Pets recognizing our pain

[nosirnotme]

I was wondering if there are others on this board with pets. My husband and I have two dogs. It amazes me how they know when I'm having a bad day. Our Jack Russell cuddles up next to me and won't leave my side. Our German Shepherd who is still a puppy knows that mommy can't throw his ball for him, so he'll sit and chew on a bone. Normally, he wants to play ball all day long! He comes up for extra hugs and kisses on days I have a flare up. It's like he's coming up to tell me he loves me. They are on their BEST behavior when I feel bad. It seems like they take care of me more than I take care of them on my bad days. If their water bowls are empty, they don't mind waiting 15 minutes to get water, as opposed to normally when they will tap at their bowl until I get their water. If they get up before me in the morning and need to go out, they will jump in bed with me until I can get up. They don't fuss about not getting a little bit of canned food with their kibble. They happily take what I give them. They make it so easy that I've never thought about how I'm going to take care of them when I'm feeling bad.

[Ihurt]

Until three weeks ago I had 2 dogs,2 cats and 1 ferret. Unfrotunately I had to put my beloved Simba down because he was so sick.

When I was sick, HE NEVER left my side. He would lay right by my chair..if I moved he moved, if I slept, he slept. I used to jokingly call him Nurse Ratchett at my feet!

Now, Texi my Boston Terrier/Sheltie mix...she's very very keen. She will lick my hands when she knws they hurt, my feet, and even my knees! It's almost as if she's trying to heal me.

Im a strong believer that animals can see and feel what we cannot. They are truly priceless. A freind of mine (I met when I lost my dog-she too lost hers) has Lupus. Here's what she says about animals"

"Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened"

No matter how much pain Im in, they always make me feel better. Just like Fish tanks are supposed to lower the blood pressure, animals feed the heart and soul.

When Im ill, they don't beg me for a thing...they just all lay around me. Tonight, being in this flare, Texi is at my feet, Precious (black cat) is laying a foot away from her, and Fatcat Mac Kenzie is on the arm of my chair. They don't want anything but to love and be loyal to me. What more could we want from life????????

Elaine

[nyoki]

Ralph, an oversized 120lb goofy black lab and Bianca, an undersized 5lb white deaf cat are 2 of my favorite "people" in the world. They both snuggle me, purring and growling (the good kind), whenever I'm having a bad day. They make me laugh at their antics w/ each other. It seems as if they're putting a "show" on for me to cheer me up. I've had to euthanize pets in the past but when it comes time for these two it's going to break my heart. My sis called today and was crying because she had just put down her dog (Midnight, 17 years old).

[Gemstar]

Often times when my body hurts so much ( I have PSA and fibromyalgia), all I can do is lie down. My sat Chelsea will come and lay beside me. She will often start "kneading" me like many cats do but she always seems to pick the spots that hurt the most, like she really is sensing my pain. She is 16 years old and has been doing this since she was a kitten. Nothing like a "cat massage".

[Kegrun]

Cat massages rock!

When I had cats..they always licked my P spots. I thought it was gross at first...for like...maybe 2 seconds..but dang it felt so good. Since their tongues are like friggin sandpaper..it was like I was getting a good scratch down without having to do it myself.

[ouchyk]

Ya'll are making me wish I had a dog, I miss mine, sorry for your pet losses that's difficult. There is no way on earth I could care for a pet right now.

I have a giant gold-fish. He or she ( not sure ) " Nemo " doesn't seem to pick up that anything is going on here.... :p I would like it if Nemo would flop around on my back, I could use a massage lol.

Pats for all your pets!
Karen

[Momelie]

My Daisy (animal shelter special) is very sensitive to when I'm in pain, she will always come lie next to me, or curl up at my feet. There've actually been times when she "guards" me, just sits up like a sentry so nobody makes any sudden moves toward me. Couldn't do without the little hound dog, that's for sure!

