How Much Can Someone Take?
I know life is filled with good and bad, but at what point does the bad stop? When 2024 started, I never thought it would pose so many heartbreaks and challenges. I have never experienced so much in such a short time, and I am crying for mercy!
The year started like any other, with no signs of what was to come. But in February, as some of you know, I lost my best-feathered friend of just under 32 years. Rio crossed the rainbow bridge. It was something I knew was coming, but it didn’t hurt any less.
In March, with my heart barely starting to recover, my special girl Finley, my 8-year-old GSP, started having issues. We had a trip to the ER, and the vet felt she had signs of an Iliopsoas injury, so we put her on some pain relief meds and reduced activity. We also started fitness training at a wonderful place called Canine Strong.
In April, Finn started having GI issues, so we did an ultrasound and Endoscopy. Finn got so sick that she stopped eating and was just not feeling well at all. It was a very stressful month as I watched my girl slowly become a dog I did not recognize. She was no longer full of life and energy. My playful sassy girl mostly laid around and looked sad.
By May, we uncovered she had a fat intolerance, moderate IBD, and signs of food allergies, see a photo of the angry GI. So, we started her on a strict LF diet. She can not have anything other than her kibble/wet Rx food. We did a house cleansing but kept a few treats for Mr Buck that I would sneak to him on the side.
For Memorial Weekend we attempted to join everyone up north for our annual camping trip. I drove 2 hrs north to just turn around and come back. Finn was showing signs of severe discomfort. After another trip to the ER Vet for an entire day, we ended up with a diagnosis of some kind of back/lumbar issue. We started steroids and pain meds and went on an even stricter limited activity routine for a good 4 weeks.
We welcomed June with a bit more positivity. Finn seemed to be doing okay on her new regiment. She was bored and wanted to run around, but she was eating and working on healing her GI. But that sense of normalcy was short-lived.
After a beautiful Father's Day at home, we all spent the day hanging out; and enjoying life; our world was shattered. At approximately 7:30 pm, our sweet old man Buck, 13.5 years old, came in from going out and just laid down and wouldn’t get up. We rushed him to the Veterinary Emergency Center of Manchester, where they had treated him before. The staff there was wonderful; while the waiting room was full, they took us right in, and we got seen immediately (which is a concern). The Vet took Buck back for an ultrasound and came back with the bad news. His abdomen was filled with blood. The most likely cause was the aggressive Hemangiosarcoma which can rupture without knowing it is even there. On 6/16/24, we said goodbye to our sweet boy Buck. Our home is now so different, and I have no idea how to get to a new sense of normal. I’ve also made a video memorial for Buck, you can find it here.
As I sit here writing this, Finn has started to slip back. She isn’t wanting to eat her food. The vet suggested it could be due to Buck passing, and while I think she is sad, I do not think that is the cause. I feel like I have no idea what to do or where to go from here. I can’t lose her too!
Six months of 2024 has almost passed, out of the last six months, five have totally sucked! Finn is still struggling with issues and I just don’t know how much more I can take. Something has to give at some point, right?
