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Well, it's finally happened...

Sara, you can appreciate this... Our Boston Terrier Gizmo is being put down today. His 12th birthday was last Friday, so he has far surpassed the life expectancy for the breed. He started showing signs of pain about a month ago, and when my DH took him in to his clinic for x-rays, we found that two of his cervical vertebrae had collapsed, causing what must have been excruciating pain in his neck and shoulder. Since then, we have kept him on a round of various pain medications to control the pain, and lately he'd been doing very well--comfortable and happy, but certainly not able to play or go for walks. He couldn't really use his legs correctly anymore due to the deadening of the nerves from the collapse and the pain meds, so he didn't have great balance, but he was moving without pain. Just a typical old dog. Then this morning, he had a seizure. That's not usual for dogs with cervical disease, so something else had to be going on. Lord knows what. But what was really concerning is that one of the medication he's on for the pain was actually a high dose of an anti-seizure drug. So if he's having the seizure while on an anti-seizure med...how are we going to treat this? And he will most certainly have more (this may not have even been his first...he's alone most of the day while we work). My husband decided that it was just his time. We bought him another month or so with the last treatment, but we didn't know what was causing the seizures or how to treat them, and we didn't want him to live with them. So he went for his last ride in the car this morning with my husband. Bye, Gizmo. It's been...real. [img]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f240/horsegen/Gizmoonvent.jpg[/img] [img]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f240/horsegen/DSCN0457.jpg[/img]

CheyAut Wed, 07/08/2009 - 01:14

Soon as I got to the newfy possibility post, I was going to suggest leos! :) They are truly AWESOME dogs!

My good friend has had them (used to show) for years, currently only one purebred as sadly her others have all gotten older and crossed the bridge. This friend does daycare out of her home, and what awesome dogs they are around the kids! They do shed tons, but you wont have the drool factor the newfies have ;)

We have two dogs who's father is a pure leo, and their mother is 1/2 newfy and 1/2 pyrenean mastiff. Above friend also has a sister of theirs, she does not own the parents but knows the person who does, and she raised them... long story lol But these dogs are WONDERFUL as well :)

So yes, I vote leo for you :)

horsegen Wed, 07/08/2009 - 11:36

Here is Lipi's PM to me, for those that are interested in the breed:

"Yes we did breed Leos and still have our boy intact for an heir later on when his mum is no longer around.

Down points -
Lots of hair - they shed all year round to a certain extent and then fill bags of the stuff twice a year.
The boys can be a bit dumb !
They don't live long enough for me but are long lived for a giant breed average 10.
They can get bloat as they are a deep chested breed
Not really bad points but -
They are known as Lickyergers - as they love to wash everything
They are also known as Leanonbergers as they like to lean on things
They ARE very addictive - you really can't have just one !!!

Good points -
They don't droul
They are great with kids
They are easy to train
They are VERY loving
They are good with other animals
They are generally very healthy as apposed to the breeds they came from
They are intelligent and in the UK they have made excellent Guide Dogs for the blind

All in all we wouldnt be without ours now and will probably always have one, I used to have GSDs."

Hubby and I have gotten in touch with a very reputable breeder nearby and we will be visiting her kennel this weekend or next to meet the dogs. So far we really love everything we've read about them (well, maybe not the shedding, but as a husky owner, I tolerate fur better than most). So hopefully this visit goes well!

CheyAut Wed, 07/08/2009 - 22:31

Very cool! I find my girls (the 1/2 leos 1/4 newfy 1/4 pyrenean) shed more than my Alaskan Malamute! But that's ok, they're worth sweeping everyday lol ;)