|
My female Rottweiler, Kasha, was born
March 2, 1994. During her life, Kasha had
to deal with a couple orthopedic
issues. At two years of age, Kasha had TPLO of her left knee
and then much later at nine years of age,
a ruptured cruciate ligament repair
of her right knee, with
significant arthritis in her joints and
spine, even though you'd never know it. She
was on Rimadyl in her last two years and
Soloxine for low thyroid in her last year.
At just over 11 years
old, she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma
of her jaw on June 15, 2005. Despite
several courses of antibiotics for
secondary infection in her jaw as well as
a chronic bladder infection, the gangrene
in her jaw progressed, as did the tumor's
size. The smell of what was
essentially rotting flesh was at times,
overwhelming. Within days after her
diagnosis the tumor began to ooze blood,
and for several more weeks, the bloody
drool was constant. I would wipe her
muzzle each time she ate or drank (or got
to smelling something outside that made
her mouth water), and clean her face each
time she ate, and every day the floors and
doggie water bed where she had been
laying.
I fed her kibble that
had been softened in water, broth and Body
Balance, eventually adding canned Pedigree
Select Cuts. She stumbled a couple
of times in July, and both times came down
on her chin, causing profuse bleeding from
her mouth, presumably from biting down on
the tumor when she fell.
By the beginning of August she was eating
reluctantly at times, but at least eating.
However by August 12th, I had to spoon feed
her because she couldn't eat out of her
bowl and even then she wouldn't eat a
whole meal. I had made the
decision on August 15th to have her
euthanized in my home, and eventually
scheduled the appointment for August 15th.
|
In the final couple of weeks of her life,
her eyes, so full of intelligence and love
in years past, began to show her
fatigue and pain. In a matter of
mere days, the cancer moved into her upper
left jaw, cheek and eye socket, making her
face look sunken and drawn on one side.
I tried to get my vet to my home sooner
than the 15th but it was not possible.
|
 |
With the Secret Garden CD "Once
in a Red Moon" playing, sage and
pinon burning, shades drawn and candles
lighting my living room, the vet
administered a sedative. It took
bare moments for Kasha to lay down on the
pallet of towels and a sheet I had put on
the floor for her, and I laid down beside
her, snuggled up to her back, spooning
with my arm around her. After
several minutes of stroking her soft fur,
crying my eyes out but speaking
quietly and lovingly to her, the vet
injected the final solution in a hind leg.
It normally takes a few minutes from there
as opposed to a front leg vein, but before
the injection was even finished, Kasha had
left us. She had been so very, very
tired; very ready to go, and showed it by
how quickly her spirit abandoned her
ailing body.
I have another dog, Taz, part Rottie/part
Australian Shepherd, and he was present at
her passing but didn't behave any
differently until the following
morning. He refused his breakfast,
threw up twice outside, and when he ate
that evening, threw up again.
Kasha's passing is still fresh in my mind
and as is the depth of my grief, having just
been three days ago.
 |
Her absence
from my life is notable. Taz is
a good dog with a great personality that
everyone loves, but Kasha was like my
daughter - a momma's girl, following me around the house everywhere.
I will miss her.
Rachelle Whitley
Durango, Colorado
|
|
Early
days: Rachelle with Taz and
Kasha |
|
|
Rottweiler
Health Foundation Mission Statement
