...since I had to put my good boy dog Augie down in the middle of the night at a emergency veterinary hospital in Reno, Nevada. And the reality is that Augie should still be alive next to me in whatever city we happened to be in today. I have been fortunate enough that my profession has enabled me to live in amazing regions around the United States from Nevada to New York to Oregon to South Carolina and to our preferred home in Kailua, Hawaii. In every location we lived Augie went with me and always by my side. When we traveled he was always next to me in the front seat or on my lap on a jet plane. In every location to his last day he was engaged, mentally alert, friendly, loving, and gentle.
We had been in Reno working for a few years and had settled into pattern of his favored walking paths and parks enjoying the outside as all dogs do. Augie had overcome an initial surgery for a lipoma which turned out to be cancer necessitating another operation. A year after that episode he was declared cancer-free which is a milestone for dogs. Because Augie endured this and his lipoma had been tested before it had to turned to cancer so I remained steadfast in having him see multiple vets. Every time something popped up that seemed unusual I would get him into a vet and usually it was something like a sore paw or irritation. At each vet visit I would mention Augie's overall health and what I believed could be symptoms of a larger issue.
For over a year I mentioned to a particular vet in the Northwest region of Reno, Nevada that Augie was coughing after drinking water. I asked the vet this several times over a years period and the vet ignored what I told him and mumbled something about allergies but chose never to treat Augie with something as simple as an X-Ray. Then, one night after a day of him seeming lethargic and he was coughing I did something I hate myself for not doing much earlier and I consulted an AI program. I asked the AI program what it means for a dog to cough after drinking water.Trust me, this is very hard to write but I want to help other dog owners help their dogs; the AI program said coughing after drinking water was a sign of Congestive Heart Failure. It said take your vet to a vet immediately. While I did not think this was likely and I hoped he just had a cold I rushed him to the emergency vet late at night.
On the drive there I was hopeful but still very worried and even frantic with worry. But, I hoped he would be ok praying for that along the way and while waiting for the vet in the waiting room. After a wait of over an hour the vet at Animal Emergency Vets came out to tell me the horrible truth via an X-Ray. Augie had advanced Congestive Heart Failure and he was very sick. For probably a year Augie had Congestive Heart Failure and his vet did not bother to help Augie. As with humans there are medications that can help a dog with a heart condition and there are things an owner can do to also help you dog such as diet and weight control.
The Emergency vet took me in to see Augie and while he was anesthetized for the x-ray and not conscious and he was in heart failure. There was no choice but to end Augie's life which is the worst thing a dog owner ever has to endure. Augie should have been diagnosed, treated, and he should be alive today. Augie just wanted to be a good boy. Augie should be alive today.
Sweet Augie Doggie