[nyoki]

There's something special about rescued animals. They seem to understand that they've been given a second chance and respond w/ more love. My cat was at the local shelter. She was pitiful, tiny, emaciated, deaf and ridiculously defiant and really really cute. She had obviously been treated (more like abused) badly. I'm guessing it took 3 full years for her to become truly affectionate and even then it is only w/ me that she purrs. She's a spunky thing tho, absolutely not afraid of the big dopey black lab that seems to think she is some kind of play toy. On the other hand she seems to think that the dog is her own personal cat toy. If he's wagging that tail, she's close waiting to pounce on it. They chase each other around the house, it's hysterical. She's always looking to pounce and he's always looking to scoop her up and drop her in my lap, as if to say, "she's misbehaving...do something about it". The big dopey lab we got from our next door neighbor. His mom had been hit and killed by a car when the pups (11 of them) were only a week old. My son, who was 11 or 12 at the time, went down every day to help bottle feed them. As a thank you he was allowed to choose one to keep. He chose the biggest, fattest roly-poly pup there. His belly dragged on the floor he was so fat.

Every animal I have ever had has been "rescued" one way or another. So far I have managed to spoil every one of them, and been rewarded w/ constant friendship and love.

Ouchyk, there are groups that have "therapeutic pets". They will bring them around to you and allow you to play, love whatever you want for as long as you want. When it becomes too much, they'll come and take them back home.

[ouchyk]

Ouchyk, there are groups that have "therapeutic pets". They will bring them around to you and allow you to play, love whatever you want for as long as you want. When it becomes too much, they'll come and take them back home.

Thanks so much I didn't know they exisited!!!!! I wonder where I can find a group in my area???, I miss my odie very much..he was a pound puppy we had him for 15 wonderful years best dog ever.

My daughter is coming wed night and bringing my grandpuppy who i adore, she alwasy sleeps with me when she comes...i also have many gifts for her lol...

Karen

[katef]

I have two dogs, Research, a pug-lhasa apso mix, and Development, a Boston. Research is like having a real live teddy bear and snuggles with me and guards me, he always knows when I don't feel good and does everything he can to take care of me. Development is not so empathetic, but she's still a very good. I like to think they balance each other out, Research is here to take care of me and Development is here to give me someone to take care of.

Elaine, I'm so sorry about the lose of your beloved Simba. My heart goes out to you.

[nyoki]

Thanks so much I didn't know they exisited!!!!! I wonder where I can find a group in my area???, I miss my odie very much..he was a pound puppy we had him for 15 wonderful years best dog ever.

My daughter is coming wed night and bringing my grandpuppy who i adore, she alwasy sleeps with me when she comes...i also have many gifts for her lol...

Karen


I learned about it on one of the "Animal Planet" shows, not sure which one. If I figure it out I'll let you know.

[pgerpup]

Karen, down here in Alabama the local obedience club has a group of "Therapy Dogs." The take them to nursing homes and assisted living facilities to visit the patiences. I've always had high energy dogs so they never invited me to join their group! :D But if you contacted them I would bet they would come by to visit. A city the size of Boston must have at least one obedience club! Give it a try.

Fay

[squeepig]

Before I had to put him down because of cancer, my Simba (german shepherd) used to stand in front of me so I could use him for balance when I got up from the couch. My ex-husband was violent, and Simba used to stand between us. When I got married to my new husband, a very caring man, that was when Simba started showing signs of distress from the cancer. One of my friends says that he probably waited until he knew I was safe before he showed his own weakness. I miss him. :(

Animals know more than we give them credit. My bassador (black lab/bassett hound mix), Willow, always knows when I'm not in the playing mood. She even knows when I'm cold, and will come lie down next to me, stretching out so that she spreads her warmth all along my side. :)

There are dogs that sniff out melanoma (deadly skin cancer). Who knows what else they can tell us if we listen...

