The loss of a Shepherd

I found out some very sad news last night. Christa and Greg had to put their shepherd Burgie to sleep this weekend. You might remember Burgie from the post How to hold a German Shepherd like a baby or Just look at this German Shepherd. I was her Auntie and we were all very close.
Burgie started vomiting blood on Monday and they rushed her to the 24 hour vet emergency room. They tried to stabilize her for 24 hours but she was getting progressively worse. Later that same day, they were told she needed a blood/plasma transfusion and it then they weren't even sure they could get her strong enough to be put under anesthesia. They weren't sure what was wrong with her and Christa and Greg decided to put her to sleep. After the autopsy, they found out she had a really advanced intestinal disease. The term is Mesenteric Torsion or Toxic Gut Syndrome which is largely found in the Shepherd breed since 1980. The vet said she had never seen anything like it and there probably wasn't anything they could've done to prevent it. Christa was out today and is taking it really hard. It was so sudden and Burgie was only 3 years old.
I kissed both the pups, talked to them, and held them for a little longer today. The reality that we will one day say goodbye is impossible for me comprehend. This was just another reality how precious our time is here. You never know how much time we have with the ones we love (even our fuzzy faced babies) and we need to be thankful for everyday.




The last photo I took of her. She will be missed.

In Loving Memory of Burgundy


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