Max 07-493

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Sponsored by:

Julie S. ~ Ken S. ~ Bethany M. ~ Dana N. ~ Peter B. ~ Jennifer O.
"In honor of Jennifer O's birthday!"

 

    -Anonymous

 

August 26, 2009: Our big golden boy, Max, is a returning RAGOM dog. His family's situation has changed and they were no longer able to keep him, so a couple of weeks ago, Max came to stay with us.

Max is 8 years old, neutered, house-trained, and gets along with everyone. He is a very nice, beautiful boy with a dark red coat and is a typical happy golden. He is not overly demanding for attention, but does like to go along from room to room to see what you are doing. Max is a very nice house guest and is just about the perfect dog in his behavior.

Max is very overweight at this point tipping the scale at 115 pounds. He should weigh about 75-80 pounds. He is on a diet and has been going on slow easy walks until we can build up some muscle and stamina. Max has a hard time getting up from laying down, which is his usual position. We have started him on Rimadyl which has helped some, so I am not sure if his troubles are that he has pain in his hips or if it is just the extra weight he has been carrying for some time. We have to work on getting that weight off to help his joints and overall health. When Max first came here, he would lay down and not want to get up very often. At night, before we went to bed, we would get everyone outside to go potty. Max would just lay and look at us and not move a muscle to get up. It would take two of us, one on each end, to lift him up and get him moving. Sometimes when Max doesn't want to do something, he just lays like a rag doll. That's a 115 pound rag doll! I would start laughing and it sure didn't help trying to get him up and going.

Max also has a nasty ear infection in his right ear so he is on meds for that too. We will be getting that rechecked soon and may have to get it flushed out good at the vet as there is so much gunk in his ear, it is hard to get clean at home. He is a good boy when getting his ear drops. He just lays down on the floor and lets you put them in. We have been giving Max some Benadryl twice a day too, for his allergies, which don't seem to be too bad, but if off the Benadryl, he will start chewing his paws once in a while.

I gave all 4 of the dogs here a marrow bone today and everyone laid out in the yard enjoying their bones. I didn't have any fighting among them, so Max seems to be very good about leaving everyone be when they have a bone. He was a happy boy to sit and chew on his own and not bother anyone. I didn't have any trouble being around him when he had his bone either.

We are listing Max as "Unavailable" only until we figure out what his weight issue is. All of his vet work, including his thyroid, came out normal, so I am not sure why he weighs so much. I was pretty positive it would be a thyroid issue, but since that is not the case, we need to make sure Max is well on his way to losing that extra weight and also that there isn't another physical reason for his ample body. Max is not a very active dog at this point and I am hoping once he loses some weight he will feel better and want to get up and go more.

At a Glance #07-493

Golden Retriever Born: August 2001
Male Weight not specified

Status: Deceased

Profile

Sponsored by:

Julie S. ~ Ken S. ~ Bethany M. ~ Dana N. ~ Peter B. ~ Jennifer O.
"In honor of Jennifer O's birthday!"

 

    -Anonymous

 

August 26, 2009: Our big golden boy, Max, is a returning RAGOM dog. His family's situation has changed and they were no longer able to keep him, so a couple of weeks ago, Max came to stay with us.

Max is 8 years old, neutered, house-trained, and gets along with everyone. He is a very nice, beautiful boy with a dark red coat and is a typical happy golden. He is not overly demanding for attention, but does like to go along from room to room to see what you are doing. Max is a very nice house guest and is just about the perfect dog in his behavior.

Max is very overweight at this point tipping the scale at 115 pounds. He should weigh about 75-80 pounds. He is on a diet and has been going on slow easy walks until we can build up some muscle and stamina. Max has a hard time getting up from laying down, which is his usual position. We have started him on Rimadyl which has helped some, so I am not sure if his troubles are that he has pain in his hips or if it is just the extra weight he has been carrying for some time. We have to work on getting that weight off to help his joints and overall health. When Max first came here, he would lay down and not want to get up very often. At night, before we went to bed, we would get everyone outside to go potty. Max would just lay and look at us and not move a muscle to get up. It would take two of us, one on each end, to lift him up and get him moving. Sometimes when Max doesn't want to do something, he just lays like a rag doll. That's a 115 pound rag doll! I would start laughing and it sure didn't help trying to get him up and going.

