The Heartbreak of Being a Pommy Mommy
Being a Pommy Mommy conjures up images of nurturing and caring for your little ones, whether they are human children or furry companions. Your heart is constantly stretched to the limit, filled with love and concern. This has been especially true for the past six weeks as our little Maggie began to show signs of illness. She stopped eating and became lethargic, which was completely out of character for her. Maggie had always been a lively, happy, and always hungry little Pom. My husband and I took notice and decided to wait a couple of days to see if she would snap out of it. But she didn’t. So off to the vet we went.
An Unexpected Diagnosis: Pancreatitis
What we thought might be a minor issue turned out to be far more serious when the vet came in and said it looked like Maggie had Pancreatitis. Maggie had rarely been sick, and when she was, it was usually something minor—an ear infection, loose stool, or an upset stomach. But Pancreatitis? We were shocked. We feed her the best diet, never give her table scraps, and always pay close attention to balancing her fat, protein, and carb intake. How could this happen?
The vet reassured us that dogs with Pancreatitis can live long, happy lives with proper care and a bland diet—nothing too rich or spicy. However, Maggie needed to spend two days and nights in the hospital to get her condition under control.
A Glimmer of Hope: Maggie’s Return Home
When Maggie came home, she seemed to be on the mend. She was taking her medicine, regaining a little appetite, and showing signs of improvement. The vet advised us to continue the antibiotics and revisit blood work, x-rays, and possibly an ultrasound in two weeks. Everything seemed to be going well, and we were hopeful that Maggie was on the road to recovery.
However, two days before her medication was due to run out, Maggie’s condition took a drastic turn for the worse. Our usually energetic and chipper girl was lying on her bed, barely moving. She could no longer walk up the stairs, which she used to sprint up with ease. As Maggie’s Pommy Mommy, I knew deep down that she wasn’t getting better.
Facing the Heartbreaking Reality
On Friday, October 12, we called the vet and brought Maggie in for a checkup. Our worst fears were confirmed. Instead of improving, Maggie’s condition had worsened drastically. X-rays taken two weeks earlier had shown muted white areas around her pancreas, spleen, and stomach, which indicated some inflammation. But now, those areas were bright white, a sign of significant worsening inflammation or something much more serious.
My husband had suspected cancer from the beginning, and the x-rays seemed to confirm his fears. As Maggie’s Mommy, it was impossible to make a decision about what to do. There was so much information to process. After consulting with Maggie’s Daddy, we made the heart-wrenching decision to have her euthanized. We couldn’t bear the thought of her suffering any longer, and we didn’t want to put her through chemotherapy that likely wouldn’t save her but would only prolong her pain.
The Responsibility of a Pommy Mommy
Being a Pommy Mommy is about giving rescue Pomeranians and all Poms the best life possible. But when it’s time for them to leave us, we must be selfless. Our responsibility is to keep our furry babies as pain-free and free from suffering as possible. While we feel we made the right decision for Maggie, the heartache remains, and it always will. I loved Maggie, and I loved her sister who passed before her, as much as any mother could love her babies. And that’s all we can do—love them with all our hearts while they’re with us.
A Note of Gratitude and Goodbye
I didn’t want this to be a sad or morbid post. Instead, I wanted to share Maggie’s story and explain why you won’t be seeing any more current photos of her. Thank you all for your incredible support during this difficult time of grieving. Maggie will always hold a special place in my heart, and I’m grateful for the time we shared together.
This post was published on October 15, 2012 when my sweet Maggie got sick and passed. I have rewritten and updated it to reflect my views 12 years later.
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