Logan's Story
The Inspiration Behind MH Pet Imagery
Logan is the inspiration behind my pet photography so I felt it was important to share his story.
Logan is my third boxer. He was born on 10/19/2011 and he came home to me when he was just 8 weeks old. He came home at a very difficult time in my life as I had just lost my first boxer Riley to ARVC (cardiomyopathy). I was having a very hard time coping with the loss, but having this adorable, tiny, puppy bouncing around really helped to heal. He's grown to become the biggest momma's boy and he insists on being by my side at all times. Our bond is unbreakable.
For the most part, Logan has lived a healthy life. He had a couple of cancer scares when he had Mast Cell Tumors removed, but they had not spread and the margins were clean. He's also had a few extensive dental procedures done due to a condition called Gingival Hyperplasia where the gums overgrow and need to be trimmed back. Both of these conditions are known to run in the boxer breed so I wasn't completely shocked to have to go through them.
In late 2019 things changed. I began noticing that he was dragging his feet... scraping his nails... on the floor as he walked. I thought maybe it was just arthritis, but wanted to have our vet check him out to be sure. After the exam and talking to the vet we decided that it likely was arthritis and that it would be a good idea to try some pain management to see if things improved. They did not so we went back to do some x-rays on his hips, knees, and spine. All of which came back pretty good. His spine x-ray showed a little bit of arthritis as did his knees, but his hips looked good. That was when I knew in my gut what we were dealing with and it terrified me. Logan more than likely has a disease known as Degenerative Myelopathy. A disease which has no cure or medical treatment. A disease that'll only continue to deteriorate and eventually rob him of the ability to walk. I say "more than likely" because there is no real way to diagnose DM in dogs while they're still alive. It's all a process of elimination, but as things have progressed I can say it's pretty certain that's what's happening to my sweet boy.
The year 2020 was all about watching Logan's condition deteriorate while not being able to do much of anything for him. I had gotten him into physical therapy to try to maintain the muscle and mobility that he had left in his hind legs, but due to the Covid pandemic the rehabilitation clinic had to temporarily close and ultimately they made the decision to close permanently. Other clinics were not taking in new clients so we were stuck. All I knew to do was to keep him as active as I could so we would go for short walks. Lots and lots of walks.
Towards the end of 2020 I was finally able to find a clinic taking new clients in Northborough, MA. There he received laser treatments, massages, and hydrotherapy. We went for a little over a month before I had to stop taking him. His anxiety was getting really bad and he wouldn't stop trembling anytime he got into the car. Seeing him in that state really worried me and I felt that keeping his stress level as low as possible given everything else that he's dealing with was important. We're currently back to home massages and short walks to try to keep him as active as he can take.
As I write this, on January 20, 2021, Logan's condition is still deteriorating which is not surprising. That's how this disease works so it's expected. The symptoms he has is dragging/scraping his paws, paw knuckling, hind end weakness, back legs crisscrossing while he walks, loss of balance and coordination, completely falling down, struggling to get back up, He can't walk far without assistance. I have a "Help 'Em Up" harness which has handles on top to help guide him around. I also have a wheelchair that we're working on acclimating him to.
Living with this disease and watching your dog go through it is extremely hard. It's emotionally, mentally, and even physically draining. My heart breaks for him every time I see him stumble. He's still happy. He's not suffering or in any pain, that's the only good thing about this disease, but the confusion in his eyes really gets me. I wouldn't wish this on anyone. I have no way of knowing how much longer he'll be with me. For now, I'm just supporting and loving him as much as I can. He's teaching me to live in the moment and to take things one day at a time.
Logan is my third boxer. He was born on 10/19/2011 and he came home to me when he was just 8 weeks old. He came home at a very difficult time in my life as I had just lost my first boxer Riley to ARVC (cardiomyopathy). I was having a very hard time coping with the loss, but having this adorable, tiny, puppy bouncing around really helped to heal. He's grown to become the biggest momma's boy and he insists on being by my side at all times. Our bond is unbreakable.
For the most part, Logan has lived a healthy life. He had a couple of cancer scares when he had Mast Cell Tumors removed, but they had not spread and the margins were clean. He's also had a few extensive dental procedures done due to a condition called Gingival Hyperplasia where the gums overgrow and need to be trimmed back. Both of these conditions are known to run in the boxer breed so I wasn't completely shocked to have to go through them.
