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4500180 tn?1360087130

gilly jay

Please help my 12 year old bichon as just bin diagnosed with kidney failure we are gutted as ad him since pup we are so scared in losing him he ok in is self. Just old age please help Anita an Carol xxx
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4500180 tn?1360087130
Hey Tony just found your beautiful message!  Thankyou it means so much to us!!!! So glad your keeping your fantastic work up an loving yet another doggie! She will I know be well protected an very muched loved! I know I always have a special friend when in need of that little reassurance! !!!! God bless to you Tony we will most definitely keep intouch! Big hug to you an your beautiful family.... nita carol xxxxxx
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1916673 tn?1420233270
Hello Nita. It's so good to hear from you. Sorry for not getting back sooner, but life gets busy sometimes and I can't always get on MedHelp every day. But I do try and check things out at least every 3 or 4 days. Six months is nothing when it comes to losing one of our very best friends. It took me 2 yrs before I could face taking in another rescue (which I have recently, a lovely but slightly crazy greyhound called Sally). She's no lady, mind you, and has certainly made an impact in our home. But despite her 'issues', she's adorable.

Tears can come during the grieving process at any time, and sometimes when you least expect it. Just let it out. Doggy folk will always understand and be supportive - and of course, your friend right here is always ready to listen and help whenever I can. You shouldn't force the issue about offering another much needed doggy a home ... it will happen when you are ready, and I'm sure that doggy will have the most amazing parents any dog could have. If I was given a wish to use, it would be that our dogs could live as long as we do (mostly at least), but that's just not the way things are, and there's not much we can do about it. What we can do though is love them while they are sharing our lives - and fill every minute with as much happiness and contentment we can create.

There are so many dogs that are never blessed with the kind of love and companionship, the adventures and the enjoyment of life that Gilly had ... and that's down to you and Carol. During your sad days (which will come and go and thankfully get less over time), just remember that ... Gilly was one of the lucky ones.

Must also say, thank you so much for your kind words. It's reassuring that even in our darkest days when things are going badly, we can still meet new friends and create something good out of something bad.

Hope to hear from you again real soon. Take good care of yourselves. Tony Xxx
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4500180 tn?1360087130
Hey tony hope lifes gud for you! It's nearly 6 months our baby boy went to sleep! We continue with life but the heartache is unbearable at times as we miss him so much I cry all the time but I know he is with us in spirit just things that happen in the house I even hear him running down the stairs an feel him snuggling behind our legs!!! I most probably will cry forever an still no feelin for another doggy!!!! Just thought I wud post you as you came to my mind!!! Not sure if it was gud for me but I just had some tears as I was reading all our past posts 're gilly!!! You helped US so much an we will be forever grateful tony! So a big hug to you try an keep intouch it's nice to hear from you!!!! Kind regards Nita an carol p.s. I noticed there are a lot of people that need your help!!!! Xxxxxxx
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1916673 tn?1420233270
Hello Nita. Grief takes its own time. For some, this can be a few weeks, but for others it can be many months or even years. The loss of Gilly will affect both of you and it may be that you will grieve in different ways - and more intensely at different times. Grief also inflicts sadness, anxiety and stress into what may have been previously a perfectly harmonious life for both you and your partner. I can't advise what you should do, but I would suggest you try to take some time out of your no doubt busy daily routines, work, etc., and just sit down and talk to each other about how both of you are feeling and how your partner might be able to help you in your grieving process ... and listen to what she may have to say about how you might be able to help her in her grieving.

Also, if you feel you have been unfair in snapping at her, say you are sorry, even though she probably knows it was just you letting off some steam. After 14 years together, I'm sure you know each other very well and understand that this is a difficult time for you both.

