As I mentioned in Part 1, Marjorie’s animal communication helped me with Buddy’s anxiety and other things. I was really happy that I had her as another tool I could use to give Buddy the best life.
About a year later, I was in my newish apartment, and Buddy started acting oddly. He wouldn’t use his hind legs and was really lethargic. This episode went on for about 10 minutes or so, and I called my veterinarian to get some help. I was living in DC at the time, about 1 hour and 20 minutes from my vet, so I was sending videos and pictures as I described what was happening, and he told me to go to an emergency vet and suggested one in DC. I let Marjorie know, and once again, she came to the rescue! As I sat in the waiting room, never having been in this situation before, Marjorie offered a great deal of comfort. She gave me some suggestions on what to ask them to ensure that everything was being considered and that we got the best care possible. She suggested asking for certain blood tests to ensure the proper follow-up. I felt like I had someone on my side who was not only consoling me but was helping me keep a level head. Marjorie also checked up on me after our visit and kept checking on Buddy. Everything ended up being okay, and the emergency vet chalked it up to him getting into something he shouldn’t have. That wasn’t the Buddy I knew, so I knew something else was going on.
Buddy’s Health Started to Decline
In September of 2023, Buddy had his one-year check-up. We went to see Dr. Ahalt, and after a quick exam, he said, “Casey, I think his heart is getting worse, and I think he has some fluid on it. We’re going to do some blood tests and exams to see what exactly is happening.” My eyes started to tear up as they took my sweet Buddy back for testing. They brought him back in not too long after, and I anxiously waited for the results. His heart was, in fact, getting worse. It was enlarged, and he had fluid in his lungs and around his heart. He also had some other things going on with his kidneys. Long story short, he had to go on 7 medications to help his heart beat better and to reduce the fluid. My heart was broken. I wondered, “How did things start declining so quickly?” We were advised to come back in 30 days to see how he was doing.
Buddy Had Another Episode
One day, Buddy and I were in the car, and he was in the back seat. Before, he would stay in the back seat but in recent months, he became more anxious and just wanted to be on my lap. So I attached his leash to the headrest so that he couldn’t get up front. We were driving along, and I looked back to notice that he wasn’t moving. I immediately pulled over, and he was having another lethargic episode where his body was pretty limp. I held him and reassured him he was going to be okay. I gave him some water and got him comfortable on my lap for the rest of the ride home. I called the vet and took him in. He ended up going on another medication to help with his blood pressure. So now, he was on 8 medications a day, and I was told that there was not much else we could do. He was on all the medications he could be on with the highest dosages for his size.
It Was Time for More Animal Communication
Given Buddy’s recent medical exam, I connected with Marjorie again, and we chatted about Buddy’s new state. I really wanted to get some reassurance that he wasn’t suffering because his symptoms were getting worse. He was gagging a lot more when he drank water and just didn’t seem very comfortable. Marjorie reassured me that she didn’t sense that he was feeling any pressure or discomfort. This was a relief. The last thing I wanted was to be selfish and keep him here for my own benefit when it was his time to pass on.
Preparing For The Loss of Buddy
With the changes in Buddy’s health, I had to come to terms with the fact that his time was limited. His symptoms were much worse starting in February of 2024. It was almost like he was trying to cough the fluid out, but it wasn’t coming out. Seeing this on a regular basis broke my heart even more. It felt like there was really nothing more I could do. I did little things like give him his favorite treat, buy more of his favorite “Gumby” toys, and even let him sleep in the bed if he wanted to. This was my way of making sure he was most comfortable and enjoyed his last days. Thankfully, I work from home, so I was able to spend the majority of our waking hours together. Well, my waking hours because Buddy slept a lot!
Despite giving him his best days in preparation for the day when he would pass, I never would have imagined that those days were so numbered. Like Marjorie said in her Pet Loss and Animal Communication: Part 2 blog, death does not read the calendar, and boy, was she right! One day, I scooped Buddy up and put him in the car, and we went on a ride. He wasn’t anxious; he just sat in the back seat and stared…until he didn’t. I was talking to him, telling him we were about to stop and usually I could hear his name tag jingling when I would talk to him. I heard nothing, so I looked back and he was gone. He had laid on the seat and passed. I couldn’t believe it. I needed more time. More time with him and more time to prepare.
Marjorie brought up so many great points in her blog. She mentioned doing some inner reflection to determine how you’ll bring this chapter to a close in a way you can live with, knowing how you would handle the remains, and so on. I didn’t do any of this. It came way too fast.
My Suggestion for Your Healing
While I was able to figure things out, I struggled with guilt for quite some time. I did until I had another consultation with Marjorie, during which we talked with Buddy after his passing. As I wasn’t ready, I learned that Buddy wasn’t ready either. His heart stopping caught him by surprise as well, and his spirit was still hanging out in my apartment, making sure that I was okay. My call with Marjorie gave me the closure I needed with him. She comforted me by reassuring me that he was where he wanted to be when he passed, and that was with me. He wasn’t in chronic pain, and I didn’t have to make the decision to put him down. This really was the best case scenario for me and for Buddy. So, my suggestion is to take the time to think through what will happen when your beloved pet passes and be sure to utilize Marjorie before, during, and after the process. You will not regret it!
