed with bacterial hepatitis, taken off all other meds that could be harming his liver, and loads of antibiotics. After the first visit, he seemed to be doing a lot better. He was walking around more again, wagging his tail, barking again, but still very unwilling to eat - though we could sometimes get him to eat chicken and sometimes the homecooked diet.

This past Monday he started slowing down even more, and when we updated the vet he wanted him in the next morning for an ultrasound. Tuesday morning's ultrasound showed masses all throughout his small intestines. Spook had intestinal cancer. He was sent home Tuesday with 8 days worth of pain killers, though we knew we wouldn't use all 8 day's worth. The last three days my mother, sister, and me spent every moment with him. We took him outside for hours at a time to sit outside in the shade with him. He loooves being outdoors.

Today at 5:15 he was taken in by my mother and sister. I wanted to go, but with these pregnancy hormones raging through me I just knew I couldn't be calm enough to comfort him in his last moments. I said my goodbyes today in the front lawn laying in the shade with him, singing him a song. He was ready. Even when they got him to the office, he mustered his best to walk by himself and he climbed onto the lift table as best he could. I'm thankful we have this option for our pets and he's in Heaven, but I miss him so much.

He's technically my sister's dog, I'm more like an aunt. He is such a special, special boy. To think anyone at one time could ever dump him in a shelter and leave him to die is beyond me - all I can wish for is to wake up from a bad dream and he share more time with us. I will miss his constant, annoying barking. His "smiles" and his exuberance and charm. I will miss him so dearly.

YouTube - Before I Met You: A Movie for Spook

[Ritz459]

Rest in peace, sweet Spook.

I remember reading about him for the first time and you and your family blessed him beyond belief and he repayed it all back to you.

[Novel]

I'm so sorry Tessa. My deepest sympathy!

[Cassiepeia]

I'm so sorry Tessa. He'll always live in your memories though.

Cass.

[tessa_s212]

Thank you all so much for the kind words.

It is very hard losing him so suddenly. With the previous two family dogs, we had months to prepare, not just 1-2 weeks. In fact, until we got the final diagnosis, I know we were all hoping and thinking he'd be with us for at least several more weeks or months. We never expected only to have only 2 days left.

I'm just so glad he's out of pain. And I truly wish we could go adopt another older dog in his memory - because although we lost him, we always have room in our hearts for another.. but unfortunately finances won't allow that. I jus tknow when the time comes and we can open our hearts and home to another, it will be another middle-aged or senior dog. For if we can only give that older dog a week, a month, a year in a good home with love, it is worth all the pain and tears in the end. I can't decide who was more blessed, us or Spooky, though I have to lean to us. We were so blessed to have him for even a short year.

I hope he's getting lots of belly rubs and butt scratches in doggy heaven.

[sunriseadams]

I lost some Dogs during my Life and all of them had to be put down because they were very Sick.It is a horrible Time,before you finally make this Decision and then through and a long Time after it.You can tell yourself a hundred Times that it was the best you could do for your Companion in this Moment but still it is very very painful.Our last Dog that left us a few Years ago,Kicca,was 13 Years old and had bad Cancer,i remember that even a Year after she left us i still used to make a big Step over that Spot where she used to sleep when i went to the Bathroom at NIght.And for sure i still miss her.My Thoughts and Prayers are with you and never forget: In the End the two of you gonna meet again and it will be like in the old Days...

[Swiftwind]

I'm extremely sorry to hear of your loss... Your post made me tear up, and right now I'm trying not to cry, but it makes me think of Harley (my old dog), and what it will be like when he's gone. Spook was a gorgeous dog, and I'm sure he truly enjoyed his life with your family. Hold on to all those memories, because they are just as precious as gold.