See my post at end for the update.We are probably done traveling for a while, and the longer the better in this case.Our 12 year-old female Sheltie has tumors in her bladder. No fixing it, but we are trying a couple of medicines which may make it easier for her to void for a while.She can’t urinate in a normal position and is incontinent at times or urgently needs to go, so she ends up with wet legs all of the time and we need to bathe her daily. Just more than we want to deal with on the road. At home, she’s free to roam the farm and she can sit in her shady spots and go when she needs to. Easier on her and on us.She’ll miss the trips and hiking as much as we will.

It is always depressing when something like this hits a friend. Give her the most love and comfort your can in the days ahead.

that breaks my heart. our Maggie The Wonder Beagle turned, we think, 11 last saturday. we rescued her 6-yrs ago and our vet thought she was ~5 at the time. i dread what's coming one day but we don't dwell on it. we'll hold you all in our hearts and prayers.

We had one die when we were traveling and we drove two days to get home and put him under his favorite shade tree.

The joys and sadness of having pets.

It's tough at times having pets with you on the road. We've had a couple travel to the "Bridge" while we were out and another we rushed home so that she could be in familiar surroundings during her last days. My real point in all this is that during many trips to unknown Vets in all the years, it always amazed us how lucky we mostly were when it came to finding a "caring and compassionate" Vet while on the road. You could just tell right away that even though you are in a strange environment that still, everything was going to be OK! I guess that's a real credit to the profession and memories I cherish of meeting these wonderful healers of our "kids" who fall ill during our trips.

The sad part of pet ownership—The sad update | Good Sam Community

bgum
Explorer
Aug 31, 2020
It is always depressing when something like this hits a friend. Give her the most love and comfort your can in the days ahead.
rk911
Explorer
Aug 31, 2020
that breaks my heart. our Maggie The Wonder Beagle turned, we think, 11 last saturday. we rescued her 6-yrs ago and our vet thought she was ~5 at the time. i dread what's coming one day but we don't dwell on it. we'll hold you all in our hearts and prayers.
K_Charles
Explorer
Aug 31, 2020
We had one die when we were traveling and we drove two days to get home and put him under his favorite shade tree.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Aug 31, 2020
The joys and sadness of having pets.
Acampingwewillg
Explorer II
Sep 01, 2020
It's tough at times having pets with you on the road. We've had a couple travel to the "Bridge" while we were out and another we rushed home so that she could be in familiar surroundings during her last days.

My real point in all this is that during many trips to unknown Vets in all the years, it always amazed us how lucky we mostly were when it came to finding a "caring and compassionate" Vet while on the road. You could just tell right away that even though you are in a strange environment that still, everything was going to be OK! I guess that's a real credit to the profession and memories I cherish of meeting these wonderful healers of our "kids" who fall ill during our trips.
rk911
Explorer
Sep 01, 2020
Acampingwewillgo wrote:
It's tough at times having pets with you on the road. We've had a couple travel to the "Bridge" while we were out and another we rushed home so that she could be in familiar surroundings during her last days.

My real point in all this is that during many trips to unknown Vets in all the years, it always amazed us how lucky we mostly were when it came to finding a "caring and compassionate" Vet while on the road. You could just tell right away that even though you are in a strange environment that still, everything was going to be OK! I guess that's a real credit to the profession and memories I cherish of meeting these wonderful healers of our "kids" who fall ill during our trips.

a big, no...huge +1
magnusfide
Explorer II
Sep 01, 2020
I'm sorry about your sheltie. 12 good years is a respectable age. But it's never easy. Love her while you have her.
jkwilson
Explorer II
Sep 01, 2020
Here she is on a shopping trip after one of her vet visits.
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Sep 01, 2020
John & Kathy,

What you're doing and putting on hold says a lot about both of you. Thanks for sharing.
ReneeG
Explorer
Sep 01, 2020
I'm so, so sorry. It's so difficult to love our companions so much, know they love us so unconditionally, yet not be able to help much, to a degree. My thoughts and prayers are with you.