Simba, My Saint Bernard, My Saint, My Love, Forever in My Heart

by Fernanda
(RI, USA)

I lost my Saint Bernard Simba on June 15, 2011. He was only 5 years old.

Simba was one of the best dogs anyone could ever ask for. He was beautiful, his good temper was noticed by everyone, my Bichon and my cat loved to sleep right on him, on his legs.

Unfortunately Simba was not a very healthy dog right from the beginning. At the age of 9 months he had hip surgery for severe hip dysplasia for both hips, then when he was just 2 years old he was diagnosed with Addison's disease. He needed to go every month to the vet for a shot of precorton (not cheap at all). Then, when he was 3 years old, he came down with an extremely high temperature. He was in the hospital again for another 2 days
but I didn't care just how much he cost, I would do anything for him, he was my true friend, my sweet sweet dog, my papa bear.

Then, on June 14, I woke up to a real mess everywhere. He had bad diarrhea all over during the night. I went to work and gave him some Pepto. When I got home that afternoon he was just laying there, refusing to eat. When I tried to walk him, he collapsed. He was so so weak, and he had bloody stool, all blood.

I rushed him to the vet. They kept him overnight, gave him medicine for the diarrhea, and tried to put him on IVs. He no longer could walk. The next day, the vet told us that they could not put him on IVs. He refused to eat, he just wanted water, his legs were all swollen, his heart rate was very low, and his blood pressure very low as well. He was draining fluids, he was unresponsive, he would not even open his eyes for me.

I had to make the hardest decision in my life, as I laid there on top of him saying good bye and asking him for forgiveness. The pain was so real.

A week later the pain is still so real, and he is so so missed. He will live forever in my heart, but I know that he is in heaven running around and being a healthy dog, and I will once again when my times comes hold him in my arms. Until then he will live forever in my heart....

All my love, Simba