Pet stories: sometimes happy, sometimes sad

[RunningMn9]

I have a sad story.

For the last 12 years I have enjoyed the honor of having the greatest good boy I have ever known. Ozzy was a highly intelligent Dachshund / Border Collie mix (just looked like a super-sized Dachshund).

I’ve had many dogs in my life (and still have two others), but he was the One. He’s been getting older so started to have the normal aches and pains of age. Two weeks ago, he suddenly wouldn’t use his back leg.

Turned out to be a sprained knee. So he continued being himself, just with a bit more hobbling. On Wednesday he wasn’t interested in dinner. In the 12 years I have known him (he was 4 months old when we got him), that has never happened.

I didn’t have a good feeling about it so we took him to the emergency vet. My kids are adults but happened to be around (this is their childhood guy), so we asked them to come - just in case (given his age). Maybe the pain meds for his knee led to constipation? We didn’t know.

As soon as the vet put her hands on his abdomen I knew something was wrong. She took him back to get an x-ray which revealed a giant mass on his spleen, and that his abdomen was filling with fluid.

We had 8 more minutes with my good boy, and then just like that I will never see him again. I cannot imagine how long it will take me to process this loss. It has broken me inside in a way I didn’t even think was possible (that’s a longer story).

There will forever be an Ozzy-sized hole in my life.

[TheMix]

Brutal. I am so sorry. I had years with Greta to prepare. I can't even imagine the pain of that kind of suddenness.

[Isgrimnur]

I am so sorry for your loss. I'm glad he didn't suffer and had his family with him.

[Kraken]

Very sorry to hear it. We lost a cat once with somewhat similar circumstances, so I know how gobsmacked you feel. That was over five years ago and I still feel sad every time I drive past the pet hospital where he died.

[Daehawk]

Oh wow that is fast. Im so sorry. Bless you all and Ozzy. Its my belief that all dogs and animals and even bugs go to heaven. So I believe he is waiting for you to play again one day just like mine are. Doesn't make it easier I know.

When you said his mix of parents I got a strange mental image and wondered how he looked and how that happened lol. I big weenie heheh. He must have been a real fun handful.

[naednek]

Toby, our yorkie poodle is at the vet getting checked out. He threw up between 3 and 5am. 1 time was barely anything, 2nd time some black thing came out, 3rd one was holy crap that was a lot. It looked like poop. We cleaned it up and threw it in a bag, stuck it in the garage and went back to bed. Toby wouldn't eat this morning and was laying around, stomach gurgling. I went to inspect what he dished out and saw that he ate and swallowed one of my daughter's hair ties (3rd time this has happened now) and some other foreign object we can't identify.

So far, $1k. Thank God for insurance.

I'm taking my daughter with me today to pick up Toby and hoping I can get the Dr to give my daughter the riot act because none of my talks seem to sink in.

So after x-ray, and blood tests it was determined he has pancreatitis as a result of this. We took him back in today for a follow-up, and we'll be doing it again tomorrow. Dr. gave him an ultrasound at no cost to us to get a baseline.

Dr. said he should bounce back, but there's a chance for hospitalization or worse. He said we need to be extra careful about what he eats as this can flare back up and get worse.

[Daehawk]

One of our little chihuahuas had that when he was younger. We couldn't give him anything fatty or even pork like pig ears to chew. We had no idea bacon..not much...would hurt him. the old timers gave their dogs crap and bones all the time . We educated ourselves quickly because of him and all the ones after him we better for it.Strict diet cleared him up. tha twas when he was like 4 or 5 years old. he lived to be just shy of 19.

[Unagi]

I’ve had many dogs in my life (and still have two others), but he was the One.

Oh man, that is so hard to read. My heart goes out to you.

My current dog is also "the One". I've had a couple dogs now as well, and there will never be one that is like her, it's clear. I can't imagine what it will be like when I lose her.
My heart goes out to you. Dogs are just -the best-.

[Daehawk]

I think all our dogs have been the one at their times.

[RunningMn9]

Oh man, that is so hard to read. My heart goes out to you.

My current dog is also "the One". I've had a couple dogs now as well, and there will never be one that is like her, it's clear. I can't imagine what it will be like when I lose her.
My heart goes out to you. Dogs are just -the best-.

I have two dogs and three cats here, and I love them all. The little Chihuahua/Dachshund mix is the one that is almost grotesquely affectionate. The Great Dane is the most lovably dumb creature that I have ever known. The cats are cats, I’m just their roommate.

Ozzy was so much more. The house feels silent without him. I will learn to focus on the joy that he brought to my life, but I’m still too in shock to move forward.

I know your future is pain, but until then there is the joy that you found her.

[RunningMn9]

I think all our dogs have been the one at their times.

That sounds wonderful and horrific. I can’t do this more than once.

[dbt1949]

[KKBlue]

...
having the greatest good boy I have ever known.
...

So sorry for the heartache. I feel the love and admiration with the phrase "good boy".
Peace and comfort.

[YellowKing]

Very sorry to hear that RunningMn9. I've had cats I've had to put down that I loved dearly, but dogs definitely seem to be on a whole different level of attachment.

We had a bit of a disaster this weekend. We were hanging out outside and the neighbors let their dog out to play with ours. They are besties and love to chase each other so this is something we do regularly.

On this occasion, however, my wife happened to be in the way when they were running and she got hit with a combined 150+ pounds of dog. She went down clutching her knee, and couldn't get back up. She's going for an MRI tomorrow and we're hoping for a sprain and not a tear.

"I used to be an adventurer like you. Then I took a lab-pit mix to the knee."

[Lassr]

So sorry about Ozzy. Nothing can ever prepare you...

[Lassr]

Here is a happy story:

The day before Thanksgiving, Mrs Lassr and I went to local mom and pop restaurant for their thanksgiving lunch. as we were leaving, we see a small kitten dart by our feet and hide under a bench. It was scared and starving, very weak. We brought it home, plan was to nurse it to health, and give it up for adoption...Ha.

4 months later meet Laney. (Cat #5) She had our heart about 3 days later when she was energized, happy, and playful, and we took this picture.
How could we give this up for adoption?

4 weeks old


4 months old (and she is a bobtail cat, our first. She is very fascinated with the other cat's tails)

[Kraken]

Kittens are the best, and Laney's white eye is adorbs.

[RunningMn9]

I really appreciate the kind thoughts.

RIP my short (legged) King


Side note: Kittens rule, congrats on the rescue "fail".

[em2nought]

So sorry about your "good boy", I can't even click on this thread without getting emotional.

[dbt1949]

I wish my family would let me have my dog back. they took her away to train her.

[hitbyambulance]

How could we give this up for adoption?

i'm a big fan of torties, their eyes are too adorable

[YellowKing]

We brought it home, plan was to nurse it to health, and give it up for adoption...Ha.

Been there, done that!

That's how we got our Maui. My wife found him at her workplace abandoned, about the same age. Needless to say with two kids in the house, bringing home a cute kitten and NOT keeping it was never an option.