When is the right time?

Getting the timing right... 

Getting the time right is a task we do on a daily basis without thinking too hard about it. Sometimes we are early, sometimes we are late. But when its your dogs life in the balance, this time has to be the precise moment, not too early but also not too late. We have been in conversation with our vet Laura, who is mentioned in a lot of our blogs, about Sheba's life and when the right time is, but unfortunately that answer is never going to be a simple straightforward one. Laura has known us for a few years now, looking after our other pets Arthur, Cedric and some of our hamsters also. She is the only person other than Jen that I trust with Sheba and we feel that is so important as she's involved in so many of her life decisions, care and treatments.

Today Sheba's day started not that great and she found basic tasks such as walking and drinking a huge effort. After taking her to the vets and seeing Laura, who agreed with Sheba not being her usual self, we decided bloods would be a sensible option. People who know me know I despise taking tablets and in my whole 26 years of life I've not taken any tablets. Sheba however is on 10 tablets and medications which worries me a lot. I like to treat her as naturally as possible to ensure the medication contraindications are minimalised.

 

The most important thing to myself and Jen is giving Sheba a dignified, pain free death as possible. It will never be an easy decision but we would never keep her alive for our own selfish benefit. I can say when she does eventually pass that we tried everything possible for her,

and she was the most loved dog in the world.  After receiving her blood results back today and having a noticeable decline, we are still not going to give up on this beautiful girl and going to see how far we can take her with the medications. If Sheba was consistently unwell and was deteriorating each day, the decision would be so easy. However Sheba is like day and night on an hourly basis and this afternoon she has gone back to the dog we know and love, running around the garden and chasing her brother Arthur.

Moving forward with Sheba we are now going to stop her anti-convulsant medication and try her on a new boosting medication to see if we can maintain the quality of her life. As mentioned previously when Sheba is well, she truly has the best dog life in the world. Knowing we have the full support of our vet and knowing they are there when Sheba needs fluids or just to reassure us makes us feel so much better and we are so incredibly lucky. Tomorrow is a new day and we are hoping Sheba will have the best weekend in the sunshine!...