Buddy forever

This badge is a lovely gift from Ann at Zoolarty

Buddy peacefully crossed over the rainbow bridge on Monday afternoon.

On Sunday night when I returned home from dropping off Laura in Vancouver (a 3 hour drive), I was excited to see Buddy more perky. Sadly, it didn't last. I slept on the couch that night hoping to get some middle of the night Buddy cuddles, but that didn't happen. When I got up to check on him, he was looking pretty miserable again. I counted his breaths to see how he was doing and it seemed normal (high 30's). A few minutes before I had to leave for work, I thought I would count his breaths one more time and I counted 80 breaths a minute - I freaked. The cardiologist had said if the rate got up to 50 to get him to the vet right away. Thank God I checked him one more time.

I bundled him up and ran over to the vet (literally right across the alleyway from me) and they got him in immediately. When the vet tech took his temperature she thought for sure it was inaccurate and checked it a second time, but it was still 94 degrees. The vet did an exam and immediately put him in a heated oxygen chamber while we talked. She said we could do more extensive diagnostic work but based on his constellation of medical issues, whatever treatment we might do most likely would only extend his life a very short period. She went on to say that his very low temperature and low heart rate are signs that he's ready to cross the bridge. I knew it was time.

Buddy in oxygen chamber

As Buddy hung out in the oxygen chamber, he perked up. His body could now get the oxygen he needed, so his metabolism settled a bit. I asked if he could hang out in the oxygen chamber while I drove the six hours to bring Laura back down so she could be present and say goodbye too. The vet obviously couldn't promise anything but when she checked on him again, his vitals had improved a bit, he seemed more stable, so I took the gamble.

We made it back by the afternoon. His vitals were still stable, so the vet gave us the okay to bring him home for some goodbye time. Once he was off the oxygen, he went downhill very fast. It was time.

Buddy, June 2011

Thank you everyone who left comments and sent messages, I truly appreciate every one. Hopefully this weekend, I'll have the emotional energy to put together a memorial post celebrating Buddy through the years. He was a one of a kind gift.