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My hunting partner is officially retired #5557147 01/22/15 05:15 AM
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shsuducks Offline OP
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Suzie has officially retired from chasing doves, ducks, quail and the occasional coot with me. A tumor showed up on her leg a while back, but did not bother her or grow for months. Since dove season, it has grown to the size of an orange and is causing her to lose mobility. Fearing the worst, I took her to the vet again this week. They suggested amputating her leg instead of what I feared the most. We are taking her in tomorrow for surgery. I have struggled with this a lot. I don't want to be selfish and put her through any undue pain to keep her around. The doc assured me that this was a good option since she is so healthy otherwise. We are praying that he is right and that she recovers quickly.


Wish Suzie luck!

Re: My hunting partner is officially retired [Re: shsuducks] #5557155 01/22/15 05:19 AM
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Dang tough to make a decision like that, I am sure you made the best one. So sorry for you and the dog and prayers that the surgery goes well and she is healthy and happy afterwards


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Re: My hunting partner is officially retired [Re: shsuducks] #5557163 01/22/15 05:28 AM
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Man, that's tough. Good luck to the family and dog.


Re: My hunting partner is officially retired [Re: shsuducks] #5557165 01/22/15 05:29 AM
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I hear ya. I had hoped to get another year or two from mine but she kicked the bucket at 10 1/2. She retrieved a few beavers in her time, so no complaints.

Let yours have a good time from here on out. She's done good and I bet she recovers well. Time to be a pet smile

Re: My hunting partner is officially retired [Re: shsuducks] #5557198 01/22/15 05:56 AM
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That's rough. frown

We had a dog that got hit on the interstate and had to have a leg amputated. Never slowed him down.


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Re: My hunting partner is officially retired [Re: shsuducks] #5557519 01/22/15 02:06 PM
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I'll send good thoughts your way, that the surgery goes well.
I've seen some three legged dogs that get around just fine, so she maybe more mobile than you think.



Shopping with your husband is like hunting with the game warden.
Experience is what you get, when you didn't get what you wanted.


Re: My hunting partner is officially retired [Re: shsuducks] #5557995 01/22/15 05:12 PM
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My inlaws 9 year old chocolate lab got hit by a car and had to have a leg amputated. Before the surgery he was having a really hard time getting around and had lots of hip problems. Afterwards, he was like a new dog and would retrieve a tennis ball all day long. He's done fine since.


Say When.....
Re: My hunting partner is officially retired [Re: shsuducks] #5557998 01/22/15 05:13 PM
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As the owner of a blind dog let me say, please don't write Suzie off as a working dog. Dogs are very resilient. Let me tell you about another dog I followed online. An incredible dog named Bart. Bart lost his leg to Osteosarcoma, but the cancer then stayed in remission for several years. Only four months after his amputation Bart earned his Pointing Senior Hunter Title and stayed active his entire life.

In the words of Bart's owner Darcy, "There is no need to waste time worrying about what you can’t do when there is so much that you can!"


https://thenewbarker.wordpress.com/2013/08/20/a-case-for-the-power-of-love/


Re: My hunting partner is officially retired [Re: shsuducks] #5558033 01/22/15 05:34 PM
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Our family pet lost a front leg when he was 9 years old (broke it while running from a wild hog), he's 14 now and still going strong.


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"Man is still a hunter, still a simple searcher after meat..." Robert C. Ruark
Re: My hunting partner is officially retired [Re: shsuducks] #5558215 01/22/15 07:09 PM
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Thanks for all of the encouraging words. I am way more optimistic today than I was earlier this week. She is a fighter and I know she will do fine. Now, if that update from the vet would come...

Re: My hunting partner is officially retired [Re: shsuducks] #5558643 01/22/15 10:33 PM
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Good luck...I'm sure she will do better than you. They are a lot stronger than we give them credit for or at least more than I give them credit for.


Originally Posted by Phil Robertson
Don't let your ears hear what your eyes didn't see, and don't let your mouth say what your heart doesn't feel
Re: My hunting partner is officially retired [Re: shsuducks] #5558763 01/22/15 11:39 PM
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Suzie is home. The surgery went well and she is resting with the help of some strong drugs. The will to survive and the desire to please is incredible in a dog that has been your buddy for 10 plus years. With everything going on, the first thing she did when I picked her up to carry her to the truck was lick my face. She is way more than a dog.

Thanks again for all of the support and kind words. She has a tough road ahead, but I believe Judd is right. She will probably do better than me!