Hugs and kisses ... Tony x
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4500180 tn?1360087130
Hi Tony hope your well,,, it's only a little while since our baby boy went to sleep! Tony I miss him so so much my heart breaks! I cope with every day life an find comfort when I come home from work to him I light a candle and have a special place for him! He is surrounded by love and we feel his presence in the house! My problem at the moment is that I am very angry with my beautiful partner of 14 years I just seem to snap at her all the time and I no she is hurting to but just can't help myself!!! I never ever want to lose her but afraid am pushing her away! Please help!!! I thought my angels would help but obvious not for this comfort I need!!!! Big love and kind regards Nita xxxxxxxx
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1916673 tn?1420233270
Hi Nita. You are very kind with your comments, thank you so much. Arwe you planning on keeping Gilly's ashes or scattering them? When my dog BB passed away, I decided to scatter her ashes on the local beach where she used to love to run. It was a very tough job, filled with emotion, but I feel we did her proud - our remaining dog Giro attended along with our friends and their dogs (the ones that used to play and run with her). It may sound over the top, but to me it was a fitting acknowledgement of a wonderful dog, best friend and companion. You remain in my thoughts. Love and hugs, Tony x
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4500180 tn?1360087130
Hi Tony hope your well, we are coping as best as we can but still very heartbroken, we have him home with US now he went to a beautiful pet crematorium called bushy hill farm we had to do the best for him also we talk about him always an friends an family have been very supportive as they all loved him to, his presence is in the house an we burn a candle always an we have his smelly blankets around our necks when in the house!!! Please keep in contact Tony as you have always been there for us and if I can help anyone for support please let me know as I would like to share my thoughts with anyone that needs it! You taught me so much and I will never forget that! You are my guardian angel..... Take care an big hugs with love Nita xxxxxx
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1916673 tn?1420233270
Hello Anita and Carol. I'm hoping today is just a little bit easier than yesterday ... and maybe tomorrow will be just a little bit better too. It is so hard coping with this kind of loss, but time helps, it really does. You have been amazing - and never stop remembering that. Gilly would be so proud of you for coping and he certainly wouldn't want you to be upset. You gave him so much, and in return, you got the volume of love and loyalty you rightly deserved. Sharing our lives with our best friends is one of the greatest of life's joys, which is why it hurts so much when it is taken away from us. Try to remember the good times, if you can ... lots of love, Tony x
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4500180 tn?1360087130
Hi there just to say thankyou for the beautiful poems our heart's are broken an we miss him so much! And we are so sorry to hear your sad loss of your beautiful baby! Is it true that times a healer!!!! With kind regards Anita, Carol x
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4500180 tn?1360087130
Hi Tony thankyou so much for your kind words an thoughts for us,we miss our boy so so much an our heart's are torn but the more we think about it we did the right thing by him he was going down fast but now he sleeps peacefully with him snuggled in his blanket an with his babies, we hope to pick him up early next week an then maybe the pain will ease, I miss his cuddles so so much he was my life!! I hope the new world he has gone they love and protect him an he will always look down at us an give us some guidance because now our souls need help,, we really appreciate all your support Tony you was always there for me and helped me so much in understanding this awful illness my heart is blessed by that!! Thankyou again Tony keep up your brilliant support to others you are blessed with take great care big love Anita Carol xxxxxxxxx
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4912025 tn?1360936205
Hi gillyjay. I am so sorry for your loss. I had to put my 12 year old shih tzu to sleep in July 2012 because of renal failure so I can understand how you feel right now :(
Here are a couple of poems that brought me some comfort. I hope they help you too:

The Last Battle

If it should be that I grow frail and weak,
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then will you do what must be done,
For this, the last battle, can't be won.


You will be sad I understand,
But don't let grief then stay your hand,
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship must stand the test.


We have had so many happy years,
You wouldn't want me to suffer so.
When the time comes, please, let me go.


Take me to where to my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me till the end
And hold me firm and speak to me,
Until my eyes no longer see.

I know in time you will agree,
It is a kindness you do to me.
Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I have been saved.


Don't grieve that it must be you,
Who has to decide this thing to do;
We've been so close,we two, these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.


I Stood By Your Bed Last Night

I stood by your bed last night, I came to have a peep. I could see that you were crying, You found it hard to sleep.

I whined to you softly as you brushed away a tear, "It's me, I haven't left you, I'm well, I'm fine, I'm here."

I was close to you at breakfast, I watched you pour the tea, You were thinking of the many times, your hands reached down to me.

I was with you at the shops today, Your arms were getting sore. I longed to take your parcels, I wish I could do more.

I was with you at my grave today, You tend it with such care. I want to reassure you, that I'm not lying there.

I walked with you towards the house, as you fumbled for your key. I gently put my paw on you, I smiled and said "it's me."

You looked so very tired, and sank into a chair. I tried so hard to let you know, that I was standing there.

It's possible for me to be so near you everyday. To say to you with certainty, "I never went away."

You sat there very quietly, then smiled, I think you knew, in the stillness of that evening, I was very close to you.

The day is over... I smile and watch you yawning and say "good-night, God bless, I'll see you in the morning."

And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide, I'll rush across to greet you and we'll stand, side by side.

I have so many things to show you, there is so much for you to see. Be patient, live your journey out ... then come home to be with me.

