JTee's Patrick of Ladnig
December 18, 1992 - Nov 15, 2005
Nine little white snowballs
From heaven did come
And one from the numbers
My companion would become
From beginning to the end
And all through the years
It took you some time
To grow into those ears
However did God think
To put brown eyes on white
Black noses and toe nails
And eyes lined just right
Amazing creations
And a wonderful gift
To love us, protect us
And our spirits uplift
How quickly time flies
And the years pass away
Soon before you know it
Tomorrow becomes yesterday
Our time I have so treasured
As the end soon draws near
I find that I must now
Bid farewell to one so dear
With great sorrow in my heart
I wonder how will I survive
With time to heal my wounds
And my memories to keep you alive
This is Pat, Lady's boy. He was a White Shepherd and a mix of being in charge versus a little boy wanting to play. The first minute he wanted to help "discipline" by chasing down the offender to get their attention and the next he was spinning around (about to knock you over) and acting very silly.
Sometimes when I looked at him it was like looking at a big white polar bear. And I don't think there was anything less big and bulky in him then in the bear! He had a very loveable side to him, as in any other dog. With his size though, he could tend to be a bit overwhelming, as he didn't know his own strength! To do an ear rub became a tug of war -- in reverse! He pushed and you were pushing, to keep from getting pushed over. But the sheer pleasure in his eyes, and the sounds of his moans, showed you that he truly enjoyed your efforts.
Pat started having trouble with his balance in his back end. Sometimes his feet would begin to slide out from under him and he'd have difficulty getting up. But he managed and was doing ok until Friday, November 4th, 2005. When I went out in the morning to let the dogs out, his breathing was loud and labored. He sounded like he had something to bring up, but couldn't.
I got a vet appointment and took him in that afternoon. Long story short, the vet didn't think it was a tumor problem at all (he had one behind his front right leg and I worried that it was like his moms) but that it had more to do with the spine disease that was taking his balance. The Vet believed it to be Degenerative Myleopathy at the point in time and that perhaps it had moved up high enough to affect his breathing. He was put on a high dose of steroids and by the next morning seemed to be feeling better. However, as the days wore on the side effects to the steroids began to control him.
He became bloated, weaker and incontinence became a part of his day. As of November 11th we took him off the steroids and again, a change in his energies and abilities became obvious. I thought perhaps all the bad would be behind us. Not so. Now he was no longer able to get to his feet by himself. I had to constantly change his bedding to provide him a dry place to lay. I'd pull him to his feet with a crib sheet around his neck (he was laying in a wire crate)and his bowels were runny and mistakes at night were happening now. His bottom became raw, sores appeared behind his back legs that bled and oozed and I could see by his eyes that his "quality life" began slipping away.
For AWSA (American White Shepherd Association), once the decision was made to let him rest, he was taken to the University of Missouri (Columbia, MO) to be euthanized and then have a necropsy done to determine exactly what his condition was that sent him downhill.
As of November 19, it's been guessed(?) by Dr. Joan Coates, a DM Pathologist, that he didn't have DM but more the other two spinal diseases that plague shepherds. LS and IVDD. More tests were done but the results haven't come back yet. I'll post them when I know.
Pat is now in the meadows where it's warm and sunny. Back with his mom and the others who have passed before him. The weather turned really cold the day of his passing and after him going outside and not being able to make it back in, causing him to lay out in the cold weather 3 times, the timing turned out good for him. It's a comfort to me to know he's young and healthy and able to run and play again... in the warmth of the sunshine in the meadows of Rainbow Bridge!!
Pat my love, you will be sorely missed! The inquisitive eyes, the boyish nature (long since passed)and your gentle heart will never be forgotten! Till we meet again . . .
