I have a broken heart because my dog, Cole, has a broken heart. I took him to the vet on Friday for his annual checkup, not expecting anything but the usual round of shots. I was not prepared for what the vet had to say! First of all, Cole is a chow mix. Not sure what he's mixed with - something good, because he isn't very chow-like at all (don't mean to offend any chow lovers out there, but they aren't known for being the nicest dogs on the planet...!). Cole, on the other hand, *is* the nicest dog on the planet! Such a sweet and mellow soul. Anyway, he's 10, and apparently 10 is quite old for chows. So that was my first shocker - the vet telling me that living to 12 would be an extremely old chow. He's so active, it never really occurred to me that he's that close to the end of his life. But that wasn't the kicker. The kicker came when the vet listened to his ticker! Cole's heart is not in good shape. The vet heard a murmur, so then they hooked him up to the ECG - turns out his heartbeat is all messed up, his atrium pumps three times for every one time his ventricle empties (or something like that). And he's not getting a "normal" brain signal for that one ventricle beat, it's some other sort of reflex beat that isn't good. Our vet actually 
consulted with a veterinary cardiologist, and informed us last night that she says he needs a pacemaker. To get a pacemaker for him, we'd have to take him over to Texas A&M, and it would cost $3000-4000. The vet said it doesn't make a lot of sense to invest that much in a dog of his age. So, there's not really anything we can do, but wait for his heart to give up. The vet cannot say if it will be in a couple weeks, or months, or years. When it happens, he'll start having seizures. I came home to my kitty when he was dying, it was one of the worst experiences of my life, I'm not so sure I can go through something like that again. And I just know it will happen when Joel's away on a trip and Carter will see it and it will be just awful. It's just so hard to believe, you'd NEVER know this from looking at Cole. So... I couldn't get back to sleep last night after Courtney's 3am feeding, and sat down and made this card. My heart is blue because of Cole's heart. Cole's vet has been so incredibly nice about all of this - I'm going to send him this card to thank him.I'll be back tomorrow with a MUCH happier post...!!
- Stamps: Yappy Day from SU
- Paper: Ridinghood Red, Pacific Point, Wild Wasabi Prints DP
- Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black, Copics for coloring, Chocolate Chip for sponging
- Accessories: Heart Blocks & Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folders, Martha Stewart twine, the heart is an SU chipboard heart traced onto cardstock
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Now I have a broken heart too!! I'm so sorry!! It sounds terrible. I watched my dog get run over on xmas eve when I was little. Those kinds of experiences are heart breaking!!! Your in my thoughts!!!
ReplyDeleteLibby, I have a Chow-Chow mix also. I adopted her from the SPCA 13 years ago. Within the last 6 months she has turned the geriatric corner and I have some of the same fears you do. Hugs to you, I know this isn't an easy time for you and your family.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear this. I can tell you that I once held my puppy when he died and it was such a peaceful thing for him. It doesn't take away your pain, but it does theirs. I'll keep your family and Cole in my prayers.
ReplyDeleteYou have now made me cry twice with this information today. I love your sweet dog so much. I hope you know that.
ReplyDeleteMy heart is breaking for you too and I know what you are going thru as we are right now going thru almost the same thing with our 14 year old westie, Abby. I cry just thinking about what the inevitable is. I will keep you and yours in my prayers. You vet will appreciate this card.
ReplyDeleteCheryl
Oh Libby, my heart aches for you. I will keep you, your family and Cole in my prayers. God made Cole and his heart; we know God can keep Cole's heart strong and beating correctly. I will pray for healing for Cole's heart and peace for you and your family for the appropriate time when Cole does pass.
ReplyDeleteLibby,
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear about your Cole. We had similar situation with our kitty, Milly, and the knowing what is going to happen and waiting for it to happen is almost just as hard. My heart goes out to you and your family.
Oh, Libby....I am so saddened to hear this new about Cole. I know how our beloved dogs are family members, and my heart aches for you. Our 9-year-old Sheltie is having some health issues as well, so this really hits home for me. Sending big hugs, sweet friend!!
ReplyDeleteMy heart is breaking for you. What a difficult decision. I've always thought that I want to be there for my dog 'til the end, whenever that may come, with all the love he's shown me. My Buster's six years old now. So give Cole an extra belly rub from me. And that's a sweet card for your kind vet.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry about Cole, my prayers are with you.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about Cole. I know what it is like to lose a pet to heart problems. Our vet did his best to keep our border collie going as long as he could. My prayers are with you.
ReplyDeleteLibby, I'm so sorry for what you are going through -- pets are such an important part of our families -- I will keep your family in my thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteHugs to you Libby for having such a hard thing to deal with!
