I'll miss you buddy :( My Bender passed away.

[Chopper]

I am so sorry for your loss. For some of us, it's no different than losing a child or sibling. Two years ago, my six year old Wiemaranar (Cooper) bloated. This is very similar to a horse getting colic...a section of intestine twists, causing the blood flow to be cut off, and the gut begins to die. After some very expensive surgery, Cooper lived another miserable year and a half. He had a very hard time keeping food down, he was always starving....and lost quite a bit of weight. Ultimately, he had a stroke/seizure and passed. I don't think I would ever put anyone else thru the last 18 months of his life again. Large, deep chested dogs seem most suceptable. My other two Wiemies are getting very old now. No telling what caused Coop to bloat. Chopper is twice his size, and never had a problem. It's a really crappy way to go. My heart breaks for you man. But, you'll never forget him. At least you got to know him, and share some time together.

[tom4bren]

I'm sorry for your loss. I had a Dobie years ago. Her name was Sonnet (so graceful, watching her run was like reading poetry - hence her name). She was the best dog I ever had.

Tom

[crager34]

Richie;

Sorry for your loss and thanks for the information. My dog is 6 now and is part Doberman (see gallery if, interested) and I will be looking into bloat.

Take care

[Ldub]

I remember you talking about your dog in Moab. You really loved him. Sorry to hear about your loss.
Peace.
Tom
012009

I am so sorry about your loss. I know what it's like. You know you can always come here to chat if need be. He will truly be missed. I just replaced one lizard with two more... maybe you should do the same with your Dobie. You are in our thoughts tonight.

I am so sorry for your loss. For some of us, it's no different than losing a child or sibling. My heart breaks for you man. But, you'll never forget him. At least you got to know him, and share some time together.

I can't say it any better...

Very sorry to hear of your loss Richie & Brittany.

[taylorRichie]

Thanks for the support...

Can't say it's getting any easier yet... but at least I've stopped crying.

Chopper, I'm sorry you've experienced this as well. Most of my research has shown that if the bloat has progressed enough that surgery is required the dog has a slim chance of living a normal fulfilling life. I guess the best thing is to have a "Bloat Kit" on hand and at the first sign of bloat, act but I don't know how you'd be able to make the assumption.

Just sucks!

I've just been trying to spend as much time at my new Shop as possible, It's really coming along, I've put in the second level, and transferred all my tools. I'll edit my original post soon with images.

Thanks again everyone... It really does mean a lot.

[Gussie2000]

Thanks for the support...

Can't say it's getting any easier yet... but at least I've stopped crying.

Chopper, I'm sorry you've experienced this as well. Most of my research has shown that if the bloat has progressed enough that surgery is required the dog has a slim chance of living a normal fulfilling life. I guess the best thing is to have a "Bloat Kit" on hand and at the first sign of bloat, act but I don't know how you'd be able to make the assumption.

Just sucks!

I've just been trying to spend as much time at my new Shop as possible, It's really coming along, I've put in the second level, and transferred all my tools. I'll edit my original post soon with images.

Thanks again everyone... It really does mean a lot.

Oh man that's really sad,I know how it feels when your best friend is gone.

I had two loyal friends,female boxer named natty & an beautyfull spaniel named ron.
I love dogs & nothing can replace their loyalty & dedication.

Currently my best friend is an mini puddle named prince.

I hope you find an new friend soon,without forgetting the one who share all his live with you ! BLESS !

[taylorRichie]

I genuinely thank all of you for taking the time to post... It really helps... Today was the first day back to work, and I stayed 3 hours late knowing that going home was going to be tough... And it is...

I can't figure out if it's better to find a new friend fast? or to mourn Bender for a while... Seems like having a new buddy to take care of would help making home life more normal, but I don't want to have guilt, as if I'm replacing Bender, cause he truly can not be replaced. I really just don't know.

Justin, I've read on the elevated food issue too, but it's been written both ways, Good and Bad. Bender has always had elevated food. The thing with bloat, as I understand it, no one is sure what can trigger it, it's all speculation, and theory. My Vet said lifting a hind leg and scratching their face just after eating may cause it. Laying down wrong can cause it, Running after scarfing down food can cause it. Bender always inhaled his food, and I never thought it was an issue. He was on a strict diet, 1 cup at a time so even if he did eat fast it wouldn't be too much at a time. The one consistent piece of advice I found was feed multiple meals through out the day and never one big meal.

Thanks again everyone, and I still recommend becoming familiar with the possible causes of Bloat.

I empathize with anyone who has ever lost a pet, I never knew it could hurt this bad. I have lost dogs in the past (family pets) but never one that I cared for a nurtured, one that needed and relied on me.

[VX crazy]

I am so sorry!! Dont beat yourself up about what you could have done or what caused it! I too am an animal lover, I had a dog that passed away and I went and got the exact same kind of dog the same day and named her the same name! Crazy I know, but at the time it totally distracted me from grieving for the old one, and helped me to get out of bed in the mornings! You have tons of love to give to an animal and you it would be good for you AND the animal out there waiting for you!

[Chopper]

The grief is natural....and in it's way good. Trying to defer it by bringing someone new home right away, is sort of like the transition girl you find to fill the gap right after a bad breakup. You'll always be comparing...rather than enjoying them for what they are. When you've moved along far enough, that you are not looking to fill a hole, the "right" personality will find you. It may be a dobe....it may be a terrier....but you'll know him/her when you meet. And you'll know it's time. Like any kind of love, the more you try to force it, the harder it will be to find, and the more wrong paths you will go down. It's not like replacing a beloved vehicle or TV.

[crager34]

Richie!! Come down to Moab for the weekend for some wheeling, drinking, and hanging out. You and Brit can stay with me and my dogs if you like.

[kodiak]

Thanks to every one, sorry I didn’t start a separate thread. I just thought having 2 threads about dogs passing away in the same week was just too depressing. We berried Remy in the back yard last night, It hit me pretty hard this morning when she wasn’t there waiting for me to let her out. There’s just no way you can prepare for the day your buddy dies.

[don moore]

rick..Its hard to loose a family member..

[WormGod]

So sorry for your loss. As another Dobie owner, I feel your loss to heart. Sadly, Bloat is one of those things that has a way of sneaking up on a dog. I guess, in a way, it loosely relates to us with appendicitis in that shrouded kind of way. Unknown, stealthy health issues are always !@#$ing scary.

BTW, I had some neighbors years ago who had their German Shepherd/Timberwolf mix (that's right, no joke.... thing was HUGE) diagnosed with bloat. The corrective surgery destroyed the poor dog. He actually only lived for about 1 year after the surgery due to a countless number of post operative issues. Mostly, he simply did not want to eat, ever again. It was like, once they cut him open and messed with his digestive system, he refused to use them again. Very sad really, but dogs have that strange intuition where they do NOT like to be fixed by unnatural means.

[VehiGAZ]

I'm so sorry for your loss. We lost two German Shepherds to bloat. It's a "terrible and swift sword" alright - one minute your dog is acting fine, the next there is clearly something wrong, and an hour or two later you're at the vet's saying goodbye. Devastating. May your sorrow be short-lived...

[nfpgasmask]

Oh man, Richie, that sucks. I'm very sorry. I've been dealing with sick pets for the past week. I can't handle loosing another baby this year. We already lost our 9 year old cat last April and our other cat and dog were sick last week. Anyway, sorry to hear about this. I will be reading up on this "bloat" asap.

Bart