This page dedicated to the memory of Athena
Athena Born Feb 14, 2001 Went to the rainbow bridge May 11, 2007
How do you know when it's time?
When is it time to say Goodbye? Euthanasia and your pets.
Euthanasia is the final goodbye for you and your pet. On the
good side, you know they will be going soon so you get to say goodbye and
maybe give them a great massage and lots of love and affection. On the bad
side, it is goodbye.
Putting your pet down is usually a choice made by you and your vet, or sometimes
you and your family based on your pets illness or the circumstances involved.
Sometimes it is sudden, like in a car accident. You have no choice at all.
They are hit by a car and are not able to be kept alive. Other times you may
be told by your vet that there is little or no hope it is only a matter of
time.
This is what happened with my dog, Athena. She had cancer and we watched her
lose weight over the past year until her ribs showed. I gave her extra treats
and fed her twice as much as the other two dogs to keep her going. I did lots
of reading on cancer and discovered how it likes to eat carbs so I fed her
a diet more on the protein side. Still, she lost weight until she looked like
a skeleton with fur. But she went outside on her walks every day and pranced
and ran with us just like always. Until last week. She started vomiting and
had other signs that all was not well. I made her eggs, but she refused to
eat. I gave her yogurt which she took a swipe of and that was all she would
eat.
The next day, I got up expecting to not see Athena breathing, but instead
she greeted me at my bedroom door with a big smile on her face. Athena was
a great smiler. I was so excited! But then I remembered most of the time both
people and animals have that “ I am all better” time right before
the end. I enjoyed it while I could, all three days of it. She progressively
got worse. She came out for walks, but didn’t have enough energy to
actually walk. She laid there on the grass by the door and watched us walk
her brothers. Then the third day she didn’t come out at all. I knew
it was time.
My vet did not do house calls to put her to sleep. I was astounded, I thought
this was standard. I did not want my beloved pet to die on a cold hard examining
table no matter how tasteful the décor. I did not want to move her
fragile body from her favorite blanket under my desk. I didn’t want
to put her in the car and have her drug to the horrible vet’s office
and be afraid. I mean what dog ever has a good experience at the vet’s?
I called every single vet in the book. They would not even consider it if
she wasn’t a patient. One traveling vet said it was out of her area
and she would have to charge me more. Over $240 to come out. Gas is expensive
of course. By this time, I was hysterical that my loving dog couldn’t
be euthanized in our home amidst her family.
I called one more vet and begged them. They finally gave me a number of another
vet that I guess they saved for special occasions. I called her, and she would
do it but did not have any appointments until the following day at five. I
was heartbroken. I didn’t want Athena to suffer. She didn’t seem
like she was in pain, just sort of laying there, breathing shallowly. I agreed
but thought to myself, I will probably have to cancel in the morning. I don’t
think she will make it through the night
But she did. She would lay somewhere and look like it would be her last breath
and then she would get up and walk around. She continued to do this all day
until she went into the bathroom and pawed the door shut. I thought, this
was it she has chosen to die now. But in an hour or so she was on the move
again. We tried to give her peace, leaving for a few hours thinking maybe
she would let go if we weren’t there. It wasn’t easy, but we were
trying to make it easier on her. We knew she was holding on just for us.
Everyone had said their tearful goodbyes during the week. The children chose
not to be here when the vet came. My husband said he would but had an appointment
that took him away. He still had nightmares from last time we had a pet put
down. I wasn’t there that time but I would be with Athena every minute
of her last time on our earth.
The vet called and said she was on her way. I hit my knees and loved and kissed
my girl until she arrived. Interestingly enough, she wanted to do a mini interview
to make sure this was the right time. The vet says sometimes she gets to someone’s
house and the dog she is supposed to be putting down is at the door jumping
up and down to greet her. She calls this a “convenience”euthanasia
and that is the reason most vets won’t come to your house unless your
dog is their patient. And of course they do house calls. Guess that is a question
to ask beforehand. A “convenience” euthanasia, she explained is
when people don’t want the dog anymore so they have someone come and
put it down.
Not my dog. The vet took one look and agreed it was time. We both petted her,
then she gave her a sedative to relax her. This is the more humane way to
do it as the final shot is an overdose that stops their hearts. Athena took
the sedative in and sighed a huge sigh of relief. I knew then she had been
very uncomfortable and we were doing the right thing by not prolonging this.
She was such a brave girl for her family.
We let her relax for a few moments and enjoy the sedative while we both petted
her and gave her affection. Then the vet stopped and got the final injection
ready. I kept kissing and petting my girl through it all. I wanted her to
know the last thing she would feel would be love not the sting of the final
needle. I didn’t know she had left until the Dr. said her heart had
stopped, it was over.
The funeral was attended by the whole family. We have her in our backyard
in a beautiful plot with her favorite blanket and a beautiful ribbon on her
neck because she loved to be dressed up.
My advice, never think twice about it. If you feel in your gut it is time,
it is time. Even if they don’t show they are in pain, that doesn’t
mean they aren’t uncomfortable. They are dying inside and that kind
of dying doesn’t always show like the blood from a wound. Get plenty
of advice from your vet so you know the signs to look for and when you think
the end might be near, but you will know. The light in their eyes dims, they
no longer want to eat or play, only escape. Yes it is heartbreaking but I
felt very proud of myself for being brave enough to let her go. In the end,
Athena gave her strength to me to do what I had to do.
Rest in peace my beautiful girl.
