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> Emma Mary - My Special Dog
Colleen M
post May 11 2016, 10:57 AM
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Group: Pet Lovers
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Member No.: 8,847



I am not even sure how to begin my Emma Mary's story. I guess I will start from the beginning....
When I decided to adopt a dog, I knew I wanted an older dog from a rescue organization. I started looking on-line at local rescues and came across Emma's sweet looking disposition. I adopted her in August 2012 and was dedicated to giving her a great life. Emma (more later on why "Mary" was added to her name) was a Keeshond mix, about 7 years old, with a tri-color coat ( a very soft coat indeed!) She absolutely loved her twice daily walks, rides in the car (she always tried to get on my lap), going to the park (if the park had grass, even better), snuggling on the couch, tummy rubs, teeth cleanings, and using her plush toys (in the shape of bones) as pillows to sleep on. She was the sweetest dog albeit shy/nervous around dogs in general and would whine and bark but was never aggressive. Emma was very social and loved meeting people on our daily walks. I had a lot of nicknames for Emma - Emma girl, baby girl, monkey butt, sweet angel pie, snookie cookie wookie, rascal muffin. Do you sense a theme? It was because she was so sweet!
Emma was diagnosed with Diabetes in December, 2012. She was urinating all over the rug and tile floors and I didn't know why. I took her to the vet and that's when they told me. I didn't know anything about Diabetes except that one of my uncle's had it and he eventually died from gangrene. I learned how to give her insulin shots ( a miracle considering I hate needles of any kind) and everything seemed good for a while. I wanted Emma to have a great life, in spite of this chronic disease. But Emma was special and a very hard dog to get regulated on her insulin. When my vet couldn't do it and Emma started vomiting and wouldn't eat, she referred me to a specialist. This was the first time she had Ketoacidosis and she was hospitalized for 3 days. She was also prone to frequent urinary tract infections (UTI's), common to dogs who are Diabetic. I had a doggie door installed about a year and a half after her diagnosis (the one that you can put in the sliding glass door) and the UTI's were less frequent but still came around once a year. The vet specialist was able to get her regulated for a few months at most but then she would need to go back and have the usual glucose curves and fructosimine tests done, blood work, etc. Around July 2015, she had a horrible seizure. This was a horrible sight to see and I never wanted her to go through that again. After giving her some honey, I rushed her to the emergency vet and her blood sugar was around 70. The specialist tried so many different types of insulins, different combinations, multiple tests to rule out all the reasons she could be insulin resistance, other disorders, and so on. You name it, he tried it. Her second hospitalization for Ketoacidosis came in July 2015. Again, she recovered and was home in 3 days. He told me some dogs are just so hard to regulate. He even took her home with him for weeks (twice, mind you) to try and help her get regulated. Nothing seemed to work. Emma was one of those hard to regulate dogs but I loved her and made a commitment to give her the best life I possibly could. In Nov/Dec, the specialist put her on Lantus and Hills w/d. All seemed fine for a few months. I had the animal hospital check her blood sugar on a weekend I was away and had her hospital boarded. Her blood sugar was ok at 175. This was in mid-March. About a month later, I noticed a discharge coming from her vulva after she urinated. I took her to my regular vet a few days later and had them do a urine test. No blood in the urine but she the discharge was still happening. The vet did a vaginal culture, urine culture, some type of antibiotic sensitivity test, and a senior screen. While I was waiting for the final sensitivity test, the vet called and said her blood sugar was 590. I told her I was going to increase her insulin and check her blood with the vet in a few days. My dog was drinking and urinating so much after that and then she vomited really bad, I rushed her to the emergency vet. I told the emergency vet what was going on with Emma Mary and the tests she had had done, etc. They wanted to do an ultrasound as they suspected Pancreatitis. I got a call from the doctor and my dog had Ketoacidosis and Pancreatitis. Her blood sugar was still 590. She was in the hospital for 5 days, not eating, still on short-acting insulin because they couldn't get her to eat. I just couldn't stand to see my Emma girl suffer like that anymore. She wasn't herself - the last two times she had Ketoacidosis, she recovered fairly quickly - this time was different. When the doctor wanted to talk about options with me, I went to the emergency hospital. The doctors knew her history of not being able to get regulated. They even asked if she seemed better. I was like, No, not really. I know what my dog looks like when she is better. She was not eating and becoming anorexic. This was not a good quality of life. I had the chance to be with Emma Mary before the doctor came in and all I wanted for my Emma Mary to have was a great life and I gave that to her. Deciding to put my sweet Emma Mary to sleep on 4/29/16 at my regular animal hospital was the hardest decision I ever had to make. I miss her so much but she was suffering with Diabetes and the complications thereof. My Emma Mary was the sweetest dog (I added the name Mary to her name in honor of my own mom who passed away in April 2014) and on her final hour she got to go for a walk and a car ride, and sniff the green grass. Her peaceful spirit can now run, run and play free from Diabetes, insulin, needles, infections, ketones, and hospitalizations. Her final resting place will be with me, Always. Thank you for letting me share my story with you about my sweet Emma Mary. I needed to do this as part of my grieving process. I am glad I found this forum. Colleen

