A general forum for the discussion of hunting with beagles, guns, clothing and other equipment and just talking dawgs! (Tall tales on hunting allowed, but remember, first liar doesn't stand a chance)
Not that anything can be done about it but I just needed to say it to those that understand. Can't find much understanding in this house when it comes to my hounds. Blazer, my stud dog extrodinaire has been doing some worrisome coughing lately. I checked him all over and needed to take him to my vet for confirmation of what I suspected. I so hoped I was wrong but knew in my heart and mind that I was not. I have taken care of many people over the years with the same problem. Congestive heart failure has bee causing him to fill his lungs with fluid and the cough is his attempt to clear his lungs to breath. While it is in the early stages , the prognosis is not very good. I have started him on Lasix to help rid his body of extra fluids. I plan to continue to run him, alone so he can pace himself. The doc says it is ok and it seems only fitting that he get as much time as he can comfortably handle. After all that is what he has lived for, to wander the woods and fields with me always figuring ways to out smart Mr. Rabbit. After each day out he would ride home in the cab of the truck and lay there with that same satisfied doggy smile.
The only other thing I need to do is to get ahold of ARHA and figure out how to submit Blazers paperwork to have him get the title he worked so hard to earn, that would be ARHA LP Champion. He had all his points and win to earn the title but the registry was in the process of being sold at the time and left me confused. I figure now is a good time to do it, after all he has given me its the least I can do! Buy the way I'm sure glad I bred him to my female Mousie Blue. I have a litter of 6 pups in the kennel and only one is a male that looks just like him. Guess who keeps that pup?
Pups name will be Rising Suns Blazers Little Spark....I'll call him Sparky.
Thanks for letting me vent.
Yours in beagling,
NYH
When my life on earth is ended....this is all I'm gonna say...Lord I've been a hard working pilgrim on the way!
Hillbilly,
I feel for you. If you are like me and sounds like you are it is a sad day to have something happen to your hound or know something is wrong with your hounds. People that dont own dogs dont understand the attachment. The hounds in my kennel are like family members.
Luckily you have one of his pups and hopefully he will give you as much enjoyment, and remind you of your hound. Take care.
That's too bad Mike, I'm sorry to hear it. I know what it's like, both feeling so helpless as your dogs health is failing, and also to have nobody else in the house understand what you feel for the little hounds. Again, I'm sorry.
NYH, sorry to hear it. I know the pain you feel. Some years ago I was told that Maxx (avatar dog) and Jack were both heartworm positive. They weren't showing symptom's but we'd had them tested the same time we tested all the others. We'd had them both a couple of years, gunned them and I was extremely attached already. At the time, they were still using the old arsenic-type treatment and I was scared to death I'd kill them if I put them thru treatment. I grieved like crazy and they were still wagging their tails out there in the kennel. I decided to keep them wormed, feed them good food, and wait to see if they started showing symptoms, and if they did, I'd put them down. Maxx passed his certification for PP champion this last December and below is a picture of ol' Jack. He will be 12 in September. They are both still without symptoms. I know Blaze's problem is different, but with good treatment, he may hang around and give you pleasure longer than you think. Best of luck and give him a scratch behind the ears from me.
We all go through that and it never gets any easier. Especially when its that special dog. You will always have the memories and letting him still run is the right thing to do. When its my time to go I'd just as soon go running somewhere behind the hounds, and I think the dogs feel the same way.
Enjoy every moment you still can with him!
If you can't run with the BIG DOGS stay on the porch!
Some old timers ofton say, "You will only have one good dog in your life". I think it will be more like a dozen. It sure is easy to get rid of the bad ones, but equally hard to let go of the good ones. Keep your chin up and remember that the seperation will only be temperary, you'll run together again.
HILLBILLY, I CAN REALLY FEEL FOR YOU. YOU ARE IN THE PROCESS OF LOSEING SOMETHING VERY VALUEABLE & NO ONE AT YOUR HOUSE REALLY CARES. THAT'S SAD. WHEN WE WERE FIRST MARRIED (40 years ago) MY WIFE USED TO TELL ME THAT I THOUGHT MORE OF MY DOGS THAN I DID OF HER. I TOLD HER THAT IF SHE COULD RUN A RABBIT MY OPINION OF HER WOULD IMPROVE. BUT WE ALL KNOW HOW YOU FEEL & WE FEEL JUST AS BAD FOR YOU. LET HIM HUNT . MY WIFE NOW CARES AS MUCH FOR MY DOGS AS I DO. THEY GROW ON YOU.
ENJOY " SPARKY "
Bunnybuster,
Thanks for the kind words. I had a rabbit cross the yard this afternoon while I was cleaning pens. I let Blazer out and he did a nice job as he took it down through the thickets along the creek and back. I let him run it for about 20 minutes and then got between him and the rabbit to pick him up. He did not want to stop but was starting to cough so I caught him. He seemed pretty pleased with himself when I was putting him in his kennel. Your story about what you told me about your wife made me smile. I have AC in the kennel so the hounds don't suffer the summer heat but none in the house. My wife asked me about it one day and I told her the day she started running on her hands and knees through the thickets chasing rabbits for me I would get AC in the house for her! She did not laugh. For me being sent to the dog house is a good thing!
NYH
When my life on earth is ended....this is all I'm gonna say...Lord I've been a hard working pilgrim on the way!
IF IT MADE YOU SMILE, I'M GLAD I WROTE IT. YOUR DOG WAS PROBALY SMILIMG ALSO JUST THINKING, "MAN " I GAVE THAT RABBIT A FIT. I KNOW HE FEELS BETTER NOW,ANYWAY.
Blazer, my stud dog extrodinaire has been doing some worrisome coughing lately. I checked him all over and needed to take him to my vet for confirmation of what I suspected. I so hoped I was wrong but knew in my heart and mind that I was not. I have taken care of many people over the years with the same problem. Congestive heart failure has bee causing him to fill his lungs with fluid and the cough is his attempt to clear his lungs to breath. While it is in the early stages , the prognosis is not very good. I have started him on Lasix to help rid his body of extra fluids. I plan to continue to run him, alone so he can pace himself. The doc says it is ok and it seems only fitting that he get as much time as he can comfortably handle. After all that is what he has lived for, to wander the woods and fields with me always figuring ways to out smart Mr. Rabbit. After each day out he would ride home in the cab of the truck and lay there with that same satisfied doggy smile.
Your story about what you told me about your wife made me smile. I have AC in the kennel so the hounds don't suffer the summer heat but none in the house. My wife asked me about it one day and I told her the day she started running on her hands and knees through the thickets chasing rabbits for me I would get AC in the house for her! She did not laugh. For me being sent to the dog house is a good thing! 