Omega-3 Improves Your Pet Health

I know just how feel because this year I lost three of my ferrets in the first five months of the year. Two who’d been battling insulinoma (tumours in the pancreas) and the third I didn’t even know was sick. I took him to the vet because he was acting very lethargic for a couple of days and had started to breath heavy. He went into respiratory arrest while the vet was examining him and died. Xrays revealed his body was riddled with lymphoma. And now a couple weeks after losing him I’ve found my newly adopted only five year old Persian has kidney disease. And this after he’d been just thrown outside and starved by his previous owner. You’re right – life isn’t fair – I totally agree.
I’m really sorry you’re going through so many losses just like I did. It rips your heart out. But know that you gave all of these animals the love and caring that a lot of people just don’t give. 18 years with those kitties? That’s amazing – you’re obviously a great pet owner! Instead of focusing on the loss think of all the fun you had with them. Get a bunch of favourite pics and make a collage that you can hang up on the wall. Talk with friends about funny things they did. Make up a little scrapbook if you want.
If you want to be able to talk directly with others going through what you’re going through check with your local animal shelter. Many have free pet bereavement groups that you can participate in. I went to one a couple of years ago after losing my Tuffy cat at 19 years and it really, really helped. You can talk and cry with others feeling just like you do and be sure that no one’s going to make the “well it’s just a pet” comment. Frankly I feel sorry for anyone who thinks that. Feel lucky that you loved these pets so much – you’re a better person that most just because you did – and do. ((((HUG))))

I’m so sorry. A friend of mine lost her two dogs within 2 weeks of each other – it was so hard. I cannot imagine losing all of my pets at once. All I can tell you is that you will cope and it will get better. I have lost pets before and in time you start to focus on the good times and not the loss and the pain subsides. And I’ve always ended up with pets again so either I’m a glutton for punishment or else I can’t live without them. I suspect it’s the latter.

I’m very sorry for your loss. I had several pets age and become ill around the same time. It was very difficult to see them deteriorate. It was a relief when they finally passed on. They were well loved and cared for the best that I could until the end. It’s hard to say if introducing another animal into the house would comfort or upset your dog. He may feel abandoned at a time when he needs extra attention. I guess it depends on his personality. At one time I had a kitten in the house with an old cat, and the old cat was very upset. After deciding that it was best to have my last old cat put down ,who had been medicated and near death occaisionally for four years. She was the vet’s miracle cat and was active and happy most of the time until she had severe complications from her illness. I waited almost a year before adopting two young cats. My life felt very empty without any animals in the house. I’m glad I waited and was more available to give my old cat the attention she needed. I’m also more available to give my new cats the attention that they need. They are very active and demanding. They will never reaplace the love I felt for my other pets, but I love them more than anyone else in my life right now, and I’m grateful that they can live with me for the short time that they will be on this earth, and I can provide the care they deserve.

Hello G.G.,
I am so sorry to read about your two kittens and now about your dog…. I can’t give you much advice on how to deal with bereavement – we all do it in different ways. All I know is that the pain will dull eventually, but it may never totally go away. I feel for you.
But I would like to give you some advice about your dog… Don’t give up on him yet. I have heard it so many times …. a dog with kidney failure – nothing can be done …. and so often vets have wrongly diagnosed. Please ask your vet for copies of his last blood test and check the Potassium and Sodium numbers and – if available, the Na:K ratio. If this ratio is not listed, please divide the Potassium number by the Sodium number – this will give you the ratio. If it is lower than 30, then please ask your vet to check your dog for Addison’s Disease – if the ratio is lower than 27, then get your dog onto an iv drip. This is a last straw, but one worth grasping. I don’t know what other symptoms your dog is displaying, but please google “Addison’s” and check the symptoms against those your dog is displaying, because “kidney failure” is just one of those diagnoses that is often misdiagnosed Addison’s.
Take care,
Christina

Yes. I have had the triple bereavement recently with my two 18+ year old cats and my big dog. You will ‘deal’ with it the same way the rest of us do – by simply getting through one day at a time. There is nothing ‘fair’ about it and there is no easy answer. It never gets easier, and you have to live with it all your life, decade after decade. You simply go on and endure. I say this because it will happen again and again.
But it also depends on your beliefs. I know without a shadow of a doubt that though I miss their PHYSICAL presence, my pets are alive, healthy, in their prime and filled with joy. They will never age. They will never get sick again or grow old. All their infirmities have dropped away and they are in perfect condition. It’s as though they are at a wonderful home waiting for me – and I know someday we shall be reunited again. The day they crossed over was their forever birthday; the day of their birth into life everlasting.
Look at a fan. When it is off, you can see the fan blades. But when it is on the blades are vibrating at such a high frequency that you cannot see the individual ones. Those who cross over are at a higher frequency – but they do exist.