Right now, go all over him and his skin and look for a tick or a bite wound.

Does Rod work with anyone who may have a cell phone with internet access? Thinking Facebook. If yes see if you can post on that persons wall and their phone may let them know you posted.

Come on Rod!! *crossing fingers*

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mogrann

Does Rod work with anyone who may have a cell phone with internet access? Thinking facebook. If yes see if you can post on that persons wall and their phone may let them know you posted.

---

The night shift is two people. Rod and some other guy I hate, I only know his first name. Rod doesn't have a cell, and if the other guy does, I don't know it. I'm not a fan of his. His last dog, he got it from a byb at 5 weeks, and told me that I was nuts to think that wasn't okay. In other words, we don't like each other much. :(

Do you have any taxi services that allow dogs?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by shazamataz

Do you have any taxi services that allow dogs?

---

:( No. And even if I did, I doubt they'd help me lift him into the cab.

I have a car. That's not the problem. I just can't get him into the car by myself. Right now he can't walk at all. He can't even stand without help, and when you get him standing, you have to hold him or he falls down.

I'm hoping Rod calls to check up on things. He normally does. But he has around 45 minutes. After that the vet clinic is closed. I could drive to his work, but it's a 30 minute drive there, and then back, and that would be too late too.

As is, if he calls right now, we'd have 15 minutes to get Jasper to the clinic, after Rod got here, carried Jasper to the car, and we drove to the vet (which is around 10 minutes away). :(

We have the appointment tomorrow. The receptionist/vet student, said she wasn't too concerned about waiting until then. But then, she isn't here with Jasper right now. She doesn't see how he is, even though you can trust that I described his situation in great detail.

Damnit! Why isn't anyone home on a Friday night!

I can only tell you what we do for one of our dogs, Alice, our English Bulldog. She has arthritis and does well with Glucosamine/Chondroitin. You could call your vet back and ask about it, but you'd only get one dose in before tomorrow. Might be something to ask about when you see the vet in the morning.

I remember someone here saying that their sheriff dept helped them get their dog into the car once, is that an option?

Wish I was closer I so would be there with Henry.. come on Rod you call

Or a folded sheet sort of like a hammock? Would the kids be able to help carry him if they each grabbed a corner? Of course I don't know how heavy he is or how big they are. But it's a pretty easy way to lift, but you have to remember to grab the sheet up close to his body. You of course would have to take the brunt of the weight, get his front end in first, then climb into the car with him and pull him in the rest of the way using the sheet.
May not be possible, just a thought.
And if your guys are little you may not want to chance it.

If it turns out that it just won't be possible to get him there tonight, you might feel better, and he might as well, if you or the kids can sleep by him. You might find it reassuring to throw down a sleeping bag or blankets and be able to pet him now and then during the night.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DoulaLC

If it turns out that it just won't be possible to get him there tonight, you might feel better, and he might as well, if you or the kids can sleep by him. You might find it reassuring to throw down a sleeping bag or blankets and be able to pet him now and then during the night.

---

True , true I spent many nights on the floor with my Sam, and I think we both slept better.

Have you gone over all his body to look for a tick or a wound? He could have one embedded in his skin, one that's still there, your evidence for Lyme disease. Meanwhile, give him water and the chicken soup.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LadySam

Or a folded sheet sort of like a hammock? would the kids be able to help carry him if they each grabbed a corner? Of course I don't know how heavy he is or how big they are. But it's a pretty easy way to lift, but you have to remember to grab the sheet up close to his body. You of course would have to take the brunt of the weight, get his front end in first, then climb into the car with him and pull him in the rest of the way using the sheet.
May not be possible, just a thought.
And if your guys are little you may not want to chance it.

---

It's really not an option.

Rod just called, I told him what's going on. I called the vet on my cell phone while I had Rod on the phone, and they're closed. It's too late. :(

But we have the appointment tomorrow. He's getting a tablespoon of chicken noodle soup every hour, and water every hour. Should I be limiting his water? I have been because he's been drinking so fast, and so much, that he vomits. I limited the water so he could keep the soup down.

Right now I'm resigned to the fact that I'm doing all I can do. Whatever is meant to be, is meant to be. We'll go tomorrow, do all we can, demand some answers, get him on antibiotics, because really, even if it isn't lyme disease, at this point antibiotics won't hurt him.

If it doesn't work, then I'll have to find a way to accept it, and accept that we did what we could.

That's really all we have left right now. I'm still hoping for the best, but I'm preparing for the worst. Been there, done that, too many times to count.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Alty

Right now I'm resigned to the fact that I'm doing all I can do.

---

No, you aren't, if you haven't looked for an embedded tick or a bite wound. Think German, here.

I've looked for a tick. But I have to be honest. I don't really know what I'm looking for, and he's very furry. Very very furry.

