Lost our dog

Fools Motto

Fools Motto

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Sadly and suddenly lost our dog on Friday. (Technically my mums dog, but we're all family, so Gem was ours too). She was only 6.
Gem was a smooth coated border collie. She was incredibly intelligent, Aren't they all?, and incredibly well behaved.
A few weeks ago she started leaking urine while she was laying down. This soon followed by her refusing to eat. We honestly thought she was embarrassed that she was 'damp'. I know this sounds weird, but she was so good, and this was suddenly abnormal, we thought they were connected. They were, but then we didn't know exactly why.
Went to the vets, and they prescribed tablets to help the leaking. We then assumed that being speyed, can lead to weakness in the urethra and the tablets sort of worked for a few days. Side effects were loss of appetite ... it still didn't bring home what was actually happening. Everything else Gem did, was totally normal. She went out and enjoyed her walks, played with her toys, nothing else was out of place at all.
The leaking slightly subsided, but the loss of appetite got worse. Nothing, and I mean nothing was encouraging her to eat even a handfull. We ended up blending meat and syringing it into her. She was never sick, she drank normally.
Another visit to the vets on Thursday.
lymphatic cancer. Her body was completely over taken by it. She had almost every symptom, we just didn't know. Her quality of life being force fed, only in order to have chemotherapy and then live maybe 1 year at best, was practically zero. We gave her one last day and said our goodbyes. We are all in shock and truly devastated. There is a large Gem hole left.
We want to fill the hole as soon as we can. Never replace Gem, but the hole is impossible to live with.
If anyone knows of any pups or youngsters needing a loving home in the coming weeks.
Has to be a bitch, has to be at least half collie, but can include Lab and or whippet/lurcher. Other crosses would be considered, but the collie part is essential. Probably not full smooth collie, as mum doesn't want to end up comparing. Gem was so special.
We are South West, but willing to travel a fair way.
Kind thanks in advance.
 
Fools Motto said:
Sadly and suddenly lost our dog on Friday. (Technically my mums dog, but we're all family, so Gem was ours too). She was only 6.
Gem was a smooth coated border collie. She was incredibly intelligent, Aren't they all?, and incredibly well behaved.
A few weeks ago she started leaking urine while she was laying down. This soon followed by her refusing to eat. We honestly thought she was embarrassed that she was 'damp'. I know this sounds weird, but she was so good, and this was suddenly abnormal, we thought they were connected. They were, but then we didn't know exactly why.
Went to the vets, and they prescribed tablets to help the leaking. We then assumed that being speyed, can lead to weakness in the urethra and the tablets sort of worked for a few days. Side effects were loss of appetite ... it still didn't bring home what was actually happening. Everything else Gem did, was totally normal. She went out and enjoyed her walks, played with her toys, nothing else was out of place at all.
The leaking slightly subsided, but the loss of appetite got worse. Nothing, and I mean nothing was encouraging her to eat even a handfull. We ended up blending meat and syringing it into her. She was never sick, she drank normally.
Another visit to the vets on Thursday.
lymphatic cancer. Her body was completely over taken by it. She had almost every symptom, we just didn't know. Her quality of life being force fed, only in order to have chemotherapy and then live maybe 1 year at best, was practically zero. We gave her one last day and said our goodbyes. We are all in shock and truly devastated. There is a large Gem hole left.
We want to fill the hole as soon as we can. Never replace Gem, but the hole is impossible to live with.
If anyone knows of any pups or youngsters needing a loving home in the coming weeks.
Has to be a bitch, has to be at least half collie, but can include Lab and or whippet/lurcher. Other crosses would be considered, but the collie part is essential. Probably not full smooth collie, as mum doesn't want to end up comparing. Gem was so special.
We are South West, but willing to travel a fair way.
Kind thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
So sorry for your loss, my farrier mentioned a litter of border collies a couple of weeks ago. We are south west !! If looking for a puppy let me know and I will contact her.

Friends brother also has a litter of puppies, working labs !! All boys...again SW !!
 
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So sorry about Gem, 6 is no age no wonder you are all reeling from such an awful time.

I was the same when I lost my 2 collies. I wanted a collie but didn't want a full collie because nothing would have lived up to Mika and Flyn. Then we got Bandit whose a Kelpie x Collie.

Have a look at the Kelpie and Huntaway Rehoming page, they often have young Kelpie x Collies. I didn't get Bandit from there I got him off Pets 4 Homes when he was 7 month old but he was one step away from rescue. It was a bit hellish when he first arrived and our life choices were questioned on more than one occasion but he's really amazing. (He's 7 now).
 
