A year ago (almost to the day) we had to say goodbye to Roscoe, our 9.5 year old male boxer, due to cancer on his spleen and spread to his liver as well. Yesterday we had to do the same for Gracie (11.5 year old boxer), and I’m crushed.

She’s had a few health scares through the years, but they all scared me like the most recent. Difference between them all is that she always turned out just fine, and it was looking like she would be fine up until Friday night/Saturday morning.

Back in March she started having seizures. Four of them over a 36 hour period. Vet said it could be anything but suspected a brain tumor most of all. He said if there is one it could grow rapidly or it might not grow at all. The only way to know for sure is to see a neurologist and have an MRI done. We opted to not do it, somewhat because of the cost (very minor part of the decision) but rather the treatment required if she did have a tumor. We just didn’t want to put her though the chemo, radiation and surgery possibly involved. We opted for quality of life and wanted to make her as comfortable as possible. So we started her on anti-seizure meds.

The seizures stopped immediately. Her energy level improved, appetite was great and she was just the happiest we have ever seen her. She was playful and just the sweetest dog you can imagine. It was so great to see her so happy again.

Then this past Wednesday night she woke me up with a grand mal seizure at 11:15pm. I couldn’t go back to sleep and Thursday was horrible. We got her in Thursday to get a blood sample to see how her liver values were doing (she was on meds that affected her liver....and this limited which seizure meds she can take) and she had another seizure Thursday evening and followed up with another Friday morning. At this point they were about 11-12 hours apart.

Friday afternoon I got her back in and we decided to up her current med by another 33% and add in CBD oil. It didn’t help at all. 8pm she had her worst seizure yet and then another one in the middle of the night at 1:30. 6:30 yesterday morning brought on another bad one as well. We saw that one coming...she was standing up and fighting it off. Up until then they all came when she was resting. At this point all she was doing in between the seizures was pacing around and in general just being scared and confused of what was going on.

It was then that we decided that we couldn’t make her go through it anymore and contacted our vet. At 8am she was just about to have another seizure while we were saying our goodbyes and we even had to speed the whole process up so she didn’t have to endure another one. And then she was gone...no more seizures.

Run free baby girl, I loved you like no other dog ever. You and Roscoe showed me the true value and love that dogs give. I completely became a “dog person” because of you two. I’m still not over losing Roscoe a year ago, and I don’t know how I’m going to cope with losing you. Especially since it happened so quickly...a matter of hours.

I’m lost, I’m broken, and I wish I could take her place. At least we have three other younger dogs....it will give me a reason to keep moving forward. Gotta take care of them.

I feel your pain, Brother. My deepest sympathy.

I am so sorry for your loss.

So sorry about the loss of your Gracie.

We're very sorry for your loss; you have our most sincere condolences.

Words can’t describe how it feels to lose a pet. I’ve experienced it twice already and the feeling hasn’t completely gone away even though they were 4 and 5 years ago. I’m so sorry for your loss of Gracie.

I'm sorry for your loss - as a former Boxer owner of 11 years, it is horrible to lose such fun, energetic, and loving dogs. The only downside to the breed is the shorter lifespan - we got ours to 11 as well but 9-10 is very typical.

I'm sorry for your loss, she runs through the halls of Valhalla now.

Godspeed, Gracie.

May your human pets find peace amid your passing.

H&K-Guy

I normally refuse to read these type of threads as they are too painful.
We too lost our Boxer 3 years ago due to liver failure at age 6-7.
It still saddens me.
So sorry for your loss - Boxers are a great breed that deserves to have a longer lifespan.

I am so sorry for your loss.

So sorry....it’s so hard having to do the right thing, but I’m sure she is in a better place, and with Roscoe. We try to treasure each day with our loving boy, a GSD, he’s 10 1/2 and has given us a few scares the last 3 years. May your pups be waiting happily to be reunited with you eventually.

You did right limiting her suffering, as I limited the suffering of my beloved Worth, whose painful arthritic legs could no longer carry him. I will never forget that happy tail. Dogs love us like no other animal, human or otherwise, can. They give an absolute unrestricted love that only the Lord God above does, and because of that, I believe they have a soul and we will see them again. I certainly hope, with two new crazy dogs beside me. Moses and Wally are living examples of the peace they provide, and Worth and Finn will certainly meet her and Roscoe at the Rainbow Bridge as playmates till our final meetings come to pass.

Damn. I'm sorry. You did the right thing for her, and she was lucky to have you as her caretaker.

So very sorry, been there 3 times, now have a two year old Brittany that will most likely outlast me. That is OK.
Keeping all in my thoughts and prayers

I'm so sorry. It's sad to hear anyone lose their best friend. You don't want to let them go, but it's best for them. Think of the good times and the things that made you laugh. Be happy that Roscoe and Gracie are together again.

When you're ready, find another best friend. There's so many that need forever homes.

Sorry for you and your family's loss.

I am sorry for your loss. Hoping the fond memories will help during your time of grieving.

After losing Roscoe a year ago one would think it would make it a bit easier this time around. I’m finding this to be the complete opposite. There’s so many things that remind us of her and I’m barely holding it together. The worst times are feeding time (Gracie had a regimen of pills that I had to keep track of and give her for various things....along with only preparing 3 bowls instead of 4) and bedtime. Her snoring used to really bother me for the longest time, and now it’s no longer there. It’s deafening for me now. I miss her so much...she was my dog and she let everyone know it. I just don’t know how I’m going to get over this one. And my dumb ass keeps signing up for this heartbreak by getting more dogs. But it’s the price I have to pay I suppose, because I can’t imagine life without our dogs.

Condolences. Our dogs always seem to occupy a special place in our lives. The void they leave seems impossibly large.

Go adopt another friend as soon as you are ready.