Sugar Magnolia Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 (edited) It is my turn to pass along some sadness. I lost my 13 year old Gordon Setter, Griffin, on Xmas Eve. He had an undetected brain tumor that ruptured so he went fast. We euthanized him before he suffered too much. Just 5 hours before, he did his most fav job which was odor detection work. He seemed to be depressed and I took him out to have some fun. He pulled it together and worked for about 45 minutes. I noticed as we were working his lip was swelling. I thought this maybe was an infected tooth because he seemed really sensitive in the mouth that morning--it turned out this was an edema. I thought I was taking him to the emergency vet to get a tooth pulled. As we were driving there his skull swelled and he just was so out of it, he barely knew we were there by the time we got to the exam room. It was so sad, and unexpected. He had been failing in health due to what we thought was a spinal degeneration disease. As it turned out, it was probably a brain tumor. I did not want to post this until now because of what Polk has been going through. It seemed too trivial. But, this dog was so close to me. He and I worshiped each other. He was the runner-up 2003 Gordon Setter Agility Dog of the Year. He was runner-up instead of the Agility Dog of the Year, because of points taken off for leaving an obstacle to eat some grains of horse poop in the arena, where we were competing He lived life to the fullest. I have one dog left, my 10 1/2 year old Aussie named Lizzie. She had a 5-10% chance of living and almost died of a rare auto-immune GI tract disease that robs the body of protein, back in April. At that time she was in liver failure and congestive heart failure. Her disease is treatable but not curable. We think she has beaten the odds and will survive. If dogs live the initial on-set of the disease (which most don't) the average lifespan is 1-2 years. She just had bloodwork done on Monday, and it is as normal as can be. Most dogs with the disease end up living a retired life of comfort when diagnosed with this disease, because of muscle wasting that happens from the protein loss, and lifetime use of steroid meds that keeps it in remission. But she is anything but retired. She runs about 15 miles a week, does agility once a week, and odor detection for fun one a week. Pretty darn good for a dog of 10 1/2 who is supposed to be very sick. I feel blessed that Griffey had a great life and never had any prolonged suffering. Edited January 12, 2012 by Sugar Magnolia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMD Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 Condolences - one of the hardest things to go through. Here's to his memory - you're better for having known him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frenzal rhomb Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 sorry to hear - youre dog was lucky to lead a good life. Cherish the memories Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Footballjoe Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpwallace49 Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
detlef Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 So very sorry. My heart goes out to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yukon Cornelius Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puddy Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeeR Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 Sorry about this. To some people a dog is "just a dog" but for some of us it's like one of the family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEC=UGA Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 Very sad. My condolences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joessfl Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 My condolences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
i_am_the_swammi Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 I know how much you loved and cared for your dogs, SM, and all animals in general....evidenced by the time you took to help us when our pup was training and going through some issues of her own a couple years ago with her hips. My heart goes out to you at this sad time....it will get better, and the memories of your friend will become happy ones as time passes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big John Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TripleW64 Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 Sorry for your loss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy Neutron Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 Very sorry for your loss. Hits home, as I'm watching my hound day to day right now. Lord, do they get in your heart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peepinmofo Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 Sorry to hear this, especially after just having lost a dog myself. My condolences to you and your family... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Dick Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 Sorry to hear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrTed46 Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 Sorry for your loss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursa Majoris Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 Condolences - one of the hardest things to go through. Here's to his memory - you're better for having known him. This. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh 0ne Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 Very sorry Sugar Magnolia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyBalata Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 So sorry to hear this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brentastic Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 Very sad. It's tough being a dog lover because we humans know, inevitably, that we will out-live our canine companions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuke'em ttg Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 Tough ta lose a friend, share some stories if it helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt770 Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 Condolences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muck Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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