I feel guilty

[Renne]

I feel guilty for being more upset over the family dog who has liver failure than my uncle [who I rarely see] who is full of cancer.

I know I shouldn't feel guilty, but I do.

Augh.

 

[IWasBored]

it's wierd, you know? i kind of think though that it's natural to be more attatched to the one you're around more, be it the person or the pet. i know when my grandfather died, i couldn't have cared less. i hadn't seen him in about 8 years, and whenever my family had tried to make an effort to see him, he couldn't be bothered (even though he didn't do anything all day). but it was a whole different story when my cat died less than a year later.

 

[bonosloveslave]

We can make amazing connections with our pets, it's not something you should feel guilty about

How old is your dog? I'm sorry about the diagnosis (I'm a vet)
Is it feeling sick?

 

[indra]

I think it's natural for you to feel more for your dog since he/she is a bigger part of your life than your uncle. Now I very rarely see any family members other than my brother and sister, so I don't really even know them. My pets are a different story -- they depend on my for everything and are just great companions.

I just barely made it to my dad's funeral on time as I had to take an emergency trip to the vet with one of my dogs. I figured by that time my dad didn't care, and anyone else who thought that was wrong could take a flying leap. (Actually we just dropped her off at the vet, went to the service, etc., and then when back and picked her up -- the beauty of having a family friend as a vet!)

 

[Renne]

How old is your dog? I'm sorry about the diagnosis (I'm a vet)
Is it feeling sick?

She's be nine this november. She had an operation for a liver biopsy nearly two weeks ago now, and she's still perky even after that. I know what she's like when she's in pain and she's not like that.

We're trying her on some medication and a special diet, but... I just don't know. This sounds terrible, but I kinda don't want to feel hopeful. I don't want to talk myself into thinking that this really might help her, because I'll be a even more of a mess if it doesn't. I mean, I was so relieved when we found out that she didn't have cancer, but then the results came back from the test that it was liver failure [couple that with finding out about my uncle at the same time] it hit me like a ton of bricks.

 

[indra]

Oh, and I had another dog that lived quite nicely with liver problems for years. We had to control her diet and give her some medication, but she lived until she was 15 or so. It can work out, but I do understand not wanting to get your hopes up. I have a dog that has had a few bad seziures lately, and after ruling out several things it looks like he most likely has a brain tumor. He generally seems perky and happy so I'm just taking it one day at a time. That's really all you can do. Love them and care for them as much and as well as you can. Your dog is lucky to have someone who cares for her so much.

 

[A_Wanderer]

It's like the old man and his dog that live opposite Mersault in L'Etranger - dont feel guilty.

 

[Renne]

I'm really worried because she's not eating. >< She won't eat the diet that she needs to to try and get better... does anyone have any ideas on how to make a dog that's off her food eat?