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12-09-2009, 11:39 AM | #1 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Worcester, MA
Posts: 18
| Yorkie siblings - putting one down Saturday Hi, My yorkies are 9 years old and siblings. My husband and I have made the very difficult decision to put our girl down on Saturday because of tumors in her lungs. Her quality of life is rapidly declining although I must credit the raw meat supplement recipe I found in the other forums. It's the only thing she's eaten the past few weeks. I would appreciate any advise on how to help her brother adjust. They have been together since birth and were rarely separated. Our state's law prevents us from taking her body home (although we will get her ashes back for burial in our yard in the spring). They sleep in the same crate and share other beds around the house. Should I clean them immediately to remove her scent? Should we take him with us and let him sniff her after she has passed? Fortunately my husband will be home until January to help brother adjust during the day. This is hard enough as it is and I want to do what I can for my guy. Thanks! |
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12-09-2009, 11:25 PM | #2 |
I♥PeekTinkySaph&Finny Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Posts: 18,866
| Hi and Welcome to YT! Wish it could be under different circumstances though... Bad idea to take the brother along ... did that with unrelated, different breeds and my Yorkie kind of freaks out now at going to the vets. He is getting better about it, but I think it really traumatized him. I wouldn't wash to get rid of her scent right away. Maybe do it gradually, washing a couple things here and there. Allow him time to grieve. Snuggle-buddy (I think that's the name) at Petsmart has a mechanical heartbeat and a microwavable pouch to provide warmth. Good for puppies, sick dogs, etc... may help him to feel less lonely at night, or maybe allow him to sleep in your bed at night??? And keep an eye on him for when he feels down, be prepared to give him extra attention and try to do things with him that he likes more often to keep his mind busy. Prayers to you all that things go better than expected through these trying times...
__________________ Kat Chloe Lizzy PeekABooTinkerbell SapphireInfinity |
12-10-2009, 03:32 AM | #3 |
Donating YT 5000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: MD
Posts: 10,908
| I am so very sorry that you are faced with this. I probably would not wash everything right away. I agree with kjc, give him some time to grieve. I don't know, I kinda am torn with taking him to the vet with you. I think that it would help your little girl to say goodbye. And I think that dogs instinctvely know about death so maybe if your little boy was able to see her after, he might accept things a little better. I wish I had a better answer for you. I wish you all the best with your decision. Hugs to you and your family at this time. And yes, welcome to YT.
__________________ www.kissecollar.com Soft Cone Collars for Post-surgery and much more! 10% (non-food) - Discount code YT10 |
12-10-2009, 05:56 AM | #4 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: With my yorkies
Posts: 10,350
| I am so sorry. I know exactly what you are going through. I lost my Becca about 18 months ago after 11 wonderful years with her. My Alexander was heartbroken, he grieved so badly that I thought I was going to lose him to. They'd been raised together, played together, slept together, ate together - they were best friends. I made the decision to bring home a new puppy - not to replace Becca, because she can never be replaced. But to give us a reason to smile, a new being to love and make room in our hearts. Thank God, it worked, for both Alex and me. She kept him distracted, forced him to move and play, and I'm convinced she's what kept him alive. I know that getting another pup is not always an option, but it is something for you to consider. Best wishes.
__________________ He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion. -- Author Unknown |
12-10-2009, 06:09 AM | #5 |
Donating YT 12K Club Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Council Bluffs Iowa
Posts: 12,552
| I think getting another one soon is a good idea for everyone. But I also agree that he needs time to grieve. The smell of her on the bedding will be a comfort to him, so don't wash it away. I'm so sorry for your loss,I know how hard it is to make that decision. I have tears just thinking how sad your little one must be. |
12-10-2009, 06:42 AM | #6 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Where the deer and the antelope play
Posts: 7,069
| I am so sorry you are going through this. I think you've gotten some great advice, but I just wanted to offer you some hugs!! |
12-11-2009, 06:31 AM | #7 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Worcester, MA
Posts: 18
| Yorkie sibling update Hi, First, thank you all so much for your support and well wishes. When I came home from work yesterday, my husband told me our girl had a terrible struggle to breath all morning. She had been coughing and gasping for breath. Just horrible! He took her to the vets and had her put to rest. I was so relieved to learn my baby was no longer suffering, but so sad to know she was gone. We were wrong about not being allowed to bring her body home so he did. He presented brother with her body. Hubby said brother sniffed and licked her, then suddenly jumped back and tried to get away from her. Hubby said it was like something clicked within brother that she was dead; he understood. We were so concerned about brother last night, but we put him in his crate with their bedding and he slept through the night without a peep. He was so quiet I was afraid maybe we had lost him to grief but he greeted us with a wagging tail and kisses this morning. We'll continue to closely monitor him and set up new routines with extra snuggles. |
12-11-2009, 07:45 AM | #8 |
Donating YT 5000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: MD
Posts: 10,908
| I am so sorry for your loss but glad to hear that your little boy is doing okay. I do truly believe that they understand loss and if given the chance to deal with it, are all the better. Just love on him and he sounds as though he will be okay. Hugs to you and your family.
