Just Lost My Best Friend... :`(

[GGWOODY]

I led Bruno to dog heaven last night (May 11th) at 10:30. He passed away peacefully in my arms at the hands of a caring vet.

Bruno was diagnosed with spondolosis (bone growth between the lumbo-sacral vertebrae) and overcame paralysis last November. In March of this year he went through a battery of tests to determine that he had Diabetes Insipidus as well as Cushing’s Disease, which was caused by a growing pituitary tumor. It’s extremely rare to have both of those conditions. Shortly after we started treating him for Cushing’s, he began to have Petite Mal seizures. These turned out to be caused by a combination of Cardiomyopathy (essentially, heart failure) and Plural Edema (fluid on the lungs) causing a lack of oxygen to the brain. Through a pretty impressive cocktail of medications prescribed by his awesome vet, Bruno’s heart and lungs were stabilized for 2 weeks. He remained pretty comfortable, and still had a great appetite. For the past couple of weeks Bruno dined on ‘gourmet’ meals like steak n’ bananas and scrambled eggs with canned pumpkin and yogurt…apparently this tasted better to him than the usual kibble that I formulate! He also lounged in the backyard underneath a shade-tree regularly and accompanied me to work

His lungs began to deteriorate rapidly this weekend, and last night at 9:30, I decided that he was beyond having any sort of comfort. He had a daunting weariness in his eyes that was inescapable. In the beginning, I promised that I would do everything I could to take care of him, and that’s what was done; I know that he knew that

For going on 10 years Bruno has been my best friend and son...much more than just a mere dog...a testament to the Boxer breed. He’s always been more than supportive and helped carry me through some tough times and major life changes. He used to accompany me to class at Cal Poly SLO, and he even helped teach by being a test subject for some of those classes (How often does your dog stand there patiently while having a French catheter inserted you-know-where, or have a full-blown surgery as part of class?) He was always sitting shotgun in my truck…partly because he refused to sit anywhere else in the cab…even when there were other passengers. He was by my side as we moved from SLO, to Orange County, to South Carolina, and on to Tennessee. True to a dog’s soul, he never complained, he just trusted me and wanted to be by my side. He was always game to go fetch a stick or Frisbee from any type of water (most of you saw him in those Pedigree commercials with the stick in a creek.) He was spectacular at creating his own, unique, rank aroma. Always getting into trouble, I used to mumble under my breath about how he was too smart for my own good (he would open up the pantry and steal the bread for Lord’s sake!) He was also always there to climb in my lap and support me when I was going through hard times, like dealing with my Father’s cancer. He had the biggest, most expressive, marble-like eyes that could tell a long story with a short glance. For the past 10 years, wherever I was, there was Bruno; he was the epitome of a sidekick.

I’m gonna miss my Stinky Ol’ Man.

[mxsjw]

Man Woody, I'm sorry...I can't imagine.
Take care friend.

[StatCoder]

Well, Woody, something must be in the air because my 13 year old greyhound Mary Beth died in her sleep on Friday when I was at work. I adopted her from the racetrack in Corpus Christi when she was two. Part of the reason that I drive a truck with a Bedrug and a Softopper is so that I can take my dogs places.

She was acting kind of old over the past year so I knew that she probably didn't have much time left. I'm not one to take my dogs to the vet much if I don't think there's anything that can be easily treated. I'm actually relieved that she died at home and, seemingly, in her sleep. She is pretty skittish and would not have taken well to hospitalization, tests, etc. My dogs are pretty spoiled - they always stay at home with sitters that they know. I've never put them in a kennel for any reason. I don't even know what she died of, ultimately. Probably congestive heart failure or something but I don't think it really matters.

I have another greyhound from the same track that is a little younger. I've been staying home as much as possible because these two were always together. I don't think they have been apart even a single day over the past 10 years. My other one is acting kind of depressed and whiny but not much more than that.

I have decided that I'm not going to be too sad because she had a good long life as far as greyhounds go and died peacefully at home. Any sadness would be really just be me feeling sorry for myself and I'm not going to let that go on too long. I feel that as long as I did right by her, I shouldn't have any regrets or sadness about what happened to her. I didn't even have to make any hard decisions about her in the end.

