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We had to say goodbye late last night to our dear little whippet Ellie, aged almost 13yrs. She had become more and more frail over the last few years and her back legs were beginning to fail her at times, meaning we had to support her at mealtimes and going in and out of the house. Despite various tests she was steadily losing weight so we were feeding her small meals four times a day but inspite of everything she still enjoyed her two short walks each day and with her various medications and a lot of TLC she was a happy and quite contented little lady.
Yesterday morning we took her for her walk as usual and fed her again when we got back, then settled her down in her dog bed while we took the other dogs out. We returned an hour later to find her collapsed on the floor and unable to use her back legs. I think she may have got onto one of the chairs and somehow fallen off, but we'll never know. We rushed her to the emergency vet, - who luckily already knew her from previous visits. She had a painkiller injection and we were given some painkiller tablets for later and asked to return with her this morning, but later in the evening she became very uncomfortable and agitated. We tried everything to get her to take another painkiller but she just wasn't having it. It was clear that she just couldn't stand up and, knowing how weak she had become we both knew that she was not going to recover from this. So, rather than put her through an uncomfortable and distressing night we made the decision to take her back to the vets (at 10.00pm) where the same vet we had seen earlier gently put her to sleep while she lay in my arms. I know that we did all we could and I know with certainty that she would not have wanted to go through a distressing night with the same end result the following morning, - but it was just so sudden. - We were walking her through the woods at midday yesterday and today, at the same time we were taking her to the Pet Crematorium. We both feel so bereft and shell shocked.
As she grew older so much of the day revolved around feeding her, tablet times, lifting her up / over steps and helping her go outside, lie down comfortably etc. etc. There is just a huge empty space now that Ellie filled. She was our first whippet, - and the first we have had to lose. Unlike our other two she never raced, preferring the quiet life, cosy in her bed or cuddled up to one of us, - she was such a cuddler, we shall miss that so. She was also one of life's peace-makers, stepping in between our naughty puppy and our other dog when things got too rough, - friendly to all cats, dogs and humans alike and always ready to be fussed. The only two things she hated with a vengeance were car travel and fireworks.
She had become so much more dependant on us for so many things as she became more frail. She'd taken to waking up several times throughout the night and when, out of desperation we finally moved her dog bed into our bedroom a couple of months ago so we could check that she wasn't knocking herself and banging into things as she plodded about (she had cateracts in both eyes too) she thought she had it made, - especially as the other dogs had to sleep in their own room!
We shall miss her for so many reasons. For such a quiet, gentle little dog she leaves an enormous hole in our lives. I can't even begin to describe how we both feel right now, - but I know those of you who have been through it will understand. Below are a few pictures of her through the years.
Sleep tight little Ellie, we miss you so. Love to you always from Mum, Dad, Flo and Macy. xxxx
Yesterday morning we took her for her walk as usual and fed her again when we got back, then settled her down in her dog bed while we took the other dogs out. We returned an hour later to find her collapsed on the floor and unable to use her back legs. I think she may have got onto one of the chairs and somehow fallen off, but we'll never know. We rushed her to the emergency vet, - who luckily already knew her from previous visits. She had a painkiller injection and we were given some painkiller tablets for later and asked to return with her this morning, but later in the evening she became very uncomfortable and agitated. We tried everything to get her to take another painkiller but she just wasn't having it. It was clear that she just couldn't stand up and, knowing how weak she had become we both knew that she was not going to recover from this. So, rather than put her through an uncomfortable and distressing night we made the decision to take her back to the vets (at 10.00pm) where the same vet we had seen earlier gently put her to sleep while she lay in my arms. I know that we did all we could and I know with certainty that she would not have wanted to go through a distressing night with the same end result the following morning, - but it was just so sudden. - We were walking her through the woods at midday yesterday and today, at the same time we were taking her to the Pet Crematorium. We both feel so bereft and shell shocked.
As she grew older so much of the day revolved around feeding her, tablet times, lifting her up / over steps and helping her go outside, lie down comfortably etc. etc. There is just a huge empty space now that Ellie filled. She was our first whippet, - and the first we have had to lose. Unlike our other two she never raced, preferring the quiet life, cosy in her bed or cuddled up to one of us, - she was such a cuddler, we shall miss that so. She was also one of life's peace-makers, stepping in between our naughty puppy and our other dog when things got too rough, - friendly to all cats, dogs and humans alike and always ready to be fussed. The only two things she hated with a vengeance were car travel and fireworks.
She had become so much more dependant on us for so many things as she became more frail. She'd taken to waking up several times throughout the night and when, out of desperation we finally moved her dog bed into our bedroom a couple of months ago so we could check that she wasn't knocking herself and banging into things as she plodded about (she had cateracts in both eyes too) she thought she had it made, - especially as the other dogs had to sleep in their own room!
We shall miss her for so many reasons. For such a quiet, gentle little dog she leaves an enormous hole in our lives. I can't even begin to describe how we both feel right now, - but I know those of you who have been through it will understand. Below are a few pictures of her through the years.
Sleep tight little Ellie, we miss you so. Love to you always from Mum, Dad, Flo and Macy. xxxx
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