Re: My hunting partner is officially retired [Re: shsuducks] #5558797 01/22/15 11:54 PM
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Judd is right. Half the battle of dealing with an amputation is psychological. Unlike people who sit around wringing their hands and worrying about what people will think and how will I get from Point A to B......dogs just take off.

Your dog probably still has a season or more of moderate retrieving still left in her, and you'll marvel at her ability to cope (as you wipe a tear from your eye). I once knew a Golden that had amputations on both a front and rear leg, thus a two-legged dog. Like you would ride a 2-wheeled bicycle, this dog quickly taught itself to walk and run; and what was amazing was to observe how the Golden used its tail as a counterweight that swung this way and that to maintain balance. Nobody taught her; she just did it.

Just stand aside and watch Suzie cope....and excel!


"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple.....and wrong." H. L. Mencken
Re: My hunting partner is officially retired [Re: shsuducks] #5558867 01/23/15 12:23 AM
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Glad it went well. Suzie will cope just fine. She does not know how many legs she is supposed to have just as my dog Blaze does not know she is not supposed to be blind. Dogs can't comprehend self pity. She will amaze you at what she will be capable of. Your a good man to give her that chance to do so.

Re: My hunting partner is officially retired [Re: shsuducks] #5559048 01/23/15 01:40 AM
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Prayers for a speedy recovery and many more retrieves!

Re: My hunting partner is officially retired [Re: shsuducks] #5559347 01/23/15 03:52 AM
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Best of luck, I'm sure she will do great, dogs are remarkably risiliant!

Re: My hunting partner is officially retired [Re: shsuducks] #5559813 01/23/15 02:13 PM
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This dog is amazing. She woke me up in the middle of the night, walking around the house! I let her outside and she was almost running. This morning, she lined up with the other dogs for their morning treats. I am so glad that I went through with the surgery. That whole retirement thing my not be so official after all. She is already looking for a squirrel to harass in the yard.

Sniper John: I have followed your posts about blaze for years. I don't post often but read this forum daily. It is truly inspiring to watch your dogs and the way you work with them. Suzie has a second chance and she is making the most of it so far.

Re: My hunting partner is officially retired [Re: shsuducks] #5559858 01/23/15 02:35 PM
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Shsuducks I had officially retired Bull as well. I had to take him to the coast this last week. I just let him go out and back in on easy sand. Everything hurts him but easier sand is best. The doc prescribed remadil (sp). I give before a hunt, the day of and after. He does well with it. It is very hard on their liver so I use it very sparingly.

Re: My hunting partner is officially retired [Re: shsuducks] #5559879 01/23/15 02:46 PM
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That's awesome! Glad she is doing well...dogs are amazing and we are blessed they share their lives and loyalty with us.


Originally Posted by Phil Robertson
Don't let your ears hear what your eyes didn't see, and don't let your mouth say what your heart doesn't feel
Re: My hunting partner is officially retired [Re: shsuducks] #5560240 01/23/15 05:34 PM
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Glad she is doing well. grin


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Re: My hunting partner is officially retired [Re: shsuducks] #6170140 02/05/16 02:54 AM
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Suzie fought hard to get back in the game after all of this. The recovery following amputation was incredible! She was top dog around the house in no time. I am glad we were able to take away that pain associated with the tumor. Everyone on here was great through it all.

Sadly, about 10 months after this surgery she started acting strange. Not eating(very weird for a lab), coughing and sleeping all day long. A trip to the vet revealed five tumors in her lungs. There was nothing that could be done at this point. I am thankful for the time I was able to spend with her and the joy she brought to my family. There is no way another dog could ever come close to Suzie.

Re: My hunting partner is officially retired [Re: shsuducks] #6170157 02/05/16 03:13 AM
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So sorry for your loss, saying goodbye to a good dog leaves a big hole in the heart.

Sounds like she had a good run and was very loved.


Re: My hunting partner is officially retired [Re: shsuducks] #6170244 02/05/16 04:26 AM
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Sorry to hear. frown


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Re: My hunting partner is officially retired [Re: Fooshman] #6170364 02/05/16 01:19 PM
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My first time reading this thread, guess I missed it last year. The last update caught me off guard, sorry to hear about Suzie, lost my dog in November I know it is a tough deal.

Re: My hunting partner is officially retired [Re: shsuducks] #6170464 02/05/16 02:35 PM
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First time seeing Suzie's story for me, too. Sorry for your loss. She sounds like a great pup. Hang in there.


Originally Posted by bill oxner
I just turned it on . I was looking bird dogs in the butt this morning.


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