Not a good Christmas or Boxing Day

So Christmas Eve my son came home from Melbourne and we chatted about everything for an hour or so. Was really lovely.

Christmas lunch was with my Mum and Alex. After 3 hours I went home to be with my dogs.

But Nashi, my beautiful Labrador was breathing really fast. And she didn't seem quite right. Then she kept standing and pacing and wouldn't sit or lie down. Finally got to see an emergency vet at 1am. They xrayed her and found some bones stuck between her stomach and bowel. Plus built up gases. The X-ray also showed something wrong with her lung. A huge mass of some sort. They gave her some antibiotics and pain relief and then I took her home. We were up until 5am as she couldn't settle. Back at the vets 3 hours later, as requested, for a follow up X-ray. Bones hadn't moved. Lungs still the same. And although Nash was a bit brighter, her breathing was still super fast.

The Vet told me to take her to an emergency clinic that had a surgeon available (they didn't have one over Xmas and New Year). So I rang the Lort Smith Hospital and they said bring her straight down. 2 hours later we arrived. (I may have sped a little). Due to Covid, they take the dog off you and you have to wait in the waiting room. A girl comes out 5 minutes later to tell me they have put Nash on Oxygen. And that a Vet will consult with me shortly.

40 minutes later I am called into a consultation with the Vet. But no Nash. Vet tells me Nash is in the ICU. Her oxygen levels were down to 83% and even with oxygen assistance they couldn't get her up to the 95% minimum they wanted. She explained that no surgery could take place as she wouldn't survive the anaesthetic. She said the bone blockage was of secondary importance. As she had spiked a fever, had worked herself into a high state of stress (she doesn't like being away from me), and her tongue and gums were blueish purple.

I don't understand gentle hints at the best of times and certainly not on 3 hours of sleep and a 2 hour car trip. So I need it blunt! Spelled out for me in capital letters.

So the Vet says, you might want to think about euthenising her. As she won't get better. Her lungs are permanently damaged and she is in distress. She has almost zero chance of surviving. None of that made any sense to me. I wasn't too worried about her breathing. Just a little concerned. I was there so she could have surgery to remove the bones. I asked what she would do. She said she would euthenise her.

So on Boxing Day afternoon, I had to put down my loyal, caring, gentle companion and best friend of 10 years. And then take the long drive back home without her.

I am numb.