Sam - my sweet soul

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Boxer Lover

Boxer Buddy
My beloved Sam decided he was tired of this life and ready for the next. He was a completely normal teenager (we celebrated 13 years on April 22nd) on Wednesday morning the 7th we went for our morning walk, etc. Then at 3:00am Thursday morning the seizures started. From then until 9:30pm he had SIX! (Of course we went to the vet after the first - he had never had a seizure in his life!) It was the most brutal thing I think I have ever had to watch.

He spent the night at the emergency vet after the 6th one was so violet (even w/the anti-seizure medicine) he bite his tongue, blood, etc. I was completely wiped out - as was he. I picked him up at 6:30 am the next morning after having anti-seizure IV's all night (he didn't have another). He spent all day Friday at my vet and they watched him - still no seizures, but he never regained his mobility. I brought him home Friday afternoon, but he kept falling down. I'd have to hold him up to drink water because he would fall forward into his water bowl. He would walk a little, and then his back-end would fall. If I didn't catch him it was the loudest "thud" when he's hit the floor. I'd have to pick him up because he couldn't get up on his own.

The vet said to see how he did though the night w/o any seizure medicine in case that was making him disoriented, but in all likely hood it was neurological & a mass that had reached a critical stage. He was anxious through the night and I was up every hour or so checking on him. He was still the same Saturday morning with all the meds out of his system (thank God he didn't seize again I don't know that I would have survived another). When he fell in his poop and couldn't get up I knew that was no quality of life for him or me. It would be like caring for an invalid. I'd have to go to work and couldn't be his caretaker 24/7 to pick him up every time he fell. (Although as God as my witness I would if I could and knew he wasn't in pain.)

I was prepared for his passing since I knew he had way outlived his Boxer years, but it all just happened so quickly. He was here on Wednesday and gone on Saturday. I am just so completely inconsolable. My heart feels like not only has it been ripped out of my chest, but stomped on too. It has been he and I for so very long. The silence is deafening. I have never loved a pet like I loved him. He was the sweetest soul that ever walked this earth. I loved him for all his life, I just wish he could have loved me for all of mine.

I don't know what I expected by writing this, but thank you for letting me vent to other lovers of the breed.
 

gulfcoastguy

Super Boxer
Roughly the same thing happened to my Trudy last year. The seizures took place over 4 months though and she was only 10.5. The seizure medicine had her confused and gradually started working less and less. My vet offered to up the dosage but she admitted that it was just a matter of time and not much time at that. She said Trudy probably had a brain mass. She was tired and sad so I sent her on to wait for me. It was the right thing for her and for your boy. It just hurts for months, when you find a milk bone that she hid so carefully or when you notice dog hair still on your clothes.
I'm on a breeder's waiting list but it took me 3 months before I started looking.
 

sandy's mom

Boxer Insane
Letting them go when it is time is one of the hardest things to do. It just breaks your heart.
Remember the dog he was before he got sick and he will be in your heart forever.

Boxer kisses to you...lovicon
 

luvmyboy

Boxer Insane
I am so sincerely sorry for the loss of your Sam. I know that it had to be one of the most difficult moments of your life. I am sorry for your pain. My thoughts & prayers are with you.
 

Jan

Reasonable Moderator
Staff member
Wow, 13 years is a really good life for a boxer. I know it's very painful right now, but the pain will eventually fade and only the happy memories of Sam will remain.

Run free a the Rainbow Bridge, Sam! Godspeed!
angeliconangeliconangelicon
 

TyTysmom

Super Boxer
So very sorry for your loss. I know how you are feeling and how hard it was to make the decision to let him go. My prayers are with you.
 

MomtoMaggie

Boxer Booster
Sam

I'm so sorry for your loss. My Maggie was also about 13 and her episode that led us to the decision was also very sudden. She had a lot going on, but was stable for a long time. I truly considered it a blessing that she didn't have us on the roller coaster of "is today the day?" with a 3 day rule. Still, I know that nothing really eases the pain of the loss, no matter how perfect their ending is for us. Just know that there are many of us who send you love and wishes for you to be able to smile at the memory of your precious Sam.

Boxer hugs and kisses,

Heather, mom to
Gabby/boxer/70 lbs/26 months/very good and healthy girl
&
Forever missing Maggie/boxer/68 lbs/12 +yrs/ CKD, chronic pancreatitis, hypothyroidism, arthritis, arrhythmia controlled by sotalol, adult onset epilepsy, likely IBD,a heart condition suspected to be ARVC or DCM, mammary cancer spread to lower lymph node and high BP controlled by amolodopine. Got her wings 2.20.14 at 6:20 pm after giving us 5 years, 4 months and 17 days of unconditional love
Maggie's story Maggie's legacy and memorial | Animal Rescue - PetCaring.com
Orange County, CA
 

Boxer Lover

Boxer Buddy
Thank you all so much for your kind thoughts and prayers. I do not want to stay stuck in the sadness because there are so many wonderful, joyous memories. I guess the saying is true....with great love there is great loss.
 

GDOGS1

Boxer Insane
So sorry for your loss of Sam, will keep you in our thoughts and prayers during this most difficult time, run forever free sweet boy and Godspeed
 
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