Obit: Rosie The Wonder Dog

Subject: Obit: Rosie The Wonder Dog
From: Mooh
Date: 21 May 12 - 05:04 PM

Some of you may remember Rosie The Wonder Dog. She sometimes contributed here by interrupting posts with her own opinion. She would stand on her hind legs and paw the keyboard, trying to get my attention. She long ago stopped being able to stand on her hind legs so her contributions stopped. A little arthritis, a little vision loss, a little hearing loss, but no loss of spirit, no loss of enthusiasm for life.

On Saturday she was as happy as can be, playing fetch with her best friend Cosmo The Other Dog and myself in the lake, rolling around in the sand, socializing with our guests, and generally being adorable.

On Sunday morning, yesterday, she exhibited every symptom of Bloat http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloat which is extremely painful and life threatening. She got worse during the emergency trip to the vet clinic where there was little they could do in time to save her life. She didn't have a chance.

Some of our family was there, she didn't die alone, and the last words she heard were I love you. We burried her with a stick to chase, on the family place, at the lake, where she loved to play the most.

She was a loving, kind, gentle, intelligent, and obedient dog, who let me believe I was her master. She taught me more about life than most people. We will always miss her.

If you have a dog today, read the link above about Bloat, you might be able to save a life. Either way, hug your dogs now, there's only one chance to be a good master.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Obit: Rosie The Wonder Dog
From: ranger1
Date: 21 May 12 - 05:07 PM

Oh, Mooh, I'm so sorry. As someone who has had a Wonder Dog of my own, I feel your loss.

Subject: RE: Obit: Rosie The Wonder Dog
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 May 12 - 05:11 PM

I'm sorry for your loss, Mooh. We, too, had a Wonder Dog, a black lab named Star. We're had lots of other dogs, but Star was special.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Obit: Rosie The Wonder Dog
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 21 May 12 - 05:14 PM

Respect, and sympathy my friend. Losing a dog is vary hard.

Subject: RE: Obit: Rosie The Wonder Dog
From: Wolfhound person
Date: 21 May 12 - 05:16 PM

Love and licks from the 3 wonder dogs and one survival dog here.

Paws

Subject: RE: Obit: Rosie The Wonder Dog
From: Mooh
Date: 21 May 12 - 05:16 PM

Thanks for the group therapy here.

Rosie was part Springer, part Collie, and maybe part coyote (according to the mother's owner from whom we adopted her). She looked, when her hair was grown out, a lot like a border collie with ears that dropped a little too much, and had real foxy tendencies.

When we returned home, Cosmo The Other Dog, himself quite wonderful, went to lay down on Rosie's bed for a while, as if he knew what had happened. We believe he understands.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Obit: Rosie The Wonder Dog
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 21 May 12 - 05:52 PM

It is always a battle to decide to take that final trip to the vet's. Benjamin dog had a stroke nearly a month ago and still walks rather sideways and unsteadily but seems to be enjoying life while it lasts. But it can't be long.

Subject: RE: Obit: Rosie The Wonder Dog
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 21 May 12 - 09:57 PM

I know I posted on facebook, too, but sorry to hear about Rosie's passing. Our critter companions offer us unconditional love and acceptance, which is not to be taken lightly. It's not easy losing that. Non-pet people sometimes don't get it. Having just had to find out that sobbing in the waiting room with a sick cat hugging me around the neck was a quicker way to get into an examining room never gets easy. So here's a hug from the Chicago area from your good friend, Phil.

Subject: RE: Obit: Rosie The Wonder Dog
From: Rapparee
Date: 21 May 12 - 10:05 PM

She had a wonderful life and friends to help her go when the time came. It's hard to ask for more than that.

Subject: RE: Obit: Rosie The Wonder Dog
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 May 12 - 10:07 PM

(((Mike)))

(((Cosmo)))

Go Rosie!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Obit: Rosie The Wonder Dog
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 May 12 - 12:08 PM

For years I fed my dogs once a day in the evening, and they gobble it all down in a minute or two. But I switched to feeding them twice a day because one of the conditions that I've read about that can afflict deep-chested dogs with narrow waists (all of mine) is bloat. A lot of food, a lot of water, and exercise and there you (can) have it.

I'm sorry to read about how this happened. It's a difficult situation to treat, from what I've read. I'm sorry you lost her in this way.

SRS

Subject: RE: Obit: Rosie The Wonder Dog
From: Mooh
Date: 22 May 12 - 01:06 PM

Thanks again.

We fed her once a day, in the morning, and she generally picked at it throughout the day. She never ate it all at once, and sometimes she didn't eat at all, in which case she wasn't given more. She was never overweight but her weight fluctuated a couple of pounds seasonally, she was slightly lower in weight the day she died. She often looked overweight but it was the hair, she looked very fit when she got her annual haircut. She was quite deep-chested and narrow-waisted.

