June 2011 - Just wanted to let you know that Jack has passed. I had to euthanize him on Sunday, his seizures had continued after the event on Saturday, and it became clear it had to do with a scar on the brain or a tumour. Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to love such a great dog. Saying goodbye to Jack is not easy, but as we all know having a great life and a quiet end knowing you are loved is the best finishing chapter. When people try to console me I always say, crying out of love is a beautiful thing, crying for someone that has never been loved is devastating.
Melinda Hagell
-------------------------------
January 2011 - Hello! I just wanted to give you an update on Jack! He is settling in perfectly, Jack and his brother (Bear) play well and have fun attempting to climb in the snow. Jack also plays well with my rescue cat, Ida, and our three horses. He is the perfect dog and because he is on an acreage there are no fences for him to climb! His recall is getting better every day and he hasn't wandered away in a week! Even when he did begin to wander, he would run home as soon as he was called. He was everything we expected and more! He just got his name collar with address, so he truly has a home.
His seizures have continued. He had three Tuesday night: one before I was home from work and two more throughout the evening. Bear was by his side and offered quiet comfort through his stressful time. The great vets at Spruce Grove Veterinary Clinic had talked me through the do's and don'ts of what to expect throughout the whole ordeal, and he recovered fine. I had brought him to the clinic first thing in the morning where they took blood. The results were in that night and they said there is no liver shunt and all of his organs are healthy. The diagnosis is leaning towards epilepsy or an old head injury. Whatever it was that caused it is not yet worth medicating as he has only had two recorded episodes. We will monitor it closely, but he will continue to live his happy life, and is now given the ok to have some meaty food, so he was happy!
Thank you so much for this great dog, as he has quickly become a part of our family!
Melinda Hagell