terrible news

DevoVamp · Post by **DevoVamp** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 9:15 pm

Hi guys
I hope that I can get this to work, I'm going to try and post a couple of pictures here, and it's the first time I've tried, so please bear with me.

The pictures I'm posting are of one of my little dogs, named Siska and the reason that I'm posting them is because she passed away last Monday (the 21) at the age of only 6. No one knows why, although they suspect that she had a heart condition that no one knew about. She was on anti-biotics for a bladder infection, so when she was listless and sleepy in the days before, I thought that was the cause. She threw up Sunday night, so I got her to the vet in the morning. They started her on IV and began tests for pancrititus, but I took her home around 5 pm (against their suggestion, but since she was on no medication other than the IV, it was OK.) Around 10 pm she started to breathe very hard and had her tounge stuck out, which scared me and I insisted that my mother and I take her to the emergancy vet. She never made it, but passed away on route in my mother's arms.

Everyone's in shock, including the vet and the breeder. No one expected this, and they're not really sure what killed her. My other little one, a male named Chilli is really missing her and wouldn't eat much for a couple of days. But I've been making a fuss over him and he seems a bit better now.

We are planning on getting another female cairn just asap from the breeder, partly as a playmate for Chilli and partly for us. It's much better to have 2 cairns instead of just one, since they're there for each other and they play really rough! It's a lot of fun to watch them.

Anyway, I just wanted you guys to know. I hope that this works, here's the pictures, sorry that they're kind of small:

tex-chan · Post by **tex-chan** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 9:23 pm

*sends huge hugs*

I am so, so sorry for your loss! It hurts so badly to lose a pet, and, especially, when it happens unexpectedly at such a young age. I hope the pain of her loss passes as quickly as possible.

*sends more hugs*

SME · Post by **SME** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 9:26 pm

*big hugs*

I am terribly sorry for your loss. I know your pain all too well, as I lost one of my beloved friends (Atlas - parrotlet) earlier this year. It also happened unexpectedly too, and the worst thing is not knowing the exact cause. You gave your pet lots of love and affection, and gave her attention and a loving home. Just remember and treasure the happy moments, and she'll always remain in your heart.

*hugs some more*

shellie · Post by **shellie** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 9:28 pm

Aww DevoVamp! I'm so sorry to hear about your precious dog!

We have a cairn terrier too ... what great companions they are. I hope you are able to find a friend for Chilli soon. I'm sure that would help all of you in the healing process. Many warm thoughts and prayers go out to you, DV!

Baakay · Post by **Baakay** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 10:53 pm

*hugs*

*big old slobbery hugs*

Hard to think of any words to say except that all of us who are pet owners (and most everyone else) knows how hard it is.

aernath · Post by **aernath** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 11:03 pm

I hope you find the perfect fluffy puff to keep you all too busy to cry too much!

wELCOME cONSUMER · Post by **wELCOME cONSUMER** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 11:47 pm

I'm so sorry for your loss!

*hugs* Thanks for sharing the story. And
I hope you can cope, and move past the pain. You will never forget them
and all the good times you had, losing a pet is always a horrible experience.
Just know we support you!

Blackmegabyte · Post by **Blackmegabyte** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 1:08 am

Oh! Sorry to hear that! Nothing worse than tragedy in the home.

I hope you feel better. It's incredably difficult to lose a loving pet.

DevoVamp · Post by **DevoVamp** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 1:31 am

Thanks, everyone.

I knew you guys would be supportive, and I'm grateful for it. I somehow became designated "the strong one" in the family, so I don't get to cry much unless I'm alone.

I'm also very, very grateful that Siska went in my mother's arms, with both of us there rather than at the vet's. OK, she would have been even better at home, but I'm really grateful that she wasn't alone.

I felt just horrible, thinkng that if I'd gotten her there 10 or 15 minutes sooner she might not have passed, but everyone keeps telling me that those few minutes wouldn't have helped at all. I keep forcing myself to not think "what if....".

The vet did check for cancers, and since Siska had had an x-ray the previous week due to the bladder infection (they were looking for a bladder stone) I saw the x-ray and there was nothing odd on it. No tumors, no lumps, nothing. She did have a slightly enlarged liver, but since Sissy had been on steriods due to her allergies (skin itch and hot spots) in previous years that wasn't odd, either. All her urine tests came up normal, her liver was normal and the blood tests that came back the morning after showed that she didn't have pancrititus either. No fever, slightly distended tummy, and a slightly high heart rate was all she had in the morning. In fact, the Sunday morning she was running around playing!

The breeder wanted me to have an autopsy done, but I couldn't, and since the emergancy vet said that even then they may not find out the answer, I just couldn't do it. I brought her home wrapped in a blanket in a box and showed her to Chilli, since I didn't want him to think that she'd gone out and not come back. That night, I don't think he got it, but the next morning he sniffed her again, and started to cry and when I picked him up he was shaking. Since he had to go past her to get out into the yard, I asked my cousin to help me put her in the garage until we could lay her to rest. I put her bone and her favourite toy in with her, as well as a lock of hair from my first cairn, Kiska, whom she was named after. I didn't want her to be alone.

I'm trying to cheer myself up by trying to think of a name for the new one. The breeder's next litter won't be born for another 2 weeks or so. We sort of go for odd names when it comes to the pets, and I wanted to give her a Japanese name from an anime or something, but I can't think of anything short enough!! I suggesed "Wren" to my mother, but that was too short, she said. Somehow, I can't see her calling "Kagome" or "Inuki" or something out the back door! LOL! So, I have no idea what to call her. I guess it seems more real after she has a name.

Anyway, thanks again for all your kind words, everyone. I had a bit of a cry writing this, and I think I feel better for it.

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 1:32 am

What happened to bit of a cry writing this? Why? What is that feeling like? What makes you better?

DevoVamp · Post by **DevoVamp** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 1:35 am

Cloud wrote:What happened to bit of a cry writing this? Why? What is that feeling like? What makes you better?

I think it's like a release, Cloud. You let out all the emmotions that are built up and then you feel better. If you keep everything inside, it not only drives you crazy, it makes you physically ill.

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 1:36 am

Do you think I should know that?

DevoVamp · Post by **DevoVamp** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 1:40 am

Cloud wrote:Do you think I should know that?

Well, you did ask.

Wendy · Post by **Wendy** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 1:55 am

Having just recently lost a pet myself, I know how you feel

A week after he died I had a really bad few days, but I received so many great messages and notes from the members of this board and RS, it really helped.

Therefore I hope writing/posting about it here helps you too, and I wish you all the strength you need to get through this.

In_Gabriel_We_Trust · Post by **In_Gabriel_We_Trust** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 2:06 am

I'm very sorry to hear about this terrible news.