The Monday before Thanksgiving, I had to take my (almost) 9 year old Chihuahua, Shadow, to the Vet.
We were told in the past that he "may have Asthma", but that there was no real concern.... he seemed fine. Well over the weekend his "Asthma" seemed to have been acting up. Monday morning, an appointment was made and I brought him, all would be good, so I thought.................
After being brought into the examination room, muzzling Shadow, and having his heart listen to, I was told that he had a heart murmur..... I thought that would be ok until the doctor went on to tell me that this type of heart murmur was a form of heart failure. I felt like falling onto the floor. He was given a shot of prednizone, put on codeine, and given heart medication. How was I going to tell my husband and children right before Thanksgiving????
I managed to tell everyone and the festivities went as planned.... After eating our Thanksgiving dinner, Shadow's breathing took a turn for the worse, SERVERE WORSE.
We brought Shadow back in the next morning and after having a chest x-ray done, we found that he now has Congestive Heart Failure. He was put on new medication ALONG with the old. The new pills will last for a total of 100 days and the doctor said that we have enough to last Shadow's life time.
We have come to learn how to be very Thankful when all we want to do is CRY.
I can really feel your heartache...we lost our beloved Princess to Congestive Heart going on 2 yrs now. My husband and I were beside ourselves when we got the news. Many trips to the vets, a lot of medications...but the one thing that our vet told us....Treat her like she isn't sick if she has the energy ....let her do what she wants...she doesn't know she's as sick as she is...make every day a happy day. We had gone away leaving Princess at the Vets (boarding) in the hospital wing....so she was watched...we got back and they said she did wonderfully better than previous boardings...she ate and played...on the way home about a mile away from the vets...she died in my arms. We rushed back but it was too late. She is now resting with God...and remembered in our Hearts.
Take care and give him all your love...
I'm so sorry to hear about your Shadow~ It is so difficult to deal with sickness in our pets. What makes it worse is when we have had them a while~they become part of the family (sometimes I much rather deal with my 3 dogs rather than a teenager!) Special prayers for Shadow and your family!! mgf~
You all are so kind to care so much. It breaks my heart every day, as I give Shadow his pills in the morning and then again at night. I try to stay positive, and I do, but in the evening is when I get sad..... that is when I come to the computer and read what you all have written and the load is lightened..... Thank You ~EVERYONE. I have told my husband, my children, and even Shadow that you all write. They don't understand what it means to me..... I guess it must be a ME thing....
All in all, thank you and I appreciate each and everyone of you for taking the time to think of Shadow. He is a special little dog and a very good friend to me. You are all amazing to care.
All Of Us Who Post So Often On This Board Have Animals And Love Them Dearly. I Lost A 13 Week Old Kitten To A Terrible Disease When She Had To Be Euthanized. It Was The Most Difficult Thing I Ever Did When I Handed Her Over To Be Put Down. I Will Never Get Over It. We Only Had Her 6 Weeks But Loved Her Dearly. Even My Husband Cried.
Being Thankful when you want to cry 
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