ReplyDeleteLibby, I have gone through what you are facing. It is heart breaking for the whole family but you still have time to make wonderful memories of Cole with your children! Love him while you have him...Your vet will certainly value this card you made for them. It is not only about Cole's heart, but yours too.
ReplyDeleteoh, Libby I am so sorry. Maybe his ticker will stay strong for a bit longer. I will be thinking of you...
ReplyDeleteOh Honey... my heart aches for you. I know just how difficult it is to watch a loved one (and yes... he is a furry part of the family) suffer. I know it won't be easy... just make the rest of the time you have with Cole the best it can be. Hugs to you.
ReplyDeleteoh no....huge hugs Libby...what a sad day. I hope your sweet pup proves him wrong and lives many more years to come.
ReplyDeleteYour card is precious!
OH LIBBY... Hugs to you and to Cole.
ReplyDeleteI am sitting here with a very sick kitty who I will euthanize on Friday-He has skin cancer from spending the last 16 years laying in the sunny bay window. I never thought about sunscreen for a cat. So I decided to not seek endless expensive treatments only to compfort this late in life. You may find that as your beautiful Cole gets sicker, small signs will tell you what to do. I know my cat has told me its time. Cole may just quietly go to sleep. As hard as it seems, that is the way I wish my kitty would go too. So I can bury him near his siblings under the tree. When my kids were young, we always included them in the decisions like this explaining as much as each could understand. Tell your child a little and see where the questions go.
ReplyDeleteCole looks like a cross between a fox and a baby bear. The dogs some people put a label on are often the most lovable.
Beautiful and sweet card... I'm so sorry, Libby.
ReplyDeleteOMG!! I am sitting here on vacation in the hotel lobby on this stinkin computer crying!!
ReplyDeleteI am a HUGE animal lover, especially dogs..furbabies as I call them...I was in tears leaving my furbaby with a friend for this week while we are away...if anything like that happened to him...I'd be devestated to say the least!!
I am praying for you and your beautiful furbaby...with God's blessing, you will hopefully have many more years of his companship and his health will be of good...
Give him a tummy scratch for me!!!
OMG, I'm so sad for your family.
ReplyDeleteThe card is so lovely probably because so much emotion went into it. I'm sure it's the loveliest card the vet will ever get! The blue heart with the red string around it is perfect. It just says so much! Good Luck and for whatever time your family has left with him may it be good and peaceful. Animals are great for families, teaches unconditional love and dealing with greif.
Your family is in my prayers.
SG
we were told our cat had only a couple of weeks and 10 years later the cat was still going strong ...lots of love and prayers ...only God knows when our time is up! Keep your courage up and enjoy every day with your darling ! D
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear about your dog - nothing hurts any worse than your animals hurting and they don't understand. What a beautiful card you made too!!
ReplyDelete{{hugs}} Libby! My heart goes out to you, I know how difficult this can be (I won't go into details because it's not about what I've gone through but what you are going through) try to make the most of Cole's time & cherish the memories for as long as you have him. He sure is sweet-looking! what a great (and thoughtful) card to send to your vet!
ReplyDeleteLibby, I am so sorry. Pets can become such an important part of our lives -- praying many happy years left for your loving doggie!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is too sad, Libby! Oh, I know how this feels. I'm going up and down with my Marvin kitty these days. Now you'll be on pins and needles waiting and worrying. I suppose it's best to treat Cole as always. He lives in the moment and he should be his same old happy self right till the end. Large dogs don't live as long as small dogs. Yes, 12 is advanced for any large dog. I'm so sorry about this heartbreaking news. Gosh, Libby, I've been through this before and I don't know if I want to do it again, either. My heart is with you.
ReplyDeleteOh Libby! My heart is in a knot! You will never believe this but my Chow mix dog lived to the ripe old age of 16. Yep, you heard me right, 16. She was a Chow Australian sheppard mix and she looked almost exactly like yours and we shaved her the same way every year. She also was the sweetest chow in the universe and was perfect around my children as they grew up. She was very even tempered and sweet. I don't think I will ever love a dog as much as I loved her. Say some prayers and keep your fingers crossed, its not over yet.Its just so hard to emotionally prepare for the end. ((((((hugs)))))))))
ReplyDeleteOh Libby, I am so sorry! What horrible news and stress for you and your family. Cole is darling. I am sending you lots of happy thoughts that he lives for years to come, despite the heart problems. Pets are family too! {HUGS}
ReplyDeleteJust catching up on my blog reading after spending the week on stuff for the DD gallery... Oh, Libby! I'm sooo sorry. :( I love my dog so much, and can feel how much you love Cole. Keeping my fingers crossed that he defies his prognosis and that when his time comes, he goes peacefully and while Carter is in school (which is years from now :) ). {{{{{Libby}}}}}
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