Pets Quality Of Life
"Roxie"
Our beloved dog Roxie was diagnosed with bone cancer in her rear leg, at Garden State. Since she was only just 8 yrs., we descided with the doctors advice to amputate her leg. They told us dogs usually manage well on three legs. We also decided to go all the way and have her receive chemo. Roxie recovered from her operation, it took about three weeks to get her up. She was a German Rottie, so she was about 130 lbs. They suggested that she lose weight to make walking easier. She did. She was down to 89 lbs, but something was wrong. At her next chemo visit, we had the Dr. examine her, to find that arthritis had moved into her spine - no cure. We had Roxie operated on in July. It was supposed to give us at least a year with her. Roxie got worse almost every day. She had to be assisted in walking and getting up. Through everything her only goal was to be with one of us, particularly my husband. Since she always slept at the foot of our bed and it was upstairs, my husband slept on the couch next to her, to keep her from trying to climb the stairs. Roxie was a trooper, she hid her pain well and it was only when it was near the end, she told us it was time.
On Nov. 3 we had her put down by our local vet after sleeping on the floor with her in extreme pain. We all feel as if a large piece of our heart has been ripped out. We have had several dogs in our family, but sometimes there is that special one who is different. This was Roxie.She was a true member of the family. Don't believe everything you hear about Rotties. It's all how they are brought up.She never knew a raised hand. She would never steal food or garbage, or get up on furniture. She guarded her family against intruders, but once you were introduced, she loved you.
Garden State were very nice, everyone treated Roxie wonderfully. She enjoyed going for her treatments.I only wish someone had told us that chemo advances arthritis, and that it would not be treatable.
