cindere528

so sorry

Oh Billy I know exactly how you are feeling. The mornings are always the worst time for me too. You wake up & for a moment, it was all a bad dream, then reality kicks in & she/he is no longer with you. The hurt is a physical pain like no other. I have never experienced pain quite like it in all of my life. I hope you can take a little comfort from knowing that others really do know how you feel right now. It doesn't make it any better, but hopefully it will make it easier to bear. Sending lots of to you to help you through the days ahead.

Dillon has perked up today and I am pleased to report that all 4 legs are now back in working order He has had breakfast, a short walk and a few minutes ago demanded his lunch, so I think he's feeling somewhat better than yesterday. He's also had a few cuddles and belly rubs from his doting mum together with a few renditions of his special song "One Little Dillon"

So sorry Billy You did your best for Mal and he has had a wonderful life with you

He's been asleep most of the day He managed a Bonio for lunch, but it seemed as if it was too much trouble for him. He kept leaving it & I kept giving it back to him to get him to eat it. I'm trying very hard not to think that he's coming to the end of the road

:metoo: How is Mal this morning?

He seems to have perked up a bit now his meds have kicked in. He managed to get downstairs without my help & has eaten his breakfast I'm hoping that earlier was just a little blip (a very worrying blip)

Dillon isn't too good this morning His back legs seem a bit unsteady again & he's doing his Bambi on Ice impression. He also seems a bit confused He's had his morning meds, I'll see how he is in about an hour then maybe call the vet

I think Dillon's cough is improving a bit He doesn't seem to be coughing as much or for as long now. It's less strain on his heart if his cough is better, so fingers crossed, he has turned the corner and can carry on for a while longer .

Dillon has been for his weekly check-up at the vet's. His heart murmur is, in the vet's words "very worrying" He is still coughing a lot, but the vet says that the fluid has mostly gone from his lungs, so she's thinking he may have bronchitis, which is a different illness in dogs to bronchitis in humans. The vet has reduced one of his diuretics but has given him a broncho-dilator to try & open up his airways a bit. He still has quality of life, enjoys his food a lot, and can still manage short, slow walks, so we haven't reached the end of the road yet. At least I've got a bit more time with my lovely lad

Hope Mal perks up a bit later

sending more positive thoughts for Mal

I've never had the ashes back from any of mine. As a religious person, I believe that their body is merely their mortal remains and that their spirit stays with me

Oh Billy I'm so sorry the news wasn't better. I've no suggestions about food, but I would say that it's never a good idea to change a dog's diet suddenly, so whatever you decide to give him, it's a good idea to mix it with his usual food in small quantities first until his tummy gets used to it. I hope you get to spend some quality time with the handsome Mal

Hoping Mal is feeling a bit better now

Nelly, my big, beautiful brave girl passed away on Tuesday 12 May 2009 I didn't know she was ill until it was too late. She had been such a brave girl & hid her symptoms from me. My heart is breaking, I love her so much. But I feel I owe it to her to do this tribute to her. She used to give me the best hugs in the world. She would climb up on my knee, put her head to the side of my face, her paws on my shoulders and pull me towards her to hug me. She even did this last Saturday night when she must have been feeling so poorly. Nelly came to me in October 2005 from Many Tears. She had been a puppy farm breeding machine. But the story of abuse doesn't end there. She left Many Tears the first time to be rehomed to someone who then abused her further. Many Tears reclaimed her and she was placed in foster care in Bristol. When Dillon & I went to meet her, I was told that she was terrified of anything resembling a stick, as she had been badly beaten in her last home. I was also told that she was silent. Her foster mum never heard her utter a sound, she thought that was because Nelly had been beaten for barking. She settled in here like a dream and very quickly became part of my family. She was my shadow and followed me everywhere in the house. One evening, Dillon was barking at something & Nelly couldn't stop herself, she gave a very quiet little "wuff" then she looked at me with fear in her eyes. I said "Good girl" and she wuffed a bit more. Then she realised that it was ok to bark. She had the loveliest contralto tone to her bark. A lot of cockers can be a bit yappy, (including Dillon), but Nelly's voice was so mellow. She would "Wooow Woooow Woow" for breakfast in a morning, all the way downstairs, she was wooooow woowing. If she needed a wee or poo in the night, she used to wake me up by putting her front paw on the side of my bed & quivering. It never failed to wake me. My pain is still very raw, it hurts more than words can describe. I miss her with all of my heart every moment of every day. I know you will be a brave girl at the Bridge Nelly. you were an Angel on this earth and now you're an Angel in Heaven. I love you sooooooo much darling. Till we meet again sweetheart

Oh Billy, my heart goes out to you From what you've said about Mal, it sounds like heart failure to me, that's just how Dillon was. He is responding very well to heart medication now though. Has Mal's heart been checked?

I keep popping in to read your posts. They mean so much to me. Thank you I can't stop crying It hurts so much

Thank you all for your kind thoughts, it really means a lot to me I have been to see her to say goodbye. As you will all understand, my heart is breaking so I can't say any more just now. I'll be back in a little while

Nelly passed away about 1:45 this afternoon I'm in bits I can't say any more just now

I eventually got through to the PDSA. Nelly was stable overnight & they are going to do diagnostics today, so please send as many good wishes as you can. I've got to phone again at 2:30

Thank you for your good wishes. The vet at the hospital told me to call around 10 am today and said that no news is good news and if "anything happened" (and we all know what those words mean don't we?), they would call me overnight. I didn't have any calls during the night, so that's positive at least. I've just put her bedding in the washing machine because it's a nice windy day so it will be lovely & clean & fresh for her when (I refuse to think if) she comes home. I will update this when I've called to find out how she is.

Nelly is in hospital on a drip

Here's my beautiful brave girl

Nelly has an appointment for 2:00pm at the vets. From what the vet said on Saturday night, I think she will be admitted to the hospital