Kate Ethelinda2 months agoI'm a 27-year-old woman, and my husband, who is 29, is struggling with a difficult decision regarding his senior dog, M. M is 14 years old, and my husband has had him for about 12 years—longer than we've been together. Unfortunately, M's health has declined significantly. He can no longer stand on his own due to a bad hip and shoulder, he won't eat because of an abscessed tooth, and he can only drink water if we use an eyedropper. We live quite far from our families, about a ten-hour drive away, and I'm worried that M won't be able to handle the trip back home. He has always hated car rides, and I fear that we would end up stopping on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. My husband's mother is not helping the situation; she keeps encouraging him to believe that M can continue to live on antibiotics, which only adds to my frustration. It's painfully clear to me that M is nearing the end of his life. Compounding this emotional turmoil, I recently lost my father—my best friend—just three months ago to a sudden heart complication. Watching M deteriorate is incredibly difficult for me, especially since my grief is still so fresh. I feel overwhelmed and shaken by the situation. I'm at a loss for what to do. I want to support my husband during this tough time, but I also feel a strong urge to stay with my mother if he refuses to make the right decision for M and insists on trying to take him home. My mother is concerned that my absence might harm our relationship. I just feel so lost and unsure of how to navigate this situation. I’m reaching out for guidance on how to help my husband through this while also taking care of my own emotional well-being.113
Kate EthelindaKate Ethelinda