Have to retire my bird dog.

3waycross · Aug 6, 2008

The Vet advised me yesterday that my Lab can no longer be used for upland birds. Apparently her Trachea is starting to collapse from age, 11yrs, and from a thyroid condition that was just diagnosed, and is being treated.

Whenever she gets excited or a little winded she starts making terrible gagging and hacking noises when she breathes. Vet says her lungs are great and she is 8 lbs lighter than she was 2 years ago. I don't have the heart to put her thru the road work it would take to get ready for bird hunting and if the Vet is right I won't do it. She says I can still use her for ducks and geese but no more pheasants. Anybody ever seen anything like this.

The idea of leaving her home in Oct is breaking my heart. She is a real good old girl.

dun · Aug 6, 2008

My heart goes out to the dog. Nothing sadder then a good dog that is forced to retire because of age/health. They still want to and can't, breaks my heart to see it.

MistyMorning · Aug 7, 2008

I have never heard of the condition you described 3way. This is a tough thing for both of you. Enjoy the hunting you can do with her.

bigbull338 · Aug 7, 2008

sorry your going to have to retire her from hunting.better put her in the kennel before you leave to go hunting.because i bet she will throw a fitt to go with you.

3waycross · Aug 7, 2008

bigbull338":3hnb6pai said:
sorry your going to have to retire her from hunting.better put her in the kennel before you leave to go hunting.because i bet she will throw a fitt to go with you.

You got that right Biggbull. If I take a shotgun out of the gun cabinet in the house and work the action you can hear her go nuts outside. Every year after it cools off in the fall she carries her bumper around in her mouth just in case we need to do some tune-up work for hunting.