Koda - Those Were Huge Shoes to Fill

[KodaJax]

Diesel was a perfect dog. Perfect. A typical Chocolate Lab, he was pure energy, drive, and love. The dog I always dreamed about having. The first time my son, my son's friend, and I took him to the river for a duck hunt, we were all left speechless. It was later in the season and a drake Golden Eye was blasting up the river. The kids unloaded without touching a feather, and I got lucky with my shot and the duck dropped in river. It wasn't close to dead, and you know how they dive and use the current.

Diesel shot off the bank - dove into the river - dove under the water and came up with the Golden Eye. He came prancing back to me, and set the duck at my feet. We were all completely astonished. I had the hunting companion of my dreams.

But that wasn't what Diesel was. He was pure love to me, my two kids, and my wife. If you sat in the recliner, he came over and nudged his head under your hand to get love. He was always there, always, happy, always full of energy. The power and strength was incredible.

A week before his fourth birthday, we came home as usual. He made his run from the family room to the dining room to the kitchen and back to the family room as he always did with his excitement to see us return. Except this time he didn't make it back to the family room. He collapsed and died on the kitchen floor. I knew he was gone instantly, but I performed CPR in the kitchen and on the 20 minute ride to the vet. I knew it was useless but would have never forgiven myself for not trying.

That hurt is not describable. I have had to put dogs down at the end of their lives, but never had to endure that catastrophic, completely unexpected event. I cried for 5 straight days.

It took us 18 months to muster the courage to give ourselves to another dog. And through a really odd situation, we ended up getting both a Chocolate Lab and a Black Lab.

To Be Continued in next message....if I can see through my tears to keep going.

 

[KodaJax]

We named the Chocolate Lab Koda, and the Black Lab Jax. Once again, we struck gold. Nothing loves like a lab.

Koda has so much energy and strength. He is always happy and always ready. He is a huge teddy bear. He loves to lay with you (many times on top of you). You don't get to go anywhere without him. He is the big brother to Jax. Koda is about 85 pounds to Jax at 70, and Koda stands much taller. He easily jumps into the back of my 3500 truck bed. Last year he retrieved a pheasant I wounded in a cut bean field. Watching him run that bird down was incredible. He was a like a greyhound! His nose was too good if you know what I mean. Like a lab once he was on the scent, keeping him close was tough. Another perfect dog. I really never imagined he would fill the shoes that Diesel left, but we did everything possible.

In December we hunted him all day. He ran miles. Ran so much the pads on his feet bloodied. Incredible how athletic he is.

My wife and I have had fear every day though. The fear of the unknown. The fear of re-living the devastation we felt when Diesel died. But the changes of that happening twice must be near impossible.

The impossible happened on Friday. He went into the backyard with my wife and Jax to play fetch. He likes to bark at the neighbor kid kicking his soccer ball and was up on his back legs barking at him. His legs gave way, and he tried to pull himself a bit with his front legs, and then he was gone. My wife watched it and yelled for me to come out of my home office. She said she thought he hurt his back. When I got to him I was thinking a spine issue, so I was careful and heard a really faint cry (I think), as I touched him and said his name. I opened his eye and knew it was over. Noticed no breath, no heartbeat. Attempted CPR, again knowing there wasn't a chance of success. Gave CPR all the way to the vet again. He didn't come home with us.

How can this happen twice? We changed food from what we gave Diesel, just as a precaution. He was in PERFECT shape. He's run miles. He's barked at the kid kicking a soccer ball 100 times. He's been outside in 95 degree heat just chasing small birds in the yard.

I know there will never be answers. I was hoping this would be therapeutic, but I can barely see my keyboard. Go hug your dog today. Don't push him/her away when she wants to play, or wants attention. You will regret it. I do.

Four days of crying with no end in sight. Thank god for the love of Jax.

Dave

 

[KodaJax]

Koda was 4.5 years old.

 

[Shootinsurveyor]

I've been through enough in life to know that the love a good dog gives is special and losing one even at the end of a long life is awful. Losing them unexpectedly must be shocking along with the pain from the entire loss. I hope you and your family can cry with smiles on your faces and remember the good times.

 

[KurtR]

Thats horrible and I feel for you. That is why testing for exercise induced collapse and other genetic traits is so important so you dont have to go through the pain of loosing a good dog way to early. Theres nothing you could have done to change any thing. I would be telling who ever you got the dogs from so they dont keep breeding them and causing more heartbreak for others.

 

[KodaJax]

Thats horrible and I feel for you. That is why testing for exercise induced collapse and other genetic traits is so important so you dont have to go through the pain of loosing a good dog way to early. Theres nothing you could have done to change any thing. I would be telling who ever you got the dogs from so they dont keep breeding them and causing more heartbreak for others.

Thanks.

I let both breeders know. Diesel and Koda were from completely separate breeders without bloodline overlap (at least not that we could identify as I went through that with the second breeder before buying Koda). Both breeders did genetic testing for EIC and all parents were negative for the EIC gene. Neither breeders have had any other reported issues.

I'll never know for sure, as I didn't to autopsies, and maybe I should have. But believe me, I've researched a lot to try to get answers. While I'll never know for sure, the closest I can come to an answer is DCM, given their age, and how they died. Both were around four years old. Neither ever showed symptoms until the fatal collapse. Both died almost instantly.

I understand there is a genetic test for DCM now. I will definitely ensure that is done if I can bring myself to do this again. Unfortunately, DCM can develop without the gene making dogs pre-dispositioned to it. A lot of debate on grain-free diets leading to DCM - doesn't sound like settled science, but neither of my dogs was on a grain-free diet anyway. I even switch food brands after Diesel died just to rule out that as a factor. I'll never know for sure which does make it hard.

Picture is Koda at Christmas with my son and his girlfriend. Better times.

Dave

 

[7mm-08]

Dogs are the best people ever. Sorry for your loss. You're a good (and tough) man for reminding us that my first sentence is a true statement.