AWESOME AUSSIES

IF YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE AN OLD AUSSIE, YOU STILL MUST ACCEPT THAT AN END WILL COME. HEART DISEASE, KIDNEY FAILURE, AND CANCER EVENTUALLY CLAIM MOST OF THESE SENIOR CITIZENS. EARLY DETECTION CAN HELP DELAY THEIR EFFECTS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY CAN SELDOM PREVENT THEM ULTIMATETLY.

DESPITE THE BEST OF CARE, A TIME WILL COME WHEN NEITHER YOU OR YOUR VETERINARIAN CAN PREVENT YOUR CHERISHED PET FROM SUCCUMBING TO OLD AGE OR AN INCURRABLE ILLNESS. IT SEEMS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO SAY GOOD-BYE TO SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN SUCH A FOCAL POINT OF YOUR LIFE, A REAL MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY.

YOU SHOULD REALIZE THAT BOTH OF YOU HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE SHARED SO MANY GOOD TIMES, BUT MAKE SURE THAT YOUR AUSSIES REMAINING TIME IS STILL PLEASURABLE. MANY TERMINAL ILLNESSES MAKE YOUR DOG FEEL VERY ILL, AND THERE COMES A POINT WHERE YOUR DESIRE TO KEEP YOUR FRIEND WITH YOU AS LONG AS POSSIBLE MY NOT BE THE KINDEST THING FOR EITHER OF YOU. IF YOUR DOG NO LONGER EATS ITS DINNER OR TREATS, THIS IS A SIGN THAT IT DOES NOT FEEL WELL AND YOU MUST FACE THE PROSPECT OF DOING WHAT IS BEST OFR YOUR BELOVED FRIEND.

EUTHENANSIA IS A DIFFICULT AND PERSONAL DECISION THAT NO ONE WISHES TO MAKE, AND THAT NO ONE CAN MAKE FOR YOU. ASK YOUR VETERINARIAN IF THERE IS A RESONABLE CHANCE OF YOUR DOG GETTING BETTER, AND IF IT LIKELY THAT YOUR DOG IS SUFFERING. ASK YOURSELF IF YOUR DOG IS GETTING PLEASURE OUT OF LIFE, AND IF IT ENJOYS MOST OF ITS DAYS. FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS CAN BE A FACTOR IF IT MEANS GOING INTO DEBT IN EXCHANGE FOR JUST A LITTLE WHILE LONGER. YOUR OWN EMOTIONAL STATE MUST ALSO BE CONSIDERED.

IF YOU DO DECIDE THAT EUTHENANSIA IS THE KINDEST FAREWELL GESTURE FOR YOUR BELOVED FRIEND, DISCUSS WITH YOUR VETERINARIAN BEFOREHAND WHAT WILL HAPPEN. EUTHENANSIA IS PAINLESS AND INVOLVES GIVING AN OVERDOSE OF ANESTHETIC. IF YOUR DOG IS SCARED OF THE VETERINARIAN CLINIC, YOU  MIGHT FEEL BETTER HAVING THE DR MEET YOU AT HOME OR COME OUT TO YOUR CAR. ALTHOUGH IT WON'T BE EASY, TRY TO REMAIN WITH YOUR DOG SO THAT ITS LAST MOMENTS WILL BE FILLED WITH YOUR LOVE.GATHER YOUR MEMORIES OF YOUR AUSSIE AND PEN THEM IN YOUR HEART FOREVER. WHEN IT IS TIME TO LET GO, THANK YOUR AUSSIE FOR A JOB WELL DONE, AND GIVE IT THE FINAL RELEASE. THAT'LL DO.