Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by John Syme on September 25, 2010 at 8:21pm

In recent years Doreen, the Science of Mind Awareness has learned
a) what you focus on persists. eg: Pain becomes agony when focused on.
b) what you resist persists. That's why we should never tell a child "Don't do something", because now they must.
c) Everything ends when one dies. Don't be in a hurry for that.
d) Focusing on the love you have for your dog, may alleviate the stressing over the responsibility of caring for him along with the bills.

Around 10,000 years ago humans invented the wheel and the world has become what it is today because of it. There's a cartoon that often includes a dog with two wheels for hindquarters. It gets along quite well. If it were me, I'd borrow (or buy used) a baby carriage or stroller.

As for your daughter, stand your ground, live your own truth. She'll come around.
According to Shakespeare (Hamlet) "To thine own self be true..." as surely as night follows day she must at least respect you for your choices.

Blessings

John

Permalink Reply by barbara craven on September 26, 2010 at 8:13am

Doreen, how old is your dog. Speaking for myself, I would just keep him as comfortable as you can, and like John says, get a carriage to get around with him if you can. I have 2 cats, siblings, who are 15 and one is still robust, but his sister has had first, a set of tumours for a year when she tore all the hair off one side. She came out of that only to have a series of strokes. I can't afford a lot of vet bills, so I made her comfortable and let things take their course. Today she is sitting right here beside me and is right as rain. I'm not saying your dog will be, but as much as they are our family, they are animals, and I think that the stress of an operation and staying away from you would be very hard on him.
As for your daughter...that is her problem, don't make it yours. Always be positive when talking to her and tell her you love her, but keep it positive. She'll come around or not, but you've done what is right for you, so if she doesn't like it, it's her problem.
As John says(I will put it in another way) like begets like. The law of attraction if you will. If you focus on your agony, that's what you will get back. It you look for the good things around you and focus on that, you will find that the good things appear. Every day think of one good thing that has happened during the day. A bird singing, a smile from someone. You must have some good things in your life. Concentrate on them. I hope this help a bit Doreen.

Permalink Reply by Doreen on September 26, 2010 at 9:21am

barbara craven said:

Doreen, how old is your dog. Speaking for myself, I would just keep him as comfortable as you can, and like John says, get a carriage to get around with him if you can. I have 2 cats, siblings, who are 15 and one is still robust, but his sister has had first, a set of tumours for a year when she tore all the hair off one side. She came out of that only to have a series of strokes. I can't afford a lot of vet bills, so I made her comfortable and let things take their course. Today she is sitting right here beside me and is right as rain. I'm not saying your dog will be, but as much as they are our family, they are animals, and I think that the stress of an operation and staying away from you would be very hard on him.
As for your daughter...that is her problem, don't make it yours. Always be positive when talking to her and tell her you love her, but keep it positive. She'll come around or not, but you've done what is right for you, so if she doesn't like it, it's her problem.
As John says(I will put it in another way) like begets like. The law of attraction if you will. If you focus on your agony, that's what you will get back. It you look for the good things around you and focus on that, you will find that the good things appear. Every day think of one good thing that has happened during the day. A bird singing, a smile from someone. You must have some good things in your life. Concentrate on them. I hope this help a bit Doreen.

Permalink Reply by Doreen on September 26, 2010 at 9:26am

Oh what help you have been John and Barbara. Woke up this morning wondering how I can face this day. I have made so many bad decisions over the past 8 years and now want to make the right one. Yes the birds are singing this morning, the sun is shining and after reading your post realize that I do have good things in my life. My little Bentley is only 7 years old and the vet believes I should get the operation done because he has life yet to live. I am waiting for her to schedule the operation which I do not even know how long I will wait. John I am looking into getting a carriage or wagon and also will head to the pet store when I am able to get some kind of pen so I can leave him home safely when having to get out and run errands. It is so hard to get away from the agony as the last year and a half it has been nothing but. I will keep your inspiration in mind and try harder. Thanks

Permalink Reply by John Syme on September 26, 2010 at 10:14pm

May I recommend that your goal is to be kind to yourself, Doreen. Thus trying HARDER may only find you beating yourself up. May I suggest looking for the flow in the day's events, and just going with it. Remember that old song "Cruising down the river, on a Sunday afternoon." If you do you're dating yourself (LOL) It doesn't say Chugging upstream.
You'll get to the end of it all far too soon. May I merely suggest that you look for that which is effective in the moment.

