Need some prayers and positive thoughts for.....

[Stanley Steamer]

my little Chihuahua.....Lucy.....She was up most of the night coughing ....I thought maybe she had swallowed some hair or had something stuck in her throat.....but the Wife took her to the Vet this morning to get her checked out.....they took some X-rays of her and found out her heart is a little enlarged and may have some infection around it.....and that the first part of her trachea is collapsing each time she coughs cutting off the air to her lungs....they sedated her so they could get the x-rays, and then kept her there for the day.....they gave me some pills for bronchodilation and some cough syrup with hydrocodone in it to help her sleep at night.....they gave her a "two week" antibiotic shot to hopefully cure any infection around the heart.....the only thing they can try if the medicines don't work is to let UGA's Vet school do a surgery where they try to put a stent in her airway....and they have to have her in an oxygen chamber for a few days before they can do that.....vet estimated the cost could be between 3-$5,000......and that the last dog she sent there(was in worse shape than Lucy) stayed in the oxygen chamber for 9 days and never made it home......we don't have that kind of $$ to spend especially if there's not a good chance it'd help her.....

The coughing came on suddenly......she's had a few episodes of her airway collapsing over the years when she would get excited, but they never lasted more than a minute or so......she'll be 11 yrs old on January 10th.....chi's are supposedly one of the longest lived breeds.....I wasn't wanting to have to deal with these issues for a few more years......but if the medicines don't work, I don't want her to suffer with coughing a lot.....last night was hard enough on both of us and my Wife......we don't have kids, so she is like our little Girl....I hope that she gets better and has a few more years in her, but if not, it's going to be hell to have to let her go........

I brought her home and she's resting on her favorite pillow on my bed right now.....this is a terrible thing right here at Christmas.......














These are from around 10 yrs ago.....her ears wouldn't even stand up straight.....

[MacDragon]

She's just a cutie... I'll bet she's a great watchdog, (chi's usually are),  and a loving little girl... Sorry to hear of her illness.  Wish her well coming from Mass. 

[SANDMAN5]

Prayers up from TN. We're on our second Chihuahua. Love 'em.

[Momz]

Dogs do enrich our lives.
Eventhough we are parents (Pam and I), our dog can be like that naughty little boy we never had.
I feel your pain, and you have our sympathy and best wishes for a recovery.

Peace

[TomT]

Stanley, I'm so sorry to hear about your little pup. You know I have Boxers and have lost 2 in the last 2 years.    The last one just this last August. I don't care how many you loose, it doesn't get any easier. I said I wasn't going to get any more, but just 2 months after having my best buddy Atlas sent to the Rainbow bridge, we rescued a little 7 month old male Boxer, Dax. He is a real hoot!
I miss Atlas still, and when I think of his last few hours, I still get teary. But like you, I could have kept him alive at a great price, but thought of his quality of life. We let him go peacefully. It was hard. But I know he and his son J.R. are waiting for me at the Rainbow Bridge.
Good luck and my prayers are with you,
Tom and Joanne Tompkins

This is Atlas and Me a few months before he left us

This was Atlas' son, J.R.    Miss them both! 

[sidecarrick]

Stanley- Elvis (13 year old lab/gsp mix), Cash (2 year old labradoodle) and I  (just a plain old mutt) are pulling for your little buddy. There's few things harder in life than losing a great friend and few friends greater than a dog.

[BigAl]

Just love her as much as you can.

Keep her warm and give her some extra treats.

Hope she gets better.

Dogs and pets of anykind are great and enrich our lives in many ways.,

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

Prayers for you and your little friend. Our dog is on her last legs as she just pasted the 15yr age. I hate the thought of the day we lose her. Good luck.

[the inspector]

Stan....as an animal lover myself I understand your concern. I hope your pup can pull out of this without so much as any bit of pain. Keep your head up and spend as much time with her as you can. I will pray for both of you, hope all comes out OK.

your friend
"the inspector"

[donaldcc]

  sad.  if your dog has had a good life and is nearing the end, do not let her suffer.  take her in and let her go peacefully.  though it is so difficult, go with her and offer comfort at the end.



 

 

[..]

  sad.  if your dog has had a good life and is nearing the end, do not let her suffer.  take her in and let her go peacefully.  though it is so difficult, go with her and offer comfort at the end.
 

+ 1

[HayHauler]

Sent our beloved Xena to the Rainbow Bridge back in July.  One of the hardest things I have ever done.  Prayers for you and your little buddy Stanley.  Here's Xena the Warrior Princess on her last day.  She looked so happy. 



Hay
Jimmyt

[Karen]

Sorry to read this, Stanley, the decision is painful, but you will know when it's time. Animals make us better in so many ways.

[GOOSE]

Stan...I lost my little Chi..."Lucy-Lou" last thursday morning from heart, and lung problems.  I hope the meds you got work for you.  I'm sending prayers your way from Virginia.

[Buda]

Prayers comin your and Lucy's way....We are a chihuahua family as well....great little dogs

[Stanley Steamer]

Thanks everyone for the prayers......the medicine seems to be working.....she has still got a good appetite and was able to take her pill and the cough syrup for us.....I'm hoping the antibiotic shot will take care of any infection that may have been around her heart.....I just hope that this was a bump on the road to a few more years of life for her.....

[MacDragon]

Glad to hear that you may get some more time with her... hope she pulls through.

[rmrc51]

Prayers are on the way ASAP from Central Virginia.

I know how you feel. I love my furry kids more than most people!

[valk2128]

Prayers from Suwanee, GA.

I have 2 dogs I rescued, they are such a treat.

[BIG--T]

Prayers sent brother! They are just like children and i lost one I had for 13 years that still hurts and that has been 7 years ago!   

[thumper]

I know she means alot to you Steamer.....

Hope it all works out.  Merry Christmas.

[GOOSE]

Stan....Continue to keep us updated on "Lucy's" progress.....As you can see, there are alot of us cheering her on, and you too.