Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Today's a really sad day at my house. Last night we rushed my almost-13 year old chocolate lab, Boomer, to the vet emergency clinic. He appeared anemic (pale gums, cold to the touch) and was clearly in stress. We thought it was bloat at first having had a lab two years ago that went through that with similar symptoms. However, it turned out to be caused by a spleenic tumor that apparently had ruptured and was causing internal bleeding. During the emergency surgery, Boomer did great until the last few minutes. Then his breathing abruptly stopped and they had to put him on a respirator. After 45 minutes with no signs of life they counseled us that euthanasia was the only option. We adopted Boomer as a senior when he was over 11 years old so we knew this day would come sooner than we wanted it to. But if I could I would do it all over again. Everyone told us we were crazy and that we were going to get hurt by adopting such an old dog. But he needed a home and how could we say no? He was an amazing dog and full of life and love. He quickly settled into life at our house and we fell in love with him immediately. It's a bit of a shock considering how active he was. We gave him the best home we could after his original owners gave him up. How you can do that to a dog after 10.5 years I'll never understand. Our Australian Shepherd is clearly depressed. She spent the morning looking for him and the rest of the day lying around. This is a dog that is usually full of non-stop energy. They were fast buddies though, never leaving each other's side at the dog park. She'll definitely miss him as will we.

Thnaks for "listening". It helps me to get this out. Here's my favorite photo of him--looking noble and wise.

Take care.

Sorry to hear that Mike. I had a chocolate lab that had to be put down at the same age for pretty much the same reasons a couple years ago so I feel for you and the dog. It's good you have another dog to help fill the void.

-----
Randy Whittington

Really sorry to hear about your bud. It's very difficult.
I'm dealing w/aging dogs too right now and surely do not want to have to go through what you just had to. Don't know how you do it.
Hoping you and your family heals in time.
:Mark
-----
Surrender Dorothy!

crimsonking.piczo.com/

Sorry for your loss, Mike.
We empathize and sympathize.
Try to dwell on how luckier and richer you were to share life with him while he was with you, and all the memories you would have missed, had he not been there at all.

-----
Regards, Bill McGighan

Thank you everyone for the kind words/thoughts. It's a struggle for sure. Losing someone/something you love is so strange--you can never really completely understand it. All you can do is realize that it's the way life works. Life just sucks sometimes

>>Today's a really sad day at my house. Last night we rushed my almost-13 year old chocolate lab, Boomer, to the vet emergency clinic. He appeared anemic (pale gums, cold to the touch) and was clearly in stress. We thought it was bloat at first having had a lab two years ago that went through that with similar symptoms. However, it turned out to be caused by a spleenic tumor that apparently had ruptured and was causing internal bleeding. During the emergency surgery, Boomer did great until the last few minutes. Then his breathing abruptly stopped and they had to put him on a respirator. After 45 minutes with no signs of life they counseled us that euthanasia was the only option. We adopted Boomer as a senior when he was over 11 years old so we knew this day would come sooner than we wanted it to. But if I could I would do it all over again. Everyone told us we were crazy and that we were going to get hurt by adopting such an old dog. But he needed a home and how could we say no? He was an amazing dog and full of life and love. He quickly settled into life at our house and we fell in love with him immediately. It's a bit of a shock considering how active he was. We gave him the best home we could after his original owners gave him up. How you can do that to a dog after 10.5 years I'll never understand. Our Australian Shepherd is clearly depressed. She spent the morning looking for him and the rest of the day lying around. This is a dog that is usually full of non-stop energy. They were fast buddies though, never leaving each other's side at the dog park. She'll definitely miss him as will we.
>>

