We camp every summer in the Gunnison / Taylor Park area. And we have had medical issues with our 13 year old pooch twice. We have been to this Vet clinic twice in the past 5 years. Both times it was an emergency. A few years ago our border collie ran through barbed wire at full speed and needed extensive first aid and stitches. He survived and did well. Dr Nienhueser did an amazing job saving Maxwell that time.
Today, it was a little different. For a year or so Max has been in pain. He stopped eating last September, so we started giving him chicken and other food he seemed to love. He gained some of his weight back. Our veterinarian in Franktown imaged his body and diagnosed cancer with tumors in his liver and elevated liver enzymes. She prescribed ursodiol to help his gall bladder & liver function and an herbal product called denamarin was prescribed to support liver function.
All of that seemed to help. But Maxwell was given ~ 2 weeks to live. She did say that border collies have a stronger will to live than most dogs. So it could be a little longer. It's been 9 months since the diagnosis. Over the past week when he laid down he would just collapse. And he didn't feel like getting up so much. He skipped meals too. But then he would bounce back and fetch, chase rabbits and amaze people with his athletic stunts. He had good days and not so good ones.
He had what appeared to be seizure a few weeks ago and I carried him into the house and laid him down. He bounced right back the next day. He had a couple seizures last night. He didn't bounce back today. Over the past 36 hours he had several of these seizures or strokes. We knew it was time. He was panting a lot and stared off into space.
But we were camping again nearby and needed a veterinarian here in the Gunnison area.
Mountain Legacy was able to get him scheduled this morning. Dr Erickson was amazing with Maxwell. She was very kind and professional. Max never felt any pain. He went to sleep very peacefully. We are missing him, but know it was the humane thing to do. Mountain Legacy has been just terrific. Both times we needed them. Several others at the clinic were amazing too. Rachel was so empathetic and supportive. Conor was very supportive too. read more