There's a wound on his leg, the one that he's been limping on, which is what we actually thought was originally the problem. He's been licking at it, worrying it, licked all the fur off. It isn't infected, just bald, and a bit raw. Could that be it?

But I don't see a tick there. Or, if there is one, I don't know how to recognize it. I'm not versed on ticks. Never had to deal with one before. Not ever.

Has anyone suggested IVDD??

We just had a tick fall off one of our dogs. They don't stay on forever, they fall off once they are engorged enough.

Try looking here for some references. https://www.google.com/search?q=tick...O4K29QTTq5WhBA

Do you see what he is licking on his leg? A cut or something? Run your fingers very slowly and carefully through every bit of his fur. If there's an embedded tick, at least part of it (its butt) will be sticking out and you will feel it as a small hard thing. Or use a comb and slowly go through his coat. If it hits resistance, check to see what was the cause of that.

It's worth looking, feeling for one. Don't just say, if there was one, it fell off already. Plus, it will give you something constructive to do.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lucky098

Has anyone suggested IVDD???

---

I don't think so, she said they did do x-rays. Only affected limb is 1 front leg.

Alty, I hope tomorrow goes better for you than today has. As far as limiting his water.
If he is drinking so much at a time that he throws it back up then you are doing him a favor by limiting him somewhat, but maybe you could give him a little more at a time as long as he is keeping it down. You don't him to get dehydrated if you can help it. Do you have any Karo syrup on hand or any thing similar. A little rubbed on his gums and tongue may help to keep his glucose up. Or if you have GatorAde or pedialyte that may also be helpful.
I can imagine how helpless you must feel right now, I've been there a couple of times.
Hugs and prayers

The fact is, his coat is very thick. Very thick. Finding a tick without shaving him, would be impossible. He's a border collie cross. The breed has long thick fur.

I'll look, and feel, but finding a tick with his coat, I'm not holding my breath. But still, I'll look. I have to do something.

He just threw up again. But two of the feedings I forced into him, stayed down. Even though he looks at me like I'm torturing him when I do it. But I have no choice. I feel like he hates me right now. I'm forcing him to stay alive, and he doesn't understand. :(

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lucky098

Has anyone suggested IVDD???

---

No, and I actually have no idea what that is.

I'll Google it. :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LadySam

I don't think so, she said they did do x-rays. Only affected limb is 1 front leg.

Alty, I hope tomorrow goes better for you than today has. As far as limiting his water.
If he is drinking so much at a time that he throws it back up then you are doing him a favor by limiting him somewhat, but maybe you could give him a little more at a time as long as he is keeping it down. You don't him to get dehydrated if you can help it. Do you have any Karo syrup on hand or any thing similar. A little rubbed on his gums and tongue may help to keep his glucose up. Or if you have GatorAde or pedialyte that may also be helpful.
I can imagine how helpless you must feel right now, I've been there a couple of times.
Hugs and prayers

---

Thank you.

I've got gatorade, and pedialyte. Tried giving it to him yesterday, and he puked it right back up. But I'll try again.

I have no idea what karo syrup is, or where to even get it. If you can give me an idea what it is, I'll try it. I don't really want to spend a lot of time googling it. I'm only online right now because you all are the only thing that's keeping me from crying my eyes out.

Right now he's not keeping anything down. He kept down two of the tablespoons of soup I gave him before (which I'm doing every hour), but threw up the last one, and just threw up again when I let him have a bowl of water.

Right now my goal is to keep him alive so we can get him to the vet tomorrow, check for lyme disease, and even if they find nothing there, I'm going to insist on antibiotics because really, at this point it won't hurt, and it could just be the thing that saves him, even if we don't get a diagnosis.

I'm preparing myself for the worst, while hoping for the best. But I have to prepare myself for the possibility that we may not be able to fix this. If I think about it too much, I fall apart, so I'm trying to just be realistic, and go about this the way I would if it were someone asking about their dog on AMHD. I can tell you that it's not working out too well for me, but damnit, it's all I have.

Whoever said that God doesn't give you anything you can't handle, is dead wrong, because I think that God (if he exists) is giving me a lot more credit then I deserve, because frankly, this is the last straw. I can't handle any more. Not now. At least give me some time between punches! :(

Yes, I'm feeling very sorry for myself right now, and I realize that there are millions of people that have lived through much worse than I have, but I'm not them. I'm me. And me, well, I can't take much more. I'm done. If all of this shyt was put on my shoulders to break me, then fine, they win, because this may be the breaking point.

Worst of all, I'm sitting here feeling sorry for myself, and my pain, when Jasper is the one fighting for his life. Jasper is the one that needs the help.

Damnit. I love my animals, but I have to say, this is too hard. It's just too hard!

