Last night a friend called. She and her husband had to put their lovely young dog to sleep. Mya, a beautiful Doberman Pinscher. On Saturday, she was ill and her vet diagnosed her with Dilated Cardiomyopathy.
They were familiar with this heart disease, a congestive failure too common in Dobermans. They knew it meant probably only months left of life. But with Mya it went blazingly fast. By Tuesday, she was so sick and tests showed nothing could be done. So they did the only humane thing they could.
The Doberman they’d had before, Sasha, also developed it. They took her to the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph and found out that it’s a common congenital problem for several breeds of large dogs, but especially prevalent in Dobermans. It usually hits anywhere between 2 and 6 years of age. Perhaps Dobes are more prone to it because of their huge chests and huge hearts. Both Sasha and Mya had big hearts and loved their people and their friends, both dog and human, deeply.
Doberman research at U of Guelph
The disease progressed in Sasha quite rapidly, but slowly compared to Mya. Sasha became part of a research experiment at the OVC in Guelph. A doctor wanted to find out why this disease is so prevalent in Dobes and can it be eradicated. After a few months of living with it, Sasha succumbed to it.
My dog Jack missed Sasha; they were best friends. We’d go to the park he usually met her at, and he’d watch the road. Every truck that sounded like hers would cause him to run to the fence, looking and hoping. Jack never got to know Mya. He was getting old and sick himself, and Mya was a very rambunctious puppy.
My new dogs, after Jack passed away, became friends with the young adult Mya. She was much bigger than either of them, but they played and chased each other. They’d just hang out together and go to whomever they thought might have treats and mooch. Mya’s long, pointed nose would push into your pocket to see what you had.
We ran into her just last Friday evening, along with several others of Mya’s good friends. So she had a fine time, running and wrestling. That was her last run, but it was a good one.
When your house is too quiet
Last night, petting the cats lying beside me, I thought of how quiet Mya’s house must seem without her there. She was an only pet. It would be different for me, I thought, if one died there are others. There still would be the life sounds of 4-footed creatures. But then I remembered when Jack died and, soon after, a cat Henry. With both of them, there was a huge hole in the house. A void felt by humans and other cats alike. New ones come along and make their own place in heart and household, but the memory and loss of the ones who are gone remain.
You will be remembered, Mya, and you are loved. Rest in peace, beautiful girl. Feb. 6, 2007 – June 28, 2011.
Pat Wylie
16 Dec 2011Thank you so much…….Ember is our 6th Doberman. We have had early losses also, but due to cancer.
She is our first European bred however; Maria says the focus in North America is too much on looks, and not enough on health and longevity. We have been to this breeding operation several times, and taken family members. I even took a huge dried bone for Zeus, a 3 year old male picked up by the Hamilton Police when they raided a ‘grow op’. Zeus had limited socialization, but loved his bone; he did want to come home with us, but we needed to start with a puppy………..youngest grandchild is just turning 3. There are some lovely ‘rescue’ dogs, not necessarily rescue in the true sense of the word, but dogs whose owners just can’t look after them anymore…………Richard is the best! He retrains before offering for adoption.
Dorothy
17 Dec 2011Hi again, they really do sound like good people. I have no idea why a breeder wouldn’t take as much care with health, but indeed it seems too many put the emphasis on looks. Zeus sounds like a lovely dog. I hope he got a good home – he deserves it! Maria & Richard seem to take the right approach both in breeding and rescue and rehoming dogs. It’s good to know there are people like them in the “business”. I’m glad you haven’t had the cardiac problems with your dogs, but sorry that cancer has taken them from you. I hope Ember gives you lots of years of joy.
Pat Wylie
15 Dec 2011Hi Wendy,
I don’t know whether this will work or not. Have browsed through the website, found your name, but no way to contact you, unless I put a note on Mya’s page……..
I promised to send you the website for the Doberman breeder on Hwy 9. http://www.thedoberman.ca will get you into a huge website with all sorts of neat information. This is where we bought Ember.
Maria has owned and bred Dobies for over 30 years; Richard, her son, runs the Doberman rescue operation…….love this place!
Good luck, and Merry Xmas…………pat wylie
Dorothy
15 Dec 2011Hi Pat, I’ve sent this on to Wendy. I don’t have a Dobe, but knew and loved her Mya and Sasha. These breeders sound like good people. Thanks for the info, I’ll have a look at their website. Glad you wrote.
Larry & Wendy Leason
29 Jun 2011Thanks ! This is beautiful.
Dorothy
30 Jun 2011Thank you for letting me be one of her very first babysitters.