The vet who treated her the day she died (we were away) is going to forward the file to her usual vet at home, a courtesy he volunteered. The x-ray matched what I've found online, and shows what could only be enormously painful, never mind heartbreaking for her (and us).

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Obit: Rosie The Wonder Dog
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 22 May 12 - 01:32 PM

Ahh sad.
I was lucky with my Franky cat, we were able to spot his discomfort before it became untreatable: a tiny stone blocking the urethra, resulting in fast (within a couple of days) destruction of the kidneys and consequent death by blood poisoning if not immediately treated.
Yet in the very initial stages, bar some odd motions (pausing mid stroll), he exhibited no discernible signs of suffering.

I think animals are more like that than us humans, they'll poke up with pain for longer than we will, before telling us "This Hurts!".

Subject: RE: Obit: Rosie The Wonder Dog
From: Mooh
Date: 22 May 12 - 02:08 PM

"...we were able to spot his discomfort before it became untreatable..."

This may have been our problem. She was pacing about at midnight so I put her out for a pee. She was lethargic in the morning but I assumed she was tired from the day before, and that her hips were sore. She did go for a short walk after which she started spitting up a foam like goo, a response to an air filled stomach. We grew very concerned, called an emergency vet and drove as fast as we could to get her there. She was obvious in decline as we drove. You know the rest.

Please read the online descriptions of bloat and tell your dog friends, it isn't pleasant reading but it may save a dog.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Obit: Rosie The Wonder Dog
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 22 May 12 - 02:09 PM

Mooh, I will. Da has a collie type dog. He feeds her lots all at once. I'll pass on the message. Thanks :)

Subject: RE: Obit: Rosie The Wonder Dog
From: catspaw49
Date: 22 May 12 - 02:26 PM

I'm so sorry Mooh.......Bloat is so difficult to catch early sometimes and at one point advances so quickly that very little can be done. There's never anything good to say.........I wish there were.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Obit: Rosie The Wonder Dog
From: gnu
Date: 22 May 12 - 02:28 PM

Sorry to hear. You deserve a hug, too, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Obit: Rosie The Wonder Dog
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 22 May 12 - 02:29 PM

"Subject: RE: Obit: Rosie The Wonder Dog
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 21 May 12 - 05:52 PM
It is always a battle to decide to take that final trip to the vet's. Benjamin dog had a stroke nearly a month ago and still walks rather sideways and unsteadily but seems to be enjoying life while it lasts. But it can't be long."

When our 'Bear' (big furry black tom) had a stroke, Mum decided to keep him at home rather than put him down at the vets. She reasoned that he'd either improve or have another stroke which would end him. He was walked on a wee leash in the garden to do his poops, his tongue lolled out in a daft way and he staggered about a bit, but was otherwise happy as larry. As purry and snuggly as ever, until the second stroke a fortnight later, when he had a brief spazzy moment and died quite swiftly and naturally on Mum's bed. Unlike other animals on this thread, he didn't need a trip to the vets. Like Benjamin, he was quite happy, still eating and so-on, till he had the second stroke, which was a swift and painless affair and probably markedly less stressful than being carted off to the vets would have been.

Subject: RE: Obit: Rosie The Wonder Dog
From: maeve
Date: 22 May 12 - 02:45 PM

I'm sorry about Rosie, Mooh. Thanks for the warning.

Subject: RE: Obit: Rosie The Wonder Dog
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 22 May 12 - 05:14 PM

Oh, Mooh, I am sorry. This is one of the reasons why I no longer share my home with animals. I am glad to read that you, your family, and Cosmo can comfort each other.

Subject: RE: Obit: Rosie The Wonder Dog
From: Leadfingers
Date: 22 May 12 - 08:20 PM

One of the hardest tasks if you have pets is deciding when quality of life has rached the vital point ! My aunt had a yorkie with Angina , but as long asshe could boss the dogs in the local park my aunt fed her the pills until she died , still active at twenty one !!
Commisserations Mooh >

Subject: RE: Obit: Rosie The Wonder Dog
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 May 12 - 02:48 PM

Mooh, so sad to hear of this. I've seen it in cows and horses; had no idea dogs could get it. Thanks for the links.

Much love and sympathy..it's so hard to lose them, esp. so suddenly,


kat, Trystan, Kipling, a'Maizee, and Ms. Luna

Subject: RE: Obit: Rosie The Wonder Dog
From: Mooh
Date: 24 May 12 - 02:48 PM

Thanks all.

Cosmo The Other Dog played a little fetch today, with me, but is still refusing play with the cat. He's not eating much either unless it's a treat. He's mourning too, poor guy. He's quite the clingon right now.

Peace, Mooh.