Pancake syrup will do if you got it. Just rub it on the gums he doesn't have to actually eat it. The sugar is absorbed into the mucosal membrane.
Hang in there, I'm usually up late on the weekends and up and down all night so I'll be right there with you.
And you are allowed to feel a little sorry for yourself, but just not for very long, OK?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LadySam

Pancake syrup will do if you got it. Just rub it on the gums he doesn't have to actually eat it. The sugar is absorbed into the mucosal membrane.
Hang in there, I'm usually up late on the weekends and up and down all night so I'll be right there with ya.
And you are allowed to feel a little sorry for yourself, but just not for very long, ok?

---

Not fair. You made me smile. :)

I have pancake syrup. I'll go rub it into his gums right now.

Sadly I have to work tomorrow. I usually don't work on weekends, but I agreed to work this Saturday, and frankly, it couldn't have come at a worse time. My mind is on everything but work, and if I called and told my boss that I can't come in because of Jasper, she'd yell at me. That's the kind of person she is. She doesn't even care about her own kids, much less me, or my family.

I couldn't care less about my job right now. I have to get up in 8 hours to work. OMG! That can't be right! Doing the math. Crap! Yup, I did the math right. That sucks! But right now I think I have to go. The vet bills aren't cheap, and we need every extra penny we can get. :(

I'll be going from work to the vet, meeting Rod there.

Yeah, work suck sometimes, but it pays the bills, sometimes.
You'd better get some rest and good luck tomorrow.
You can do math, too? A woman of many talents.
Lame attempt at another smile.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LadySam

Yeah, work suck sometimes, but it pays the bills, sometimes.
You'd better get some rest and good luck tomorrow.
You can do math, too? A woman of many talents.
Lame attempt at another smile.

---

The lame attempt worked. At work I'm known as the math whiz, which goes to show what level of idiocy I work with. Math is my worst subject, but, because I can figure out what 45 nickels are in dollars, without using a calculator, I'm considered the whiz. Sad.

But then, I work in retail, at a dollar store no less, so it's not like I'm working with a group of scholars. Not that there's anything wrong with retail. But... well... it is what it is. :(

I just want to let everyone know that we lost Jasper today. When we got to the vet the vet said that there really wasn't anything more that could be done. She gave us the option to keep testing, but said that she knew without a doubt that there was no hope. She said that the best we could do for him was to let him go, let him rest. So we made the decision to end things for him, to end his suffering.

I really did not expect to be euthanizing Jasper today.

I really have no words. I'm numb. I don't really believe it, even though I know it's true.

I want to thank you all for your support through all of this. I appreciate it more than I can ever say.

R.I.P. Jasper. We love you so much. You're at peace now, playing with Indy in heaven, and I promise you we will meet again. I hope you know that what we did, we did out of love. I will never forget you. Ever.

Awww Alty...

I am so very sorry to read this. Your love and compassion for him comforted him when he was hurting and eased his way to peace.

Hugs for you and your family... I hope you all find peace in knowing that you gave him great love and joy in his life.

I am truly sorry for your loss, I so wish things had turned out differently for Jasper and your family. I'm sorry I just don't have the words.

Thank you both. I'm still in shock. In fact, I don't truly believe it. We just got back from Rod's cousin's house, he's the one cremating Jasper for us, he also cremated Indy for us, only 5 months ago.

We got home, I opened the door, Chewy came running, looking for Jasper, and for one moment I thought, "where is he? Why isn't he coming to greet us". For just that moment I felt it may have all been a bad dream. Sadly it's reality. It's just taking some time to sink in.

My nose is raw, my eyes are all red, I have a headache from crying, and I think my heart has finally broken in two. It's been broken and mended a few times now, but I think this is the final blow.

All I can say is that everyone else better stay healthy, because I really can't handle this again, not for a very very very very very very long time. I feel like I've been burying dogs forever. I really didn't expect to be in doing this again so soon after Indy.

I really don't know if I can survive this. He's my Jasper, and I want him back!

I would think my tears would be all gone by now. Guess not.

Oh sh*t... I missed this, I'm so sorry Alty... Big big big big big hugs to you, R, S & J. You did everything you could Alty. Nothing wrong with having a good cry, just horrible luck.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by shazamataz

Oh sh*t.... I missed this, I'm so sorry Alty..... Big big big big big hugs to you, R, S & J. You did everything you could Alty. Nothing wrong with having a good cry, just horrible luck.

---

Thank you Shazzy. We did do everything we could. Sometimes I guess you just have to accept that there are some things you can't fix, no matter how much you want to, or how much money you're willing to spend, or how much love you have.

I would have sold my house, everything I own, if the vet had said there was a chance to save him (even though that would have been unwise considering the other people, not just the kids, Rod and me, but the fur people, that we're responsible for), but I would have done it if I could have saved him. Rod would have too. But there simply wasn't a chance.

I knew it was over when the vet said that if Jasper were her dog, she'd end things, because there was no hope.

At least we had the power to end his pain. That does give me some peace. Also, all of my friends, all of you included, have helped me more than I'll ever be able to say in writing.