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1916673 tn?1420233270
When I first saw your most recent post, I wanted to reply straight away, but tears prevented it. I have never met you or Gilly, yet you all seem so much like friends - and it is heartbreaking, I know, to have gone through what you have had to go through. Words are never ever easy at a time like this, so forgive me if mine aren't quite right ... if Gilly could say it, he would thank you for being such wonderful parents, for giving him everything you did, time, attention, and so much love. He was a lucky lucky boy to have shared his life with you. In time, your heartache will ease and you will be able to remember all those happy times, though right now I understand that may seem so far away. You did what you had to do, even though I empathise with how hard it must have been. Gilly is at peace now. No more pain, no more worrying, no more desperate days trying to breathe and finding it difficult. You did what all parents fear having to do in the best interests of their best friend. Feel free to talk here at any time ... but for now, please know that you are in my thoughts. Lots of love, Tony x
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4500180 tn?1360087130
Thankyou so much for that our heart's are broken so so much Karla an in limbo land! What such a beautiful verse we will keep that in our hearts but the pain is unbearable at the moment!!! We love him so much and I still always say he looked like ur baby so much!!! Thanku again for your support with much heartache Anita Carol xxxxx
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462827 tn?1333168952
"Run Free Little Gilly"......My condolences to your family....  Karla


                  THE RAINBOW BRIDGE

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...
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4500180 tn?1360087130
Tony just to say sadly an heartbreaking we put our boy to rest today!!!! We are heartbroken an just want to say thankyou so so much for your kind considerate help you have given us through all this!!! Gilly sends you a big hug an we know he at peace now!!! Thankyou again with much love and respect Anita Carol xxxxx heartbreaking!!!!!
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1916673 tn?1420233270
Hi. It is most likely his heart problem is causing his laboured breathing, and of course his other issues will just exacerbate things. If his legs are shaking, it could be the start of minor seizures, but equally it could be a tremor caused by the medication he is on - so worth asking your vet when you go there. I think you are doing everything you possibly can for Gilly, so try not to fret about things or have thoughts about not doing enough or not doing the right thing. From what you have said, there really is nothing more you can do. Things will take their course and all you can truly do is keep him comfortable, dolloping huge amounts of love on him and reassuring him with your presence. Dogs are very intuitive, so the more you worry (hard not to, I know) the more he will feel anxious. Is he still eating and drinking - and able to go outside on his own to 'do his business' okay? What is he like at night? Does he sleep through? Let me know what your vet says, once you have a few minutes to spare. Until then, take good care of yourself and give Gilly a big hug from me. Tony x
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4500180 tn?1360087130
Hi tony hope ur well we are taking gilly to the vets tomorrow as his breathing getting quite bad and just today his little legs started to shake! Why is that tony!!! He is lookin rather sad  and we are not sure what to do! We don't want him suffering at all but don't want to do anything drastic! I know an can see he not happy an he really tries an makes a effort for us!!! We just want him to go peacefully! It's the breathing  we are worried about tony!!! I come to you as you give me peace of mind I hope you don't mind! Thankyou so so much!!!! Xxxxx
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1916673 tn?1420233270
Hi. I am no expert, but I do know a little ... the problem you have is that - in addition to other functions - the liver works alongside the kidneys to remove toxins. It is effectively a back-up for the work of the kidneys. When both the kidneys and the liver start to fail, the prognosis is very poor. The fact that Gilly also has heart issues makes the prognosis even less positive. In addition, it is essential not to put additional stress on either the kidneys or the liver, so any medications used to treat the conditions have to be chosen very carefully, because all medications put some strain on both organs.

Your vet is truly the best person to give you management advice, so please consult him/her and ask any questions you may have. Like most illnesses, liver disease can be treated effectively but only if caught early enough. Your vet will advise if there are any treatment options available.

As time goes on, Gilly can be expected to drink substantial amounts of water. This will happen due to the liver problem. However, this will also put some stress on the kidneys, as they help flush the system. The other concern here is that meats of all kind are ill-advised for dogs with liver disease - so anything you are feeding with meat in it is best avoided, under normal circumstances. That said, if your vet believes the prognosis is extremely bad, then I would feed Gilly whatever he wants and will eat - even if it is not the best thing for his physical health, it will almost certainly make him happier than going without his favorite foodstuffs.

It is interesting to note that the liver is capable of completely regenerating itself, and it is the only organ in the body that can do this - so that's why I mentioned, if caught early enough, liver disease can be effectively treated. The difficulty here is this is probably secondary to the other complications, so even if you had success in treating the liver failure, it is not possible to prevent the kidneys from shutting down.

