My Dog's Final Days

[Rupe]

I have an 11 year old boxer who has been my best friend for all of those years. He has been losing weight and I just found out he is full of cancer...nothing can be done. He is scheduled to be euthanized on Monday. This is killing me...I'm totally bummed out and I'm having a hard time dealing with the fact that I now know when he will die. I know it needs to be done as he is suffering but it is still hard. Anybody here ever go through this, and if so, how did you deal with it? Some pics below from puupy up to recently.

[horns666]

Re: My Dog\'s Final Days

Thats hard stuff man. My German Shepard had cancer at age 7 , bad hips too , arthitis . I took him there with my dad..

I had to give Max to my dad because we just had our son. Max was young and needed much attention..he ate my entire kitchen ..floor and everthing...never chewed a thing at my dads tho..

We both loved him..he was my wife's baby..then I knocked her up..and we got a baby...bad timing. [img]/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img]

But he was hurtin' so bad..lost so much weight..he was a HUGE sheppard 130 lbs..with long hair..he looked killer , and very smart. he lost about 50 lbs and couldn't even move anymore.

you gave each other alot of love man..11 years.

BTW my Dad had a Boxer since .."Butch" and starting to have health problems. [img]/images/graemlins/eyes.gif[/img]

And my Pico has "flux petallas"..his knees are bad.. he weighs 4 lbs ...his legs are like pencils. [img]/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]

Sorry Bro.. [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[Rupe]

Re: My Dog\'s Final Days

Lambert had a destructive streak for a while too. I went on vaction once and he chewed all the brass doorknobs in the house flat so he could grab and turn them to come look for me...he also tore down and shredded all of the curtains.

He was usually cool as hell though and was super protective. At 85 lbs, he totally messed up a much larger Rotty that was off his leash and charged us.

I could tell stories for days...he was a kick ass dog.

Sorry to hear about your shepard...those are awesome dogs when you get a good one. I had one as kid growing up...loved him.

Thanks for the support bro...man, Monday is gonna suck [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[horns666]

Re: My Dog\'s Final Days

Yes it is bro..it will truly suck indeed. You'll be ok and Lambert won't be in pain anymore.

Take Care,

Bill

[Mordor]

Re: My Dog\'s Final Days

I'm really sorry for you man,and I can understand your feeling. I love dogs,I have two of them,and one is right here on my knees.They are really men best friends.Still you have all the great moments shared with him.Be strong.

[GodOfRhythm]

Re: My Dog\'s Final Days

I totally understand man.

The best of strength and my condolences in this really hard time.

My Scottisch Collie (a 'Lassie') is 13 years old already, still going, but you can see the age taking its toll, I'l be devastated as well when he finally leaves us.

Dogs are such magical, beautiful creatures...

[shreddermon]

Re: My Dog\'s Final Days

It's the right thing to do, man. One of the hardest things to do, but it will end his suffering. Been there, done that. It's heartbreaking - like losing a member of the family.

My condolences and best wishes.

[charvelguy]

Re: My Dog\'s Final Days

My sympathies. I lost a great friend of 17.5 yrs in my cat to cancer 3 years ago..terrible disease. She was such a trooper with the will of a lion. I know she did not want to go and it really tore me up there was nothing more I could do.


All you can is be there for them, comfort them and let them know they are loved. If you are of a faith, it doesn't hurt to check into having them blessed..there was so many times I wanted to with mine. Just call up a local priest or go in and ask them..if they are not busy I'm sure they'd oblige.

Also..I had some time with mine and there was one thing I wish I had really done while she was still relatively healthy...taken a movie. Even a short clip on a digital camera. I have tons of polariods, it's nice to look back on them, but a movie really captures them. I'll always remember her in all stages of life..but a movie helps.

[kennslp]

Re: My Dog\'s Final Days

Hey Rupe,

So sorry to hear about Lambert. I knew that he wasn't well, but I didn't realize things were that bad. I remember when I first met him...he was so full of energy! Take solace in the fact that he lived a full life and was the perfect companion to you and your family. My sympathies Bro...


