I decided I do want to rant about something and that is the life span of dogs. Why do elephants and gorillas live very long lives and dogs don't. I have a little Pekingese that I love dearly. He is only three and started having seizures. Why is it when I get a good dog that I love something like this happens? The tears are flowing as I write.

Sue,

I am so sorry for what you are going thru. I am an animal person myself, and I have had my heart broken by losing some of my babies much earlier than I felt was fair. The last time this happened to me, my beloved ferret Sasha passed away and I went without a pet for almost a year until my mom surprised me with Baby Joey, a male chihuahua puppy. He was the light of my life and three months after we got him, I found out he had a terminal heart condition and would only live about another six months. Well I tell you what, I made sure he was kissed and cuddled every second I could manage it, he ate steak and whatever else he wanted, and he was with me as much as possible. He died in my arms after we had just gone to bed one night. I was so angry at God and felt like I had been unfairly given all these animals that had something wrong with them and always just ended up dying and broke my heart. A few days after Joey died, I was talking to my dad (a very religious man) and lamenting my bad luck and telling him how mad I was at God for doing this to me yet again. My dad told me that I wasn't looking at it the right way. Yes, it was a painful and heart breaking thing to lose a beloved pet, but God wasn't giving ME ill animals, he was giving ill animals me. He said that God knew that they had a very short time on this Earth, so he made sure that the short time they had was spent with a mommy who would give them a lifetime of love and affection. Someone who would love them and cherish them. Someone who wouldn't leave them out in the cold and rain in the backyard all the time, never giving them attention or love. So Sue, that's the way you need to see it, is that God is giving the gift of YOU to your dog. My heart goes out to you, I know the pain you are going thru.

I couldn't have said it any better myself. My dogs always seem to find me, so I think there is a reason pets come into our lives. I do have a lab that is 8 years old and has had seizures since he was a puppy, and he does fine, so hopefully your fur kid will be ok also. I also had a cat that had epilepsy (which is very rare in cats), and he lived to be 14. Good luck.

Regarding Rimadyl (I call it RimaKill):

The Senior Dogs Project

Very deadly drug. That's why I asked.

SueSue,

Rimadyl is not the wonder drug some think - it's quite harmful long term. I have a 15yr old poodle (yes the yapping kind - lol) who was diagnosed with hip dysplasia & epilepsy @3 yrs old. Was put on rimadyl & phenabarbatol .. was on it for yrs. I moved to the country recently and the Vet here took him off both immediately as other complications were arising *his Opinion* due to Rimadyl use. Little guy has been doing Great! (no seizures in over a yr) - Was given *Metacam* - Non-steroid anti inflammatory drug to use in place as needed & seems to be doing wonderful (might check into that med in the future).

I know how meaningful dogs are, my second career is breeding Labs; of which I have 5. My little poodle & his bud a long hair Chi (14) are my "first Kids" and I fear the day they have to leave us...but know how much joy they have brought us.

Best of Luck w/your lil' one...

Lu

Thanks once again to all of you. It does help to hear of other dogs and their seizures and know they are doing well. His nick name is Bully Bear. He came from a woman that shows Pekes. I met her when I bought one of her other pet quality pekes. Bully Bear is the name she gave him and I liked it. He is doing well. I took him to the vet and he wanted to put him on Phenabarbatol. I did not give it to him. I had one dog with sezures before and the vet put her on the phenabarbatol and she died shortly thereafter. I am watching him for now. He has had two seizures in a 3 month time. I am going to a different vet this next week. I have another peke that has a skin infection. He scratches allllllllll the time. I have had him to this same vet 3 times and they still have not cured his skin. He should not have to suffer.

Thanks again to all of you. I love animal people. There is nothing like them in the world.

Sue Sue,

Another thing I should have said in my post is that unless my dog starts having very frequent seizures, my vet absolutely refuses to put him on phenobarbitol, she says it will damage his kidneys. Just something to think about.

Hope you and your fur kid are feeling better!