I cannot believe I am writing this post such a short time after we welcomed Frankie into our family. I did not expect to write something like this for many years. Our sweet little dog Frankie passed away on Friday, October 9, 2020.
On Tuesday, October 6th, Frankie woke up feeling poopie. He did not want to eat, he only wanted to sleep. Now, Frankie was a Class A eater. Turning down food signaled a serious issue for him so we quickly got him over to the vet. She prescribed some pain medications and said if he worsened she would provide a referral to the local animal hospital the next morning.
On Wednesday we woke up to Frankie vomiting. He was sleeping in his bed on a small couch at the foot of our bed, so we immediately heard him. I called the animal hospital at 6:30 am, and we were there a little after 8 am.
EVERYONE to this point suspected a back issue. His back legs were weak, he was presenting pain along his spine. We were simply waiting for the orthopedic to get out of surgery and do an exam.
Hubby got antsy and decided to pull Frankie from the animal hospital (the orthopedic had not looked at him at all by 1 pm) and head over to Rochester for an MRI. The animal hospital did facilitate this transfer for us (we took him, but they gave the animal hospital in Rochester the heads-up to expect Frankie).
When we got to Rochester, Hubby explained he wanted a back MRI done on Frankie. After looking at Frankie the attending vet said that she wanted to MRI his head as she thought it was a neurological issue.
She got him into the MRI within 15 minutes and they had the scans done, read, and Frankie ready to roll by 9:30 pm. We were on our way back to Cornell. The MRI showed Frankie had encephalitis.
When we got to Cornell Frankie was showing neck stiffening from the encephalitis. His neck was basically a stiff board tilting and stretched up.
There were several telephone calls with the Cornell ER vet and ourselves after we dropped Frankie off at 11:30 pm (we could not go in due to their Covid protocols) and approximately 2 am, with Hubby emphasizing that he wanted the on-call neurologist woken up (this was not our first time dealing with this issue with a pet). They started Frankie on mannitol to drain the fluid around his brain and brain stem at approximately 3am. At 5 am they started Frankie on steroids.
We had a discussion with the neurologist assigned to Frankie at about 8 am and went ahead with the chemotherapy treatment. This was Thursday, October 8th.
Since this was something we had gone through with Max, we had hope (GME is a form of encephalitis).
On Friday, October 9th we received an early morning phone call. Frankie had not progressed and had lost his ability to swallow. Pneumonia had set in.
At the point, we decided to make the trip to Cornell to say good-bye. When we arrived, Hubby made certain Frankie had shown no improvement, and when we were told he had not, we decided it would be more humane to end his suffering. While we were assured Frankie was not in physical pain, there was nothing more to be done and no hope of recovery.
Frankie crawled into our hearts. We did not have him with us for very long, but he was the sweetest, best-natured little buddy you could ever imagine. He was a lover, not a fighter. He was always ready with a kiss, eager to please, and oh so smart.
Honestly? I am having a lot of trouble with Frankie’s death. With my first dog, Boscoe, he was a large dog that lived a long life (over 13 years). His death was difficult but understandable. With Max, we also understood why he passed away. With Frankie? I simply cannot rationalize it.
This little guy had a horrible life before he came to live with us. He landed at Club Med (he liked to eat and was no longer severely underweight) and it was a good retirement home for his later years. Why, oh why was he only with us for such a short while? We had gotten his GI issues squared away, his teeth were fixed and no longer painful, he was housebroken and living the good life. He was settling in so well, gaining confidence and he was generally a happy, curious, mischievous little dog. So, why did his body do him in?
I cannot make sense of Frankie’s death. We had such success with Max’s encephalitis. Why couldn’t Frankie have responded the same way?
I was so against another dog and yet Frankie quickly made his way into my heart. I honestly liked him. He was such a sweet soul. He did not deserve the lousy hand he was dealt in this life. It’s not fair! sounds so trite, but it accurately describes his life. I only wish there had been some way to save him.
We love you, little buddy. You were with us such a short time, yet you brought so much joy into our lives making each day brighter.
We will see you on the other side. Catch a squirrely for us.
