[Magdalen] Advice - Malcolm

[Christopher Hart]

So sorry, Rick. I didn't respond earlier because I really had no advice to
offer, but I feel your pain. May Malcom be comforted by your love.

On Tue, Jan 25, 2022 at 12:08 PM Rick Mashburn <ricklmashburn at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Thanks to everyone who has responded. He's not getting any better. I'm
> waiting on a call back from his regular vet to confirm that there isn't
> anything else that can be done.
>
> The really scary part is that some of the stones in his bladder are pretty
> large. (I've seen the x-rays.) If he gets completely blocked, his bladder
> will fill pretty quickly. If it ruptures, that will be painful for him and
> traumatic for all of us. That's not what we want..
>
> A friend recommended a vet who makes house calls. We will likely schedule
> the procedure for Friday morning. We're heartbroken but it's the best thing
> for him. It would be unfair to wait too long. He will be here where he
> feels safe and loved and with his family.
>
> Prayers would be very much appreciated.
>
> Much love,
>
> Rick, Alex and Malcolm
>
> On Tue, Jan 25, 2022 at 10:35 AM Ann Markle <ann.markle at aya.yale.edu>
> wrote:
>
> > Rick, I'm just so sorry.  I can't imagine saying goodbye to my cuddle
> bug,
> > and it has never been easy in the past.  I've been lucky to have vets
> > advise me, and illnesses so serious that it really had to be done.
> > Clementine was done at the vet's office.  I lay beside her and talked to
> > her until she went to sleep; it was a 2 shot deal (the last to stop her
> > heart), and I couldn't stay for the last shot.  Dori came into my life a
> > short time after that, and cold as it sounds, it really did ease the pain
> > of losing Clem.  I hope this isn't too devastating for you, but also that
> > you grieve well, with sweet memories.
> >
> > Ann
> >
> > The Rev. Ann Markle
> > Buffalo, NY
> > ann.markle at aya.yale.edu
> >
> >
> > On Mon, Jan 24, 2022 at 12:49 AM Rick Mashburn <ricklmashburn at gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Dear friends,
> > >
> > > It's been a hard day at our house. As some of you know, Malcolm was
> > > diagnosed with calcium oxalate bladder stones for some years now. He's
> > been
> > > on meds to balance the Ph in his urine (believed to pre-dispose dogs to
> > > these types of stones) with success for the last 3 or 4 years.
> > >
> > > In the last six months, the number of stones has increased and he's
> > needed
> > > hydropropulsion therapy multiple times. Last week, that stopped
> working.
> > He
> > > was at the vet on Thursday and Friday but they were not able to clear
> his
> > > urethra. In spite of taht, on Friday night, he was able to urinate
> almost
> > > normally and to a lesser extent on Saturday. Today, it has gotten much
> > > worse. He is able to urinate but not very much and it's obvious he is
> not
> > > able to empty his bladder.
> > >
> > > We are walking him more frequently so he can empty his bladder as much
> as
> > > possible but we know this is not a sustainable situation. The worst
> case
> > > scenario would be a ruptured bladder which would be painful and
> traumatic
> > > for all of us. I can't stand the thought of that happening to him.
> > >
> > > We've been in touch with a vet who makes house calls. They provide
> > > euthenasia in a gentle, supportive way that would let us say goodbye to
> > him
> > > without trauma. But, the thought of saying goodbye too soon is also
> hard
> > to
> > > imagine.
> > >
> > > I know many, many of you have had to make this agonizing decision. What
> > > made the difference for you? What is the right criteria? We don't want
> to
> > > make a decision too quickly but I'm afraid that is mostly just
> > selfishness.
> > > I don't want to say goodbye at all but the window for that is closing
> --
> > > and could close even more quickly than we imagine.
> > >
> > > We know our hearts will be broken either way. We want to do the right
> > thing
> > > for Malcolm.
> > >
> > > Much love,
> > >
> > > Rick
> > >
> >
>


-- 

Christopher Hart

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