A Life Too Short

[djmetz66]

I am a small dog breeder and I treat all my dogs as children. Dogs are a big part of my life and even though I am a small breeder, I only have 3 dogs and have 1 litter everyother year. I want to make sure that I can love my dogs and spend as much time with each of them as possible so I alway keep the number low in my house.

Oct 2013, I had a litter of 6 puppies. I decided to keep one of the girl's as a show/breeding prospect. Greta had a kind and loving heart and was so full of energy. She had no fear and was so eager to please and learn.

July of 2014, we took Greta with us on Vacation. She was not quite potty trained and I didn't want to leave her with my 22 year old son as he worked full time and might not get her out for a potty run as much as I did. She was excellent on our trip. No accients at all. We travaled from Winnipeg Manitoba to Seattle Washington, staying for two weeks and the hold time on this trip, this lovely girl never had an accient. I was so very proud of her.

My 22 year old son lives in our basement and for months I had been begging him to throw away his garbage. I explained to him that once Greta learns how to go down the stairs, that she might go through all that garbage and it could harm her.

August of 2014 seem like a normal day at home. My husband went to work 4 hours before me. I got home from work at 6 pm and my husband told me that Greta had thrown up a cigarette butt. I asked him where she would have gotten that and he told me that she had in fact gone down to the basement and got into my son's garbage. I was not happy about this and again talked to my son about getting his garbage out of the basement.

About 7:30 pm that same evening, Greta eat her dinner, went out and played and had her potty break. I was out with Greta for about 40 minutes player with her and she seem normal. At 8 pm Greta started vomit but what was not normal was she was vomitting every 10 minutes. I was getting extremely concerned after the 5th time so I called a breeder friend and told her what was going on and about her getting into my son's garbage. My friend told me to call the Emergency Vet clinic and see what they would advise.

I placed a call to the Emerency Vet office and explained what happened and the symptons that Greta was having. Greta was no longer throwing up fluid as there was nothing left in my tummy. She was foaming at the mouth, she could barely stand and when she did, she was so wobblie. The person I spoke to over the phone just told me that she was most likely like that do to all the vomitting. She asked me if she had loose stool and I said not. She also asked me if she had any kind of accient....peeing in the house? I said no.....this person's next comment shocked me. She said to me "It sounds like she is just week from the vomitting and just needs to rest"......"If she starts acting like a Drunken Sailor, you need to bring her in right away!". After hanging up I thought "What part of what I told you does not sound like a drunken sailor" but I trusted what she told me as this was a Emergency Vet clinic.

At 9:12 pm, Greta had her first major seizure. It was horrifing. The look of fear in her eyes......I just lost it. My husband call that clinic back and told them we were on our way with Greta but due to the distance of the drive (45 minute drive) she would most likely be dead. During the drive to Greta to the Emergancy Vet Clinic, Greta had two more seizures and defecated all over me. All I could do was hold her close and tell her how much I loved her and that we are trying to get her help. that drive seem like it took hours.......and I slowly watched my sweet Greta leave me. I begged her to fight....and I begged god to not take her from me.

We got Greta at the Emergence Vet clinic at 10:05 pm. They immediately took her from me and put us in a room away from everyone. 10 minutes later the Vet that was looking over Greta told us that we brought Greta in on time and that her prognosis was good. We stayed at the clinic for an hour and left to go home at 11:00 pm. Just before leaving the Vet again told us that her prognosis was good and to go home and rest.

My husband and I got home about 11:50 pm. I could not sleep and I needed to talk to someone so I called my mother. We talked for about 10 minutes when a call from the Emergency Vet clinic call. I told my mother that I needed to take the call and would call her back. The vet that was caring for Greta told me that Greta went into cardiac arrest and that I needed to decided if I wanted her to go on a respirator, or put her down. I was in disbelief.....What happened from the time we left with a prognosis of being good to Cardiac Arrest? My question to the Vet was "What are her chances now of surviving?" The vet told me that she had a 15% chance of making it through the night.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.....I didn't want Greta to suffer and made the decision to have her put to sleep.

The day we had to pick up all Greta's things and pay the bill, I asked to have a copy of all the blood work that was done....they would not release it to me. I also ask for the Vet to call me, I never heard from the Vet. I have left 4 message asking the Vet to call me, I never heard back from the messages.

It has been 8 months now and I am so lost, I can't stop crying, very angry, but I also can't get that horrible seizure out of my mind. I feel so guilty and I can't close my eyes without going back to that night. I can't even listen to my favorite music as Greta was named after one of my favorite band's songs. I don't know what to do and who to talk to that would understand what I have gone through...I want to move forward with my life and remember the time I did have with Greta but I seem to keep from doing that. I am hoping and pray that one day it will get easier and that the lost and pain will subside. I will never forget the love I have for this young puppy....Greta was only 10 months old.

Thank you for listening.....

[kayc]

I am so sorry for your loss of Greta. I hope you report this to the veterinary board in your state. What you experienced no one should have to experience! Also, you have a right to her medical records! I'm sure some of what you are experiencing is in part due to a feeling of "unfinished business" due to how it was handled. You were a loving and wonderful mom to Greta. I know how hard it is to be without our babies when they pass, but I truly believe with all of my heart that we'll be with them again someday. My heart goes out to you.

[Copperpot]

I am so sorry about what you and Greta went through. I lost my very young dog very suddenly & had this same experience with what seemed like incapable vets & even a clueless neurologist. I did what you did & trusted the professionals and we lost our boy. Why didnt they see what I was seeing, why didnt his bloodwork show any signs? Why did they tell me it "wasnt life threatening" over & over?? I am plagued by it. I have terrible memories of his episodes, which were like seizures that lasted for hours. I know, you are dealing with not only the loss, and the shock, but you are also dealing with a trauma. Seeing something you adore suffer like that takes a while to process, especially when there is a lack of closure. You need to give yourself as much time as you need & feel all of those feelings when they come. I do believe things happen for a reason. Try to just learn & grow from this & know that you did all you could. I will be praying for you to achieve peace with this someday very soon :-) might sound cheesy, but shes always in your heart!