Good-bye Frankie-Buddy. Good-bye.
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Deb W. says
Hi Ann,
I’m so sorry to hear about Frankie, and the story of his rescue was heartwarming. You and Hubby came into his life at just the right time. He never had anyone to care for him the way you both did, so at least his last months of life were filled with love and caring. Know that you and Hubby made a big difference in his life!
Take care,
Deb
Ann says
Thank you, Deb. I wish you had gotten the chance to meet him. He was really a sweet, loving boy.
Ann
Stephanie says
I’m so sorry for both you and your husband, it seems so unfair. I’m glad you got to see Frankie healthy and happy for at least a little while though. Sometimes I wonder why we open our hearts to little creatures that make life way more complicated and have relatively short lifespans, but when I’m cuddling our rescue doggie, I can’t imagine not bringing him home. Thank you for sharing your experience, I hope it helps knowing that there are others sharing in the joys and heartaches of having a sweet little pet.
Ann says
Thank you, Stephanie. Give your boy a hug for me.
Ann
Didi says
Oh my sweet friends!! ♥ I am so very, very sorry for your loss! There is nothing like losing your baby!! Please know that you both made his short time with you wonderful!
Ann says
Thank you so much, Didi. Give your furbabies a hug for me.
Ann
Patti Lifer says
Hi, Ann — My heart breaks for you and your hubby. I read your story on Frankie’s previous life and all of the myriad issues that came with it. He was so lucky to be adopted by you and your hubby, as it sounded as though a lot of progress was being made with his medical and “life” issues. It’s so difficult to understand how this sweet little dog’s life was cut short so quickly. I’m so sorry for this tremendous loss of Frankie for you and your hubby.
Ann says
Thank you, Patti. That is my struggle… the why. That poor little doggie was just the sweetest.
Ann
Monica Junge says
Dear Annie and Spouse,
We are so sorry to hear of your loss after all the weeks trying to bring his health back and falling in love with him. And this has been such a horrible year. I will tell you we lost our 13 yr. old Shih Tzu on Sept.19th, when he died after husband put him on our bed. He had been ill since January when his body would fill w/water and we had to travel to Sarasota to a vet who would task the water out. We live south of Tampa, Florida. He died the night before he had another appt. and we never did find out what he had. I also saw pictures of Max and he was a Shih Tzu or Llasa and both of the babies were so cute. Perhaps you will eventually find another fur baby in the future. We have another 13 yr. old Shih but at our age it shall be our final one. Much luck and prayers to you. And I enjoy your recipes and the travels you did. Monica and Jens Junge
Ann says
Monica, I am so sorry for your loss. I hope your other Shih Tzu recovers from the loss, too.
You mentioned age and not getting another dog… I had told Hubby Frankie was it. I expected to have Frankie at least five years, and at that point another dog would have been difficult (unless an older dog). Hubby is quite a few years younger than I am though.
With Frankie’s passing, I told Hubby that when we are ready (we need time to mourn Frankie), we will get another dog. Frankie made me comfortable with the idea of another pooch. That will probably have to be the last one though (famous last words).
Ann
Sally Sandine says
I am so sorry to hear about the passing of your sweet Frankie. It’s just not fair….we love them with our whole hearts, and then something like this, sudden and absolutely unexplainable. I am glad that at least he felt love and had a forever home for the first time in his life.
I have 4 senior and special needs furbabies and an elderly cat, and I worry all the time about going through the heartbreak of losing them. I always say not again, and yet the house will be so quiet and me so lonely for the tail wags and snuggles, so I say yes to adopting the little urchin that has nowhere to go. My only prayers is that we will be reunited at the Rainbow Bridges, and I pray that for you and your beloved furbabies too. You will always have that dog shaped hole in your heart, may memories bring you peace. And may Frankie lead you to a homeless lost dog soul that needs a warm place to sleep and plenty of love and meals.
Ann says
Thank you, Sally.
Hubby says the same – that the house is too quiet without a dog. He and Frankie bonded immediately, and I was so happy for both of them. At least Frankie passed-away having met his person.
Give your fur-babbies a hug for me.
Ann