Charlie, our little maltese, had to be put to rest today. We are so sad although we knew this day would come. He had heart murmur and congestive heart failure. He was on meds but it got to the point that they did nothing for him. The weekend was rough. He took a turn for the worse. He had labored breathing, coughing, spitting up water for the whole weekend. Yesterday he was really bad so we had to make the decision to do it today. Even though you know its coming, its still heartbreaking to say goodbye....
Maltese are so sweet. I am so sorry for your loss. Beth (Maltese mama to Bebe and Cece age 9 and our maltese angel Dede who passed suddenly at age 7.)
Shelby: So sorry you are facing this, too. It's an awful, awful experience. Beth: Did your maltese have a heart murmmur, too? The vet said its common in this breed. Thanks to everyone for their comments and condolences.
Dede was healthy and was playing around right before she died. She had just eaten a treat after taking a flea prevention tablet and had run out the back doggie door into our fenced in yard. Freddy went to look for her and found her. She was already gone. It had not been more than 5 or 6 minutes since I had seen her. We called the vet to see if they could find out what had happened to her, but they said they don't do that in their office and the large animal lab near us was the only place that they knew that could do it. I chose to bury her in our back yard and just never know for sure. The day she died was a hot day, but she had water in two different spots and a doggie door to run in and out when she wanted to. There were no bite marks or any signs of an injury on her so we think she got choked or has a seizure of some type. She was our youngest maltese and so funny and silly. We lovingly called her Dumb Dede because she would look up at you and go "woo woo" in the funniest little bark. I still miss her and it has been 17 months since she died.
Oh, how awful. ((hugs)) That's funny, though, the little bark she had. Ours was very clingy and had seperation anxiety. You could hardly let him outside in the yard, or he'd make a bark/cry that was so loud and grating until you let him in. Once when we first got him, I'd let him out to the yard and then went to the bathroom myself. He couldn't have been out there more than 10 or 12 minutes when a neighbor behind us and 3 houses down CAME OVER TO COMPLAIN! He was a sweetie, though. Always my shadow....
I know you are still dealing with the loss, but have you given any thought to getting another maltese? I have already told Freddy I will not have another one when my other two are gone. I just can't imagine another malty baby in this house. We are dog people though and will always have a dog or Freddy would be lost!
We have a cat so I think, for awhile, that will be it. But when I can, I would consider another maltese. They're great, loving little dogs.
