Cooper-in-a-bucket

[IzzieK]

This was my dog Cooper...He would have been 9 months old when he died of Canine Renal Cancer, a week before he would have started his Tracking lessons. He is the most intelligent rottie I have ever own so far...I know this wasn't his best shot but the doggie himself was memorable...C&C welcome...especially how can I improve at least the PP of this.

[Shadowman]

Very nice. You could use a photo editor to apply his name to the tag.

[Loose Canon]

Cute little guy, Isabel. I’m sorry about the loss. Lost two ourselves this past year.

Anyway, just for fun...

[flashback]

Isabel,

Sorry to hear about your loss, mine right now is just 9 months.
Anyway, maybe clone out the upper right hand corner, make it all white.

[deetheturk]

Hi Isabel,sorry to hear,he looked a smasher,i have never lost any of my Rotts to cancer but know a lot of friends in the U.K. that have had similar experiences.I have always wondered if it something that our beloved breed is prone to getting!

[IzzieK]

David...No. It is not a common affliction. Long story but bear with me...When we lost our German Shepherd, JJ, due to old age, I decided that since I am a rottie person, I'd like a Rottweiler. So we went to the Humane Society of Missouri to just look around and I found these two doggies that were just 6 months old at the time. We were told that they had complete medicals. We joined their puppy school and found that his sibling was adopted by another couple. A few weeks later, these couple who adopted Cooper's sibling did not attend several sessions. When we saw them again, they said their dog got very, very sick. We thought nothing of it as our doggie was one spoiled rotten little fella and seemed to be healthy. He swims like a fish, loves thunder and lightning, does his many "jobs" around the yard and in the house...he was a delightful child, but never want to go out for a trip with us.

We went home to Australia for two weeks months later. A week later after we got home, he developed a fever and was in pain. We took him to our vet who recommended us to take him to a specialist. There are only three practicing oncologists in Missouri. We got the best one (and also veeerrrry expensive). It cost us over $4K to know he cannot have a quality life even if he survives his ailment. So we have to let him go...so we took him home, hubby and I took very good care of him in his last days, sing to him, talk to him, tell him he will be all right, change his blanket...etc. I can't forget the look on his face when he wet his blanket and reassured him that it was OK with me. I am Mom and I still love him no matter what...

Long story short, when we got Tucker, our current dog, we heeded the advice of Coopers oncologist -- have a complete blood test for any animal you will own next. I found Tucker from the Rottweiler Rescue in Dallas. As soon as we got him, we called our vet immediately right there and then while waiting for our plane back home. Thank God for Tucker...he has passed way beyond 9 months...

Hi Isabel,sorry to hear,he looked a smasher,i have never lost any of my Rotts to cancer but know a lot of friends in the U.K. that have had similar experiences.I have always wondered if it something that our beloved breed is prone to getting!

[IzzieK]

Thanks Jack...I thought about that but...

Hi Isabel,sorry to hear,he looked a smasher,i have never lost any of my Rotts to cancer but know a lot of friends in the U.K. that have had similar experiences.I have always wondered if it something that our beloved breed is prone to getting!

[IzzieK]

Terry...I love his blue eyes...after tearing my heart out writing that response to David, you made me smile...and John's advice about his name in his name tag...nicely done...Thanks a lot , Terry and John...and Jack...

[deetheturk]

Isabel,I am so sorry that you had to go through all that,it is always hard but even more so when they are so young! It's great you guys got Tucker,he will never replace Cooper but no doubt has eased your pain,god bless.

[rpcrowe]

Losing any dog is painful (we just lost a 14 1/2 year old Maltese) but losing a dog so young is devastating! Sorry for your loss!

Our friends have a RV and boat storage lot and had three trained Rottweiler security dogs in a row succumb to cancer. A necropsy (at University of California, Davis, Vet Center) on the third dog indicated that the chemicals contained in the weed killer Round Up were responsible for the cancer.

Apparently, my friends would spray Round Up an any weeds emerging from the gravel in their storage lot and the Rotties would ingest the weeds, Round Up and all...

I had a young cat and a relatively young dog go down to cancer after I began using weed killer (not Round Up) on my lawn. I don't spray anymore for weeds. I'd rather have some weeds in the lawn than dead animals...

[IzzieK]

Richard, that is good to know...but Cooper did not die of weed killer. His oncologist said he already have liver ailment ever since the beginning, that if we have had a blood test done on him, we could have known earlier and not got him. My husband and I are very careful about weeds in the backyard. In fact our backyard is a weed paradise that our three kids now rolled about and play in. He just mow them or we dig it by hand like if I want a garden patch, that is what we clear by hand. The front yard is different because we have a fence for our front and side garden and the kids seldom go there, only for short visits when I am maintaining it, normally not. After he died we analyzed even his little ways, why when we cannot carry him anymore to the back seat of the car, he wouldn't go with us anywhere, why he wanted water, love water...he doesn't want "going up" on anything -- he was in pain when he "goes up", even going up on his settee later on he would yelp...and dogs have a way of not letting you know their physical pain. We are very observant of Tucker ever since the beginning. He doesn't often go out even in the backyard without supervision. I am not a perfect Mom but I do my best. He is our one spoiled rottenweiller now, just like Cooper even if he hasn't really got to Cooper's level - - yet.