I am so sorry for your loss.
We had a Chocolate Lab that died almost two years ago.
He bloated and went into distress and we rushed him to the emergency vet. Their first thought was Bloat. They did X-Rays and determined that it wasn't bloat but weren't sure exactly what the problem was. While they were running tests and trying to find the problem he passed. I wonder if it was the same. They speculated a perforated intestine but weren't 100 percent sure.
Oddly enough we adopted him when he was five years old. The original owners "just didn't have time for him any more" he was 10 when he died.
And when he died...I cried. Simple as that.
He was my buddy. He got along with the other dogs the cats and everyone he ever met.
Once again, I am truly sorry for your loss. We all love our animals and every pet we have is special but it is hard to beat a Chocolate Lab. Something special.
This is Jake
Hopefully he will say "hey" to Boomer

-----
Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

_____

Jake looks like he was a beautiful dog. It must have been hard to lose him and not fully understand why. I think the hardest thing about losing Boomer was that he seemed fine one minute and was gone the next. We went for a walk that morning and again in the evening. He ate his dinner, greeted me at the door and put his paw in the air at me ("Rub my belly" every time I walked by. That's the hard part about tumors/cancer. It was just in there growing and until it ruptured some blood vessels it didn't cause much of a problem. I guess I should be thankful for that. Thanks everyone for the support. It will be hard for a while but it helps to hear other people's stories.

>>Jake looks like he was a beautiful dog. It must have been hard to lose him and not fully understand why. I think the hardest thing about losing Boomer was that he seemed fine one minute and was gone the next. We went for a walk that morning and again in the evening. He ate his dinner, greeted me at the door and put his paw in the air at me ("Rub my belly" every time I walked by. That's the hard part about tumors/cancer. It was just in there growing and until it ruptured some blood vessels it didn't cause much of a problem. I guess I should be thankful for that. Thanks everyone for the support. It will be hard for a while but it helps to hear other people's stories.

we just have to look at how they lived after we adopted them.
It's obvious Boomer was loved and well cared for and I know Jake was a happy dog so I just take solace in the fact we gave him a good life until he passed..
You can do the same.

-----
Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

_____

I used to believe that since we are most likely to outlive them having dogs as pets teaches us how to be more prepared for losing loved ones later in life. As I look at me second lab laying next to me at this moment after having lost my first one five years ago I can almost rationalize the opposite. Sorry for your loss.

I used to think that since we are likely to outlive them having dogs as pets help prepare for the loss of loved ones later in our lives. As I sit here and look at my second lab having lost my first one five years ago I now wonder what could ever prepare me for the loss of my dogs. Sorry for your loss.

Sorry for duplicating. The first failed to show up for several minutes.

My condolences to you and your family for your lost it is hard. I havent had any dogs lately but i've had a couple snakes die and it is hard.

I feel for you big guy!My wife lost her ferret 2 days after her b'day.She had him for 9 yrs. Jeff

I've gone through this many times with my older cats and it sucks every time. Absolutely sucks. No other way to express it.

Mike

My sympathy.

I lost my 13 year old girl in July.

It sucks.

But I did go look at puppies this weekend, I think it's time.....

-----
Lloyd Heilbrunn

Palm Beach Gardens, Fl.

She's beautiful Lloyd. Good luck witht he puppy search. If you don't find a puppy you like (is that even possible?) consider a rescue. there are so many dogs out there that need good homes. It's hard to pass on a puppy though. Whatever you decide, good luck.

Thanks, she was sweet but behavior wise, I think the Marley movie was her life story!!
-----
Lloyd Heilbrunn

Palm Beach Gardens, Fl.

Rescues are the right thing to do. Especially with all the animal abandonment going on because of the foreclosure mess this country is in. And, unfortunately, you still have "people" dumping pets because of behaviour problems or they're changing decor and the animal doesn't "blend" in (especially in big trend setting cities like NY.)

Mike

you gonna make me cry...

you'll heal.....take care of that other dog.....they don't know time yet they know time....it will miss him too for sure for awhile.... ...

...(my golden is 10 ,fat,bad everything...time is short enough for him too.....)....

.....good luck...take care.......

....
-----
.....................................
...JY

.