Taking Brandy to the vet

GoldenWood Farm · #1 02/13/13, 11:14 AM

Well hopefully today we get some answers on what has been going on with my older girl Brandy. I thought she was getting a smidgen better but yesterday I saw her starting to knuckle over on her "good" back pastern/foot

. So now I am question if she ever really hurt her "bad" foot or it is something way more serious than I originally thought. I just want some answers from the vet without having to do tons of tests or x-rays.

Keep both of us in your thoughts and prayers today. I am prepared for the fact that she might not be coming home with me from the vet today....if she isn't going to heal from it I am not going to prolong her suffering. She deserves so much better than that and being stuck in a small pen. I could hardly think at work yesterday because all my thoughts kept going back to my girl at home. Okay I better get off here before I really start bawling.

Justine

mrstillery09 · #2 02/13/13, 12:03 PM

I'm so sorry to hear this. Things like these are always so difficult. You will both be in my prayers today.

yarrow · #3 02/13/13, 12:10 PM

Oh Justine... I was oping she would improve on her own...sure hope the vet has good news for you... I had to make the hard decision to not prolong Stella's foot pain, a couple years ago.. It was such a hard time (I couldn't sleep at night, knowing she was in pain)... I still miss her (Dill, a 2nd freshener..has grown up to look EXACTLY like her aunt Stella... I will catch a glimpse of her now and then.. and actually forget for a second that it's not my beloved gal Stella)...

will be keeping you in my heart & thoughts today.. update us when you can
susie, mo ozarks

GoldenWood Farm · #4 02/13/13, 01:46 PM

She is gone

. I will post more when I am not a puddle of tears...

Justine

Shayanna · #5 02/13/13, 02:05 PM

Oh no. I don't even know what happened yet but I'm so sorry!

Minelson · #6 02/13/13, 02:09 PM

Oh no! Oh I'm so sorry Justine

Come back when you are ready...we are all here for you.
((((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))))))))))))

Backfourty,MI. · #7 02/13/13, 02:49 PM

I am so ,sorry Justine! Big Hugs to you Honey, now cry & cry, let it all out.
When you feel like talking about it we'll be here for you.

Rockytopsis · #8 02/13/13, 02:59 PM

I am so sorry.
Nancy

GoldenWood Farm · #9 02/13/13, 03:23 PM

I am back...I just buried her body

. For those of you who don't the story of my girl Brandy was pretty much my first goat ever. I got her when I was just a 15yr old kid going through some really tough times (loosing our house, starting into a severe depression among other things). She was what sparked my interest in goats and the reason why I wanted to breed LaManchas. She went through so many things with me and was always my rock and my best friend. She ruled the herd with a iron fist but was kind and gentle at the same time. I have so many Brandy stories it isn't even funny and she over came so many things. She was the toughest goat I know and she always had to climb in my lap (all 140lbs of her) if I was sitting.

I talked with the vet and we discussed what we thought was going on. She said spinal issues due to the fact that Brandy was loosing coordination in her back end and it would only get worse. I discussed the possibility of cancer and explained why I thought it was (weight loss in the past few months which happened rapidly in spite of extra food) and other things and she agreed with me. We could have done steroid shots which might have bought a few weeks. But I couldn't do that to my regal old friend...I just couldn't.

I had laid in the back of the pick up on the way to the vet's office holding tight onto my girl and in the end I just laid right next to her and held her telling her how much I loved her. I did the only thing I could and that was set my girl free from her failing body. I didn't want to see her spirit break as her body broke even more so I said until we meet again. I will miss seeing those wise old eyes of hers when I go out every morning and I will miss her sweet love and kisses. I will just plain miss everything about her....oh this hurts so bad you guys...it hurts

.

Last year loosing my 13yr old dog and then my Grandpa not even a few months later and now right after the 1yr anniversary of loosing my dog and then my Grandpa's 1yr anniversary coming up and now loosing another beloved old friend. These past two years have sucked

.

Justine

tambo · #10 02/13/13, 03:37 PM

So sorry for the loss of you dear friend Justine.

GoldenWood Farm · #11 02/13/13, 03:41 PM

Brandy was only 10yrs and 9 months old...her birthday was May 6th and she would have been turning 11yrs old. These are some of my favorite photos I could find of my girl. In the last photo Brandy is buried just a few feet back behind where she was standing.

