Good Bye Sweet Charlie

I can't believe I'm writing this post. It doesn't seem real and it makes me so sad. Our sweet Charlie passed away yesterday at 10 1/2 years old. He had had a rough few weeks. First with an ear infection, then a urinary tract infection, then an ear infection that went to his middle ear and was so bad he couldn't walk straight. Then a little over a week ago he stopped eating. We thought all the medications he had been on caused stomach irritation so we treated that. Then it got worse and he still wouldn't eat or drink. After several trips to the vet, including the emergency vet last weekend, he went to the doctor on Wednesday and stayed. His white blood cell count continued to rise and they came to the conclusion it was pancreatitis. The plan was to keep him there for a few days and give aggressive medications and fluids.

Yesterday morning the doctor called and said it wasn't working and he wanted to do an exploratory surgery. We said yes and I got dressed and went to the vet. By the time I got there they were done. I waited a while and the doc came in and said Charlie had eight inches of necrotic bowel and he had removed it and reattached his remaining intestines basically. I was stunned. We were thinking possibly a bowel obstruction with some type of foreign object, but not necrosis. The doctor explained he had to make it through recovery and if he did he should be fine, but he wasn't out of the woods yet. I asked to see him and they took me back. Charlie was waking up from surgery and they were trying to get his temp up and his respirations down. They had him all wrapped up and a tech was with him. I got to talk to him, petted his little head, and gave him a kiss. I told him I loved him. He started to wake up a bit and I desperately hope he knew I was there. I stayed for a few minutes and then left so they could focus on him. When I got home Bruce left and went to see him on his way to work, but Charlie had passed in between the time I left and the time Bruce got there. The doctor said he just couldn't handle it all after they took out his breathing tube.

To say we are heartbroken is an understatement. We will always miss him. I don't think I've ever known a sweeter, more loving, more patient, more loyal dog. He was just always so happy to be where we were. Charlie was my friend. Through every move, every deployment, every holiday, every road trip, every day, he was right there by my side. He loved us and we loved him. There will never be another Charlie and he will always have a special place in our hearts. I will miss hearing him snore at night (well, he snored all the time actually) and seeing him sleeping beside me on his bed at the end of the day. I will always cherish the memories we have of Charlie and the time he was here with us. We love you Charlie. Rest in peace sweet boy, we will never forget you.

Charlie

January 15, 2004 - July 11th, 2014