Max also has a nasty ear infection in his right ear so he is on meds for that too. We will be getting that rechecked soon and may have to get it flushed out good at the vet as there is so much gunk in his ear, it is hard to get clean at home. He is a good boy when getting his ear drops. He just lays down on the floor and lets you put them in. We have been giving Max some Benadryl twice a day too, for his allergies, which don't seem to be too bad, but if off the Benadryl, he will start chewing his paws once in a while.

I gave all 4 of the dogs here a marrow bone today and everyone laid out in the yard enjoying their bones. I didn't have any fighting among them, so Max seems to be very good about leaving everyone be when they have a bone. He was a happy boy to sit and chew on his own and not bother anyone. I didn't have any trouble being around him when he had his bone either.

We are listing Max as "Unavailable" only until we figure out what his weight issue is. All of his vet work, including his thyroid, came out normal, so I am not sure why he weighs so much. I was pretty positive it would be a thyroid issue, but since that is not the case, we need to make sure Max is well on his way to losing that extra weight and also that there isn't another physical reason for his ample body. Max is not a very active dog at this point and I am hoping once he loses some weight he will feel better and want to get up and go more.

Updates

Thursday, May 24, 2012

 

Dear RAGOM--it's Max, member number 07-493.

FrM and I had another talk (read my previous blog). It wasn't one of those face to face talks but it was one of those telepathic kind of talks.

FrM: I miss you.
Me: I miss you too.
FrM: How could a dog with such a big, kind, loving heart have cancer in it?
Me: I don't know.
FrM: We had only eight months together.
Me: Remember when you mix an old dog with a short time you get concentrated love.
Me: I don't have IED anymore. Now I have special work to do.
FrM: Max you don't have 'Ick Eating Disorder' anymore??...you don't have to wear a muzzle??! There must not be any rotten fish guts, dead animal carcasses or corn cobs up there.
Me: No more IED; no more muzzle for me. I have more important stuff to do than to eat ick. I'm in charge of the gold color in the RAINBOW! I must be special to land this job.
FrM: Yes Max, you are very special....miss you, love you, see you.

(Max was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma of the heart 5-3 and went to the BRIDGE 5-18).

 

From Max's Foster Mom...

To my big, sweet, beautiful boy Max from your Foster Mom. You came into our lives in September of 2009. I won't ever forget the first day I saw you sitting up on the grassy hill at McDonald's where we met your transporter. You seriously looked like you had eaten there way too often. You weighed 115 pounds. I felt so bad for you. You could only stand for a short time and I could tell your joints weren't feeling very good. Even so, you wagged your tail and were so happy to meet us.

We took you home and you immediately fit into our lives. You were such a stress free, laid back dog. We had you in our home for over 2 years waiting for that "perfect" person to come along. In the meantime, we put you on a diet and along with exercise, you lost 40 pounds. The difference was huge. You ran after those pesky squirrels in the bird feeders and did your happy dance when the food bowls came out. We went from going on walks to the bottom of the driveway and back in the house to walking more than a mile. We battled the ear infections and allergies and still you were so patient and so happy. I knew you were one special boy and we were going to wait for the right person that I knew would see you were the ONE! So many times I told myself you weren't going anywhere, but I know my foster dogs end up where they are supposed to be and you had one more home to find.

In August of 2011, someone came along and she wanted to meet you. I was so excited and yet almost heartbroken thinking you might be leaving us. But on the day a lady named Connie came to meet you, I knew that special person had arrived. Within minutes, I knew the person we had been waiting for, the ONE, was here. On the day of Goldzilla, you went to your forever home. Max, it was the hardest thing I have done in a long time, letting go of you. Not only because we had been your home for over two years, but that I knew, it would take a long time, if ever, to meet another dog like you. People have a saying about being "one in a million" but for you, that was so true. I know your Forever Mom grew to know that about you too.

