Daisy Dog to Die

Daisy, the older of our two black labs, is living on borrowed time. She went to the vet yesterday for tests, after we noticed a recent drop in her appetite, and a change in the colour of her stools. The tests were expensive, but the very least we owed our beloved companion. The vet praised us for noticing her change so quickly. Unfortunately, the downside to our quick reaction was that the results of the non-invasive test were inconclusive. According to the vet, we can proceed in one of two ways. We can start giving her expensive medications to try to help her recover some liver function (it's not a cure, just a way of helping her cope), or we can perform exploratory surgery, which might help locate the source of the problem, but would not guarantee that a cure would be found.

The cost of the medication or surgery is prohibitive given our financial situation, and she's already approaching the twilight years - where the amount of time left in her expected lifespan would not justify the expense - so we need to come to terms with the fact that Daisy's days are numbered. She looks so sad - seeming to know that her world is about to change - but she's trying to be a trooper. I think she's providing more comfort to me (sensing my dread) than I am to her.

I personally chose Daisy among several puppies in her litter. She's so sweet, calm, and adoring - all the traits of the black lab, without the over-exhuberance of her younger "sister". It will be very hard to put her down, and I wish there was some way she could live out her remaining time happy and pain-free. Now, I just need to get up the nerve to take the next step.