We had to say "goodbye" to our 14 year old Dachshund last week. We got home from work to find him really lethargic and moving with great difficulty. He was also peeing all over the apartment - like he had no control over himself. He had experienced a sore back before, but never like this. That night he threw up and laid down where he tossed his cookies. He didn't move all night.
In the morning, I carried him down the stairs and he peed on me as we descended the steps.
We took him to Tufts Veterinary Hospital where they took an x-ray and blood. Originally they thought he had a kidney infection, which was probably true. They also found a tumor on his liver. The blood test confirmed that he likely had spleen cancer. The most humane and caring thing we could do was to ease his suffering.
Poor boo. I wish I had some heartfelt insights about this experience. Mostly, I feel bad about Bruno. He was my wife's favorite dog. They had a special bond, which changed when our son was born. In fact, all of our dogs lost their rankings on our family totem poll after having a baby. Our family energy shifted and gravitated to our son.
The dogs became annoying and overwhelming at times. They would eat our son's food. He grew to dislike them for this reason and would rarely want to interact with them. Cats, on the other hand, he loved. Over the last 3 years, we've had to say goodbye to our 3 dogs and for the first time since the two weeks between Josie's death and Dexter's adoption in 2006, we are without a dog.
It is sad and empty at times. It is also a tremendous relief. Mostly, I'm grateful to have been able to provide a good home to those three dogs. Bruno was the last of that pack. He won't be the last dog we rescue, but for now, we will take some space and time.