__________________ www.kissecollar.com Soft Cone Collars for Post-surgery and much more! 10% (non-food) - Discount code YT10 |
12-11-2009, 08:23 AM | #9 |
Princess Poop A Lot Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado
Posts: 6,728
| I know how hard this is for you, your husband and her brother. I have read many books on animals and the dying process (read about elephants) and I think you and your husband did the right thing. I think they do know about death and it does help make it easier for the ones left behind. The rainbow bridge poem also helps me get through my grief. Rainbows Bridge Home Page
__________________ Cindy & The Rescued Gang Puppies Are Not Products! |
12-11-2009, 12:34 PM | #11 |
No Longer a Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: With My Beautiful Fur Babies!
Posts: 5,525
| I am so very sorry for your family's loss! |
12-11-2009, 12:39 PM | #12 |
Action Jackson ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maryland
Posts: 17,814
| I am sorry for your loss! What a terrible situation. Living at home still, my mom's dog was like my own. She died in the summer, and before my step-dad buried her out back, we let Jackson say goodbye. He did the same thing.. sniffed her and then got a little nervous. I think he understood. Then we buried her and for the first 2 weeks, he would always go to that spot and sniff, he was really lonely and down for a month. Now he's used to being an only dog and has gotten over it. Dogs heal faster than humans, luckily. I would love to get another dog but the timing is not right right now.
__________________ ~ Brit & Lights! Camera! Jackson! CGC ETD TKP ~ Follow Jackson on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacksontheterrier |
12-15-2009, 06:28 PM | #13 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2007 Location: Louisiana
Posts: 203
| I had to make the same decision 4 yrs ago with my Beloved Auggie Doggie. At that time I had 2 yorkies (now I have 4) Lulu and Auggie were inseperable and when Auggie got sick and I had to make the decision to put him down, Lulu started having terrible seizures. I was beside myself and rushed her to the vet. I had changed vets after Auggie's illness so it was the first time for us both with this vet. When I was describing the seizures to him and how worried I was, the first question he asked me was did she lose a litter mate? I was so taken aback, and when I answered that it wasn't a litter mate, but we did lose a pet a week ago, that's when he told me she is grieving. He explained animals, like humans grieve. Since she had grown up with him, and learned how to be a dog because of him, and now that he is gone, she is scared and alone and that he was sure it was grief that was causing her to have a seizure. He did blood work to check all her levels just to be sure. When he called me back with the results, and everything was fine, thank God! He told me we may want to consider getting another pet to help her. At that time, I didn't feel I was ready for that, but I took his advice and got another male. Since then, she has never had another seizure and that was four years ago. I hope everything works out for you. It is a very hard decision to make, but I believe it is the most humane thing to do for a beloved pet who is suffering. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.
__________________ Lulu Belle, Bosley Beamer, Baby Zoey, & Holly Berry's Mommy |
12-16-2009, 10:05 AM | #14 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: ny
Posts: 58
| This thread is absolutely stunning. Beli - I am sorry about your loss. I really appreciate you sharing your experience with us all. Your other dog sounds like a genius, I would never have guessed a dog could reason that way. Lulu, I am utterly speechless reading about the grieving process. I just had no idea these kind of feelings and comprehension were possible. Beli ...best of luck with your process. I am sure your sweet girl lived a priveleged and happy life. May she rest in peace. |
12-16-2009, 12:48 PM | #15 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Worcester, MA
Posts: 18
| Follow-up HI, It's almost been a week since our Adele passed. Her brother Chuck is doing really well so far. We are walking him daily, usually 2xs, and he's only looked for her a couple times. The last time I was wearing a sweatshirt that had her scent. We used to play a game where she would hide and he'd look for her. I hid her in my sweatshirt a couple times, and he knew this. He poked me with his nose to see if she was in there, and got excited he "found" her. It nearly broke my heart! I kept showing him and telling him no, she wasn't there. I immediatly took off the sweatshirt and threw it in the laundry. He's been sleeping through the night and only cried once. The night he cried, I realized we didn't walk and he was put into his crate with in a cold bed. Normally he'd have the warmth of his sister. So the next night I microwaved a homemade corn bag (similar to a rice bag) and put it in his crate about a half-hour before bedtime. I placed it in the back of crate when I put him in. I've been doing this every nite since and he's been quiet. Chuck isn't a chewer so I don't have to worry about him eating the bag. He's not a snuggler like my Adele was but I'm hoping this will change. |
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