There are a whole raft of physical problems that are likely to occur. These include seizures, refusal to eat, nausea, jaundice, vomiting, diarrhea and extreme lethargy. As Gilly becomes more sickly, he is likely also to suffer from depression, and perhaps this latter psychological problem will be the hardest to deal with.

The next obvious question you may have is when would it be appropriate to consider euthanasia. I think this is the most difficult question any owner ever asks on this forum. My reply would be ... whenever you think Gilly has 'had enough', when there is no real hope of improving the treatment (according to your vet) and when Gilly stops eating, wagging his tail and generally seems to have lost interest in life. I do know those words may be very hard to read and even harder to think about, and I am really sorry for putting them down in print.

In my own experience, a dog somehow manages to tell their owner when the time is right. It is almost always written in their eyes - and many owners understand that such a look is the most painful thing any owner ever sees.

I truly hope Gilly finds enough strength to keep going for a while to give you all time to come to terms with things. While he is interested in things going on around him and seems contented despite his condition, please just keep doing what you are already doing ... and give him a huge hug from me. You are all in my thoughts. Tony x
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4500180 tn?1360087130
Me again! Sorry I forgot to add that his breathing is really bad now!! Xx
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4500180 tn?1360087130
Hiya Tony hope your well? Just a update on gilly! We can't believe how he is doing! We couldn't put him through his scan as worried about his little heart with the sedation an really they only wanted to see we're he's at! I think we know that! Vet said it's just diet control now as his liver very swollen! But Tony he has such a sprite sometimes an I can't get my head around the fact he is dying! Please answer my question as to the liver damage is that really bad an could he go at anytime! Wot could happen an what should we expect! With liver damage an heart problem now!! I am confused with this! We are making him comfortable as possible an will never let him suffer! We don't want to go down that road of prolonging his little life tryin out different remedies!!! Just need a bit of guidance with this as I am makin myself ill wit worry.... Thankyou  big love xxx
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1916673 tn?1420233270
Hello again. I am sorry to hear that Gilly has deteriorated and now may have liver problems. Owners often feel very helpless in these situations, but believe me, you are doing all you possibly can to help your boy. You might ask your vet about IV fluid therapy and anti-nausea medication. Dogs with kidney failure have a build-up of toxins in their bodies, which causes acute nausea and which then stops a dog from wanting to eat. Anti-nausea medication will help encourage him to eat, which in turn will provide him with some energy. Feeding is always problematic in dogs with this condition - and to be honest, I would tend to feed him whatever he will eat. Food is so enjoyable to dogs and major part of their day, so at this stage it's worth giving him whatever he wants. There are good canned foods specifically for kidney failure, but it may be worth asking your vet about diet and what is best for Gilly.

I know from experience just how dreadfully heartbreaking this is for you. There are few words of comfort I can give, except that you have given your boy a fabulous life and you are doing everything possible to help him. Just keep doing what you are doing and enjoy every day with him. Gilly is lucky to have you in his life - just as you are lucky to have shared part of your lives with him. Dogs are truly our children, our best friends and our companions - but none ever live as long as any of us would like. Sadly, that's just the way it is.

I hope you get some positive news tomorrow. Do come back and let us know. You are in my thoughts. Love, Tony x
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4500180 tn?1360087130
Hi Tony hope you had a good Christmas and a better new year! Our boy gilly is still with us but at the ultrasound stage he is having one tomorrow as they want to know what stage he at now, his breathing is bad now the vet said it's his liver!!!! He is vert lethargic an lost interest in everyday things!!! Its so heartbreaking Tony but we must be strong for him an we never want him to suffer! He eating his renal food with a tiny new potato an carrot he won't eat it on its own!!t!!! Kind regards Tony with love Anita an Carol xx
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4500180 tn?1360087130
Hi Tony I just wanted to say thankyou so much for your loyal support I don't think I would of understood this situation an no way would I have coped with it! I am now understanding an taking each day as it comes!!! It's always a heartbreaking end and thats the part I dread!!! Merry Christmas Tony I hope your dealing with your sadness ok!! Am here if you need a chat! Take great care be strong and think of all those lovely hound dogs looking down on us!! Xx
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1916673 tn?1420233270
I meant to add in my last post that there's a great website at http://dogaware.com/health/kidney.html which explains all there is to know about kidney disease in dogs, in a really easily understood way. The site also contains some fabulous advice on diet too, which I am sure you will find useful. Tony x
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