Blessings

Permalink Reply by Doreen on September 27, 2010 at 9:54am

John what an inspiration you are. I will definitely heed your advice but do wish I was Cruising Down The River. Thanks Doreen

Permalink Reply by AlandraPalisser on January 8, 2011 at 6:51pm

Hi Doreen, so sorry about your dog. Our yellow Lab had the same problem twice, cruciate ligament tears in both hind legs, --had just written a lot to you but somehow lost most of message! Will try again later.

Permalink Reply by AlandraPalisser on January 8, 2011 at 6:54pm

I didn't realize the first post about your dog was in September last year, so am hoping your dog had his surgery and is better now :)

Permalink Reply by Doreen on January 11, 2011 at 10:06am

Thanks Alandra for your posting.   My dog had his operation in October and came thru okay.   It has been 3 months of looking after him and still doing so.   It has cost me over $5000 up to now and the vet now wants him to have therapy which will cost $700 plus the travelling back and forth out of town three times a week.   I am so unsure whether to do this or not.   I do not think that he will ever be quite the same.   It has been very hard on him and on me.   Carrying him up and down stairs is the worst especially when you are a senior.  I love him and he is my baby and I am tired of people thinking I have been crazy to do this.  

Permalink Reply by AlandraPalisser on January 11, 2011 at 10:59pm

Hi Doreen, I guess people thought we were crazy too, but you have to do what you feel is right. We don't regret having the surgery for Lucy, our yellow Lab. We had the hydro therapy treatment for her after too. It made a big difference and we thought it was worth it.

Know what you mean re the stairs, as we have cathedral entrance here, and had to use a special sling from Vet under Lucys belly so that she wouldn't use her leg on the stairs.

We are seniors too and the first episode on the other leg nearly killed us :) - 5 years earlier -- you can imagine how it was, trying to get a big dog up and down the stairs. Plus the op then was done differently and recovery took longer. Plus we only had a bath towel to fold up to use as a sling. But since then, more dogs are having the cruciate ligament op that now there are better "aids" available to make things easier. So the sling we got after the 2nd surgery was a great help and made a big difference. One of us would have to help the front part of Lucy on the stairs, while the other of us took the hind end with the sling. We still use the sling to help lift Lucy into the SUV as she can't jump into it anymore.
Lucy now has arthritis in the sites of the surgery. She's on Metacam to help with that.
Good luck with whatever you decide on. Where do you have to go for the therapy?

Permalink Reply by Doreen on January 14, 2011 at 2:55pm

Thank you so much for your input Alandra.   My little dog had his weigh in again today and the vet aide was pleased as he is still losing weight.   They have him on this med that is new out there and I have been leary of it but will perservere for now.   The therapy is over 40 minutes from me and with the winter upon us I am hesitant to drive much in the snow.   I have not heard of anyone having the hydrotherapy and I was glad to hear you had success with it.   I have told the vet that I will leave it til the end of February and start then.   Since Bentley is overweight once the weight comes down I am hoping the other leg does not go.   Very hard right now on him in all the snow and me with back problems so the lifting is getting to both of us.   Thanks again.

Permalink Reply by Mary Scott on July 1, 2011 at 10:59am

Isn't it strange how easily we feel afraid?  I have often wondered what on earth nervousness is really good for while we are living our ordinary days.  Since unwelcome incidents and changes and new possibilities are the normal events of life, why do we often become dominated by them?  It is so uncomfortable! 

Even though I have an active life, friends, a man who is paying attention to me, a career I enjoy, two cute Shitzus to cuddle, 3 good adult kids, 2.5 grandchildren (lol), ......STILL I am prone to those anxious moments which have something to do with feeling, and being, single.  An unprotected feeling.

Just plain annoying!