My dog

ohskigod

so I come home today, and my 12 year old German Shepard (Montana) isnt there to greet me at the door.

I find him in the kitchen, just laying on the floor, he dont look right. I call him, nothing, he's just looking at me. I cal him again, nothing. This is a very well trained dog, he ALWAYS comes when called.

I go over, knowing something is wrong. I help him to his feet, and he is able to walk to the door to go outside. I figure maybe his hips just feel goofy, and he had a hard time getting off the linoleum floor in the kitchen.

As the dog is outside, I looked on the floor in the livingroom and I see 2 dog treats, uneaten. WTF man! my dog is a food ****, and he's leavin treats on the ground? something is WAY wrong.

I go outside and find the dog laying in the grass, in the same fashion as he was in the kitchen. My sister in law comes downstairs and tells me that the dog was acting wierd all day and wouldnt eat treats

I get him to his feet again and walk him around on the leash, as I walk, I see a huge doggy diarrea pile on my porch. And, a if my dog though I was confused, proceded to spray out right in front of me. BAD.

Time to go to the vet, I get there tell them what is wrong. My dog is surrounded by other animals and he is just laying there. Its like alien took my dog and left this one in its place.

I see a guy with a 13 yo black lab. tells me the dog hasnt eaten ina couple days and has been acting woerd, but the dog is walking around, wagging its tail and whatever. that dog gets called in, then the owner comes out, looks me in the eye and shakes her head, welling in tears. I'm thinking, that dog was waggin his tale and **** and they put him down? I gotta make a break for it. Then logic gets a hold of me as the dr calls me in.

Long stopry short, they took blood, gave him some meds for the diarea and said "well keep him over night, give him fluids and take it from there"

dude, I AM FREAKIN OUT. If I gotta put this dog down, I'm gonna lose it. It was my Dad's dog, and my family dog for 12 years. My mom's dead, Dad's dead too, no sisters or brothers, this dog is the only immediate family I got (good friends that I consider family notwithstanding)

Just getting it off my chest. My dog is at a vets office, probably freakin out that I'm not there, or just lethargic like he was with me. yeah, Like I'm gonna sleep tonight!

Dr said to wait for his call tomorrow about 10, by then the bloodwork will be in and he'll be taking xrays of his belly (which is definitly distended)

He's been pounding through water like a champ for about a week.

now I'm just blithering

cfrizz

My thoughts are with you for a good outcome.

Ron-P

Sorry to hear bro. Montana will be in our prayers. We had to put down our 12 yo Dalmatian (Angel) a year ago, it was tough.

cmy330go

Any chance he got into some chocolate? My grandfather had a blacklab that got into a ton of chocolate once and was....well...just as you described. After a few days pulled out of it and was fine.

Well either way, Best wishes!
Dave

ohskigod

I couold see him doing that, but we had no chocolate laying around, so I'd be surprised.

soiset

I am so sorry. Our dogs are our children, and we worry a lot about them. I hope it passes and he's a happy guy tomorrow.

audiobliss

Man, I hate to hear that. I have a black lab/golden mix who's about 8 years old now, and I just love her to death. Every now and then I get to thinking about her being 8 years old and I wonder how much longer she'll be here. I can't say that I spend a lot of time with her now, but it's not infrequent that I'll go out at night after its dark, and lay down on the ground beside her dog house (she's an outside dog). She'll come out of her house and lay down next to me, and we'll just lay there for 10-15 minutes while I pet her. She likes to play 'rough' sometimes, too.

The relationship you can have with a dog really is an amazing thing. Considering I've had her about 8 years, and I'm 18 now, that means she's had to suffer through the irresonsibility of a 10 year old (and 11 year old, and 12 year old, and...etc.). I relunctantly admit with my head facing the ground that there have been stretches of two - three days in which I didn't make time to feed her. There have been stretches of up to two days during the hot summer months that I didn't make time to make sure she had water in her water bowl. But everytime I go outside to see her, she's there wagging her tail, with her eyes just smiling, nothing but pure trust and loyalty in her.

Makes me feel like the irresponsible, self-centered, cold-hearted little twerp I am to have such an often times ignored creature look up into my eyes like that. At least I can say I look after her better now.

I don't know what I'll do when she goes. She has arthritis in her back legs. One night last winter she kept my mom up barking late into the night (my room is on the front of the house, so she doesn't keep me up). Finally my mom got me up and so I could check on her, and I found her laying out on the cold ground 15 feet from her house, just barking. (It was probably a high-20s night.) I called her a few times and she tried to get up, but couldn't. So I carried her inside for the rest of the night. The next day (a Saturday), I took her to a vet in town. The doctor said her rear knees were really swollen, and that I should give her some coated aspirin when they're bothering her (mostly when it's cold out). I obviously hadn't noticed her knees before, but since then I've felt of them and it is amazing how swollen they are.

