So worried

[Cash_Dolly]

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Me again!

The Cash saga continues. After his chronic rhinitis diagnosis he has been on steroids which have helped with his sneezing and runny nose. However his cough has gotten worse. It is a very shallow sounding cough which is worse at night and first thing in the Morning (particularly when we go outside) He is also sometimes puffing a bit. So I have phoned the vet for yet another appointment this afternoon but I have myself worried sick.

In the middle of the night last night I was sure I was going to be phoning the vet to have him pts. My heart was breaking. However he is still so happy and loving life. he gets up all excited and waggy tailed, still wants to walk and play, still eating, everything else is normal so he seems to have a fantastic quality of life. But when the coughing is really bad I start to wonder if I am being selfish in keeping him here, I have always said I will never let him suffer ad I don't believe I am but it is tearing me apart wondering if I am being unfair to him. I am hoping my appointment with the vet settles my mind. He definitely isn't himself today and the coughing was worse last night.

Given that he has epilepsy, cataracts, chronic rhinitis and a heart murmur I do not want to be putting him through any surgery and I would rather give him quality of life over quantity. I can't help but feel it isn't his time to go but then trying to balance it with the whole "its better too early than too late"

In the past with other dogs it has been clear when it has been their time and I had no doubts but I am really struggling with this!

 

[JoanneF]

Sorry, I missed this earlier. Poor boy. I don't have any answers, I wish I did. I know you will have been at the vet today, I hope it went ok. I'm sure your vet will have covered all of this but a few thoughts are -

It's worse at night and in the morning so -

• Could a change of temperature trigger it? If so, can you balance it out a bit more in the mornings like instead of taking him right out, have a cooler room to transition through? What about a humidifier?

• Or a change in position (lying down, getting up, and the other way round)? Don't know what you could do about that, would massage help maybe?

It's a shallow cough so doesn't sound like lungs so would honey be soothing?

How's his heart?

 

[Josie]

Sorry to hear this @Cash_Dolly I do hope a visit to the vet can give you some idea whether he’s in lots of pain or not and so you don’t feel so terrible letting yourself wonder whether you’re doing the right thing or not x

 

[Cash_Dolly]

Thanks both!

Well it wasn't as bad as I thought. he has an upper respiratory infection which vet says between having rhinitis and being on steroids he is more exposed to. So he has 5 days of antibiotics and then I have to give him some children's Benadryl to help soothe it. I asked about the deterioration from the Rhinitis. the vet advised it can be aggressive and as it can't be cured it is likely his life span will be shortened and that it will be my decision to make when I think he has had enough. but she agrees with me that now is definitely not that time. he isn't in pain and is still so happy...the cough and snuffliness aside you could never tell there was anything wrong with him.

Joanne the change in temperature definitely irritates it so I have been giving him a good ten minutes once we get out of bed then putting an extra fleece under his coat before our walk. Someone else mentioned a humidifier so definitely something I will look forward to. The turmeric paste I think you have spoken about on here was also suggested so I might give that a try.

 

[JoanneF]

Glad you have more positive news. I was thinking the change in air temperature might irritate his trachea; do you have a cool room like a boot room or barn you could spend a few minutes in between the warmth of the house and the cold outside?

 

[Josie]

Great to hear some positive news @Cash_Dolly!!

 

[Cash_Dolly]

Hi @JoanneF I don't have anything like that unfortunately,,,,,well I have the barn but I need to walk across the farm steading to get to it

That's almost a week on the antibiotics and he still has a cough so I have now to try the benylin childrens chesty cough syrup which is proving near impossible to find round here! I really want to help him but I don't want to just keep giving him antibiotics that is the third course he has been on one after the other. So I will try the medicine and if things don't improve I think I will ask to see a different vet....

 

[JoanneF]

What about children's Tyxylix?

 

[Cash_Dolly]

What about children's Tyxylix?

I am willing to try it. The reason I was looking specifically for what the vet suggested was because I was unsure of any ingredients in others that may be unsafe. If tixylix is safe I am willing to try it! Thanks

 

[JoanneF]

Check with your vet but I am pretty sure.

 

[Cash_Dolly]

Some sad news. After a terrible night and cash having difficulties with his breathing and general well being I had to make the decision to let him go this morning. I am heartbroken and riddled with guilt but I know it was the best thing for him . Dolly and I are completely lost

 

[JudyN]

I'm so sorry - but I'm sure you did absolutely what was best for Cash. ((((Hugs))))

 

[Josie]

So sorry to hear this @Cash_Dolly - we are all here to support you at this sad time x x

 

[excuseme]

Oh how terrible for you!
He is sleeping peacefully now, you have made the right decision.
So sorry, best wishes.

 

[merlina]

So very sorry you've had to let him go. You would know better than anyone that is was time, but oh the pain! You have to take it so your beloved dog is free of it. Take care of yourself now.

 

[arealhuman]

I'm so sorry to read this. Best wishes.

 

[Cash_Dolly]

Thank you all for your kind words. I was really struggling with guilt at "signing his life away" so soon but I couldn't let him suffer. He was never going to get better and he went downhill so quickly that his last day was a happy one! Dolly is taking it all in her stride and doing a lot better than me!!

 

[JoanneF]

Hugs. I'm glad your last memory was a good one.

 

[excuseme]

I know just how you feel, we are living on borrowed time with my old lady at the moment. You have done the right thing for him, but oh wow it takes some courage! You ended on a happy day. Best wishes.

 

[Cash_Dolly]

I know just how you feel, we are living on borrowed time with my old lady at the moment. You have done the right thing for him, but oh wow it takes some courage! You ended on a happy day. Best wishes.

Thanks you excuseme. I am feeling a bit better about it now and can look at pictures of him and smile at his cheekiness instead of bursting into tears. I am also going to make a little plaque that my dad will screw to the railway sleeper behind where is buried. It is so so difficult and they leave such a gap when they go but I suppose it is a good thing that we can stop their suffering whereas with people we cannot. If he wasput her to be my best friend and get me through tough times (and keep me smiling everyday) he absolutely done his job and excelled at it. I am so grateful that we found each other even if it was only to be for 5 1/2 years.