Whoop was my constant companion for about the last 15 years, and wasn't a puppy when I adopted her, so was at least 16 years old. Recently, her appetite diminished and her back legs became increasingly unstable; they'd occasionally slide out sideways and she'd need assistance to regain her footing. I took her to the veterinarian at the end of July and they treated her with medication that improved her appetite for a few days. However, that bounce didn't last, and it soon took a lot of coaxing for her to even eat a bit of "people food" -- she'd go days without touching her dog food and didn't appear to be drinking much either. As days passed, I had to lift her over stairs more frequently, and she recently began wandering around as if disoriented; she seemed to become very frail over the last 1-1/2 months. I kept hoping that it was a stomach/bowel issue and "bounce back" once she started eating and drinking normally, but my worries increased as her condition worsened.

She had a bad seizure at about 1:30 this morning -- over the course of a few minutes, she progressed from the kind of kicking that dogs often do in their sleep, to struggling and howling. Mom drove us over to the Jefferson Animal Hospital -- about half way over, Whoop settled down some, but I think that she may have simply been exhausted; even once we got there, she still couldn't find a comfortable resting position. They did a blood workup and reported that her kidneys had failed (the levels of those blood indicators were higher than their equipment's range) and that they might get her over this incident with several days of hospitalization, but that there was no positive long-term prognosis due to her condition and age. The vet speculated that the best I could reasonably expect would be that she'd live a couple more weeks, possibly a bit over a month, but that Whoop wouldn't recover. Based on that diagnosis, her immediate discomfort, and overall condition, I decided to let her go.

I'm confident that I made the right decision, but am also quite emotional about it. Whoop was loved and a source of joy during some trying times in my life; I tried to be as good for her as she was for me and like to feel that I was worthy of her friendship. It would be easiest for me not to have a big deal made of it, but I wanted to pass the news along.

I'm sorry for your loss, Jim.

I Am VERY SORRY about you loss. It is never easy to have to put down a best freind/member of the Family.

I wrote my initial post this morning (as an email to family) before going out to return a couple items that I bought yesterday. While I was out, I decided to make the rounds to some pet store adoption centers. I'm certainly not forgetting Whoop, and cry in a very un-manly fashion when I try to talk about her. However, I've also become quite accustomed to having a dog, and am on vacation this week, which I think will be a big help for getting a new dog settled in. There were some really cute puppies and young dogs the first couple places I went to, but they were all going to be bigger than I want. I had in mind a small to medium (30 pound or less) "lap dog", not a puppy and definitely house-trained, preferably shorter hair than Whoop had, and preferably female.

The third place I went to, PetSmart, only had two adoption dogs, both male, but they were both in the right size. J.R. was a 1-2 year old Jack Russel mix, who was very friendly and the more dynamic of the two; I was seriously tempted by him, but he hurt his chances by marking one of the displays as soon as he got out of his cage. The other dog, named Zuki, was listed as a 2 year old Cavalier Spaniel, but he has a relatively short coat and doesn't have the "wings" on the back of his legs that Whoop had (that tended to get things tangled in them). He failed to make a good impression when he wouldn't get up to be petted, but he perked up when allowed out of the cage, and proved very friendly. He also seemed to be more trustworthy about going inside and had far less nervous energy than J.R. Basically, aside from being male, he was just what I had in mind in size, temperament, and house-broken-ness, so I adopted Zuki who is currently laying down by my foot.

I am so sorry Jim,good friends & close family are hard to lose & our pets are both.At least you took her in when she was young & gave her many good years of happiness(and she you).
R.I.P Whoop.

Right on Jim!Congrats Zuki!

i know your pain, lost my dog of 10 years, in april. found the the joy again when we got our boxer puppy. still think of the one we lost, and glad to have found the one we have. good luck with the new pup.

I'm so sorry for her illness and passing Jim. Sounds as if she was well loved and well cared for. I think crying over the loss of a loved one is part of being a man and much expected.

Rich

Jim, I also feel your sorrow, but I AM GLAD you steppped back up to the plate. It will make your loss less tramatic but will in no way lessen Whoop's love and devotion you both had to each other.

I recently had to put down my cat that I had for about 10 years. It's tough to do, but I felt that I owed him death with dignity instead of suffering. I cried my eyes out for several days, but in the end I was convinced that I did the right thing. My condolences to you on your loss.

Man, you guys are making me all misty eyed. Sorry for you loss.

Sorry to hear of your loss, Jim. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

I'm glad to hear you've found a new friend to help mend the wounds. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />