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Maggie’s Man's Best Friend Thread
- Thread starter Sieg
- Start date
A bad day with a good ending.
A few weeks ago, I walked into the kitchen after breakfast and saw a 5" puddle of blood on the floor. The wife said our GSD was just sitting there. So, I grab the boy and start looking. I find bloody fur at the top of his tail. Note, the dogs had just come in from their morning patrol. As the wife holds him, I start to look deeper, finding a nickle-sized bald spot with what looked like a puncture wound. I grab scissors and clippers and start to clear away the area - I move the tale a certain way and a pencil sized stream of dark colored (key - dark) blood squirts about two feet. Jeez, I thought he had somehow nicked a vessel. Every time I move the tail, it streams out - but eventually slows. Long story short, I felt this was above my pay grade and we headed to the emergency vet. Even shorter story, he had a wound - still unknown how - that was a deep puncture, infected, stewing for a couple of weeks, abscess, necrotic tissue, eruption. Anesthesia for deep cleaning, antibiotics, successful wound closure. Pooch is going to be fine.
The good part? I was able to finally use my IFAK. Felt like a genuine superhero when the wound erupted, I grabbed the kit, applied the quick clot and bandage. Strutted around like a peacock the rest of the day.
A few weeks ago, I walked into the kitchen after breakfast and saw a 5" puddle of blood on the floor. The wife said our GSD was just sitting there. So, I grab the boy and start looking. I find bloody fur at the top of his tail. Note, the dogs had just come in from their morning patrol. As the wife holds him, I start to look deeper, finding a nickle-sized bald spot with what looked like a puncture wound. I grab scissors and clippers and start to clear away the area - I move the tale a certain way and a pencil sized stream of dark colored (key - dark) blood squirts about two feet. Jeez, I thought he had somehow nicked a vessel. Every time I move the tail, it streams out - but eventually slows. Long story short, I felt this was above my pay grade and we headed to the emergency vet. Even shorter story, he had a wound - still unknown how - that was a deep puncture, infected, stewing for a couple of weeks, abscess, necrotic tissue, eruption. Anesthesia for deep cleaning, antibiotics, successful wound closure. Pooch is going to be fine.
The good part? I was able to finally use my IFAK. Felt like a genuine superhero when the wound erupted, I grabbed the kit, applied the quick clot and bandage. Strutted around like a peacock the rest of the day.
My goofy ass dog after he recovered from his most recent pancreatitis flare up which caused his pancreas to quit producing insulin. We finally got the dosage figured out, he gets 6 units in the morning and 6 in the evening. Hopefully, he can stay out of the vet's office for a while. Way too young to have all the health problems he has, I'm afraid he's not going to have a long life.
Heads up, sometimes you can hurt your dogs with kindness. My dog had been hospitalized with pancreatitis before -she was getting too much dietary fats and bone marrow.
Sending prayers up for Bradu.
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So this brings up a rabbit hole I have been going down with much frustration: what is the breakout of macronutrients a dog should have? I have seen many arguments about it, including that dogs shouldn’t have carbs since they naturally have very few - this from vet nutritionists. I’m at a loss, nothing seems to be consistent in opinions. The local vet is of no use when it comes to this subject.
Just got another dobie and am trying to not over feed but give her what she needs to develop optimally. I’m trying to start with the correct macros and calories. I have been feeding kibble but also ground scraps from deer and beef butchering that I have saved back for the canines. Training has been ongoing. Got myself a bundle of happy energy and I want to keep it that way. I do enjoy this breed.
Just got another dobie and am trying to not over feed but give her what she needs to develop optimally. I’m trying to start with the correct macros and calories. I have been feeding kibble but also ground scraps from deer and beef butchering that I have saved back for the canines. Training has been ongoing. Got myself a bundle of happy energy and I want to keep it that way. I do enjoy this breed.
I think the raw bones were what started this a few years ago. We have him on a home cooked low fat diet specifically for pancreatitis. We don't know what caused this last flare up, but the vet said they can just happen and that we necessarily didn't do anything wrong. I think it's been about a year and a half since the previous flare up.
Thank you for the prayers! We are trying to make sure he has a great life even if it isn't as long as it should be.
There is so much conflicting information out there on this topic. I finally found that I think is some pretty good information on a Facebook group for dogs with pancreatitis. I ended up buying a book by Dr. Judy Morgan after it was recommended by quite a few people. My wife cooks for them using one of her recipes. It's expensive and time consuming but we know exactly what's in the food.
We went with a raw diet for this new one. Beef and chicken at a 1:1ratio then add these two supplements and also a raw egg daily.
Grinding is some work but we got cheap containers off Amazon (each holds one day of food) and we make 30days worth at a time. About twice the cost of kibble but at least we know what’s in it.
And yes getting macro and micro information from vets is impossible.
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My two ever vigilant watch dogs making sure nobody steals the Christmas sleeping bag
Had to put my boy down just before Thanksgiving. Haven’t wanted to talk about it before now. Still finding things around the house that tears the bandaid off again.
Sorry for your loss. May the New Year bring you a new friend to help you heal.
As painful as it was, not sure I want to go through it again. They say tome heals all woulds, but the scars remain.
Don't feel that way. We had a Golden Retriever for 14 years and it took 3 years before we got another. Not a replacement but he just turned 1 and he is a great dog and we love him to death.
That's the shitty part about owning a dog, but having gone through it with 4 others, the good far out weighs that part of it. You do loose a little piece of yourself/soul each time. I know I'll see them all again, and could never see myself without a pup (even though my current 2 year old just destroyed 3 outdoor furniture covers. lol). Hang in there, it's hard but you'll miss waking up to a pile of poop soon enough. Always remember the good my friend!
Yeah, so we have two small houses, one in WA (main house) and a small farm in Mississippi.
Came home to WA for Christmas to see my kids and the photo frame keeps showing pictures of Layla, our female blue-nosed pit who died of congestive heart failure two years ago.
Must be a lotta particles in the air, because my eyes keep dripping tears. I was unprepared for how much those pictures would move me.
Layla, as a pup, the day we brought her home -
Came home to WA for Christmas to see my kids and the photo frame keeps showing pictures of Layla, our female blue-nosed pit who died of congestive heart failure two years ago.
Must be a lotta particles in the air, because my eyes keep dripping tears. I was unprepared for how much those pictures would move me.
Layla, as a pup, the day we brought her home -
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I understand, I'm on 5 years without my boy. Had I realized my company is just as happy with me at home (get MORE work out of me generally) after the panicdemic...I'd have gotten another one. From 2020-2022 I wasn't sure if it would be fair to get another dog if I was going to have to go back in...the separation anxiety.
That said, we should both get back in the game. I know how much a dog becomes part of you. Truly are soul mates if you find the right one. There are times I wonder if my dog was "just a dog" or some spiritual being in that vessel. I'm sure you understand.
Yeah, I've been through that 4 times now. It's always pretty rough. But my olds dogs always wanted what's best for me, and I'm pretty sure they always approved of the new one who came along and filled the void they left in passing.
Just give things a chance.
My condolences on your loss
that is a wonderful picture of your boy, really speaks to me.
It shows the connection we have with them without talking
I've never rushed into getting another but always did.
When the time is right, it will happen.
I'm still hurting from losing Tink this past December but the memories of all the joy she gave us are slowly replacing the feelings of hurt. It takes time, I don't try to rush the grieving process either although it seems to take longer the older I get.
My hope is that you too can someday smile when you think of all the good times you shared together.
My two. Ivy the english bulldog was put on this earth to teach me patience. Louie the rescue is down for anything as long as hes by your side. He thinks hes first mate on the ocean when we go out.
Gotta vent: brought Shelia(our dog)yesterday for chemo at LSU pet hospital, she is doing well. While waiting, a guy walked in with an old Golden Retriever, bleeding from wraps, Dr. takes him in the back and comes back stating the surgery last week isn’t working and the dog wont make it. Guy says just put him down, Dr ask if he wanted a paw print, guy said nope, Dr said we’ll make him comfy then you can be with him when he goes, guy said nope. Dr asked if you want him cremated and keep him? Guy said nope, just dispose of him. I almost stood up and said I’ll go, but didn’t want to start shit, cause other folks in the lobby were going through enough with their pets. I was pissed, my wife cried and I’ve was pissed the rest of the day! Moral of the story: dogs are man’s best friend, but not all men are worthy of their devotion. Love you cat, dog or what ever. When mine goes, we’ll all be with her!
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Buddy... we all deal with that differently.
Maybe that guys way of dealing with it was to ignore the pain(how many times have we been told that?)...i bet he cried the whole way home....and might regret that decision forever.... dont you have regrets?
Doesnt make it right...but the dog did its job, faithful, loyal, honest....and the owner did the right thing...kinda.
Dont be so hard on others just because you see what only your eyes can see....(read the book of job).
Pray for that man.
Shred
Maybe that guys way of dealing with it was to ignore the pain(how many times have we been told that?)...i bet he cried the whole way home....and might regret that decision forever.... dont you have regrets?
Doesnt make it right...but the dog did its job, faithful, loyal, honest....and the owner did the right thing...kinda.
Dont be so hard on others just because you see what only your eyes can see....(read the book of job).
Pray for that man.
Shred
Cried all the way home doesn’t cover 10 percent of the tears. I can barely see to type this.
Regrets? I feel guilty AF. Maybe there was something else that could be done (nothing, according to everyone involved). I’m sure I would feel even worse now had I let it continue. Keep telling myself it was for the best, but doesn’t erase the pain.
Will I even have another dog? I don’t know, but as of now, no way.
Thanks to all for the empathy and kind words.
I get that. I've never had such a devastating effect from losing a dog as this. My boys last day was 2 days ago and I'm still crying over it. Makes me not want to get another one. I've had to do this with 2 other dogs one of which was my little dog for 16 years. It wasn't like this though.
I know, I did too man and still am. There was no option, I had blood work done and all, though I knew he didn't have much longer, and mine had cancer and lost like 45 lbs over about 2 months time. It was definitely time, but I still feel guilty and awful. This shit tore me up and still is. I'm sorry you are doing this. My boys have never seen me cry before this. Now I'm constantly trying to hide from them
Sorry for your loss. Prayers to you and your family
Eddie,
When I returned from Kunsan, back in '99, I had to put my 16yr old Border Collie down.
When I had been home over the summer, she wasn't doing well and I discussed this with my now ex.
She wanted to wait.
After I returned to Kunsan, the ex informed me the dog was no longer able to control her bowel movements, and would usually pee herself while trying to stand up. I pleaded with her to just do that dirty deed. She refused.
Instead, she moved her to the garage in August of that year. (We were at Mtn Home at the time)
I got back in late December, and my poor pup was in the garage on a dog bed with no blanket or heat.
I was fucking furious.
I called the base vet to have her looked at. I told them the situation about her inabilities, where she had been sleeping and the fact that we were days away from an 800 mile move.
The vet said she would be prepared for whatever we decided.
Once she got there, she treated my dog like it was her own child.
Long story short, she said the trip would probably kill her, so I decided to put her down. Mind you, this is the day after returning from Korea.
The vet was as gentle as could be. I held the pup in my arms as the vet injected her. I watched the light go out in her eyes. We stayed there together for a long while.
My ex was inside, because that was too much for her selfish ass to take.
16 years.
16 years of companionship.
16 years of fun and play.
16 years of watching her grow up.
16 years of watching her learn.
16 years of her protecting the family.
A moment and she was gone.
Over the next three years, I had to do the same with two cats and my male dog. All of them lived 15-16 years.
It's heartbreaking.
I felt dirty every time I took them to do that deed.
I knew it was the right thing, but it hurt like hell.
I never wanted to go through that again, so I didn't get another dog.
16 (seems to be a common number here) years passed. I got remarried in 2016. We bought a house, a boat and some new guns.
Something was missing and I quickly found out what it was.
It was this.
And this.
And this.
Believe me. I know how hard it is to get past losing your buddy.
You never get all the way past it. Proof is me writing this to you this morning. It's been 24 years since I put the Border Collie down. I was snot nosed and in tears. Had to pause to explain to Rebecca why her manly assed 6' tall hunk of a husband was crying this morning.
When Rebecca said she wanted a dog, I explained to her the things I wrote above. She assured me if and when it came that time, she would be there.
So, 6-1/2 years ago we got Cherry.
I couldn't believe how good it was to have a dog around again. She is my constant companion.
At times, I feel so stupid for having waited so long.
I literally waited a dogs lifetime to get another dog.
I now know what was missing in my life. It wasn't a wife. It wasn't a boat, or more guns, or a new truck.
It was my dog.
Disclaimer:
Rebecca is a great wife, so I really was missing a wife, it just had to be a really good one.
Hard to get going around here in the morning.
I truly believe heaven will be overrun with dogs. People…not so much.
I totally agree
@Mike Casselton
Came home from Iraq, now ex told me my puppy was "hit by a car." went to the vet, they showed a healthy dog put down by a selfish bitch.
Filed within 24 hours.
The new wife is a keeper, through my old dog dying and my puppy (female blue-nosed pit above) dying from congestive heart failure (congenital defect in inbred dogs).
We now have these two. Mutts. The brown dog, Roo, is a rescue, 11 years old, and out performs the puppy. The brown and white, Kanga, a rescue that's just turning two this month.
Truth is, there a a short list of people I'd rather hang with than these two.
Came home from Iraq, now ex told me my puppy was "hit by a car." went to the vet, they showed a healthy dog put down by a selfish bitch.
Filed within 24 hours.
The new wife is a keeper, through my old dog dying and my puppy (female blue-nosed pit above) dying from congestive heart failure (congenital defect in inbred dogs).
We now have these two. Mutts. The brown dog, Roo, is a rescue, 11 years old, and out performs the puppy. The brown and white, Kanga, a rescue that's just turning two this month.
Truth is, there a a short list of people I'd rather hang with than these two.
If not, who would care to go?
Went through the same with our girl several years ago. It went on for weeks with me and the wife and I didn't thing we'd ever stop. But it got less raw and after a year, I realized that we held on to her too long and it would have been kinder to let her go earlier. We finally (1.5 and 2 years later) got two more parasites and a better plan for when it's their time. They trust us and I don't want to let them down.
I don't think it will ever hurt less for us and some days it feels like yesterday but we did learn to handle it better. Sorry for your loss.
I don't know. It's not my dog, I copied the photo from Mossberg's FaceBook page.
I still miss my shop dog "grease" that i took in from the streets of the city 40 years ago
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