RIP Teegan dog

It's amazing that when the life cycle comes to an end, it ends so darn quickly.  Our nine year old dog Teegan died last night after a very brief, very painful illness. 

I have made no bones about the fact that Teegan has always been a challenge. In fact, last year during an illness we thought about putting her down, and in retrospect we perhaps should have insisted on it. You can read about that and our issues with Teegan in the past here. But that ended up being treatable. Three types of antibiotics and she got better. And she was good for almost a year. But her teeth were literally rotting out of her head. The smell was horrid. About a month ago we decided that if we were going to give her any quality of life -- she had to have them yanked and the gum surgery that was recommended. We went to the (new -- trust me we got a new vet after last year's fiasco) vet and because she was not a healthy dog, with liver issues and an ear infection -- the surgery was upwards of a thousand dollars. Yes you read that right. But we knew she would have no quality of life if we didn't get it done. They extracted 12 teeth and my goodness -- it was like we had our puppy back again. She was happy and full of life. She ran and played and had a blast. She still was emaciated -- even though she ate. We felt guilty for not getting it done before, but we weren't in a place to pay for it before, and to be honest I had no idea teeth would make such a difference.

But you apparently can't make an unhealthy dog healthy. Two days ago I went to lunch and she seemed totally fine. She was cuddled at my feet while I worked. When I got back two hours later after picking up Sam from school -- I couldn't find her. I eventually found her under my bed, lying in a pool of foamy vomit. She wouldn't stand. She wouldn't even raise her head. I looked around and there were eight or nine of these pools of foam. I got her out from under the bed and brought her outside, thinking it was a tummy issue. She went pee, then collapsed on a bit of ice left in the backyard. And would not, or could not get up. I gathered up Sam and Teegan and brought her to the vet. She wouldn't stand unassisted for him and winced and pulled when he got near her belly area. He took blood and said her pancreatic levels were way, way out of whack and asked if she had gotten into anything. Well, nothing that I know of. She never gets people food, and she hadn't been into any garbage or any non-food items. He said it was acute onset of pancreatitis and the treatment was IV fluids, antibiotics and pain medication -- as it's terribly painful.  He said she had to be hospitalized and in 24 hours they would know if she was on the way to recovery, although she'd be hospitalized for a few days.

Fast forward 24 hours. Doug arrives at the vet to see a very, very grim looking vet. He said that Teegan was much worse, and was basically unresponsive. He said they couldn't control her pain with medication. Then he told Doug they could try for another 24 hours, but he didn't think it would do anything, and that it would just be prolonging her pain.  So he called me and we decided to relieve her of her misery right then and there. He said Teegan didn't even react to him holding her, wouldn't raise her head -- nothing. She just went to sleep.

It's been a tearful night in  our house. Tess was totally fine -- I don't think she really gets it on an emotional level. She understands that dying means you don't come back, but that's about as much as she gets. But Sam. Oh my goodness Sam has been a wreck. He asks all these really tough questions (where is her body, what do they do with it, is she in the afterlife now)? They are learning about ancient Egypt in school right  now so he talks about how we should give her jewels and money for her trip to the afterlife. And he cries a lot. In a way it is unexpected since he really doesn't pay any attention to the dogs at all. He doesn't pat them and he moans when he has to take them for walks. But he is very, very sad.

And my poor other dog Ty is so confused. She runs around looking for her pal. We're lavishing her with lots of love. I have no idea what else to do for her.

I know this was inevitable. With Teegan's poor health, I knew she wouldn't have a long life. But I guess I just never expected it to happen like this -- so suddenly and dramatically.  I hope Sam's right -- that's she's found some woods in the afterlife and is chasing a rabbit as we speak.

Comments

[Emily]

:(

[Summer]

I'm so sorry to hear this, Jenn. Poor Teegan, poor you, poor kids! This sounds a lot like what we went through with Olga... an old but doing-ok dog who suddenly gets very sick, goes to the hospital, and there's nothing they can do....

I just told Dorian (who calls Sam "my friend in Canada"), so please let Sam know that he's very sorry for him.

[Ninotchka]

I'm so sorry for your family's loss, Jenn! Losing a pet is TOUGH. TOUGH. TOUGH. Sending you guys lots of love & hugs.

[Pam]

So sorry Jenn. Losing a pet is very sad. We lost our lab about six years ago, he died in my arms at home. Our cat was right there and was absolutely devastated to lose her buddy. All you can do for your other dog is to give her extra love and attention. Time will help heal her pain.

[barbnocity]

Hi, Jenn,

I am so sorry to hear about Teegan...I hope Sam feels better soon...we have all been there. Poor puppy :(

Barb