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Dear All Members and Staff: This 'WILL' be my final forum entry, for I am compelled, after talking with Audrey, that my 'Farewell'/'Good-Bye' entry was misleading, and that I was leaving the impression that my Vet and all vets can't be trusted, etc., etc.. I apologize for my coordination and timing of words, BUT, all Pet Owners need to get more involved into what is going own around us concerning new and ever changing protocols in PET HEALTH. There are many 'RED FLAGS' waving out there, and many of us, including myself, didn't take heed until after the fact. What I'm trying to say is this, Pet Nutrition Advances and New Vaccination Protocols are new on the block, brought about by 'RESEARCH VETS'....NOT BY YOUR LOCAL VET. Why all of the sudden changes and interest? Its real simple....theres a problem. The problem is that for years, our Pets have been treated differently, in regards to their health, than us Humans. Its all relative, they are really no different than us.....They have an immune system that must be maintained constantly on both a 'Nutritional' and an 'Environmental' basis, in order to maintain good health and fight off diseases. All these years we have been programed to 'Vaccinate'....'Vaccinate'...and 'Vaccinate'. Why all of a sudden most all Veterinarian Colleges of Medicine are changing their vaccination and nutritional recommendations....protocols. Now recommending every 3-Years for mainly the 'CORE' Vaccines and Rabies, instead of 'ANNUALLY'. BECAUSE THERE IS A PROBLEM, AND MONEY AND POLITICS AND SPECIAL INTERESTS GROUPS HAS PREVENTED THE PROBLEM AND TRUTH FROM EXITING THE CLOSET. As I discussed with Audrey, WHY are the Vet. Colleges(Research) calling for only 3 Years, instead of 2.....or 4 to 5 years? Think about it, the Vaccine Manufacturers haven't backed down a bit....They still insist that their vaccines be administered 'ANNUALLY', case closed, BUT, at the same time, they specifically state on each and every one of their bottles that, 'This vaccine must not be given to an Animal with Health Problems'. Try to find a Vet right now that is 'FLEXING' to this new protocol.....GOOD LUCK! As per the 'Rabies Vaccination', there are some Vets that are switching to the 3-yr., but in a lot of cases they can't because of their Geographical Location due to idiotic Politics/Laws/Special Interest Groups......Stupidity & MONEY. As per the 'CORE VACCINES' (Parvo...Distemper...etc.), why is it that its so hard to find a Vet that is already switched to 3-Yr. versus, annually. Could it be, 1)The bottle still says 'ANNUALLY'?,...2)Liabilities?,.....3)Loss of Revenue? I'll let each and every one of you, as I told Audrey, 'PONDER' the situation. In closing, have you ever trully wondered why 'Human Vaccines'(As if there is a difference as compared to Animal Vaccines) are more or less given for life...Gee, even consider the longevity of the 'Tetnus Vaccine'!? Don't be afraid of knowledge....Get involved.....Interrogate your Vet, you are paying him for a service, and you are his customer, and not the other way around. Remember, your regular Vet, not 'Research Vets', have never, ever been into the 'Pet Nutrition Thing'......Try finding one that is....a few only. I wish you all the Best, and please remember one thing, I did not compose this to worsen anyone's additional grief, for if that was my sole intension, I JUST DUG MYSELF A CRATER, PERSONALLY< THAT I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO ESCAPE. May Schatszie and ALL of our FRIENDS rest in peace. Thank You, Earl

Thanks To Everyone

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

The Hardest Thing You'll Ever Do.

Its been a little more than a month, that I had to put Schatszie, my Weimaraner since a puppy, to sleep, and I came across this site, whereby, it was of some relief to know that I'm not alone in dealing with what seems to be a 'non-ending' grief period. I got Schatszie as a puppy, my second Weimar, and spent countless days training her in field and obedience. I had an excellent relationship with my other female Weimar, but Schatszie was way different.....She was crazy about me! She absolutely could not stand to be out of my sight. Thanks to my Parents, they watched over her while I was at work. When I would leave, she would stand at the front gate and stand there awaiting my return for hours/all day, until my Parents called her back in. In 1997 my Parents moved as well as I, and my new location provided me 5 acres for Schatszie, but the situation of her standing at front gate still persisted, every day....when I would return from work, there she would be, standing at gate looking down the road, awaiting my return, regardless of weather conditions. You see, I've never been married, and after numerous dead-end relationships, living alone, Schatszie was my everything. In 1997, I got tired of my profession, started a small business in home, whereby I could spend most of my time with Schatszie. She went every where with me in car, if weather permitted, to the store....dentist....you name it. Two years ago, she went on Thyroid medication, followed up with a high ALP Liver problem, and then followed by chronic renal failure. I started her on Science K/d food, and in Jan. 2005, my Vet gave her ~3weeks. She had no outward signs of kidney problems, except for mustle wasting in hind legs, and occasional mustle fatigue after exercising. With no for-notice, at 5:00AM on April 4, she woke me up next to my bed, with heavy panting and salivating, followed with a seizure. I rushed her to vet...they did IV's, but the seizure(End Stage Renal Failure) left her immobile....no mustle strenght, due to uremia of blood. I took her home, stayed up all night with her for 2.5 days, taking her outside to urinate etc., until both she and I were total;ly exhausted. She quit eating at the last, and I definitely knew it was time to do the hardest thing I would ever have to do in my whole life, next to burying my Parents, and that was call the Vet to come and put Schatszie to sleep....Put my Best Friend I've ever had in this life to sleep. Ladies and gentlemen, I know I'm among friends here when I say this,......"It is Hell On Earth, Living alone at 50 Years Old, and your BEST FRIEND, THE ONLY ONE YOU'LL EVER HAVE THAT LOVED YOU THE WAY SCHATSZIE LOVED ME, and THEY ARE GONE. I had already pre-fabbed her burial box, but I also had a 2'x3' granite slab inscribed, "Schatszie".....Jan. 22, 1993 - Arl. 6, 2005......"our Memories Together Will Never Fade,"....."But Your Absence Will Never Heal"......."I Love You Schatszie". To all of you that have lost 'Your Best Friend', Its a long rocky road to getting over grief. You are basically on your own. No one wants to really understand or hear about such. My greatest fear at present, is that I'll never get over this, and will never be able to get another Weimaraner again, without expecting her to be just like Schatszie, which of course, there will never be another Schatszie. My Heart goes out to all of you grieving. Our "Friends" just don't live long enough do they? Earl