RIP Roger my buddy, my shadow

[khall]

Our little dog Roger is not doing well and we really don't know why. He's had off and on lameness now for several months and my holistic vet has been working on him. Last Saturday he was sore/lame again that evening and Sunday he started with shoulder spasms in his left shoulder. Very painful. My holistic vet helped me via text and I gave him appropriate dose of previcox. Monday and Tuesday he was fine. Wednesday he showed up sore and doing his collapsing trachea problem. Not wanting to eat, threw up that evening. I had given him previcox earlier and not much help. Vet came out Wednesday afternoon, could not find him showing pain at all (I was concerned it was coming from his neck). Neuro exam was pretty normal except for right hind was just a touch slow. She put him on muscle relaxer and drew blood, waiting on the results. He is still not right, acting painful, having to hand feed him chicken and rice, elevated respiration, occasional trachea issue (that is hard to watch and makes me feel so bad for him, never had one do this before) normal temp.
I can't put my finger on exactly what is wrong with him, but he is definitely not right.

Here's the little guy: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater

Unfortunately I had to say goodbye to Roger yesterday. My vet ended up sending us to UGA on an emergency because she was not sure what all was going on with him. We got there and they immediately had to drain fluid from around his heart. A consult/ultrasound by the cardiologist revealed a large mass/tumor in his heart that was causing the fluid build up. He was not even stable enough to make the trip home for our vet here to euthanize him. I brought him home and he is buried by his longtime buddy Tucker. Our big dog we lost in March to spinal stenosis at 13.

Roger will be very much missed, he's been with us since he was 9 weeks old and I found him on the side of the road in a pecan orchard just over 11 years ago. I had every intention of rehoming him and had found a rescue to take him when my DH stepped in saying to keep him for our son Benjamin as a birthday gift that year. So Benjamin named him Roger, yet Roger had other ideas. He was always always my dog. I never went anywhere on the farm without him as my shadow. He was always ready for a ride wether in the truck or the Kubota. At first he was very timid about greeting new people but as the years went on he got more confident (and quit submission peeing when they said hello!). Roger was the first to greet any new foster I had, from the litters of puppies to the wildest of young dogs I knew Roger would greet them without any issues. He was a mighty squirrel hunter and has more than once grabbed them on the go. He hated any large birds overhead from the owls to the hawks and the turkey vultures, he always had to bark at them. He was typical little dog syndrome, always needing to manage the other dogs to try to keep them in line. Tucker and my other male dog Hank would tolerate his management, but my female dog Gracie more than once put him in his place when he tried that with her. Our newest addition, the pittie girl Zoey just thought he was hilarious and never took him very serious. He would try to correct her and she would stop just long enough for him to stop and then leap all over him laughing wildly which he did not quite know how to take.

I will miss you little buddy, you were the best farm dog and family member I could ask for. I know you are up there telling Tucker what for, I am sure he missed your bossiness.

[StraightForward]

Jingles for Roger!

[Koolkat]

Get well pronto, Roger!

[Moutaineer]

Many jingles for Roger, poor little guy.

[Ryeissa]

Major jingles !!!!!

[piedmontfields]

Jingles for Roger! And thinking of you.

[Sunshine2Me]

~~Jingles~~ for Roger!

[PaulaO]

Jingles and white light sent for Roger.

[Chisamba]

Jingles for Roger

[heddylamar]

I'm so sorry

[StraightForward]

I'm so sorry. It sounds like Roger had a wonderful life with you.

[Imperini]

So sorry

[Koolkat]

Roger was so lucky to have found you, you gave him a long life and the opportunity to be Roger. And you were lucky to have Roger, love is a 2-way street. Condolences to you and Roger's family.

[Josette]

I am so sorry. He had a wonderful life with you.

[Ryeissa]

awwww......I'm sorry for your loss.

[Rockabilly]

Wasn't Roger a lucky little guy. I'm so sorry he's passed away. Bless his sweet little orphan heart that you found each other.

[Moutaineer]

I am sorry, but yes, he was truly luck to have been found by you and to have had such a great life with your family.

[piedmontfields]

Very sad and bittersweet, Khall. I'm glad you met each other and became friends.

[scruffy the cat]

I'm so sorry. It's so sad that they have to leave us so soon.

[Kyra's Mom]

My condolences khall. Godspeed Roger.

Susan

[PaulaO]

RIP Roger. You were loved, and gave love in return.

[KathyK]

A heartbreaking and wonderful tribute to a great dog.

[cb06]

I'm so sorry about Roger. Sounds like a he was a gem.

[goldhorse]

I am so sorry Khall.

[Tuddy]

I am sorry to hear this. Hugs

[chantal]

I am so sorry, what a sweet story, and a neat pup.

[Flight]

So sorry

[Hayburner]

So sorry to hear he didn't make it....

Healing vibes coming your way.

[khall]

I really appreciate the condolences, I am trying to get used to my new norm here on the farm without Roger. I feel like I am missing an appendage though. He was such an ever constant presence in my life for the last 11 plus years. He has left a big hole for a little dog. Now down to just 3 dogs and no foster dogs, with 2 of the 3 aging as well at 11 and 12.

I did some research on the tumor that the vets believe was what they found on the heart. It is called hemangiosarcoma, it is more typically found in bigger dogs (Roger was only 30 lbs). I had to laugh, how very appropriate because in his mind Roger was the biggest dog on the farm! Sigh am missing him so, my eyes keep leaking.