Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Here's my best pet ever. He's a pure black chow named Pivo. We rescued him 3 years ago from a family who neglected him for 8 years. In July 01 his coat was fully grown, matted and very dirty. We cleaned him up and spoiled the crap out of him. He's been the absolute best pet I've ever seen. This past summer we found out he had possible liver problems so he's been on a special liver diet and absolutely no extra food items except bones. A month ago I noticed he looked really fat all at once. Turns out he'd been losing body mass but gaining abdominal fluid. It was hard to notice at first because his coat started growing out for the winter. Turns out he has a tumor in his liver and surgery was not possible. In the last 3 weeks he's had 4.5 liters of fluid removed from his abdomin. His spine has dipped and his bones are noticable when you pet him. Once drained he is fiesty but it comes back in a few days. We're going home, currently in military, this weekend to let him tromp around at my in-laws, his favorite place, for a few days. This Saturday we'll say goodbye and bury him next to their dog which they put down today.

I'll be back Monday. Thanx for listenin? (I know, readin!)

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DZ
1.0.0 Burm, Moses
0.0.2 Ball, Chico & Chewy (rescue, many scars)
0.2.0 Cats, Merideth & Hannah
1.0.0 Black Chow, Pivo (tumor in liver, will euthenize Oct 23)
Lotsa fish
1.4.0 Rats
0.2.0 Humans (a little obnoxious though)

I've been breeding bird dogs since I was a teen.
I cannot remember the last time I have been without a dog around.
In nearly 30 years of dog breeding and training...it is never easy to put down not a dog...but our friends.
I used to spend more time with my dogs than with family.
I know all too well the feeling of getting my heart ripped out.
It is not fair, that they're lives are so much shorter than ours.
My sympathy to you and your family.
Remember you helped him, when others did'nt.
You kept him from more suffering then, and are stopping his suffering now.

Bob

We really did turn old boy's life around. It turns out the treatment needed to rid him of heartworms twice while they had him probably caused the cancer. I have to say I figured he wouldn't live long. I still remember the day I told my wife to tell his previous owners that we would take him. I was very reluctant. I knew he was an awsome animal but didn't really think I would be the most attached to him. Man! He was my best friend! I sure hope he knew it! Kinda funny. We never gave him much in the way of people food because everyone says it's not good for him. Once we decided putting him down was the best course of action for him, he lost all sense of spoiled. Just last night he ate nearly half of a rotiserie chicken. He had scrambled for breakfast this morning, made just for him. He was even eating a free bag of cat food in the room waiting for the vet to give him his last shot. I gotta go.
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DZ
1.0.0 Burm, Moses
0.0.2 Ball, Chico & Chewy (rescue, many scars)
0.2.0 Cats, Merideth & Hannah
1.0.0 Black Chow, Pivo RIP Oct 23
Lotsa fish
1.4.0 Rats
0.2.0 Humans (a little obnoxious though)