In late 2019 things changed. I began noticing that he was dragging his feet... scraping his nails... on the floor as he walked. I thought maybe it was just arthritis, but wanted to have our vet check him out to be sure. After the exam and talking to the vet we decided that it likely was arthritis and that it would be a good idea to try some pain management to see if things improved. They did not so we went back to do some x-rays on his hips, knees, and spine. All of which came back pretty good. His spine x-ray showed a little bit of arthritis as did his knees, but his hips looked good. That was when I knew in my gut what we were dealing with and it terrified me. Logan more than likely has a disease known as Degenerative Myelopathy. A disease which has no cure or medical treatment. A disease that'll only continue to deteriorate and eventually rob him of the ability to walk. I say "more than likely" because there is no real way to diagnose DM in dogs while they're still alive. It's all a process of elimination, but as things have progressed I can say it's pretty certain that's what's happening to my sweet boy.
The year 2020 was all about watching Logan's condition deteriorate while not being able to do much of anything for him. I had gotten him into physical therapy to try to maintain the muscle and mobility that he had left in his hind legs, but due to the Covid pandemic the rehabilitation clinic had to temporarily close and ultimately they made the decision to close permanently. Other clinics were not taking in new clients so we were stuck. All I knew to do was to keep him as active as I could so we would go for short walks. Lots and lots of walks.
Towards the end of 2020 I was finally able to find a clinic taking new clients in Northborough, MA. There he received laser treatments, massages, and hydrotherapy. We went for a little over a month before I had to stop taking him. His anxiety was getting really bad and he wouldn't stop trembling anytime he got into the car. Seeing him in that state really worried me and I felt that keeping his stress level as low as possible given everything else that he's dealing with was important. We're currently back to home massages and short walks to try to keep him as active as he can take.
As I write this, on January 20, 2021, Logan's condition is still deteriorating which is not surprising. That's how this disease works so it's expected. The symptoms he has is dragging/scraping his paws, paw knuckling, hind end weakness, back legs crisscrossing while he walks, loss of balance and coordination, completely falling down, struggling to get back up, He can't walk far without assistance. I have a "Help 'Em Up" harness which has handles on top to help guide him around. I also have a wheelchair that we're working on acclimating him to.
Living with this disease and watching your dog go through it is extremely hard. It's emotionally, mentally, and even physically draining. My heart breaks for him every time I see him stumble. He's still happy. He's not suffering or in any pain, that's the only good thing about this disease, but the confusion in his eyes really gets me. I wouldn't wish this on anyone. I have no way of knowing how much longer he'll be with me. For now, I'm just supporting and loving him as much as I can. He's teaching me to live in the moment and to take things one day at a time.
Update: 3/4/21 - The day has come and I set my boy free. It was one of the hardest decisions to ever have to make, but it was made out of love. My boy was becoming a shell of what he once was. The joy wasn't in his eyes. He was frustrated with the his lack of mobility and not being able to play as he once could. His anxiety was getting worst and worst. He could no longer enjoy his walks no matter how much his mind wanted to go go go, his legs just kept failing him.
On Monday, I called Lap of Love and set up the appointment that we all dread as pet owners. Knowing how bad his anxiety was and with Covid causing restrictions at local vets, I knew I wanted an at home euthanasia. I wanted Logan to fall asleep as peacefully as he could. With Lap of Love, all of that was made possible. It sounds incredibly strange to say, but Logan's passing was beautiful. He literally fell asleep snoring in my ear as I told him over and over how much I loved him.
Here are a few photos of my sweet boy taken throughout his last week. The last photo is the very last one that I took. I knew I wanted his last photo to be perfect... and it was. Losing him has hit me like a ton of bricks. Our bond was like nothing I'd ever experienced before and I know that I'll never fully heal. He took a big ol piece of my heart with him.
On Monday, I called Lap of Love and set up the appointment that we all dread as pet owners. Knowing how bad his anxiety was and with Covid causing restrictions at local vets, I knew I wanted an at home euthanasia. I wanted Logan to fall asleep as peacefully as he could. With Lap of Love, all of that was made possible. It sounds incredibly strange to say, but Logan's passing was beautiful. He literally fell asleep snoring in my ear as I told him over and over how much I loved him.
Here are a few photos of my sweet boy taken throughout his last week. The last photo is the very last one that I took. I knew I wanted his last photo to be perfect... and it was. Losing him has hit me like a ton of bricks. Our bond was like nothing I'd ever experienced before and I know that I'll never fully heal. He took a big ol piece of my heart with him.
“Nobody can fully understand the meaning of love unless he’s owned a dog. A dog can show you more honest affection with a flick of his tail than a man can gather through a lifetime of handshakes.” – Gene Hill
