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<DIV>Oh Vicki, my eyes and heart are full reading your post. I am so sorry
you and your dear girl are going through this. I'm keeping both of
you in my prayers, and hope you can still enjoy the sweetness of your moments
together. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>You asked when it's time to let her go. If only we never had to face
this. If only there were an easy answer. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I share with you what my wise and wonderful vet said when my precious
Blueberry was struggling. "She will let you know when it's time."
And she did. Other vets (including the specialists) very early on had said
she needed to go. But -- like your Cleo -- she stayed "perky and sassy and
loved her walks". Like Cleo, her only symptom was weight loss/not
eating. When these vets' training told them to say it was time, she
made it clear it wasn't, and I had a long period of loving, quality time with
her. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Now if there were any sign of pain, that would be different. But she
snuggled next to me and kissed me and looked into my eyes all the time, and she
was happy, and she was Blueberry. So we kept going. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>For eating, one thing that really helped her -- the vet recommended an
antacid liquid, I can't remember the name, but it was bought over the counter at
the human drugstore, but it had to be a certain one (because some aren't good
for dogs), not Maalox or Pepto-Bismol, the vet could tell you. My vet said
sometimes dogs don't eat because their illness causes nausea, and this made her
feel better long enough to get some food down. I also spoon fed her baby
food (she liked the sweetest ones); and I even gave her dishes of Ensure to
drink, since she could drink well, and I figured this was getting some nutrition
in. The vet said to just give her anything she wanted, even human food, so
I made chicken soup (after she wouldn't eat other treats like hamburg and
rice). And I took her to McDonald's for her favorite cheeseburgers.
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>And then, one morning, she looked at me, and her eyes were telling me that
it was time. There was no question. I didn't know what it would look
like, but I recognized it instantly. While I waited for our 5:00 p.m.
appointment, she lay next to me on the couch, cuddled in my arms, and then she
took her trip to the Bridge all by herself, to spare me. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I'm sorry I can't offer words that will comfort you, or magic
solutions. But just remember that everything we do, we do out of greatest
love for our furbabies, so whatever your heart is telling you at the time --
follow it. Then you won't have regrets. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>You're both in the hearts of all of your Daily Drool family. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Love, </DIV>
<DIV>Beth H. (Duchess ATB and Blueberry ATB) <A
href="mailto:hinchliffe@aol.com">hinchliffe@aol.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV>"You have gone ahead and nothing is the same,</DIV>
<DIV>Leaving pawprints on my heart that will always remain." From the
Tibetan "Prayers on the Wind" </DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>