Life is full of things that are so unfair. Max, you left us way too soon and you deserved so much more time in your new forever home. I know you are up there as the door greeter with that big, kind heart of yours welcoming all who come along. I doubt any treats get past you and I know there are no crumbs left behind. Your Forever Mom was right, you are the gold in the rainbow for all to see. For the short amount of time we had with you, you left a huge mark on my heart. It will always be there and I will never forget you, Max, my big, sweet, beautiful boy.

 

 

Saturday, December 31, 2011

I'm confused. Is it Happy New Year from my first home or is it Happy Home for my first year? There has been so much to learn since Sept 2011 but my forever mom says I'm doing great.

Wishing my fellow RAGOM Goldens a Happy Home in 2012--especially the ones with the white fur.

Max
RAGOM alumni 07-493, age 10

Monday, October 10, 2011

Whewee, it's been a long and winding road but I finally made it home. After the long ride from Goldzilla my for(ever)mom unpacked my 'little' suitcase--arthritis, allergies, a special diet and twice daily medication--and told me "Welcome home Max".  When my formom gave me my eye medication for the first time she said "Boy that was way too easy".  You see, my foster mom taught me that when my medication bottles come out I plop down on the floor and take my medication like a good dog. I never fuss when I have to have my meds. Since I was a city guy for so long my formom thought I'd have a hard time adjusting to the quiet country life. DUH!! HELLO??---can you say 'smell this, that and other thing' really fast ten times without moving your lips? I'm hard of hearing but my nose picks up the slack.

I know Thanksgiving is coming soon because there are more leaves on the ground than on the trees. An old dog is a grateful dog and I have much to be thankful for. I'm thankful for RAGOM taking me in and giving me a chance. Without that chance I probably wouldn't be here to enjoy my golden years. I'm thankful for my foster parents who helped me get healthy and who cared for me and loved me for two years. Then they had hearts big enough to let me go. Oh...I'm also thankful my fur brothers aren't toy hoarders.

Max
RAGOM alumni 07-493, age 10

Monday, October 3, 2011

We have great news from Max. An angel came into our lives and she wanted Max to come and live with her. While we are very sad to see him go, we are also very happy for him that he has a place to hang his leash for good. He has been through a few homes in his life and he deserves a place where no matter what, he will get to stay.

I want to give volunteer Amy L. a huge "Thank You" for all of your support while I fostered Max. Thanks for all the RAGOM events you took Max to, all the trips to the vet and the allergist, and your dog-sitting at various times. Your efforts were so appreciated. I know you grew to love Max as we did.

I also want to say "Thank You" to Connie for taking a chance and adopting a senior dog. Your kindness and caring for your dogs is so exceptional and you truly are an angel. We knew someone would come along for Max and we were willing to wait for however long it took. Thank you for giving Max a wonderful home.

To my big, beautiful boy, Max,

You came into our lives in September 2009, a little over 2 years ago. You weighed 115 pounds and could hardly stand up for more than 30 seconds. You were lethargic and needed help standing up so you could go outside. My heart broke for you because you were so overweight you couldn't move without discomfort and had absolutely no energy to enjoy life. Aside from that you had horrible ear infections and allergy issues going on. We had to do something to get you on the road to a better life.

I started taking you for very short walks, some days were only to the end of the driveway and back. I know you thought you were starving when you could only have a very little amount to eat, but as the weeks and months went by, we walked further and further and your pounds were coming off. It took awhile, but you are now a very svelte 75 pounds. You run to chase squirrels and you bounce when we are going for a walk or you see your dinner getting ready. It makes me so happy to see you moving and enjoying life. You have come so far since that first day we met.

Max, you are one of the kindest, gentlest, most loving dogs I have ever known. You are the poster dog for a Golden Retriever. You are a very special boy and we will never forget you. My beautiful boy - lay in the sun, roll in the leaves, walk and explore all those great smells at your new home. We wish you nothing but the best life possible. We love you!