This happened last week. My mom's elderly dog, who I have been caring for because she can't handle his care, was -- I swear, in the process of checking out of here. Stopped eating, stopped drinking, just . . . dying as far as I could see.

We discussed it and made "the appointment." He's ancient, blind, deaf, kidneys not totally shot but on the way, got something neurologically wrong with him, recurrent UTIs, etc etc. He could have cancer for all we know (vet suspects brain tumor, but he wouldn't survive an MRI she says)

Well, at the vets, as we were discussing whether or not to go through with the euthanasia, he was walking around, shaking, barking. She said he'd gained weight (I was shocked, but maybe it's because I was giving him fluids). My mom and the vet looked at him and didn't necessarily think he needed to be euthanized. And frankly, he was freaking out so hard I couldn't have gone through with it with him so upset like that.

I swear, it was the adrenaline making him look perkier. He seriously was looking like a dying dog till we got to the vets.

Now he's back in hospice at my place.

Nice to know that y'all understand that we're not seeing things when the dog is limping! :)

Of course, then you also have the occasional "faker" - which we had in our old dog Doc years ago. He stepped on a bee in the yard, and obviously, had a bit of a sore paw. Mom fussed over him, put a bit of baking soda paste on it and kept an eye on him. Well, he figured out "the more I favor my paw, the more she fusses over me" (he was smart that way!)

Well, after a while, she looks at him and decides it's time to head to the vet for a closer look since he's still favoring the foot. Well, he saw the leash and got so stoked that they were going somewhere, oh, he forgot about his foot. She stops and looked at him and said, "You little faker!"

He stopped. He started favoring a paw again. She looked at him and said,

"It was the other foot that had the bee sting. Nice try."

The scam was up, and he walked completely fine the rest of the day.

Almost every pet owner I know has had this happen at least once. Many years ago, my elderly at age 13 (and now deceased) Afghan hound Omar one morning was unable to get up. He'd try, but his back legs wouldn't support him, and over he'd go with a thud. He had several long-standing problems that were under treatment, and I figured that at his age, it was finally time. So I made "the appointment" and laboriously carried him and placed him gently in the car. Of course I sobbed hysterically all the way to the vet's. When we arrived, I opened the car door to carry him in, and he jumped out of the car with no trace of the paralysis he'd showed all morning. My vet surmised that he'd had a TIA, or "mini-stroke" (this was before the days of easily available CAT scans or MRI's). He went on to live another two fairly active and healthy years, and died in his sleep, at home, at the age of 15.

Thank God I am not alone! My rescued pitbull, Beaner, wouldn't jump off the bed one day. I called and called, and he sat. Now, mind you, this guy is HYPER. But he wouldn't budge. So then I caled some friends and started crying, saying something was reeeeallly wrong..Beaner wouldn't move. My friends come over, to help carry Beaner to the car. They come in the house, and KLUNK! Down jumps Beaner and he runs over to greet them. Now mind you, I have already called the after hours vet out...we were suposed to meet her 12 miles away in 15 minutes. So off we go, since we already got the doc out. Beaner jumps out at the vet, all fine and dandy, and is happy to have all the attention. He did go back to limping once we got home.... vet said more than likely a pulled muscle....... a $102 pulled muscle..... ya gotta love em!

i've seen it happen all the time. my favorite cat used to play "hurt paw" at home to get attention...until we realized he kept switching paws. but my predicament of the day is my rabbit!! i know birds and rabbits don't like to show signs of illness and all and often don't until they are despearately ill. mine had all sorts of fun romping around my apartment this weekend. last night i took her out to play and she was limping on her right rear leg. she was kinda tipsy and i worried she might even be neurologic. this morning it had gotten so much worse that i was expecting to have to put her down. clot? fracture? what? whatever it is, it can't be good. well, at the clinic she hopped without any problems but is showing signs of respiratory distress so she's now hospitalized. what is going on? pets. can't live w/o them but they are really stressful sometimes.

OMG, Anna, how did you keep it together? That made me choke up just reading it.

(anna) Educated and trained human hospice workers describe a "surge" of energy shortly before impending death and it is my belief that animals have this also. It gives the human caregivers and loved ones , that shred of hope that all may "reverse" and "recover". It has to be some physical built-in defense mechanism that I would love to know more about.

My old 15 1/2 yr. Sealyham had refused canned food, decreased water consumption, could barely stand or get up----yet on the morning of her last car ride, sat with the other 5 canine housemates and ate all the sliced turkey, pear & bananna slices she was offered, walked around the euthansia room to investigate, squatted to pee yellow urine---yet calmly and willingly sat down on the table and offered her front leg ( which was so out-of-character for her). I still feel so very blessed for the peaceful experience that occured.