I want to let everyone on this wonderful website know how deeply I appreciate you're sympathy in a time where there is no place to turn. I've always had a problem with death, whereby, like most of us, you get into pattern believing you're 'Best Friends' will never part this life. You will be together forever. I have some issues regarding 'Vaccinations' and 'Science Diet Food' in relation to Schatszie that bother me constantly. I'm totally aware that large breed dogs, such as the Weimaraner, will develop 'Old Age Related Complications' at some point in time, but Schatszie was a totally healthy girl until ~10.5 years. She was 'NEVER' fed any scraps or 'junk food'. As everyone should do, I started blood tests annually to catch/detect any problems early. Schatszie was fed 'Science Diet' her whole life. 'NO ONE' ever told me, including my vet, about the By-Products and Chemical Preservatives(linked to Liver/Kidney Disease) in Science Diet. No one ever told me, including my vet, about most, if not all veterinarian Colleges, changing their Vaccination Schedules/Reccomendations to '3-Year' instead of 'Annually'. No one ever told me, including my vet, about the Active Immunity Period that the 'Core Vaccines'(Parvo/Distemper/etc.) last in the blood stream.....~5 to 7 years. On February 17, I reluctantly allowed my vet to give Schatszie her annual Vaccinations, even though she was given 3-weeks to live as of Jan. 12, 05. She of course had a immobilizing seizure on April 4, with absolutely no changes in her mood/signs prior to seizure for the past three months. After doing extensive research on Nutrition/Liver/Kidney/Vaccinations in Canine, I have come to a conclusion, and I will forever hold myself responsible for Schatszie's Death for one reason.....I failed to do my homework early on concerning the 4 aforementioned subjects, and I will never use a vet that 'Sells/Pushes' Science Diet Food, and I will never use a vet that is not willing to discuss the Vaccination Issues. I firmly believe that Schatszie's annual vaccination in February put her health further in the red, and not only caused the seizure(which can also of course happen with 'End Stage Renal Failure'), but caused an earlier than expected passing. Having Pets have simply come to this: "You have to look out for your 'Friend' and be their guide, because no one else is." I would suggest that everyone take a serious look at the 'Natural/Holistic Foods'. There not cheap, but, having regrets 'after the fact' is no way to grieve. Whats done is done, but for me, with all due respect to all of my friends at this web site, Schatszie and I were so literally close to one another, I can simply never get another Weimaraner. For me, its a Weimaraner or nothing, and I could never raise another, without expecting her to be like Schatszie. In closing, the one trait that Schatszie had, that I've never seen in my 'Friends', is that she loved water, drinking water her whole lif, since a puppy, but, she liked her water 'FRESH', straight out of the outside facet. I had a 4ft. tall water cooler outside, and she would always jump up with her front legs and stand against cooler while I turned water on for her to drink. I took photos of this and entered them into Weimaraner Club Photo contest, but did not win or place. I assume it was no big deal, but I thought it was. Anyway, Thanks to everyone for helping me thru the fog. I will never get over Schatszie, but I admire those that have had the courage to get another 'Friend', and I wish you the very best, and a long and prosperous life together. Sincerly, Earl

Earl
I wish you peace and happiness. Take Care

Kerry

Earl I don't know if you're even going to read this but I started a thread a while back about those issues, mostly the food. I did my research also after the fact and I am now in the process of converting Bailey to a hollistic food. I've been doing it slowly over the past 3 weeks because he's always been on Eukanuba. I fully support your research but as I'm sure you know, you have to verify stuff you read on the Net because there's a LOT of info out there and not all of it is accurate (I'm sure it's not intentional). I too have read recently about the 3 yr vaccination as compared to every year. This seems to be a newer train of thought and it was the one thing I forgot to ask my vet about last month when I took Bailey in for his annual checkup. But I did ask the vet a barrage of questions related to the food and he told me some stuff about Hollistic food that NO website said. So between his advice and the web research, I've been able to find a good Hollistic food. If you do read this, and want more info, I'll find that other thread so you can read it. I don't want to repeat it all now just in case.
As for blaming yourself, well, I don't agree but it's not for me to tell you what to feel or how to grieve. You did nothing intentionally to Schatszie. You gave her the best care you could have, with the guidance of a professional vet. I would suggest you call your vet though and schedule an appt to talk to him/her about your concerns though. We do have to give them SOME credit that they know what they're doing. (Yes, I know there are better vets and worse vets...like Kamikaze's mom's experience, but I'm just talking overall, these people are professionals like any doctor.) I don't know of any vets around here that do vaccinations every 3 yrs instead of annually. I don't think he/she would have done anything to Schatszie on purpose. The one thing that my vet told me was that yes, there's lots of new stuff out there about animal care...and he wasn't opposed to these "new" things, but because they're new, he likes to make sure that it's FOR SURE. I mean, how many human drugs are out there that get recalled? There was even an injectable heartworm preventative that I tried last year that wound up being recalled from my vet because he didn't like the reports about it that came out. He siad my dogs weren't in danger but he didn't feel comfortable with it.
Anyway, I've rambled enough. I really do wish you peace and happiness.
Audrey

Here is the link that Jazzygirl posted previously:

http://www.treshanley.com/cic/diet.html#To...ry%20Dog%20Food

Earl I am glad that you are feeling okay these days. I know there will never be another one the same as we have lost. I am in no way ready for another dog at this point, it's still been less than a month. We had brought home a wild kitten about 3 weeks before Abby passed, and though I do like the kitten, I know he will never take the place of Abby, but I can give him love.

I want to thank you for bringing this up, and I most certainly need to do more research. I hope what you are feeling, you are able to let go in time. For one, we trust our vets, and look to them for guidance. I do not believe anything that happened is your fault, but it brought something back to my mind regarding the shots. I generally did do the 3 year rabie, but others I know were yearly. I took her in for a cyst to be removed that had broken open, but at the same time, she was due for her shots. The vet gave them to her at the time of her surgery. Thinking back now, it was all within 2 months of the time I had to say goodbye.

Tonight it is late right now, so I won't be able to research this, but I do plan on doing that. I also just want to Thank You for bringing up this subject for those of us that may be unaware of how this may effect our babies.

If you have any more information regarding this, and do read this, please post it or feel free to e-mail it to me.

Thank You and take care!
Midwest

Earl , I am happy to hear that you are starting to heal. I know what's it's like feel that you are partly responsible for your friend dieing. I feel that pain know , I blame self for the death of my belove Boscoe. Because in the long run it was my decision to let him run off his leash. Although it was in a fenced in area it still wasn't good enough. Good luck and Peace be with you . Tina