Is it time to say goodbye?
Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2017 2:41 pm
My Maggie is almost 13 years old. About 10 days ago, she suddenly slowed way down on her walks. She had always set a good pace; on crisp days almost power walking. Overnight, she slowed to about a third her pace. I took her to the vet last Saturday, and the x-rays showed that the cartilage in her hips is almost completely gone. He put her on pain meds (Meloxicam liquid in the mornings, and Tramadol three times a day, and stressed that they be given with food.
My dilemma is that she has gradually gone completely off her feed. I've tried everything I can think off - mixing it with rendered beef tallow, rendered chicken fat, even mixing it with cat food or peanut butter. Each of these worked a time or two, but today she hasn't eaten anything.
She still seems to want her walks - even after "doing her business," if I give a gentle tug homeward to see if she wants to cut it short, she insists on continuing.
I'm scheduled to take her for a recheck this Saturday, but I'm thinking I should call and change it to a farewell appointment. I only want what's best for Maggie. I know it's hard when you can't actually see her, but what do you think?
My dilemma is that she has gradually gone completely off her feed. I've tried everything I can think off - mixing it with rendered beef tallow, rendered chicken fat, even mixing it with cat food or peanut butter. Each of these worked a time or two, but today she hasn't eaten anything.
She still seems to want her walks - even after "doing her business," if I give a gentle tug homeward to see if she wants to cut it short, she insists on continuing.
I'm scheduled to take her for a recheck this Saturday, but I'm thinking I should call and change it to a farewell appointment. I only want what's best for Maggie. I know it's hard when you can't actually see her, but what do you think?