We have been blessed/cursed with three dogs in our house for many years. This dog, a chihuahua mix that we were supposed to take care of for a few months, but like the two weesk to flatten the curnve it went on for 9 years. She actually became quite the companion for my wife and reluctantly I became somewhat attached to this tiny dog.

Tortilla (yes that's her name) developed this cough about 3 years ago. It was diagnosed as an enlarged heart then, but for whatever reason the cough seemed to go away. We kind of knew htat it would come back but it did not for more than 3 yeears. THen a few months ago, the cough came back and when it did it sounded pretty bad, and it has progressively gotten more persistnent.

Yesterday while playing ball with my other dog Scout, my wife heard this terrible scream from Tortilla and looke over on the paitio and she was falt on the ground and her breathing was very labored. She took her inside and kind of held her, thinking this was it, but the dog rallied and seemed almost normal later in the day. But then at about 6 pm last night it happend again. We think she was getting excited and she must have had some heart issue like an a-fib or just that her heart started having trouble working.

We are taking her to the vet today, and we are fullly expecting to have to make the decision to put her down. My wife has been very sad since yesterday. This little dog did really become very close to her. While I am not as close to Tortilla, I am sure that I will shed a tear or two today.

Its so annoying. You try to say, "Its just a dog" but dog onwers and lovers out there know that they are much more than that.