I'm so sorry for your loss. We had a similar experience with a 6 yr old Rottweiler, she seemed to be normal until late one night, when she started vomiting. Vet visit the next day, ultrasound showed splenetic cancer that had spread to her bowel. We, too, said no chemo. Vet tried to operate but it was too extensive, so they didn't bring her round from the GA.
By the end of the week we had 2 Lab pups because the Rott's sister was distraught without her. They cheered her up and she brought them.up beautifully. And if course we were glad to have something else to think about. We still miss both Rotts though and the Labs are 6 now.
 
Im so sorry. My ex and I lost our Collie x Springer at 6 whom we had fro a pup. He was fine on Friday morning and by Monday afternoon he had gone due to the white and red blood cells attacking each other. Absolutely heartbroken but the hole he left was so enormous that on the Thursday I went to the local rescue stipulating I didn't want to see any black and white dogs and ended up with just that, a 3yo lab x collie with white patch on his chest. He saved us.

It is so hard when they are so young.
 
Fools Motto said:
If anyone knows of any pups or youngsters needing a loving home in the coming weeks.
Has to be a bitch, has to be at least half collie, but can include Lab and or whippet/lurcher. Other crosses would be considered, but the collie part is essential. Probably not full smooth collie, as mum doesn't want to end up comparing. Gem was so special.
We are South West, but willing to travel a fair way.
Kind thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

They arent due yet but I know of a litter coming in about 4 weeks. Whippet x collie/spaniel. Shes a fluffy collie though not smooth and I think only 25% spaniel, she looks very collie like, just a bit smaller, mum is very sweet natured and intelligent, she has the loveliest face. I can find out more if it sounds like a good fit.
 
So sorry to see this sad news FM 🙁. It’s doubly difficult when you lose them young 💔

I have recently been told about a lovely smooth coated collie who isn’t interested in working. ISDS reg, good temperament with dogs and people.
I have some videos which I can send privately if interested. However, she is in Central Scotland so may be too far?
 
I am so sorry the sudden loss of a young dog to cancer is so traumatic.
Mine was seven it was awful .
Somewhere out there is the next dog your family will love you will find them soon .
 
Fools Motto said:
Sadly and suddenly lost our dog on Friday. (Technically my mums dog, but we're all family, so Gem was ours too). She was only 6.
Gem was a smooth coated border collie. She was incredibly intelligent, Aren't they all?, and incredibly well behaved.
A few weeks ago she started leaking urine while she was laying down. This soon followed by her refusing to eat. We honestly thought she was embarrassed that she was 'damp'. I know this sounds weird, but she was so good, and this was suddenly abnormal, we thought they were connected. They were, but then we didn't know exactly why.
Went to the vets, and they prescribed tablets to help the leaking. We then assumed that being speyed, can lead to weakness in the urethra and the tablets sort of worked for a few days. Side effects were loss of appetite ... it still didn't bring home what was actually happening. Everything else Gem did, was totally normal. She went out and enjoyed her walks, played with her toys, nothing else was out of place at all.
The leaking slightly subsided, but the loss of appetite got worse. Nothing, and I mean nothing was encouraging her to eat even a handfull. We ended up blending meat and syringing it into her. She was never sick, she drank normally.
Another visit to the vets on Thursday.
lymphatic cancer. Her body was completely over taken by it. She had almost every symptom, we just didn't know. Her quality of life being force fed, only in order to have chemotherapy and then live maybe 1 year at best, was practically zero. We gave her one last day and said our goodbyes. We are all in shock and truly devastated. There is a large Gem hole left.
We want to fill the hole as soon as we can. Never replace Gem, but the hole is impossible to live with.
If anyone knows of any pups or youngsters needing a loving home in the coming weeks.
Has to be a bitch, has to be at least half collie, but can include Lab and or whippet/lurcher. Other crosses would be considered, but the collie part is essential. Probably not full smooth collie, as mum doesn't want to end up comparing. Gem was so special.
We are South West, but willing to travel a fair way.
Kind thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Very similar to my old girl but mine was nearly 14 not a youngster. Started leaking badly in her sleep. Vet thught urine infection, put her on tablets. She did note that she had very enlarged glands on her records but said nothing to us. It wasn't till we saw the senior vet, a friend of ours, that we were told it was Non Hodgkins lymphoma. She was put on steroids and lasted just 6 weeks. Devastating, vet was so upset too when he put her down.

We too got another pup as soon as possible to fill hte hole. He was like a reincarnation of her in many ways and made it to nearly 16.

Much sympathy to you and good luck finding another lovely collie to enjoy.
 
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