Pheonix my big beautiful boy

have just lost our big beautiful boy to CDRM. I cannot seem to come to terms with it all, he was born just 7 years ago, and at 8 weeks old we were advised to return him to breeder as he had a very bad heart beat. They wanted to do tests and we were advised his life expectancy would not be long so decided against it as we felt what would be would be. We could not return him he was our baby and all the family had bonded so we decided to keep him, and see how it went, as our prior GSD had very bad hips and we had been told basically the same at 6 months old and she lasted til some bloody idiot left the gate open and she was knocked down by a car at 8 years old!! Then at five Pheonix developed very bad excema, the vet said this was due to his heart, as it was affecting his lungs and we should go home and consider his future. We took him on what we thought would be his final holiday in our motorhome, he walked 5 miles, no problem. and was up for more. I changed vets as I felt any one that could do that was not that poorly!!. New vet said yes he had a bad heart , but sod all wrong with his lungs. His ecxema was more than prob down to allergies but as we had already monitered everything he had eaten, touched etc and could not find a link he thought best to stick him on steriods and prition, as test would be costly and final treat ment woulbe the same. He had monthly skin check ups and was OK (itchy and biting ezcema as normal ) But recently we had noticed a decline in his health, can't be bothered to go upstairs, stumbling, slight wasting on his rear. Stupidly his bark seemed to have changed. His fur was thinning on his tummy, rear legs and his just had not got same enthusiam for life. Lots of people had said he was going off his back legs but I could not see how his hip score was brill. Last Thursday he wanted to see Dad in bed, charged upstairs but when he got there he was screaming in pain, He eventually calmed down and sort of settled. He seemed ok with pain then but unhappy I had to go to work as only one in office that day but hubby came home and checked on him every hour and I came home early. But it was obvious there was a problem. Went vets who manipulated legs said he could feel a roughtness on left leg (which Pheonix agreed with!!) which indicated Artiritis. but the problem was with right leg he showed me that when the left paw was turned pad up. Pheonix would automatically right it to place it on the floor, but the right leg he did nothing, not a thing. Vet did this several times and explained CDRM. Vet said I could take him home and would up Pheonix steriods but that he was worried that he was already on a high dosage and that he may cause pain to hime self by stumbling as he had obvioulsy done this time. So I made the awful descision to put him to sleep. I feel terrible. I have watched to clip that this forum has to YOU Tube and can see the same walk the same stance, and I know I made the right choice, and want to thank who ever put it on as although horrible to watch made me realise how bad he could have got. It has helped. I also know if I had walked out with him I would have found it harder to bring him back also I really did not want him to suffer any further, I know that we think CDRM is not painful but if he kept stumbling he would be in pain. His eyes were so full of despair that final day it was horrible. I keep crying so much I never did with my girls. I guess thats cause my first one (Zenna) was 13 had bad cancer on the leg which exploded and the vet said that was it basically. Second girl Lots as said I had no choice. I guess its cause I had a choice I could have left with him and given him several weeks months even years I don't know. But I know he had had enough. The house feels so lonely. he was a very, very big boy, big personality, well known as a big softey. the house looks like a bloody show house, no rolls of dog fur, no dust Cause he excema, he had a lot of skin flakage. and more than normal fur loss. (honest it can get worse) No dog poo to watch out when pegging out. No auto matic woof at door. No one trying to desend on cats when they are trying to eat. No one nickign food from side cause it must be mine cause you left it unattended. No one trying to empty bin cause I'm sure there is some nice smell at bottom. No one tryng to trip you up. No big furry neck to cry into when it gets too much like now. No licks to your face when the tears stream down your face Like now. No one to cock his head when you cry out loud like now. No soggy toy on your lap to make you play with. No big head in front of you just as you want to watch that vital moment on TV. No one to jump on your bed when you are trying to have a lie in. I am so missing him. I really really am. I am so so sorry for putting this to print but I feel it might help me. And it might make you all realise how very very lucky you all are. Hubby and I want to travel. I think it may be sooner than later as I can't stand this pain much longer, and the house is no longer a home. We feel it would be unfair to another dog, as we had to put Pheonix in a friends kennel too often and although he liked it, I hated it. And dogs and motorhomes do not go too well. Hubby says we could get a smaller dog. but a GSD is not a dog its a person, Its a way of life.

