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  1. #1
    Best Friend Retriever outrag's Avatar
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    My Precious Tanner

    It is with great sadness that I am posting here. I had to euthanize my Black Lab Tanner on Thursday 6/25/15. He was 12 years and 7 months old to the day (born 11/25/2002). He had a fantastic life, wanted for nothing and enjoyed most of it with his 8 1/2 year old younger brother Yukon (yellow male lab).

    For the last three months Tanner had been declining. He was diagnosed with Laryngeal Paralysis with rear end Polyneuropathy at the end of March 2015. This is very common in older Labs. This is not what finally caused me to euthanize however. For those who may not know, Lar Par causes labored breathing and in some cases rear end weakness and knuckling. I decided to pursue dog physical therapy in April to try and strengthen his back end through floor work and swimming. I also did home therapy with him as well. He also had arthritis in various places as well, which was pretty well controlled through medication. Up until probably mid-May, he was doing OK with the therapy and displayed decent quality of life otherwise.

    The last month was a different story however as he declined more rapidly. His breathing became more labored and we were forced to stop the therapy. For the last three weeks he lost his appetite, his coat looked really unhealthy and he had diarrhea off and on with severe GI upset. The last blood panel done on 6/23 showed liver OK, and kidney levels at the upper end of normal. A urinalysis showed a small amount of blood but otherwise concentrated properly. A chest Xray showed clean but a stomach Xray was not normal. Without an ultrasound, it was inconclusive but the Vet suspected some masses in the area. On his last night, Tanner was restless, like he was several times over the last couple weeks, but he also had what I would describe as a neurological attack, losing use of his front right leg and his entire back end. After some more pain meds and comforting, he was moving around better but clearly not happy. He was not eating at all at this point and had very bad diarrhea.

    I finally looked at him on the morning of 6/25 after carrying him (literally and figuratively) for the last 3 months and said this is no way to live is it? I called the Vet to come to my quiet country home and allowed Tanner to pass in my arms as peacefully as it could be.

    The Vet said it was absolutely the right thing because some folks wait too long and Tanner was not suffering. I am experiencing profound grief but take some solace in knowing there was no improving the situation, only make it worse by dragging it out.

    I was a member of this lab board way in the beginning 2003 when I first got Tanner. I've recently rejoined to post this.

    RIP my precious boy.

    Thank you for reading - Bob


    Tanner 11/25/02 - 6/25/15
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails -tanbeach2-jpg   -024-jpg  

  2. #2
    Senior Dog ChoppersDad's Avatar
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    Sorry for your loss Outrag1. They are never with us long enough. Run free Tanner!

  3. #3
    Best Friend Retriever Gibbysmom's Avatar
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    So sorry for your loss. Rest in peace Tanner.

  4. #4
    House Broken ARTC's Avatar
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    May 2014
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    So sorry for your loss.

  5. #5
    Senior Dog POPTOP's Avatar
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    So very sorry for you loss. He is no longer suffering from illness and pain. It is the greatest gift you could give him, as hard as it is on you.

    May the many precious memories he gave you temper the grief of his passing.

    Rest In Peace Sweet Tanner
    Hidden Content
    Kissing Bandit

  6. The Following User Says Thank You to POPTOP For This Useful Post:

    outrag (06-29-2015)

  7. #6
    Senior Dog smartrock's Avatar
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    May 2014
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    Carolina in my mind..
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    I'm so sorry for your loss of Tanner. It sounds like you did the very best for him in every way. They're never with us as long as we'd like. Rest in Peace, Tanner.
    Sue

    Chase 9/29/2006- 6/30/2017 Always in our hearts
    Lark 12/25/2012- 2/2/22
    Henry 7/14/18
    Joey 5/14/2022

    “Because of the dog's joyfulness, our own is increased. It is no small gift. It is not the least reason why we should honor as well as love the dog of our own life, and the dog down the street, and all the dogs not yet born. What would the world be like without music or rivers or the green and tender grass? What would this world be like without dogs?”

    Mary Oliver, Hidden Content

  8. The Following User Says Thank You to smartrock For This Useful Post:

    outrag (06-29-2015)

  9. #7
    Senior Dog coopersmom's Avatar
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    So very sorry for your loss.

  10. #8
    Best Friend Retriever OHfemail's Avatar
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    RIP Tanner...I'm so sorry for your loss...

  11. #9
    Puppy
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    Such a sad and painful thing to go through. I am sorry for your loss.

  12. #10
    House Broken
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    So so sorry. It is never easy and the time always too short. Vic

 



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