My 12 year old Sheltie, Kandy, is currently at the vet on IV fluids. I have been told that she is in kidney failure, but so far the vet hasn't given me any idea of how long she has. Kandy went in yesterday and we were supposed to bring her home each night, but today there was a different vet in the office who said I really shouldn't, that she should stay overnight because her dehydration was so bad. I have been crying for a day and a half. I visited her today when I was supposed to pick her up to bring her home. I took her a can of tuna to eat, and my sweater to sleep with. All I wanted to do was bring her home and I could tell she just wanted to come with me so bad. She is acting almost completely normal, I just took her in because she had diarrhea - otherwise she was just fine.

I'm not getting answers to my questions (my vet was out of the office all day today) and instead the employees are being downright rude and uncompassionate about the whole thing. I'm so afraid Kandy will die there in that place, but they made me feel like I will hurt her more if I bring her home.

I feel just sick with anxiety and sadness about the prospect of losing her. I cannot imagine being without her. My other sheltie keeps looking for her and moping around. I just want to hold them both and snuggle them and tell them it will all be ok, but it won't and I don't feel like I have the strength for this.

I am so sorry you are having to go through all you are dealing with right now. It sounds like the vet staff is not making it any easier to bear. Is there any way you could spend some time with her there? I wouldn't be bashful about asking. After all, they aren't doing you a favor. You are paying them for a service rendered. It's your furkid and I would let them know absolutely that your bond with Kandy is more important than their priorities. Let them do what they can but assert your right to not have Kandy torn from you in what might be her final days.

My best to you and Kandy,
Ken Albin

Ken,

Thank you so much for your kind words. I visited Kandy twice yesterday and stayed for about 1/2 hour each time. Today I visited her right when they opened, then at lunchtime (I brought her favorite, green beans) and I finally get to bring her home for the night tonight. I cannot tell you how happy I am about that.

I don't know how things are going to go from here on. I am so scared thinking about it, especially how the vet said things will just slowly progress downhill. I don't want her to suffer at all. Right now she is acting normal, if not a little more lethargic than usual. I think she's a little bit depressed from being there for so long.

They talked about me bringing her in for subcutaneous fluids from now on, but I'm not sure what the prognosis is for that. Hopefully I'll get a little more info when I go in.

I figured people on this site would understand the waves of emotion that just hit without notice. My two dogs are like my soulmates.

Though each person here has his/her own journey to make, I think we have a good idea of the feelings you are experiencing now. It is terrible to feel so helpless in the face of an illness we can do little about. Give Kandy a head pat for me. She is very lucky to have a parent like you to share her life with.

Hi, I'm sorry I didn't see your post before today (8 days after you wrote). I was relieved to hear Kandy was home with you. What is the latest?

Sending prayers,

Kathy

Kathy,

Thanks for your prayers. If you saw my other posts, you will know by now that Kandy is gone. I still can't believe it, and I can't stop thinking about her and wishing I could just pet her beautiful soft fur and kiss her nose. I miss her so much. She was first diagnosed with elevated kidney enzymes about two years ago, so she did have a wonderful quality of life for quite a while. We did everything we could for her and I know that, but I still feel so bad about the pain she endured in the end. She was so innocent and loving.

I just wanted to make a correction to something I said earlier. I said the vet staff was terrible. Actually there was just one insensitive, uncompassionate and unhelpful person who happened to be the one I was dealing with. The others were fine and I have to say that the actual veterinarian who took care of Kandy all along was very compassionate and professional. She just happened to be out of the office when all of this was happening and I was panicking. When she came to our house to help end Kandy's pain, she was very sympathetic.

I know it probably doesn't matter, but I felt bad that I generalized my anger toward everyone at the vet hospital.

Thanks for listening, friends.

I just started here and want to say I am sorry for your loss, we too had a collie for 12 yrs. and now my little maltese is so very ill (terminal) but still trys to follow me everywhere, while my hsuband and family go on with their everyday life I am falling apart.
Sorry to get sidetracked about me but my point is you must not feel bad about anything you said, anyone who is a good animal loving person can understand and give you that benifit.
I hope you are dealing with things okay and I wish you the best.