[Dailydrool] Xaxa

[Laura Salmon]

Oh Virginia, I am so sorry.  All I know from my own experience is that you always think maybe you sent your friend to the bridge too soon.  But every vet I've ever talked to said it is always better to be a little too soon than a little too late.

I'm not sure why he's eating snow.  Like you said, maybe the cold feels good to him somehow. Perhaps he's running a low-grade fever?

How do you know for sure that it is time?  I don't think you ever do.  But some symptoms that would make me think it's time -- he doesn't respond to you, he stops eating entirely, or he coughs so much that he can barely breathe.  I don't think it is easy to tell if he is in pain -- animals are geniuses at hiding that.  Not eating and not responding are usually the only way to tell.

I so hope he crosses over on his own terms in his sleep.  I have never been that lucky and have always had to help them.  But you will know when it is time, and so will Dadperson.  You sound like you have a kind vet and he or she will help you decide too.  In the meantime you will all be in my thoughts and prayers.  Laura

On Feb 28, 2011, at 6:28 PM, VIRGINIA OLIVEIRA <duda.tuppence at shaw.ca> wrote:

> Hi Laura, Debbie, and all of our drooler friends (youse all)
>  
>  
>  
> Thank you for your kind words and for caring for us. Today I am here at dadperson house and Xaxa's  energy is different for sure. He walks around the house, shows when he wants to go outside (we are allowing him to go only to the deck because outside is too cold and snowing most of the time.). Outside he pees and also eats snow, I mean, a lot of snow. It certainly makes him feel better somehow. We have no clue why but we allow him to do it for a while only because of the cold and snow.
> Do you have any idea why he does that?
> You said that we all do go through in helping him going to the bridge but I don't know when is the time. You see, he still wags his tail but his tail hasn't been up for a few days now. You know, with his "flag" pointing to the ceiling. I call him when he is awake and he comes and I massage his back as usual but then he leaves, look a little to the window and goes to sleep again.
> Dadperson said, "you see? do we send a guys like this to the bridge?" He meant the barks (only sometimes) and because he is still walking , looking at the window, going around and the house.
> Is he the same Xaxa? Definitly no. He is slow, even cookies is hard to make hm eat, at least half of it.
> Are we fooling ourselves convincing us that he is not "that bad", because we love him so much and want his company for a little while more?
> He does not seem in pain and the doc said he is probably not in pain but the tail not up...even if it is wagging....I really don't know.
> A while ago he was in his cushion/bed and was looking at me and I thought his eyes were sad eyes but maybe I'm just thinking that because he is sick, because Basset Hounds always have those sad eyes no matter what.
> As you all see, we are going through a very painful and delicate phase. I believe in God and I hope and pray that Xaxa will leave us naturally, while he sleeps. And if not, that it becomes clear to us when the time comes.
> Sorry for writing so much but we need support. Last year was Violeta's blindness and now Xaxa...but it is all part of life, right? And dadperson and I agree that the pain we feel is nothing compared to all the happiness they give us.
> Please, keep us in your prayers and drool is always welcome.
> We lub you guys.
> Virginia, Xaxa, Violeta and Dadperson
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Laura Salmon <laurarsalmon at gmail.com>
> Date: Monday, February 28, 2011 2:57 pm
> Subject: Xaxa
> To: "duda.tuppence at shaw.ca" <duda.tuppence at shaw.ca>
> 
> > Hi Virginia,
> > 
> > I am so sorry to hear that Xaxa is struggling.  From what 
> > you describe I think his time for his trip to the bridge is very 
> > near.  It is heartbreaking to go through, but sadly we all 
> > do when we love an animal.  You're all in my thoughts and 
> > prayers.  Laura (Geoffrey, Molly, Henry, Lisa (ATB), Dub-
> > Dub (ATB))