I lost Rocky four years ago, November 19th, 2005. I still cry for him frequently. I adopted him at approximately 7 years old, and he was one of a kind. He was so loving, loyal, faithful, and understood me. He was very vocal (and funny), to the point that when I would let him out at 2:00am to go potty, he would "announce" his presence (two or three LOUD woofs) once he got in the hallway. (There are 8 units in my building). LOL.
I had him for a few months under 3 years, and a cancerous tumor grew right at the base of his tail. It just came out of nowhere. I just noticed it one day, so took him to the vet immediately to have it checked. He had to have surgery to remove it right away..... the vet even had a couple of previously scheduled surgeries rescheduled so that he could operate only 2 days later.
13 days after surgery, I almost lost him. He was laying on the floor on his side and could not get up. His tongue was gray as well as his gums. I called the Emergency Vet Clinic, and because I did not have a minimum of $400 (they said that was a low estimate) they would not treat him, much less even look at him. I prayed and prayed that he would make it overnight. And he did.
The next morning (I did not sleep that night) I rushed him to the vet's office at 7am to have him checked out immediately. The vet's face turned almost white when he told me Rocky had a grade 5 (out of 6) heart murmur. He put him on oxygen to help him feel better instantly, and then we put him on meds to help his heart. (Enalapril?) He did better for a couple weeks, then got worse. My vet doubled the dosage of the medicine, and again, Rocky rallied for about 2 months. He started getting short of breath just from walking from one end of the living room to the other. The vet started him then, on Lasix.
Unfortunately, the lasix did not work for him, and within a few short weeks, the vet and I decided it was time to let him go. His heart was so bad and weak, that when the vet administered the euthanazia medicine through the IV, Rocky's heart could not pump it through for it to work. The vet had to give the same amount TWICE MORE before Rocky finally passed. He was a 15 pound Chug (chi/pug mix), and he had been administered enough medicine to euthanize a 60 pound dog.
I knew, before my vet, that Rocky had finally passed. I could feel our connection break; kind of like a bridge breaking in the middle, leaving me on one side, and Rocky on the other. When it was all over, and I had been allowed to spend my time with Rocky alone in the room, the vet told me that "Rocky was hanging on for you. I just can't even imagine how he was able to breathe at all. He was drowning in his own fluids."
It was then I knew how much Rocky loved me, and I, him. Although his passing was not easy on me, it was on him. He had been given an injection of Ace Promethazine before the euthanazia meds, and he fell asleep in my arms. For him, that was the end, but for me.... It was just so difficult.
He is resting in peace now, and is breathing well again, and I hope beyond hope that once I pass we will be reunited.
Thank you for reading, sorry it got so long.
I had him for a few months under 3 years, and a cancerous tumor grew right at the base of his tail. It just came out of nowhere. I just noticed it one day, so took him to the vet immediately to have it checked. He had to have surgery to remove it right away..... the vet even had a couple of previously scheduled surgeries rescheduled so that he could operate only 2 days later.
13 days after surgery, I almost lost him. He was laying on the floor on his side and could not get up. His tongue was gray as well as his gums. I called the Emergency Vet Clinic, and because I did not have a minimum of $400 (they said that was a low estimate) they would not treat him, much less even look at him. I prayed and prayed that he would make it overnight. And he did.
The next morning (I did not sleep that night) I rushed him to the vet's office at 7am to have him checked out immediately. The vet's face turned almost white when he told me Rocky had a grade 5 (out of 6) heart murmur. He put him on oxygen to help him feel better instantly, and then we put him on meds to help his heart. (Enalapril?) He did better for a couple weeks, then got worse. My vet doubled the dosage of the medicine, and again, Rocky rallied for about 2 months. He started getting short of breath just from walking from one end of the living room to the other. The vet started him then, on Lasix.
Unfortunately, the lasix did not work for him, and within a few short weeks, the vet and I decided it was time to let him go. His heart was so bad and weak, that when the vet administered the euthanazia medicine through the IV, Rocky's heart could not pump it through for it to work. The vet had to give the same amount TWICE MORE before Rocky finally passed. He was a 15 pound Chug (chi/pug mix), and he had been administered enough medicine to euthanize a 60 pound dog.
I knew, before my vet, that Rocky had finally passed. I could feel our connection break; kind of like a bridge breaking in the middle, leaving me on one side, and Rocky on the other. When it was all over, and I had been allowed to spend my time with Rocky alone in the room, the vet told me that "Rocky was hanging on for you. I just can't even imagine how he was able to breathe at all. He was drowning in his own fluids."
It was then I knew how much Rocky loved me, and I, him. Although his passing was not easy on me, it was on him. He had been given an injection of Ace Promethazine before the euthanazia meds, and he fell asleep in my arms. For him, that was the end, but for me.... It was just so difficult.
He is resting in peace now, and is breathing well again, and I hope beyond hope that once I pass we will be reunited.
Thank you for reading, sorry it got so long.
