Cooper, not good (final update last page)

Sorry for your loss.
Even when you know it's time, it's still so heartbreaking.
RIP Cooper.

Today I made the difficult decision to have Cooper put to sleep. Rest in peace Cooper.

His quality of life diminished rapidly.

Dan keeping you all in prayers.

colliehauler wrote:
Scottiemom I will take Sawyer when the time comes. Sawyer has become very attached to Cooper in the two months I've had him. Cooper has taught Sawyer so much in such a short time. Sawyer understands that Cooper doesn't feel well and is not pestering him.

I hope Sawyer's experience is much like Duchess's. She seemed to understand completely. I know she missed her friend terribly, but she knew she was gone and accepted that.

Dale

Scottiemom I will take Sawyer when the time comes. Sawyer has become very attached to Cooper in the two months I've had him. Cooper has taught Sawyer so much in such a short time. Sawyer understands that Cooper doesn't feel well and is not pestering him.

Will go talk to the vet today about medication to keep Cooper as cofortable as possible. The cancer area has gotten so much larger in just a week. Cooper has been feeling not as bad the last two days, giving prednisone at night has helped reduce the mucus flow out of his nose so he can sleep. This morning he brought me his Nerf football to throw and wanted to go for a truck ride when I did erands. Last night he had steak I put through the blender. I have been putting chicken through the blender as well for a treat. I mix both with green beans. Each day his breath becomes more pungent. I know my time with him will be very short but will make the best of it.

Aww Cooper, you're so young (grabbing kleenex) I'm glad you have some "spoiling time" available. And prayers for Dan - sorry you've had to make this decision too frequently ((((HUG))))

I believe we are "given" the dogs we have because of the decisions that will need to be made regarding their care. My last four dogs were all special needs. Not planned that way and they seemed to be healthy when we adopted them. They were all rescues. While I would not choose to fight most cancers, only one of mine had cancer and that was a bladder cancer. We chose instead to keep them comfortable until it could not continue. Many people would just put them down out of convenience, but I think those of us on this forum would choose to love and keep them close until things changed for the worse for them. God bless you and God bless Cooper. He has the best life with you.

One thing that might help Sawyer. He does know that something is wrong with Cooper. When I had to put one of my dogs down, the one that was left went into a deep depression and we almost lost him. He searched everywhere for his friend. He didn't know where he went and couldn't fathom where he was. It was difficult to watch and his health started going downhill and he died a year and a half later.

So when my Butterscotch died of bladder cancer, we had to put her down. I took Duchess with us. They had been together since birth and it had been 11 years. Duchess knew Butterscotch was sick and we put her up on the table with BS. She zeroed in on BS's muzzle and kept her face right in BS's. She kept vigil like that, ignoring everyone and everything else in the the room, until BS died. After a few minutes, she looked up and wanted down off the table. She was ready to go. She never once looked for BS or searched for her. She may not have understood everything, but she knew BS was not coming back. Her life changed without her friend, but she accepted what happened. So you might think of including Sawyer in that process.

God bless you all.

Dale

This is the hardest part of sharing your life with a pet. :(

I'm so sorry, Colliehauler.