-Kenn

[jgcable]

Re: My Dog\'s Final Days

That happened to me around 3 years ago. Its tough but you'll be ok. Get another dog. It helps bigtime. Of course you are doing the right thing.

[Inazone]

Re: My Dog\'s Final Days

I had my cat Weasel euthanized back in February. He was the first (and so far only) pet I ever got for myself, and we had a good 7-8 years. He behaved more like a dog than a cat, always wanting to follow me around, riding around on my shoulder, waiting for me at the front door after work. For reasons I'll never know, his kidneys started to fail at a young age, and if anyone has been through that with a pet, it's something that will never improve. The "treatments" would have been harder on me than on him, and minimally effective since he was already in bad shape by the time it was detected.

That was the toughest decision I've ever made, but it was the right one. I was able to see him still enjoying life up to the end, not suffering through some attempt to make myself feel better by delaying the inevitable.

[Wayniac]

Re: My Dog\'s Final Days

Sorry to hear that!
I went through that when I was 19. I had my dog since I was 7... kennel resuce.. he was about 6 months when we got him. Apache was a lab/pointer mix - great personality and an awesome watchdog. I got a call while I was up at college in RI that he wasn't doing well.
I said as long as he wasn't in pain, wait til Fri, as I have an exam Thur afternoon.
I took that exam and headed home... and man it was bad. He could barely walk (no pain though).. and he saw me and the tail started thumping. I carried him to the car and to the vets table, where the vet gave him the shot. I held him til he passed - the last thing he did was lick my face.... I still get choked up thinking about it, and I'm 36 !
All you can do is comfort him, make his last days good days.
My buddy just went through that with his dog as well... last thing he did was take her for a run (more like a gimp) in the woods, let her swim... she was happy as well.
The best thing you can do for you and him are to make his last day his best day - make him as comfortable as possible... and you will heal in time.
I just allowed my girlfriend to get another dog for our house... he did not replace my old dog, but he keeps the memory alive.
Best of luck, and sorry for your loss....

[toejam]

Re: My Dog\'s Final Days

Sorry to hear. [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] My family just had our 13-year-old dog euthanized in May. She's had a little arthritis for awhile and they think maybe some kind of brain cancer. She just started really deteriorating in a few weeks' time... not barking any more when she had to go out, could barely stand up when not on carpeting, couldn't climb stairs, then she starting having seizures once in awhile and didn't know what was going on, would sometimes drool. It was better for her to be put to sleep and out of misery.

[Rupe]

Re: My Dog\'s Final Days

Thanks everyone, the support really means alot to me. Times like these are where this forum really shines...its great to have a bunch of friends help you through the hard times. [img]/images/graemlins/toast.gif[/img]

I'm going to go spend my final day with Lambert.

[horns666]

Re: My Dog\'s Final Days

"I'm going to go spend my final day with Lambert."

Your a good man , bro..

that's sad but try to look at the happyness that both brought to each other.

I don't know about you guys , but when Me and my dad brought Max down there ...Max knew it. .Nobody could touch or handle Max but us..we opened the car door and he was ready to go..he had "snap" in his step and was humble to those kennel workers with no problem..I swear he knew..

He appeared as if he were ready for it..I know that sounds weird. But that was the first thing my dad and I said when we got back in the car..of course we didn't say too much..we were sad.

Get another pup..a Boxer more likely than not. He won't replace Lambert but he will help fill the void. and you will become attached to your new pup..puppies are great...Dogs are great animals...I love 'em.

I love mine all four lbs of him..he don't think he four lbs tho..stupid ass thinks he's King Kong...NOT!

Be strong and take care Rupe!!

Lambert will be in peace and he loves you..sounds mushy..but its true.

Because of you he had a great life..and he made your life better too. [img]/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]

Bill