Transition from being an owner of a healthy pug to becoming a medical caregiver

[Libby2]

I was hoping that somebody could share their experience of going from being a relatively carefree pug owner to suddenly becoming a constant medical caregiver.

This has been a month of transitioning for me and I've been experiencing different emotions. Some days are better than others. On the bad days, I tend to have a bit of a pity party and then I feel simply awful and disgusted with myself. Like tonight...I'm very tired but have to stay up until 10:00 for his meds. With all that Spanky went through - even being brought back from the dead - I mean, how lucky can I be? Seriously. He was sooo sick. I'm beyond grateful that he is here. And I am more than aware that there are pugs going through MUCH more serious issues and require the kind of care that I can't even fathom. I know this, but still...

Today I found myself holding a needle and syringe. Two months ago, that would drop me on the floor in a faint. I'm the person who has to lay down to get blood drawn and then drink juice. But today I stood there and calmly learned how to attach a needle, draw from a vile, attach a catheter and insert it in Spanky's behind. It wasn't until I was driving away when I wondered what the heck just happened.

I've been lucky in so many ways. I'm the last of a dying breed - the stay at home mom. I'm fortunate that I can be here to give Spanky his meds at 6:00am, 2:00pm, 6:00pm and 10:00pm every single day for the rest of his life. But I was also approaching the empty nest syndrome in a few years. I feel like I have a kid in pre-school now, where there's really no time to get anything done outside the house and if you do go, you worry about them, or at least I do all the time. Oh I don't know why I'm complaining right now. Maybe I'm just venting. It's getting better - I'm not such a spaz as I was when he first returned home.

Guess what I'm really wondering is if anyone had a transition time of their own in this regard. Anyone?

[6 Beautiful Pugs]

Oh, I'm so sorry. I do know it's hard. I'm kind of in that boat myself. A couple years ago, hubby and I took a motorcycle trip to Big Sur and the central and NorCal coast for almost a week. We would sometimes take off for weekend trips....but no more. Now I panic if I have to be away more than a couple hours. Who will get all the pills right? Who will change Dickson's diaper? Who will sleep in bed with them and make sure Bear doesn't start barking and make the neighbors mad? It's easier for me, but my hubby really misses the freedom we had.

There is no easy answer, take it one day at a time. If you can teach others to care for him, you can enlist their help when you need to be gone, or get him a service dog cert so he can come with you everywhere.

No one in my family has any desire to learn the complex care schedule for my dogs....I'm always so afraid about what would happen if i had to go into the hospital or something.

Take care,
Lisa

[Wonka & Nilla]

Sending you some hugs.... one for you, one for Spanky and another for you as a spare.

[Libby2]

. Now I panic if I have to be away more than a couple hours. Who will get all the pills right? Who will change Dickson's diaper? Who will sleep in bed with them and make sure Bear doesn't start barking and make the neighbors mad? It's easier for me, but my hubby really misses the freedom we had.

No one in my family has any desire to learn the complex care schedule for my dogs....I'm always so afraid about what would happen if i had to go into the hospital or something.

Take care,
Lisa

This is it EXACTLY. I'm afraid it will get old, and soon the family will wonder why mom doesn't want to go anywhere - or when in heck is she. And I know his schedule too - and I'm the main caregiver. However, I set up a basket with his medications and a checklist of what pill at what time. Then my husband bought a pill reminder alarm clock and those times are set. Basically, it's idiot proof. But the man of the house was the main idiot who screwed things up when he tried to "help". I thought we overdosed the dog! That was the first week. Since then, it's gotten better. They have learned to check off the boxes. I did force my son to learn exactly how to administer his medications, and he's been great but maybe because he hasn't had to do it.

One thing someone told me is that one person and one person only should be in charge of medications to prevent any serious mistakes. That was depressing to hear, but I understand it.

As far as becoming a service dog, it's a reasonable idea and one I'd like to pursue. At the same time though, if Spanky has a cluster seizure and doesn't come out of it, even with the valium suppository...what am I supposed to do without a pet neurologist nearby? The thought scares me.

I need to find a hobby.

[Libby2]

Sending you some hugs.... one for you, one for Spanky and another for you as a spare.

Thanks. I think I'm just having a moment of reflection and wondering what the future is going to be like. Like if I'll get my crap together and all of this will become second nature. But I'm going to hold on tight to that spare hug - it won't go to waste.

[ZoeZoesmom]

Ahhhhh, empty nest, my house is empty of children...it sucks. Now we focus on the fur kids more than ever. Zoe had surgery over Summer, I could not breathe.......I have hobbies but can not participate when i have a Pug on my lap.......weekends are precious and non-productive.

[Wonka & Nilla]

I'm sure it will all become easier as time goes on and in a few months you won't feel so overwhelmed by it all. I've never been in the exact same situation as you are with Spanky, but I've had similar feelings about other experiences in life and while it seemed overwhelming (and even unbearable) at times early on, I eventually got used to it and it didn't seem so bad. In the future, Spanky will always need more care then he did during his early years, but he's still your little puggie boy and I'm sure his love and joy for life will help you get through these early months of learning to adjust to a new reality.

[BeachyKeen]

I'm sure it will all become easier as time goes on and in a few months you won't feel so overwhelmed by it all. I've never been in the exact same situation as you are with Spanky, but I've had similar feelings about other experiences in life and while it seemed overwhelming (and even unbearable) at times early on, I eventually got used to it and it didn't seem so bad. In the future, Spanky will always need more care then he did during his early years, but he's still your little puggie boy and I'm sure his love and joy for life will help you get through these early months of learning to adjust to a new reality.

That's what I thought, too. New and difficult situations can be overwhelming, but as time goes by the angst associated with them diminishes (for me, anyway). I hope it's the same for you!

[Wally 'n' Leto]

I have never been through what you are currently living, but my heart goes out to you and Spanky. I agree that it will get easier with time, it's just all so new. Hang in there, and I'm sending you a hug too.

[Suri]

It will get easier, right now you are tired. Maybe eventually one of your teenagers or a kind neighbor can pug sit so you can still go away. With time you will experience the all the changes as Spanky is on the meds. My Maggie had to have meds and eat every four hours for a few months before her liver shunt surgery, I remember being so tired because It was like having an infant, then making arrangement for her care during the work day. But I wouldn't have it any other way.