Arg

[unicornduke]

Mara had really bad muscle cramps in her back legs last night. I think it was because she hadn't drank enough. It hit 94f here and we went for a longer wander last night around 8pm when it was only 85f and I didn't make her drink before bed since she didn't want to get up and go in the first place because she was so sleepy. It was different than the normal leg twitches she gets in the middle of the night, her legs were curling up instead of kicking. I gave her half a gabipentin dose at 1:30am and it seemed to help.

She was probably dozing most of the night since they were still happening when I woke up and they subsided this morning, so I let her sleep in a bit while they weren't happening. Got her on her feet, got her drinking water and gave her the other half of the gabipentin dose.

She's stopped having the cramps entirely although she was super tentative walking this morning. I was debating back and forth whether to take her to the emergency vet or not. I was supposed to go to my parents this weekend and harvest garlic, but I asked my dad to send me a picture of the garlic and see what stage it's at. Plus it's supposed to rain all weekend. So unless the garlic is super ready right this minute, I'll put it off until next weekend.

So my plan is to monitor her today and tonight and if she's having cramps again, we'll go to the vet late today or tomorrow morning first thing. Our vet does emergency appointments for a fee, so I'll be able to see her normal vet.

Mara is sleeping happily right now, she seems comfortable. I may give her a second gabipentin dose this evening if she gets uncomfortable again.

She still is eating fine if she gets food while laying in bed and she still wants to sniff things and eat woodchucks. But I think this week is going to be making a call for her appt on the 17th. I've never seen her in that much pain before this morning. It's just hard to tell what the right time is.

ETA: She's really having trouble walking, in pain, so we've got a vet appt for this afternoon to see if there's anything else we can do.

Comments

[graydon]

I'm so sorry.

[which_chick]

This is a difficult call. When Bins (cat, my most recent pet to die) went, she did not seem to be in any apparent distress, just... faded away. Ate, drank, remained continent, just... less of her. Slept more. Got slowly thinner. And then she left in her own time. Very considerate, Bins was.

With horses (the other, I guess, pets that I have), it's a call that's more important to get 100% right because getting it wrong is a heartbreaking mess. "Still mobile enough to be moved to where they need to be" is a consideration because otherwise you may have difficulty removing the body to an appropriate location. Much easier if horse can walk or hobble to appropriate place. "Do I have to do it this fall before the ground freezes for winter or can he make it OK to springtime?" -- Get it wrong and you may have your beloved elderly horse thrashing on the frozen ground because he stroked out last night and only half of him works and he can't stand and, yeah, get the gun. And the tractor. And some chains. With horses, logistics take a somewhat bigger amount of consideration and tilt the equation towards a better a day too early than a day too late perspective. The day too late is just... not good for anyone when it comes to horses.

I think with large dogs, you're still closer to "cat" territory than to "horse" territory on the logistics front. You know Mara best, and I'm sure you're working with the vet to be sure you've got a complete picture of things. I'm sure you will make the best decision for Mara when the time comes for that.

And I am so, so sorry. It hurts like hell when they have to go and I'm not sure if it's worse when you can see it coming or when you can't.