[Magdalen] Advice - Malcolm

[Juli Tarsney]

Much love to you and Alex. I know how sad you must be.

You took such good loving care of your baby.

On Fri, Jan 28, 2022 at 6:24 PM Rick Mashburn <ricklmashburn at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> For those of you not on Facebook, I posted this earlier today:
>
> This morning, we had to send our beloved Malcolm across the Rainbow Bridge.
> It was quiet and peaceful. The vet came to our home. He was surrounded by
> love and his humans. We are so grateful that we had 13 wonderful years with
> him. Our hearts are broken but it was the best thing for him. He had
> medical issues that could not be solved. We loved him his entire life. We
> will miss for the rest of ours. Rest in peace, dear friend.
>
> Much love, Rick
>
>
> On Tue, Jan 25, 2022 at 1:48 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
> >>
> >