Lucy's Time Is Coming..., Feeling scared and sad Options

[Caroline]

Hi- I haven't posted in awhile. I found this website when I found out that my chocolate lab, Lucy, had been diagnosed with lymphoma a month ago. We put her on prednisone and the last 3-4 weeks have been great. She regained her energy and appetite, but we knew it would be temporary. She has really declined this week and we have decided to have her euthanized on Saturday at home with us.
I am feeling very scared and sad about the whole thing. I know in my heart it is the right thing, but it doesn't offer me any comfort. I can't imagine my life without her. I have read some people's stories about their experiences with euthanizing their little ones and this has helped me prepare somewhat. I would be grateful for any other advice from those of you who have had to make this agonizing decision.
We plan on taking our girl to the beach for one last swim on Saturday. It is hard to believe that this is all real. She is only five and I feel cheated out of many years I had hoped we would spend together. Thank you again for all of the support you at LS have given. Everyone at LS was so kind to me when I initially posted after getting Lucy's diagnosis. I was in complete shock and walked around in a daze for more than a week. Now all I feel is a huge pit in my stomach that won't go away. I know the worst is still to come. I had hoped not to have posted this message for awhile, foolishly thinking that we were going to have more time with her.
Thanks again for listening and for being a shoulder to cry on. It makes me feel better knowing that Lucy will live on through this website.
Caroline

[jillybromley]

Dear Caroline
I have had you and your beautiful Lucy so much in my thoughts and prayers since you first posted. My heart just broke when I read your post tonight and I realised that the time was here.

I am so desperately sorry for what you are going through, I have been there myself. The lead up days are so very hard even though you know that there is nothing more that can be done and that it is time to allow her to make her final journey to rainbow bridge.

Let her final day be filled with love and gentleness and normality. Do everything you can possibly do, as a reminder of her. Take a lock of her fur. Brush her and wrap her fur in a tissue and put it somewhere safe. Do a paw print. Take pictures of you and her together on your last day.

These are all the things that afterwards you would regret not doing. All you will want is to be close to her again once she is gone and with these things you can be, because they are a part of her that she has left with you. I still have the blanket that I put Ellie on when she died and I keep it by my pillow. Even though it is 9 weeks on, I still hug it and smell it when I go to bed to try to get close to her again.

I take out her little box of fur and hold it next to my cheek to remember her softness. I kiss her little pawprints that are still there on the glass topped coffee table. One day I will clean it, but not yet ...

Make as many memories as you can.

On a practical level keep everything peaceful and quiet so that she has no awareness of anything strange going on. A tranquiliser in the scruff of the neck can be done first which she would barely be aware of it. I think it is something that maybe you have to request if you want it. There is usually about a ten minutes wait then for it to take effect. She will then be very sleepy and relaxed and not have any concern for what is going on around her. Hold her and love her right till the end, stroke her head, look into her eyes. The image of that last moment will stay vividly in your memory for ever and you want it to be the best memory that it can possibly be.

Love her to bits today and tomorrow until the time comes and let her final day be one filled with love and she will carry that loved feeling with her when she goes to rainbows bridge.

My thoughts are so much with you Caroline. You have been so much a part of this board for a while now that you know that we will all be here right here beside you.

I'm so sad for you

With love
jilly