I haven't posted here in a long long time, I know, and I put this on the DT Facebook group but realized I wanted to come here too just in case.

We lost Elka yesterday. She was coughing on Friday, and the vet thought it was a bronchial infection. She was worse over the weekend; the antibiotic made her throw up, she stopped eating, and her heart rate was visibly elevated and irregular. She had an EKG yesterday morning, and they diagnosed DCM/congestive heart failure. We got meds but she threw one up immediately....we should've realized. If she wasn't eating, we weren't going to be able to medicate her. And she acted like she WANTED to eat, I made plain chicken breasts for her that she would nose and then immediately turn her head from. In the afternoon, she went downhill faster, just lying on the couch breathing hard, not even flicking an ear if we said her name.

So we took her back to the vet's. They were very good, very nice, and she wasn't upset or agitated or anything, just lay on the floor with me, with her head in my lap and her paw in my hand, and we let her go.

We made the right decision, keeping her longer would've only been more suffering for her. She could barely get off the couch that last time, and got herself in the car, also only barely. We don't regret it but now we don't have our girl anymore.

I'm so sorry....even right decisions can be hard to make.

Very sad to read this. I think we joined DT close to the same time and I do remember you and Elka. So sorry for this loss. It bring is close to home just how short a time we may have with these
beloved dogs. I hope the memories made with her can give you comfort.

Oh boy...I'm so very sorry. It's always hard to lose a piece of your heart. Sleep softly sweet Elka.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

Good bye Elka..

Run free. Breathe free. Pain free.

@ Ginger... I am sorry for your loss. DCM is a terrible disease. Many of us have been there, myself included.

I'll be thinking of you.

John
Portland OR

GingerGunlock - so very sorry to hear about Elka.
- she knew her time was up, and used all her remaining Love to console family

Our old time skilled Vet, saw this once/week...from the smart dogs, to sick to continue.
- yet they want to ease their owners pain

It makes me sad to know the beloved dogs when I joined are leaving us. I'm so very sorry.

My thoughts are with you and your family. Really sorry for your loss.

I am sorry for your loss RIP Elka

I'm so sorry for your loss.

https://youtu.be/RtrboFMqbl4

Knowing this is a difficult time for you......hoping this song gives you some peace today.

We love you Elka.......

I'm so sorry for your loss. RIP Elka

I'm so sorry for your loss, my heart stopped when I saw this thread, even if we hadn't spoken in a while, I remember how welcoming and friendly you were when I first turned up here. And Elka was such a pretty girl.
I'll light a candle for her tonight, and I know it cannot balm all the pain you're feeling right now, but I am more than certain Elka felt she got to have the best humans who gave her a good life and a dignified goodbye.

So very sorry for your loss.

I am so very, very sorry for your loss. They are just never with us long enough. Sleep softly sweet Elka!