Traveling in High Temps

[Liz]

We lost our little poodle today. I was on my way & turned around & came home when Kathy called me & said Missy has cancer & there's nothing they can do. So much for the Vet who said yesterday that she had a cold...Have no words to describe our grief.....

((((hugs)))) I'm so sorry for you and your daughter. My heart goes out to you both.

[JudyJB]

If your engine does start to overheat, one trick is to turn the heater and fan on. This directly will cool your engine off substantially, although you will be miserable. It will at least keep your vehicle from overheating until you can get somewhere to stop.

[BirdbyBird]

My heat aches with yours. They are never with us long enough and take huge chunks of our hearts when they pass.

....and I know nothing about driving in hot desert temps...but the responses make sense.

[Forestgal]

Awww ... I'm so very sorry to hear about the loss of your poodle. It's always hard.

Laura -- and Jed

[JoanE]

One of the worst experiences of my life was putting down my Suzie, even if she was 16 and it was the right thing to do. So sorry about your poodle.

Secondly, I'm glad to read all this advice on high temp driving. You are all so smart!

[Carolinagal]

I am soooo sorry about your little dog!!! ((((((((((((Hugs for you and your daughter)))))))))))))).

Driving in those temps is never good, but you have gotten some really good advice here.
Way back when , no A/C in cars and you had to hang a water bag on the front of your car, I
made that trip from Fl. to Ca. My folks lived there, military ruled our lives then, so no way to
change time of yr. that we'd go. Today should be much better traveling, but I'd pay attention
to the advice here. Early hrs. to travel and shorter traveling times.

Again, I can't tell you how sorry I am about your little dog. Cancer seems to attack everything !!!
Take care, hope you have a nice trip, Stay safe.
CArol

[Excel]

Sorry Ladies....After all the advice & posts I can only say thank you for all your efforts, but I'm not taking my trip after all. I never thougth of myself as a great animal lover, but this has really shaken me. They put Missy to sleep at 10 AM today because they said she would die by tomorrow anyway. How can this happen in a mere 3 days...but the Emergency Vet/Doctor said ... it happens... the cancer was there & it just burst not allowing any room for food & at the last it appears she wasn't able to breathe well either as her throat was becoming full of pulps also. When I was on my way to Bakersfield & Kathy called, I was shocked...& decided that the trip just wouldn't make my life better or be of any joy to me....so I turned around & came home. My daughter is unconsolable (if that's a word)...she's calmed down now but she is almost crazy with disbelief & grief...Yes, she did hold Missy during her final minutes...wouldn't let them put a mask on her either....It's just a really terrible nightmare & I don't know how to deal with it...trying to comfort daughter & pacing & getting up & sitting down...watching TV & getting on computer...nothing helps....I don't know how those of you who travel with your pets handle something like this when it happens...

[Getupngo]

Oh, no ... I understand how the loss of a furry loved one can just knock the breath out of you. And without any preparation. My heart goes out to you and your daughter.

[Forestgal]

It'll get better. But it'll take time.

Five years ago I had to do much the same thing with my first dog. Long story short ... she got sick on a Thursday, we didn't know what was wrong with her, and by the following Wednesday I'd gotten a call in the middle of teaching my 35 fifth graders that she was bleeding internally. I left class, raced to the vet, and held her as she was put down. I don't know how I did it, but I did. I think the knowledge that I'd been given the awesome, awful charge to put her needs above mine was the only thing that allowed me to put one foot in front of another.

I still cry for her, even as I hold Jed. You will too, for a long, long time. It's okay. They're the only creature in the whole wide world that loves us unconditionally, so there's just not the emotional baggage we have when we lose a human.

It's good that you came home. You both can cry, and in between talk about the sweet times you shared with your pup.

It'll get better, I promise.

Laura -- and Jed

[VickieP]

I'm so sorry for you and your daughter's loss. I'm glad you have each other to go through this together.

[Rufflesgurl]

Char - So sorry you lost your pup. It is so hard to go through but things will get better.

Linda

[OutandAbout]

I lost two in the last year. It will get better eventually. I still find myself looking for them and doing a head count, then catch myself. But the good thing is that this leads to some happy memories of the two that have passed. Hugs to you and your daughter. Linda