found this thread and thought it would be okay to post that we’re going through this now.
banks is our ten year old lab, my shadow as my family and friends call him, and he has nasal cancer…he was diagnosed last month and i decided to pursue the most aggressive treatment possible as long as his quality of life was good…so it was radiation in matthews, nc…since radiation three weeks ago, he had been doing great.
however, this week he’s taken slide down…he’s not been himself, not wanting to walk, or even be around anyone other than me…it’s devastating to me and i can’t imagine how our kids will process this…we’ve had dogs before, but this guy has been the best, the one they’ve grown up with…they have not been told because he had been doing well even though the diagnosis was terminal…we were hoping to get his quality of life extended, then tell them when everyone is home…our oldest is away at college and it would crush him to know this…i’m taking banks to the vet tomorrow to find out what’s what…i hope i have the strength to make the right decision either way.
@gteeitup I'm so sorry to hear this. We had a yellow lab back before we had kids, and then had 3 kids, and the kids grew up with the lab (Emmitt - named after Emmitt Smith). Anyway - so soul crushing to us all, leaving a big empty spot in our hearts and lives when I had to take him to be put to rest. I vividly remember the day - one of the worst days ever. It was several years before I could bring myself to get another pet (another yellow lab we have now).
I apologize - I know this doesn't make you feel any better, and maybe makes you feel worse.
One thing we did - my wife is sort of a photo geek - she put together a book of pics from when we picked out Emmitt at a breeder - with several pages of pics right up to end of life....camping, hiking, holidays, road trips, etc. He was awesome at leaping and catching a frisbee throw - a great trick.
It helps us to look through the book, and we can look back and laugh at so many of the funny, dumb, lovable antics our dog did. He was the source of many stories, like tipping us over in a canoe once when he was trying to get back in (he jumped in the lake thinking a floating leaf was a fish) ;
swallowing a golf ball, some outdoor carpet, all of his leash, etc....all needing surgical removal - he ate everything in sight.
Not meaning to hi-jack your post. My condolences. I just wanted to share a few ideas on how to favorably remember your pet, once he has passed on.