Of course, if I had know that I wouldn't have her for much longer, I would have spent a lot more time with her over the past month. You always regret things like that. In the end, I'm glad that I'm the one that found her and got to take care of her - I took her to a place the next morning to have her cremated and will probably get the ashes in an urn in the next couple of days. It's really crazy how important it is to me that I got to pick up my dead dog and take care of her in the end.

[arthur]

That's to bad Woody i know how it's like. We to had a dog that we lost to early, even tough we've got him for thirteen years. I s*cks losing a close friend. Go get a new dog and don't forget about your old one.
Perhaps this will put a little smile one your face.

[Flashgordon]

Guys, so sorry to read about the loss of your friends. It's terribly hard to loose a pet ("pet" isn't a good name..."best friend" is) and I wish we are as lucky as statcoder as Mary Beth died in her sleep. It's hard, don't get me wrong but at least you didn't have to make that decision.

Woody, I wish we didn't have to make the decision to put down our "friends". We shouldn't have to make that choice but sometimes we have to, for the benefit of our "friend" and ourselves. Bruno and Mary Beth sure were beautiful animals and they will both be missed.

When I had to put down our "Shadow" of 14 years, it was the hardest thing I'd ever done....I still think about her and always will.

Good luck guys and time will heal.

[imjin]

I'm really sorry to hear that Woody and StatCoder. I had to put down my buddy of 18 years last July and there's no easy way to take it. I'm sure he knew how much you loved him. Boxers are great dogs and smart as hell. My parents have a female Boxer, named Bailey, that's attached to my dad at the hip.

[dikkie]

Whoot whoot..!! My friend..!!

The wooden head feels your pain, stay strong and allow yourself and Ol'Bigguns to have the feelings that go with the loss of your best friend... Man, you sure have enjoyed the company, this Stinky Ol' man and you have gone a long way together, cherrish the good feelings...!

Statcoder, the same sentiments go to you, I really can't express the feelings that are running through my mind... Woody and you, just know that I know too well the rollercoaster you're in right now...

Big friendly hug for the both of you..!

Dikkie

[DocWard]

My condolences to you Woody, and to you, StatCoder.

Anyone that has lost a dog knows that they haven't just lost a pet, they have lost a member of the family. We lost an Australian Shepherd a couple of years back, with me crying and softly singing Led Zeppelin's "Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp" ("You're the finest dog I knew, so fine") to her as the vet did his work.

I was convinced I would never put myself through that sort of pain again, yet time finds me with another Aussie at home and somehow a Jack Russell.

[Cyberbilly]

Dude, I feel your pain. No really. with what we are going through with our Sheltie, we are facing the inevitable prospect of having to say goodbye.

She's hanging in there for now, and we we have some new antibiotics to combat her blood-in-the-urine problem.

[lizbeth_dawn]

Sorry to hear about that Woody... We're all here for you.

[hndymn]

Those were excellent eulogies, Woody and Stat. I'm sorry about your loss.

I felt I knew Bruno a little, from your posts about him, Woody. There was a boxer in a car at the building center yesterday, and I thought of Bruno.

I wouldn't have considered a boxer a choice for a pet, but after reading your posts, I see that Bruno at least was as good as they get. Thanks for sharing him. I'll miss him too.

My advice; don't run out and get an ERD (emergency replacement dog.) Give it some time. Mourn him for a while, and you'll know when to seek out a new buddy.

[H2O_MAN]

I went through a similar situation a few years ago.

Here is a one page tribute LINK

[OntheRox]

So sorry Woody...Please know that Bruno understands you did everything you could to make him comfortable and he loved you for all that you did to give him a good life too.

[imjin]

Originally Posted by H2O_MAN

I went through a similar situation a few years ago.

Here is a one page tribute LINK

Wow, Benz went 22 years... that's huge. I thought I did good keeping Gunner running for 18. Your Benz had a very similar face to my Gunner too.

[ShaunM]

Sorry for your loss.