Anyhoo, I've lost all sight of a point to this post. You just got me to thinking about the unique, close relationship man has with dogs, and I just went off on a tangent.

I certainly hope the best for your dog. Try to get some sleep, too, 'k?

Here's a link to a pic of Casey:
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=11366&d=1128604489

Schris22

Hoping for the best.

Chris

F1nut

Lou,

I hope everything ends up positive.

danger boy

get well wishes going out to your pooch.

hope everything is ok with him.

markmarc

About 10 days ago my wife and I made the difficult decision to put our beloved 13 yr old shepard/greyhound Frazier down. It's incredibly difficult and heart-wrenching but knowing that his pain would only increase and having such arthritic hips it was the right decision.
All I can say is at his age time is very short. You're going to need to prepare yourself. Each day after your pet is gone it gets easier, but expect to have moments of sadness.

ohskigod

markmarc wrote:

All I can say is at his age time is very short. You're going to need to prepare yourself. .

yeah, I know dude

bobman1235

Nothing worse than losing a pet. My golden lab had to be put down a few years ago - got Lime disease and wouldn't recover. One of the worst things I can remember going through. Hope he pulls through man.

fatchowmein

Zack (5 year old black lab/mix) and I are rooting for you two.

Fireman32

Lou sorry to hear that montana is sick. I hope he pulls through. I love that dog. If you need anything do not hesatate to call me. I'm there if you need anything

ohskigod

thanx my man

tonyb

Had to put down one of my dogs last year so I have an idea of how you feel.Prayers sent for you and Montana.Have a White German Shepard now and have to say that Shepards are the smartest dogs ever....loyal,great with kids,Let us know how it all turns out.:(

TroyD

My best to you and yours big guy.

Troy and Wendi

criverajr

Lou,

Man I am so sorry to hear that about Montana, I hope everything works out, Lou's dog is hugh and just a pleasure to be around, he gave me a good sniffing:) when I came over, to see him like that has to be hard, with the presence he commands, I am there for you just call man. Hope everything works out, keep us posted.

CRj

ohskigod

thanx again guys, this is helping alot, I should hear from the vet at 10:00. he told me not to come until he calls, when he gets blood results and takes chest and abdomen films

cfrizz

Crossing my fingers for good news Lou.

Ricardo

same here; good luck!!

wingnut4772

I really hope he pulls through. I am a dog lover and it really touches my heart when someone else loves their dog so much. I just had to put down a 12 year old yellow lab in Feb. and it is incredibly hard. Hopefully he just has a bug.

Demiurge

Sorry to hear about your pup, Lou.

audiobliss

Just said a quick prayer for Montana, man. Hope that phone call brings some good news.

PolkThug

Sounds like he ate something nasty, maybe a bug. Don't worry!

Skynut

I wish you the best of a level head when dealing with this.
I have a 9yo Rott and I know he does not have many years left in him.
Last year I had to put down a female Rott and 2 years ago I had to put down my other female Rott.
We just got a female yellow Lab puppy and my Rott is helping train his replacement.
It really sucks to loose a dog. I have never found a more loyal animal or person than my dog.
Alex is the name of my boy (Rott) and I got him at 1 day before 6 weeks old.
Just a tiny puppy, smaller than the cats that feared him when he arrived. I took him to work when he was little and not as dangerous as he is now.

I had to stop taking him to work because one day he was in the office while everyone else was in the warehouse and a salesman came in. All of the sudden he is barking his serious warning bark and by the time I got there he had this salesman cornered and scared to death. It was kind of funny for everyone but the salesman.

He has never bitten anyone (sometimes people were just lucky I was there)

I know he will go in the next couple of years and I knew when I got him that he would go before me.
Even though I will ball like a little kid when he goes I would never regret the decision to get him or the time we spent together.

Truely mans best friend.

Good luck to you.

masanz1

best wishes to you and your dog. It does sound like something he ate

Polk65

Lou,

I wish you and Montana the best. Since the age of 6 I have always had at least one pet around me. If you need help with the vet bill, count me in too.

Steve

disneyjoe7

I hope all turns out well, take care.

MSkeezer

I'm not a huge dog lover but that breaks my heart. I do understand the bond that a lot of people have with their pets and it simply sucks when stuff like this happens. I do wish everything turns out well.