Justine

Shayanna · #12 02/13/13, 03:42 PM

I'm sorry you lost your friend. I had a dog for 8 years. healthy as a horse. She was my napping buddy. Every once in a while she would favor her hind leg. We figured it was from the cold, she was looking for sympathy, yada yada...It always went away on its own. Then she suddenly started favoring the other leg. and she would switch between the two like both hurt her. Next thing you know, she lost 25% of her body weight in 2 weeks. I brought her to the vet and the diagnosis was most likely cancer. Yes it probably could have been treated, but the quality of life wouldn't have been worth it. So they gave her a pain shot that lasted 3 days, and we went on some car rides, she got a double cheeseburger all to herself, and ice cream cone...
The day we put her down (when the 3 days were up), I don't think I've ever cried so hard in my life. Not even when grandparents or other family members died.

Our animals have a special place in our hearts, and we remember them that way. The stuff they chewed up, the messes they made, all become fond memories. I don't know what you believe religiously, but I would like to think that all of our beloved pets are waiting for us up there, or beyond, or whereever they are, and we are going to meet them again someday. Get your cries out. But stand strong and keep going. There is something to be learned here. If not something to be learned, something to be experienced.

"May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

May God be with you and bless you;
May you see your children's children.
May you be poor in misfortune,
Rich in blessings,
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.

May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home
And may the hand of a friend always be near.

May green be the grass you walk on,
May blue be the skies above you,
May pure be the joys that surround you,
May true be the hearts that love you. "

Minelson · #13 02/13/13, 03:45 PM

I know how you feel. It's just so dang hard. Brandy knows how much you love her and will always have such a special place in your heart. I wish I had some words that would help with the pain but I don't...Just hang on to the knowing that you did what was best for her and she knows that too. I'm crying for you cuz I know how much it hurts. I have no doubt that she is with your Grandpa and dog and they are peaceful. Just sucks for us here having to deal with the hole they leave. I'm so sorry.
more hugs....

GoldenWood Farm · #14 02/13/13, 03:49 PM

Oh Michelle you and I have had some hard couples of months haven't we...Brandy was like my Gretta. I feel lost without having her in the herd....she was my reason for starting the herd in the first place.

Justine

Sherry in Iowa · #15 02/13/13, 03:57 PM

Oh my, my heart breaks for ya and I'm close to tears myself. I think crying was good advice. Let er rip and don't stop until you feel some relief.

I didn't see this in time to honor your request for prayers. So, I said them for you now. I thanked God for matching you and Brandy up. For putting her in your path when you needed her the most. I recently listened to Pastor talking about the spiritual side of animals. And that when they die, they go to heaven like we do..in our spiritual bodies. Believing that has gotten me through many tough days of losses of these wonderful animal friends. Believing that way then means that Brandy is not broken down anymore, but moving free and waiting for ya when it's time.

May your pain lessen and your good memories increase.

Minelson · #16 02/13/13, 04:03 PM

yes...it has been hard. And when I visit the memorial we made for the ones we lost it just breaks my heart that they are gone.

In the last 5 years I have lost my brother, my German Shepherd 2 months exactly after that, my soul mate almost 18 year old Golden Shep, Gretta, and most recently one of cats Daisy. My brother, Shep and Gretta I don't think I will ever get used to not having them around anymore. Bobo the German Shepherd was a tragic, horrific accident that I still have flashbacks of.

I'm just learning how to live with the pain and my other animals keep me going when it gets really bad. Those pictures of Brandy are just beautiful...you can see her gentle soul in her eyes. I can see how much she loves you.

GoldenWood Farm · #17 02/13/13, 04:18 PM

Sherry I completely agree with you, I know when I get to Heaven I will have many friends waiting for me there. I feel at peace knowing I made the right call for my girl. I asked God to let me have a clear decision to make and know it was the right one. I have been grieving the past couple of days because I knew in my heart this was her time. I am thankful..so thankful that God gave me the strength to make the right decision for her and prepare me for it over the past couple of days.

Justine

Sherry in Iowa · #18 02/13/13, 04:21 PM

Well Justine..keep your eyes open. When a door gets closed..another gets opened. Though painful..isn't life exciting?

Jyllie63 · #19 02/13/13, 06:18 PM

I'm so sorry! She was beautiful!

BethW · #20 02/13/13, 06:28 PM

Oh Justine, I'm so sorry. Your post was a wonderful tribute to your friend, and her personality just shines through in those pictures.

{{{hugs}}}