[ArchandEbs]

Originally Posted by pamhancox

have just lost our big beautiful boy to CDRM. I cannot seem to come to terms with it all, he was born just 7 years ago, and at 8 weeks old we were advised to return him to breeder as he had a very bad heart beat. They wanted to do tests and we were advised his life expectancy would not be long so decided against it as we felt what would be would be. We could not return him he was our baby and all the family had bonded so we decided to keep him, and see how it went, as our prior GSD had very bad hips and we had been told basically the same at 6 months old and she lasted til some bloody idiot left the gate open and she was knocked down by a car at 8 years old!! Then at five Pheonix developed very bad excema, the vet said this was due to his heart, as it was affecting his lungs and we should go home and consider his future. We took him on what we thought would be his final holiday in our motorhome, he walked 5 miles, no problem. and was up for more. I changed vets as I felt any one that could do that was not that poorly!!. New vet said yes he had a bad heart , but sod all wrong with his lungs. His ecxema was more than prob down to allergies but as we had already monitered everything he had eaten, touched etc and could not find a link he thought best to stick him on steriods and prition, as test would be costly and final treat ment woulbe the same. He had monthly skin check ups and was OK (itchy and biting ezcema as normal ) But recently we had noticed a decline in his health, can't be bothered to go upstairs, stumbling, slight wasting on his rear. Stupidly his bark seemed to have changed. His fur was thinning on his tummy, rear legs and his just had not got same enthusiam for life. Lots of people had said he was going off his back legs but I could not see how his hip score was brill. Last Thursday he wanted to see Dad in bed, charged upstairs but when he got there he was screaming in pain, He eventually calmed down and sort of settled. He seemed ok with pain then but unhappy I had to go to work as only one in office that day but hubby came home and checked on him every hour and I came home early. But it was obvious there was a problem. Went vets who manipulated legs said he could feel a roughtness on left leg (which Pheonix agreed with!!) which indicated Artiritis. but the problem was with right leg he showed me that when the left paw was turned pad up. Pheonix would automatically right it to place it on the floor, but the right leg he did nothing, not a thing. Vet did this several times and explained CDRM. Vet said I could take him home and would up Pheonix steriods but that he was worried that he was already on a high dosage and that he may cause pain to hime self by stumbling as he had obvioulsy done this time. So I made the awful descision to put him to sleep. I feel terrible. I have watched to clip that this forum has to YOU Tube and can see the same walk the same stance, and I know I made the right choice, and want to thank who ever put it on as although horrible to watch made me realise how bad he could have got. It has helped. I also know if I had walked out with him I would have found it harder to bring him back also I really did not want him to suffer any further, I know that we think CDRM is not painful but if he kept stumbling he would be in pain. His eyes were so full of despair that final day it was horrible. I keep crying so much I never did with my girls. I guess thats cause my first one (Zenna) was 13 had bad cancer on the leg which exploded and the vet said that was it basically. Second girl Lots as said I had no choice. I guess its cause I had a choice I could have left with him and given him several weeks months even years I don't know. But I know he had had enough. The house feels so lonely. he was a very, very big boy, big personality, well known as a big softey. the house looks like a bloody show house, no rolls of dog fur, no dust Cause he excema, he had a lot of skin flakage. and more than normal fur loss. (honest it can get worse) No dog poo to watch out when pegging out. No auto matic woof at door. No one trying to desend on cats when they are trying to eat. No one nickign food from side cause it must be mine cause you left it unattended. No one trying to empty bin cause I'm sure there is some nice smell at bottom. No one tryng to trip you up. No big furry neck to cry into when it gets too much like now. No licks to your face when the tears stream down your face Like now. No one to cock his head when you cry out loud like now. No soggy toy on your lap to make you play with. No big head in front of you just as you want to watch that vital moment on TV. No one to jump on your bed when you are trying to have a lie in. I am so missing him. I really really am. I am so so sorry for putting this to print but I feel it might help me. And it might make you all realise how very very lucky you all are. Hubby and I want to travel. I think it may be sooner than later as I can't stand this pain much longer, and the house is no longer a home. We feel it would be unfair to another dog, as we had to put Pheonix in a friends kennel too often and although he liked it, I hated it. And dogs and motorhomes do not go too well. Hubby says we could get a smaller dog. but a GSD is not a dog its a person, Its a way of life.

I am so, so sorry for your loss. Making that awful decision is one of the hardest things you have to do for a beloved pet. Rest assured you did the kindest thing for him and he is now at peace. Take are of yourself RIP Phoenix x

[super D]

Run free little one


sarah x

[maxandskye]

Sorry to hear of your loss, its an incredibally heartaching time.

[kyesmum]

Aww sweetie I'm so so so sorry to hear of your loss, at least a little comfor is you know you made the right decision. Run free Phoenix xxx

[LOVEGSD]

I am so so sorry to hear of your loss, RIP Phoenix, run free at rainbow bridge.....he will forever remain in your heart as the gentle giant he was.

xxxx

thank you every body for your support, it helps. Please give your big babies cuddles from me.

[Beki]

Im sooo sorry to here this news!! Our thoughts are with you and your husband

x x x x x

[Wooferhound]

What a sad, sad loss.

Run pain free Pheonix

[justjay]

Im so very sorry for your loss. Hits close to home as I know we don't have long with Bella (also CDRM).
I can only hope I will be as brave as you and do the right thing when the time comes.

Please accept my condolances. I am truly sorry.

Run free sweet Pheonix.



Julie.