BerryJane
Alpha Buck
Hi,
I hope you don't mind if I have an indulgent 'me' post.
I lost Berry on 26th September and have found it really hard without him in our home.
For the last 5 months he has struggled with his arthritis and towards the end I was cleaning him 5 or 6 times a day to ensure he was dry and clean as best as I could. He lost a lot of fur around his legs and bottom but regular trips to the vets confirmed that his quality of life and the way his skin was clean and a nice pink meant we would continue to give him his life. He had lots of special aloe products which really helped him with his personality, movement and general well being,
A couple of days before he died he stopped eating normally as he did from time to time and had the usual medication from the vets. We thought he was improving but sadly not. On the Thursday evening I knew the end was near. He wolfed a piece of banana which he loved and then after that became almost unresponsive. He lay on the sofa in my arms all night only occasionally moving his head. He was clearly in no pain and I hope that whatever thoughts / feelings he had he would have had comfort from being close to me.
First thing Friday I took him to the vets, They saw him first thing before they opened and my brill vet thought his organs were failing and his body had gone into shock. From the time I put him in the car to his last moments he didn't respond at all. His passing took a couple of seconds and in many ways was the perfect way for him to lose his fight. We had a lovely condolence card from the vets and the next week when I took Blossom for his dental another vet offered her sympathy. I was surprised and asked if it was usual that all vets heard of pets who died. She said not generally but when it was a special animal then they made sure that all staff were aware!
I visited him at the crematorium the same day and he was back home with me by lunch time.
Our home is so quiet and in over 3 weeks I have not been in the living room, this is where Berry lived and I cannot bear it without him ruling the roost. He had a huge personality and our life revolved around him - especially in the latter couple of years. My son has been in there once and said it was horrid - expecting him to stomp around when the neighbours cat walked past the patio etc. My husband has also only been in once and for the first time in 9 years watched the tv sat on a chair. His role was to be on the floor with Berry and woe betide he disobeyed Berry's demands! So I am just living in my bedroom which isn't great but is the only way I can cope. I nearly cried in the shop today when my husband suggested we buy bananas.
Berry got involved in all that went on and already I am thinking how difficult it will be at Christmas. He just loved us putting the decorations up and could always be found with a bauble or piece of tinsel in his mouth and running off with them. I seriously don't think we will bother with a tree at all.
Sorry for the long post - I know you get it. I love Blossom so much - every day he makes me laugh. Tillie was so special and Bramble was adorable but Berry, well he was different and life is just unbearable without him in our lives.
On another note I would like to thank all who have offered support to me during Berry's last few months - a special than you to lovely Julie bun and her mom who gave me the hope to continue with a disabled bun. It was the right choice and I don't regret one bit that we kept him alive.
Thanks for listening, I feel better for writing it down.
I hope you don't mind if I have an indulgent 'me' post.
I lost Berry on 26th September and have found it really hard without him in our home.
For the last 5 months he has struggled with his arthritis and towards the end I was cleaning him 5 or 6 times a day to ensure he was dry and clean as best as I could. He lost a lot of fur around his legs and bottom but regular trips to the vets confirmed that his quality of life and the way his skin was clean and a nice pink meant we would continue to give him his life. He had lots of special aloe products which really helped him with his personality, movement and general well being,
A couple of days before he died he stopped eating normally as he did from time to time and had the usual medication from the vets. We thought he was improving but sadly not. On the Thursday evening I knew the end was near. He wolfed a piece of banana which he loved and then after that became almost unresponsive. He lay on the sofa in my arms all night only occasionally moving his head. He was clearly in no pain and I hope that whatever thoughts / feelings he had he would have had comfort from being close to me.
First thing Friday I took him to the vets, They saw him first thing before they opened and my brill vet thought his organs were failing and his body had gone into shock. From the time I put him in the car to his last moments he didn't respond at all. His passing took a couple of seconds and in many ways was the perfect way for him to lose his fight. We had a lovely condolence card from the vets and the next week when I took Blossom for his dental another vet offered her sympathy. I was surprised and asked if it was usual that all vets heard of pets who died. She said not generally but when it was a special animal then they made sure that all staff were aware!
I visited him at the crematorium the same day and he was back home with me by lunch time.
Our home is so quiet and in over 3 weeks I have not been in the living room, this is where Berry lived and I cannot bear it without him ruling the roost. He had a huge personality and our life revolved around him - especially in the latter couple of years. My son has been in there once and said it was horrid - expecting him to stomp around when the neighbours cat walked past the patio etc. My husband has also only been in once and for the first time in 9 years watched the tv sat on a chair. His role was to be on the floor with Berry and woe betide he disobeyed Berry's demands! So I am just living in my bedroom which isn't great but is the only way I can cope. I nearly cried in the shop today when my husband suggested we buy bananas.
Berry got involved in all that went on and already I am thinking how difficult it will be at Christmas. He just loved us putting the decorations up and could always be found with a bauble or piece of tinsel in his mouth and running off with them. I seriously don't think we will bother with a tree at all.
Sorry for the long post - I know you get it. I love Blossom so much - every day he makes me laugh. Tillie was so special and Bramble was adorable but Berry, well he was different and life is just unbearable without him in our lives.
On another note I would like to thank all who have offered support to me during Berry's last few months - a special than you to lovely Julie bun and her mom who gave me the hope to continue with a disabled bun. It was the right choice and I don't regret one bit that we kept him alive.
Thanks for listening, I feel better for writing it down.