My precious Khan needs to be put to sleep, and he isn't even 2 yet
He has severe hip dysplasia. We knew by the time he was just 6 months old that something was wrong. When he was a year old I had the vet do x-rays (she had to put him under to do it because he refuse to lay (lie?) on his back). I had hoped that we would be able to make him reasonably comfortable with anti-inflammatories and pain meds, but he is at the highest dose of Tramadol that is safe for him, and taking as much Rimadyl as his digestive system will allow (he is sensitive to NSAIDS... They give him diarrhea, which is a really bad thing for a Chow with all that hair...), and still in pain. He rarely stands for long, never sits, has trouble going up even 5 steps, will no longer lay on his side to be brushed for more than 15 minutes at a time, and this weekend i noticed that his front legs shake when he squats to poop. On his bad days, which are more frequent now than ever, he picks fights with my Scottie (who will not back down from a fight, but is outweighed by 40 pounds and only gets a mouthful of hair when he tries to fight back). Last weekend I suffered a significant bite trying to break up a fight (Max bit me, not Khan.)
I hate to see him in pain, but it breaks my heart to have to put him to sleep. I was on a waiting list for 9 months to get him, and he is physically beautiful and much more affectionate than a typical Chow. (All of the dogs from this breeder have wonderful temperaments, though.) I have bonded to him more than most dogs I have had. The breeder guarantees her puppies, so I will be getting a replacement puppy for free, but I, of course, don't want a free puppy, I want Khan to be healthy. I even had a bunch of people praying for him to be healed. So much for that. I tried to make the appointment today, but couldn't do it. I am so sad and angry that I have to do this. And, of course, I want a cookie.
Lora
I hate to see him in pain, but it breaks my heart to have to put him to sleep. I was on a waiting list for 9 months to get him, and he is physically beautiful and much more affectionate than a typical Chow. (All of the dogs from this breeder have wonderful temperaments, though.) I have bonded to him more than most dogs I have had. The breeder guarantees her puppies, so I will be getting a replacement puppy for free, but I, of course, don't want a free puppy, I want Khan to be healthy. I even had a bunch of people praying for him to be healed. So much for that. I tried to make the appointment today, but couldn't do it. I am so sad and angry that I have to do this. And, of course, I want a cookie.
Lora
14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained
You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.
Surgery 11/16/11. HW 267.5; SW 250.1; Pre-op wt. 195.5; CW 126 GW 140-160 
My heart goes out to you. Khan is so young for his hips to be that bad. Chows are beautiful dogs. I didn't realise they were a breed that is prone to hip problems. My cousin had a chow, and his issue was a problem with his heart.
One of my ex's had a dog with hip displasia. He was a beautiful blue eyed alaskan malamut/timber wolf cross. He had an amazing personality. Weighed about 90 lbs, and thought he was a lap dog. I remember watching his mobility deteriorate. It was very hard to see him in pain all the time. When it got to be too much for the dog, his owner has him put down. I had gotten very attached, and cried like a baby when I found out (my EX had become my 'EX' a couple of years before). I was so angry; not at my ex, but simply at the fact that our beautiful and otherwise healthy dog was gone because of his hips. The dog was only 6, but the hip problems had become evident when he was about a year old.
One of my ex's had a dog with hip displasia. He was a beautiful blue eyed alaskan malamut/timber wolf cross. He had an amazing personality. Weighed about 90 lbs, and thought he was a lap dog. I remember watching his mobility deteriorate. It was very hard to see him in pain all the time. When it got to be too much for the dog, his owner has him put down. I had gotten very attached, and cried like a baby when I found out (my EX had become my 'EX' a couple of years before). I was so angry; not at my ex, but simply at the fact that our beautiful and otherwise healthy dog was gone because of his hips. The dog was only 6, but the hip problems had become evident when he was about a year old.
~Tammy
HW: 386 - RNY: 356.8 (14-Mar-2013) - CW: 238.6 (07-May-2014) . . . GOAL: 199
Oh Lora, I am so sorry. Of course you don't want a new puppy, you want Khan.
This is such a hard decision to make, isn't it? You don't want him to suffer but you want him with you longer. I'll be thinking of you.
This is such a hard decision to make, isn't it? You don't want him to suffer but you want him with you longer. I'll be thinking of you.
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
I am so sorry, Lora. I just lost my JJ and even though I had him for 12 years it wasn't enough. A thousand years wouldn't have been enough. JJ had congestive heart failure and the morning he died I prayed that he would be healed and that his heart would be as healthy as it was loving but it was not meant to be. I miss him so much but I am glad that he went in his sleep and he didn't suffer at all. I wish you didn't have to make this decision but I know you will do what is best for your friend.
WLS 10/28/2002 Revision 7/23/2010
High Weight (2002) 240 Revision Weight (2010) 220 Current Weight 115.
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