[Ihurt]

Every animal I have ever had has been "rescued" one way or another. So far I have managed to spoil every one of them, and been rewarded w/ constant friendship and love.



Mine too...except for my beloved Simba, and now my Ferret. Texi my husband got in Texas (hence her name) paid alot of money to get her vaccinated and ;'Travel ready" and flew home with her. Precious (black Tuxedo cat-8yr old) I rescued from the shelter, MacKenzie (fatcat-8yr old Calcio) I also rescued from the shelter.

Texi is glued to me..literally. Now she has a new thing. Each and every time I grab my car keys she's at my side. So...lately she goes with me in the car. She decided this all on her own, I never taught her how to do this. She is extremely intelligent.


BTW...I have video of Simba, Texi and my ferret Wiggles. I loaded in in a mov. file on my computer, it's the most hillarious thing. No one would believe it if they watched it. Texi thinks the ferret is her puppy, and he thinks she's momma ferret. My son (Comp. Network Engineer) was here for the holiday. He sent the file over to his server so he canbreak it down for me. AS SOON as he does Im going to post it. Then ...Im going to send it to America's Funniest Animals. Sorry....but these animals are my LIFELINE....anyone that knows me knows Im in love with my animals, and they are in love with me! My world world is more than alright with them in it.

Elaine

[Ihurt]

I have two dogs, Research, a pug-lhasa apso mix, and Development, a Boston. Research is like having a real live teddy bear and snuggles with me and guards me, he always knows when I don't feel good and does everything he can to take care of me. Development is not so empathetic, but she's still a very good. I like to think they balance each other out, Research is here to take care of me and Development is here to give me someone to take care of.

Elaine, I'm so sorry about the lose of your beloved Simba. My heart goes out to you.

Thank you Kate
It's getting better, but I still break down.

After a wonderful day with my family I had to soak my feet (they were swollen from being on them). I sat in here and all of a sudden I broke down crying. I realized something was "different". Simba wasn't there UNDER MY FEET ALL DAY as usual waiting for crumbs of turkey to fall. There was always a time during Thanksgiving that I would even trip on him lol. he was such a beggar! I cried for about a half hour last night...words can't express the depth of how much I miss him. I know the other animals miss him just as much.

Squeepig: My ex was violent too. Simba never left my side. As a cocker spaniel he was the most docile animal you could ever meet, until Steve raised his voice or his hands. He bit Steve several times, and of course Steve repsonded in kind with kicking him or grabbing him...but then that's when I got violent. Simba hated him, and I never saw Simba ever hate another human being or another animal in his whole life. They do know more than we give them credit for...hell they know more than WE EVER WILL spiritually...I envy them for that. I wish I had that gift of "a sixth sense".

Im sorry about your Simba. Im glad you had him with you when you really needed him though. I agree with your friend, he had to wait until you were safe. As humans I do not ever think we will understand how they can love us so unconditionally and be so loyal.....as Humans unfortunately many of us are not made like that.

All in all, I know for me there is a hole in my heart that JUST can't be filled without my Simba.

[nyoki]

Our pets give us unconditional love but they also need what they need and give us no choice but to love and care for them. No matter how bad a day may be they give us a reason to get up, move and love. Bianca (my cat) always wakes me up before 8am (by kneading on me non-stop) so I can feed her. It always amazes me that I don't mind a behaviour in a pet that I would never put up w/ in a person.

[Kimpat]

You all are so lucky.I have a pointer/lab mix named Ray.He's an old dog whom I rescued from a bad situation.He's been with me for three years and he is so spoiled, he's a real bone head.He's sort of standoffish,but he sniffs me alot more than anyone else.Could he possibly pick up some kind of scent?

[nyoki]

My pup (ralph , black lab) actually snarled at me one night after coming back from an ER visit. They had given me a lot of IV drugs and I can only assume that I "smelled" wrong somehow. It only lasted a few seconds before he started wagging his tail and being his usual dopey, loving self.



Blaidd Drwg