[Magdalen] Advice - Malcolm

[Grace Cangialosi]

I did the same thing, Jay. I’ve never had it done at home.

> On Jan 25, 2022, at 2:55 PM, Jay Weigel <jay.weigel at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> It's always so much better if you can hold them. Even though I had to take
> mine to the vet, I always held them and petted them and told them I loved
> them while they went to sleep.
> 
>> On Tue, Jan 25, 2022 at 2:48 PM Rick Mashburn <ricklmashburn at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> 
>> Thank you, Chris!
>> 
>> Thanks,
>> 
>> Rick
>> 
>> On Tue, Jan 25, 2022 at 1:34 PM Christopher Hart <cervus51 at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> 
>>> 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
>>> 
>>> List Mail Address: cervus51 at gmail.com
>>> Personal Mail: cervus at veritasliberat.net
>>> Twitter: @cervus51
>>> 
>>