Lost my baby 9-01-04

[BeckyNC]

Greg,

I'm so sorry you lost your girl the other day. I suppose she was a very special gift to you from your dad. I, myself, had no idea how unique Boxers are as a breed before I adopted my girl in January.

Boxerworld is a great website. You will always find people here who love the breed and will provide you with advice and support whenever you need it.

I think that the best thing you can do when the time comes to get another Boxer is to ensure you find a reputable breeder who does all of the necessary health testing. Other folks on this site can help point you in the right direction. I believe there is a listing on BW of reputable breeders. That said, using a reputable breeder will not guarantee that your dog will have perfect health and live to 15 years or even 10 years, but you will certainy have a head start.

As you spend time on this site, you will probably learn a lot about high quality kibble, raw diet, and supplements. These are all options to boost the health of your dog. From your post, though, it is obvious you are a responsible Boxer daddy and I doubt you could have done anything better. Don't beat yourself up by second guessing the life you gave Punches. She sounds like she was a very lucky girl and I bet she knew how much she was loved.

Becky

 

[Boxer Slave]

So Sorry

I was so, SO sorry and saddened to hear of the losses of Punches and Cody. I remember all too well the losses of our Boxers Sandy and Blaze in my younger years.....and reading your posts has made me get up and go give my present Boxers Buffy and Spike huge cuddles. They are so, so special, and touch our hearts so deeply. I wish you both all of the very best, and hope that there will be more Boxers in your future to give you great joy and comfort.

Rest well, Punches and Cody.

 

[babs1225]

I am so sorry to hear of your loss of your baby so early.... It is never easy especially when it is to soon and unexpected!!! I hope that you can find some peace from hearing stories from members on the site that have had similiar experiences. I wish you the best...

 

[HELENE]

So sorry to hear about your Punches, it is very upsetting when you lose your friends. We lost our Sergeant last September, he was laying in the sun in the back garden and just stopped breathing, he had Meningitis on the brain, I was in England & Gunther had to deal with it by himself, which was very hard on him. Sergeant had only been ill for just over a week; he would have been 9 years the week after he died.
We wasn't thinking about getting another quite so quickly, but Isabelle came from Rescue and we couldn't let her go to another home once we saw her!
We have found that if you get another Boxer soon after they don't take the place of your lost one but they do help in easing the pain. You will find that they all have their own personality so you have to get used to a totally different pet.

 

[Ciscobxr]

Just wanted to also add my condolences to you.
I am truly sorry for your loss.

 

[Geeem727]

thanks everyone

I'm a bit overwhelmed by the support of other owners. I wish that I had found this site when I had her to learn more then. I won't try to replace her, but the companionship that she provided sure grew on me. I'll take another few weeks and check out some reputable breeders so that although I can't guarantee it, maybe avoid the premature death of my next baby. In fact, I'm thinking of a name for her, so its getting better. Thanks again. Greg

 

[kelseighgirl]

Greg,
Your story breaks my heart. I am so sorry for your loss.
Please hold all those wonderful memories in your heart and know that Punches is in a place that she will be free of any pain and sickness.

Godspeed sweet angel Punches.

 

[Thomas Liggin]

I am so sorry to hear about Punches.

Don't blame yourself, or anyone else. It sounds as though there was little that anyone could have done for her.

In 1994, we had an Afghan Hound bitch that was about twelve years old. I was in the living room with her, about to leave to pick my wife and daughter up at the airport, a forty minute drive from our home.

Taffy was sitting up when she got a glazed look in her eyes, then she toppled over onto her side, and began "galloping" as she lay on her side. I went over to her, not knowing what to think, but stroked her, and spoke to her.

In a few minutes, she seemed to return to normal. I walked her outside so that she could relieve herself, which she did. She was a bit unsteady, but appeared to be in good spirits. I placed her in the back of my pickup, which had a cap, put in a comforter for a place where she could lie down, a bowl of food, and a bowl of water.

When we returned from the airport, she had eaten her food, had some water, and was excited to see us. She seemed fine. I planned to call the vet first thing the next day, which I did. We went to the vet's, and while he was examining her, she seized again.

This time, it lasted longer, and her motions were more violent. He had to give her an injection, which stopped the seizure. He then called an animal hospital which was equipped to make an accurate diagnosis.

He placed a "lock" in a vein in her leg and gave me a syringe with the medication used to control seizures. He instructed me on how to use it to medicate her should she go into spasms while I was transporting her to the emergency hospital. Fortunately, I didn't need to use it.

She was still out of it as I carried her in, and placed her on the examining table. She was semi awake, so I stroked her ears and head while speaking softly to her.

They suspected a brain tumor as the cause, which x-rays confirmed. There was nothing that could be done for her to provide any quality of life, or relief from the seizures other than "doping" her as they occurred. They would have become more frequent, so it was in her best interest, as well as ours, to have her euthanized.

We wracked our brains, but could not come up with anything that might have given us a clue that something was wrong. It happened suddenly without warning.

Your experience sounds very close to what we experienced. Though it may have been something else which caused the seizures that Punches had, it was her time.

While it doesn't ease your loss, there is certainly no need to "beat yourself up", wondering what might have been done differently. You did the best you could for her. No one could expect, or ask for more than that.


Tom

 

[Melgoglia]

Me & Abigail are saying boxer prayers for you both. I too lost Brandy earlier this year and it was really hard on the entire family. I think of her each and everyday. Abigail came along at a time I really needed her. She did not fill Brandy's spot but oh how she helped me cope with her loss. I am so sorry for your loss.. peace be with you. Punches is with Brandy and all the others furbabies that have crossed the bridge running and playing pain free.

 

[Wolf1999]

I am so sorry to hear about your loss. My husband and I had to put down our 6 year old female, Hera in January of 2003. She was diagnosed with a heart condition when she was a year old. Our vet predicted she would live to be between 6 or 7. She made it to 6. It was the most difficult thing we had ever been through. In September 2003, our 8 year old male Boxer, Hawk, started having seizure like episodes. His paws and ears would get ice cold and he would drink tons of water. He would crawl underneath our dining room table and lay there motionless. I would crawl under the table and lay with him until he snapped out of it. After this first episode he had a slight limp, almost as if he were dragging his front right paw. He eventually gained full use of his paw. Between September 2003 and December 2003 he had a few more "mini" episodes. Nothing like what he had the first time. On January 19, 2004, Hawk had a very bad epsiode that he didn't recover from. Luckily I was at home with him to take care of him. Our vet thought he might have had a tumor on his brain. It was very difficult for us to have to put them down, especially since it was just a year before that Hera died. The only thing that helped us survive was getting another Boxer. Otherwise I don't think we would have ever recovered. Out first two Boxers brought us so much joy that we couldn't imagine not having others. We now have three. Honey, Harley, and Tyson. Although we lost our first two very young, we would have not been the same if we didn't get another. It was the best decision my husband and I made.