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LittleGirl's...
post May 13 2016, 04:43 AM
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From: Maine
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Oh Colleen, I am so very sorry to hear of the physical loss of your precious Emma Mary!! sad.gif

First let me say that you are an angel for adopting an older dog! You gave her a life and love that she very well might not have had. wub.gif

...Emma Mary ... and she is with your Mom now. And when it is your time to pass, you will all be fully reunited. In the meantime she is still with you -- and with your Mom. She's a truly free and blissful spirit and in the realm she's in, there aren't the time/space limitations we are still stuck in.

It is remarkable that you were able to handle the needles---another of many examples of you being her angel. wub.gif You gave her everything!

I'm glad you found this site! I hope you will continue to come here and share your feelings and maybe, if you are ready and want to, Emma Mary's picture and more stories about her life with you.

Will be checking back. In the meantime, I'm sending prayers your way.

Emma Mary is just fine and wants you to be also.

Kathy


--------------------
Compassion for all animals. www.earthlings.com
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moon_beam
post May 13 2016, 12:44 PM
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Hi, Colleen, please permit me to add my sincerest sympathies in the physical loss of your beloved Emma Mary. Losing a companion is never easy regardless of the circumstances or how long we are blessed with the privilege of their company. Euthanasia is the last gift of love we can give to our companions at great sacrifice to ourselves so that they can be restored to their former youthfulness in the company of the angels.

I can so relate to all your loving efforts to get your beloved Emma Mary's diabetes regulated. This happens with people, too. Diabetes can be very challenging to deal with, and I'm so very, very sorry that your Emma Mary had to endure the many secondary illnesses that are a part of diabetes management. From what you share with us it is obvious you did everything in your human and humane power to make sure that your beloved Emma Mary had the medical care she needed when she needed it. And - - I do soooo understand your heartbreak - - and heartache - - in having to make the decision to release your beloved girl from her failing, frail, physical body. There is never a "good time" to have to ease our companion's transition from this earthly realm for we will always want just one more minute, one more hour, one more day - - one more lifetime with our beloved companion.

The good news in the midst of your deepest sorrow as you travel your grief adjustment journey is that the love bond you and your beloved Emma Mary share is eternal - - it is not restricted to the physical laws of time and space. Your beloved Emma Mary's sweet Living Spirit is always and forever a part of your heart and memories, Colleen - - she is always and forever a heartbeat close to you.

I know so very well from first hand experience that when our hearts are entrenched in deep grief there are no adequate words in any language that can soothe the searing pain of sorrow. Still I hope the words I share with you will offer you some measure of comfort, support, encouragement, and hope as you travel your grief adjustment journey.

Thank you so very much for honoring us in sharing your beloved Emma Mary with us, Colleen. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers, and please let us know how you're doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam


--------------------
In heaven's perfect garden there is no grief or pain, and all of God's creation join the angels' sweet refrain.

The most blessed way I have of knowing God's comforting love and grace is to look into the eyes and heart of God's creatures' sweet angelic face.
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Colleen M
post May 14 2016, 06:51 PM
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Group: Pet Lovers
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Joined: 10-May 16
Member No.: 8,847



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Here is the very first picture I saw of Emma Mary - this is one of the reasons I adopted her. Look at that sweet face and fluffy coat! I miss you so much Emma Mary! I hope you are enjoying your leisure days at Rainbow Bridge with all your other animal friends. Play nice! Hugs and kisses, my sweet angel. smile.gif
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moon_beam
post May 15 2016, 11:27 AM
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Hi, Colleen, thank you so very much for sharing this wonderful picture of your beloved Emma Mary with us. She is soooooo adorable. How blessed you are to be her sole, and soul, heir to her eternal love. And how blessed she is to have you for her Forever Mom. Nothing in heaven or on earth can ever change this.

I hope today is treating you kindly, Colleen, and that you will have peaceful evenings blessed with your beloved Emma Mary's sweet Living Spirit to comfort you. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers, and please let us know how you're doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam


--------------------
In heaven's perfect garden there is no grief or pain, and all of God's creation join the angels' sweet refrain.

The most blessed way I have of knowing God's comforting love and grace is to look into the eyes and heart of God's creatures' sweet angelic face.
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