No, it was only 75 and the windows were cracked. We leave the dogs all the time at those temps.
Oh I am so sorry @MaineLonghorn ! Our dog died 4 days before my parents died this February and at the time, coming home from the vet, I thought that was the worst emotional pain Iād ever felt. And we knew it was time for him to go. I feel so bad for your D and your family. Losing a pup is never easy, especially when it is unexpected.
Thanks for mentioning how much pain you felt over your dog. Thatās how I feel! It doesnāt seem rational. Iām dreading flying home tomorrow and not seeing him. I have no idea how I will sit on the plane and not sob.
Dear @MaineLonghorn,
I know what you mean when you say āit doesnāt seem rational.ā It is one of those pains that you canāt really judge in a rational way. I have sometimes felt embarrassed by the tears Iāve shed for a dog. With all of the other sorrows and stresses in life, you would think losing a dog would not be so badā¦but it is. There is just something different about the love we feel for a beloved pet, and something about the intenseness of their absence from our daily life, that is just overwhelmingly sad for a while. I am sending you a virtual hug.
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I arrived home about midnight last night. Walking into the house without the dog to greet me was heartbreaking. At least we still have our younger dog. He covered me with hugs and kisses. Yes, he hugs. Iāve never had a dog like him.
Dad has offered to buy us another dog, and I think weāll take him up on the offer. We just love having two dogs. It wonāt happen immediately because weāll need to get on a waiting list with an Australian shepherd breeder (please no lectures about how we should get a rescue dog, weāre not).
I do want to say that we are THRILLED with how Dad is settling into his new place and how wonderful it is. We couldnāt be happier. Iām glad he is keeping his 5 day a week caregiver. He really could get along without her, but since he can afford the expense, we say go for it!
Iām also happy that my BFFās mom, who turns 100 in a few months, lives in the same facility. My friend visits her mom almost daily. Iām going to connect BFF and Sis - I figure they might be able to help each other out if issues come up. 
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My nephew has an Australian Shepard. She is the sweetest, most lovable dog. So glad you are going to find another one. So smart too.
Quick suggestion regarding your momās fur coat. Turn it into a pillow.
I had a client who brought me her mother in lawās fur coat. The husband tasked her with finding someone who could make pillows from the coat. I ended up making several from the coat - one for the husband and one for each child and grandchild. The pillows were a special memento as the coat was very special to her.
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Oh, I like that idea!
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They really are fabulous dogs.
Puppy update: I called our late dogās breeder. Itās amazing how they keep track of their dogs. He knew just what litter our dog came from. He has a litter of puppies that are five weeks old right now!! The mother is a close relative of our dog! I could cry. Weāre going to look at them next week and pick one out. I know, Iām nutsā¦ But a happy nut.
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Iāll be reading this thread with interest. Iām in the zone now where this will fall to me. I have my mother and itās on me ā¦ no siblings. Sheās healthy and appears well, but Iām noticing things in her now and can see the beginnings of change. My spouse has a sister with whom to share the job.
Iām glad you found this thread. Itās so helpful!
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Thank you!
Oops - that was not spam. Not sure how to undo my flag. Sorry!
I was here briefly when my mom had a psychotic break in 2018. Sheās doing fantastic now, while my dad has slowly gone downhill from COPD but held his own. This week he has begun nighttime confusion, and muscle spasms (fell out of a chair today). Spent two hours at urgent care yesterday to find out it is due to CO2 retention. O2 has been reduced to help but not sure when or if it will have a noticeable effect or if he will require hospitalization. Anyway, just sharing, but if anyone else has experience with this condition let me know.
You may wish to check out Copdfoundation,org and especially their message board, copd360social that has over 55,000 posters. Itās a great resource.
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@bjscheel I imagine your dad has a pulmonologist managing his COPD. There are a lot of ways to treat. Also use of home oxygen and perhaps even CPaP or BiPap during the night.
Maybe your dad has some neurology issues that need to be evaluated. Again there are medications. Neurologist can also have evaluation on cause of nighttime confusion after eliminating lack of oxygen.
Measuring his oxygen saturation - should be 91% or higher, and elevated head of bed 30 degrees at night for sleep. If oxygen saturation is not high enough, the need for home oxygen.
Agree, a pulmonologist would be ideal, but they may be difficult to get an appointment with due to ongoing covid which has made them even more overbooked.
My mil had COPD and lived a much better quality of life once she started using oxygen. She lived in a small town and had to travel 40 miles to get to the nearest pulmonologist, but he ended up being her favorite specialist (and she had quite a few).
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I have a local pulmo as well as one at UCSF. For 16 years I had a pulmo in Denver. Before he retired, he transferred my care to the UCSF pulmo. Iām fond of my pulmosāthey are excellent.
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My mother was taken by ambulance and hospitalized in March for severe anemia. Symptom was increasing difficulty breathing. Two transfusions restored her. She was on hospice for a few months then went off.
The last few weeks I have noticed the return of her breathlessness and requested a blood test for Hemoglobin, Hematocrit etc. Sure enough, her numbers have plunged almost as low as in March.
She has congestive heart failure and has a certain level of breathlessness normally. This was a nuanced observation made possible by the assisted living being open to visits, so I could observe her better than back in March.
I wrote the doctor and asked for a transfusion. Doc said not yet but take her to ER if she cannot breathe. I also asked for iron infusion if not transfusion. Doc is coming to the facility for a home visit on Thursday.
The breathlessness is at the point where my mother has trouble making it down the hall to meals. When I was with her she stopped and said she might need a wheelchair. Very unlike her!
We had decided if she needs a transfusion every week or two (if there is a hidden bleed) we would keep her on hospice. But she has gone more than 5 months. This could be from kidney failure.
Just venting. A little frustrated with doctor because blood tests were definitive but maybe if she actually observes my mother. A transfusion would be palliative.
A trip to the ER means 4-5 days in hospital for this and then she forgets where she lives and it takes a month to reorient!
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