Friday, October 16, 2009

On Elevated Alert With Dingo

It's Friday morning and once again we're in 'careful watch mode' with Dingo. He's been pretty listless once again the past 16 hours and this morning he's back to turning away from his food. He did manage to eat a few chicken snacks but doesn't seem much interested in a full meal or water. Also got his pills in him by hiding them in a spoonful of hummus (something he can't resist).

Dingo has been spending a lot of time at our sides. This is where he rests at my side during the day while I work.

It's been so emotionally exhausting to us both during this whole experience, being given glimmers of hope only to have them pulled back with the peaks and valleys in Dingo's health. I look at our buddy when he's like this and wonder if we're doing the right thing. Is it really fair to him? Is it the right thing to do rushing him to the vet when his health declines? Is it fair to expect him to cling to life another day, or week after a trip to the vet, only to have him ultimately slip again. I know we got lucky in August and were gifted with two extra months, but this most recent slip came so soon, just 10 days after the last dip in his health.

They say a pet owner will 'know when it's time', that their pet will give them some sign that it's time to let go. As much as neither of us want to see it, we do watch and wait for that horrible moment that will some day come. Thing is Dingo throws a curve ball every time we think we've arrived at that point. Even when he's listless, and you know he's not feeling his best, he looks at you with that bright eyed spark as if behind it all he's still willing to fight.

We'll be keeping close tabs on him, giving him lots of love and waiting to see what he's decided.

2 comments:

  1. Hey Mark,
    So sorry to hear about Dingo, keep your spirits high for him, as I'm sure you always do. I do think that you're doing the right thing for him, though he does and will have 'dips' in his health, he seems to bounce back, even just for a little while, which I think, makes all the world to both him and you. Has he given up on you? No? Then it's not time to give up on him....that was always in the back of my mind when we were going through the same thing with Blitz.
    I deal with end of life issues with my clients on a daily basis and I really don't think people are right when they say "you'll know when it's time", I don't think in your heart you ever know if you made the right decision at the right time, there will always be hesitations and regrets, but HE will tell you when it's his time, Dingo will let you know when he's ready to cross the bridge, and I truly hope that that bridge isn't ready for him just yet.

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  2. Thanks so much for your kind words. It means a lot that you've taken the time to think of us. We've taken him to the vet for another treatment and leaving it up to him now.

    Mark

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