Well, some time between 4 and 5 this morning, the dog (Coco) went. Last meal was a little steak but she wouldn't eat, the chemo had her nauseated. She was in remission from the first round, but it started to come back (epithelial lymphoma, large-cell, apparently not a goot prognosis) so the vet retried with a stronger dose a couple of weeks ago, but she never got over that hump.

Think it was peaceful. She was on some new anti-nausea meds, so her last day was better than her last two weeks. In any case she slep through the night instead of waking up several times to shit or, since starting the new chemo, waking up to vomit.

Last meal was a couple of pieces of the fillet from a porterhouse that I'd gotten to celebrate the first paycheck (turns out dog cancer can wipe you out). She didn't eat it but smiled like she did when you tossed her food or fixed her blanket, then she buried it under her pillow for later. We'd usually give her a bit and let let the cats have a pass at the bone and then let her spend a few days on it. (She was old so even small bones like that took her a few days.)

Never met a dog quite like this. Never ate shoes or chewed furniture, only barked at cops. I hear she'd chase down guys that were smoking 27s when I wasn't around. ( I eventually went to vaporizers and then nothing.)

These are some photos when she was healthy. I didn't take too many photos after she got skinny. (Around this time last year she went from 75lbs. to 45 in two months, we weren't sure what was wrong with her. She regained the weight after first round and got up to 70 but the muscle wasting from the steroids had made it hard for her to walk.)

Anyway, she died in her own bed, under her own blanket, instead of at the vet's office. She'll end up under the avocado tree she enjoyed so much.

So, anyway, I'm hammered and if anyone is looking for me, I'll be drinking more.
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in reply to Caek Islove 🍰 πŸ’–

I had to spring my wife from the hospital each time she gave birth. They'll try to hold you there via all sorts of tactics (to bill), from lying about their legal obligations to saying that there isn't a doctor on staff to can discharge the patient.

One time they even sent in a counselor to question her about "spousal abuse" because I went full lawyer on them after they refused to discharge. She was like.... "he's nice to me, he just hates you fucks."

We were both absolutely appalled that they did that. I had a very cordial conversation with the medical director afterward.

One time they charged us for three days of rooming because my wife was admitted at 5 minutes to midnight (day 1), was in the delivery room after midnight (day 2), and was moved to another room a few hours later, after giving birth (day 3). In reality she was there for 16 hours. They wanted $10k. I offered $5k. They said "no," and I never paid. Statute of limitations has since ran.

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