Tuesday, March 27, 2007

When it rains.....

It is so true that when it rains it pours. But then why does it seem that things are happening in more than threes? I had a convo with Connie today about what is too personal to share on a blog. I don't think this is... and I just need to let it out. No knitting content today.

It wasn't long ago that we had my grandmother's dog put down because she was so aggressive. Then there have been other personal family things going on in my life followed today by the news that it looks like my dog Carlie will have to be put down.

Friday night she ran outside and came in limping. She likes to chase small animals in the back yard and has pulled muscles the odd time before. This time seemed different. She didn't get any better over the weekend.
Yesterday when the vet was opened again we took her to get checked out. The Vet said she thought she had torn a ligament in her knee. We took her back today for x-rays. Turns out that the one ligament is torn, the other is damaged as well and she has hip displaysia (sp). The one leg that she is favoring can only be fixed by surgery. A surgery that costs about $2000(that is just an estimate). They think we should do both legs.
Aside from the cost, the problem is that Carlie is 12 years old. Who are we really doing the surgery for? We are going to see how she is of a few days of bed rest (what a joke to call it that for a dog) When she goes outside she needs to be held up at the back with a towel, used like a sling.

Really it sounds like it is only a matter of time. She is such a good dog with a personality like no other dog I have had or seen. She really loves you back! Comes to lay with you when you are sick, bumps your arm when you are crying and just seems to have a sense of what you need when you need it. Even this weekend she wants to play but can't. It hurts me so much to see her trying to get around on 3 legs. I know that some people would say that it is just an animal but that isn't the way in our house. Carlie is family! We love her! This is so hard.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear Sarah, I too had a dog with torn knee ligaments, (after the repair of a broken leg) and she was young...and I was young and spent whatever they asked for. She was young and loving, but within a few months we had to make the choice to put her down too. I don't know if numerous surgeries messed her up or some other kind of injury, but she just wasn't herself anymore and we had to say good-bye. You're right it's a very sad and difficult decision, but try to focus on the guality and not quantity of life (for us and our pets!) Sorry you're going through this.
Lynn (KK2B)

Sarah said...

Lynn,
Thank you so much for your words of support. It is true you have to ask yourself who you are doing the surgery for. I don't want her to be in pain and I don't want to hang on to her for me! Thank you again for your comment.
Sarah

Monika said...

Oh NO! It will not get better by itself. Our Sam had surgery on both knees, one knee even twice!!! But he's only 4 1/2 years old. He had 7 surgerys so far (different stuff) and as long as I can afford it in any way, he'll get treatment. He'a a happy dog, and can run around again. The Vets are amazed how well he's doing. I know what you are going through, that's so hard. For her being an older dog AND having hip d. as well, poor thing. That's one hard decicion you have to make.

Anonymous said...

Hi Sarah,
I'm so sorry to hear what you and your family are going through. Quality of life and comfort is definitely what you need to think about here. My dogs are like children to me -- they're my family -- so I can understand what you're feeling. We had to put our cat Zooey down a few years ago (she was my first pet!) at only 4 or 5 years old, because of the suffering she was going through with feline AIDs. It was a tough time, but we know we made the right decision because what we were feeling was nothing compared to the agony she was living with every day. I'll be thinking about you! Knit lots for comfort!