I waited too long with my first and I feel bad about it 17 years later
No - please. You must not feel bad about it. Sometimes we are lucky in that a Basenji tells us it is time. And believe me, they can be very positive in the way they ask to go.
Sometimes we just have to get the date as right as we can. A day here or there ? Its VERY difficult.
The important thing is that you did entirely the right thing by Nika and she will have been grateful.
I am sure the dogs know we are helping them and will understand tardiness. What worries me is if I go too early -
Deedles had what I can only describe as a fit and raced around the lawn with his head at an impossible angle, frothing at the mouth. Late at night, I called the Vet.
He was a locum and from South Africa and he asked if he could experiment and administer a mighty dose of steroids directly into the vein. He said he would come again first thing next morning if. . .
Through my tears and against my better judgement, I agreed.
The Vet carried a huge and heavy crate upstairs to a spare bedroom cos the patient would need isolation, darkness and quiet. Then he administered the shot and carried Deedles upstairs.
Next morning all hell broke loose. The crate was rocked from side to side by the (to be maintained in a quiet, dark enviroment (?)) occupant who was shouting
WHAT am I doing here ? WHY is it dark ? It is breakfast time and I am HUNGRY
I did the only thing possible. I let him out, he managed the stairs easily on his own and polished off his breakfast in short order. Then he went outside and defecated normally.
The Vet did receive a phone call - and Deedles had a short series of steriod pills over the weekend. BUT - (and I LOVE that brave South African Vet) he lived happily and healthily for another 12 months and died eventually just before his 15th birthday.
Now - think what we would have lost. A whole year of the Dastardly Deed's company, but for that Vet. . .
Its a lottery - but as long as the dogs win in the end ????
spw