Jump to content

Raw deal


Spurshot

Recommended Posts

Sometimes life is a raw deal. My lab lies at my feet tonight, drugged up from pain medication. She's 11 1/2 years old. When she was 4, she was showing mild pain sometimes when training. She was diagnosed with arthritis in her back. Her mobility was good until a few years ago.

 

I had to stop hunting her for the most part by the time she was 6-7.

 

I would take her for some planted bird hunts until 2 years ago. She had begun favoring her front left leg a few years ago. It worsened. In the past 10 months it has atrophied. Last December she ruptured her left rear CCL just limping around the house. She was down to 2 good legs. The CCL was mending but never got past about 60%.

 

Last week she stopped eating. We quickly got a vet appointment and we're referred to a neurological specialist for a mri. In the meantime we discovered she would eat with the bowl elevated. The results Friday showed a mass under her left armpit which invaded her spine. It is inoperable. As the tumor progresses it will cause many unthinkable central nervous issues.

 

We consulted with the specialist. More medication would ease her pain. We've increased her meds. We've noted her condition is worsening where normal tasks are becoming difficult. She won't use her dog door any more. We walk her out when we see she stands at the door. Eliminating is painful for her. Sleeping comfortably is a problem. Increasing pain medication is helping tonight. We made the extremely difficult decision to end her pain very soon. Her regular vet is out until Thursday. If her pain maintains at current levels, we want her regular vet to relieve her suffering Thursday.

 

My wife had an idea to take her to her favorite places. Our dog had hunted with my friends many times. I shoot clays with these guys a few times a month. I had brought the lab to the sporting clays range every time until a couple months ago. She got to the point of not being able to keep up on the walk from station to station. My friends got the news and showed up for her last round of clays Saturday. We put her in a wagon and pulled her around. My dog was happy to see the guys and she watched intently as the clays were launched and shot. I could see she really enjoyed seeing the guys and being there. A good day.

 

Sunday we took her out to the peninsula park at the ocean and laid under a shady tree for a picnic. A lady there started a conversation with us and we revealed why we were there. The lady was there with her family to celebrate their dogs life that passed last week. She read a poem about dogs passing on to a better place. In the late afternoon a few neighbors came by to say goodbyes. My wife is taking off work this week. I have to put in some time but will try to take off half time. We have a few more outings planned for our dog, including the In-N-Out drive thru. The dogs love to look thru the big window into the kitchen while the smells fill the car. We get them meat patties. I noted a little more loss of appetite in her tonight. I hope we can take her tonight.

 

The poor old dog got a short stick in her health, but has been the best friend I could hope for. She has never had an angry or aggressive moment with any person or pet. She liked every person or pet she has met. She will be missed not only by my wife and I, but by many friends and family members.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

:nonod::( I have a GSD that's 1 1/2 yrs old. He's so full of energy, he gets on my nerves at time.. :D .. but, I know if he was gone, I would truly miss him. Even though I bought him for my daughter, I'm his favorite and pretty much only listens to me. :D I've had a couple dogs growing up, I know the feeling of losing a family member, as that's how I see them.

 

At least the pain meds are making it manageable for a bit. Sorry to hear the end is near..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just seven years ago my Tinker dog, a Westie gave up her fight to remain alive . Even the $32,000 spent through the years at the vet were for naught when she finally could take no more and moved to a place where she can chase squirrels to her hearts content.

At my daughters insistance i found a breeder on a local indian reservation and was acquainted with my new Westie, Maddie. For the first six months we fought for dominance of the house and of course she finally won but allows mme to drive her places and to see people. Maddie loves everyone, in seven years has never expressed a threatining tone to anyone ( except cats, squirrrels and quail.) in fact at the GMC dealer the other day I was ignoring her while looking at a pick up and when I refocused attention Maddie and a 14 month crawler were licking each other's face while mom chuckled.

When my ammo can of ashes is buried in the local cemetery Tinker will be in there with me and Maddie will be cared for by a friend she loves very much. Our valued little friends can have quite an impact on otherwise mundane lives. Spurshot, go find another Lab to share your life with.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sorry to hear the news. We lost our 8 yr old lab very quickly (stomach cancer) in Nov 2015. The good thing is we had my sons bday party a week before we got the official diagnosis. All of our family was down and got to see him for the last time. It was tough but now we have a 6 month old black lab. He definitely brings back good memories.

 

Wish you well, take peace in knowing it is the right decision

 

 

Ryan B.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sorry to hear. You're doing the right thing. You've enjoyed each others company and now it's time for her to be released from her discomfort. I had an Irish setter that made it to 17 years of age. Been gone since 2000. Still miss him to this day. Thoughts and prayers with y'all.

 

:angel:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

sorry to hear this, but sounds like youre an awesome owner who gives the angel everything she deserves. i had a golden retriever for 14 years who we had to put down, and sounds like she was in a similar health state as your pup. at the end i was having to carry her outside to use the restroom because she couldnt go down the steps or bend down without falling into her own mess..nothing is harder than watching your bestfriend start to look and feel like that... i dont cry, but reading that post brought a tear to my eye. good luck w everything. all dogs go to heaven

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sorry to hear the bad news. Losing a family pet is hard, remember the good times and all the companionship that you gave each other.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I really appreciate all the support from you all. My wife and I thank you all. Even my wife's good friend read these posts and was moved, since she put down a dog a year ago. There's a lot of good people here. I'll post some pix of my dog soon. In the mean time, show yours.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Spurshot, The photo is of "Maddie n me" taking delivery of the 2017 Denali, where ever I go if Maddie is not with me it immediately draws questions as to her location. As summer nears reluctantly she must remain home more.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A lab goes a long time.

I only have one dog to remember, it is a lab.

age 13 (1986)I heard the scratch of a pet running around on a hardwood floor, and came out to be surprised.

little puppy. male yellow lab.

 

 

we were still in the boston suburb then.

it loved me form day one. All kinds of family and siblings.. it just wanted to target me. Must be a growing young male bond together.

 

moved to maine, in the woods. 1 year old .Some of the things that dog did.. hilarious.

It liked ducks, did not want to kill them. they'd chase each other around the yard.

 

it mated with a chow dog, every offspring was unique. One of his sons made the cover of a new york dog magazine.

1990 or so.

 

I went on to some bad military times. I was even homeless.

Did not talk to my dad for several years. Disabled, disgruntled.

 

I visited one day.. late 90s. The dog walked right up to me, and we had this trick where he'd take me by the hand with his mouth, I'd say "where do you want to go."

Right to a stick. He wanted to play.

 

First time I had cried in more than 10 years. We were still growing boys.

he made it to 2007.

Very old, very strong. It was like watching a real case of perfect old age going to sleep.

we wondered what the record was..

he was 21 years.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

21b7de6c1c2e2f8288d0f26aef9339b2.jpg

 

This was the night before we put wrigley down.

 

b91c230d217de80ab288e508287146a3.jpg

 

Our 6 month old forgot how much fun the puppy stage is

 

 

Ryan B.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.



×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.