As some of you already know, I had an incident with Saber this morning. I was getting out of the shower when I heard him crying and screaming nonstop. I helped him up and he was still a little shaky but was finally resting when I left for work 45 minutes later.

Fast forward to 4:10 this afternoon when I get a call from my dad saying he's back to collapsing and screaming because he can't get up. So, I get home and Saber's in bad shape. As soon as I got him up, he would fall back down. All his legs were shaking from the effort and he was panting so hard I was afraid he'd have a heart attack.

Since I'm at the vet so often with him, I was told to bring him right in. Saber has spondylosis in his back and it's of course gotten worse. The bone growth on his vertebrae have compressed the disks and the vet thinks he might have "popped" one out. Not to mention, he now has a curvature of the spine which the vet called scoliosis. Saber also failed two out of three deep sensation tests on his back feet. The vet called that semi bad but said it's good that he was still moving his legs. Saber was being stubborn and just kept trying to get up over and over again. You could see he was mentally and physically exhausted.

The vet gave him an injection with B12 and a large dose of anti-inflammatory. He also said it's critical he gets strict cage rest for at least 48 hours so that's why he's at the hospital right now.

If this doesn't work and he doesn't improve, well, I don't want to think about the alternative. I have to have hope right now but I'm really scared he won't recover from this. I' m going to visit him early afternoon tomorrow and bring him some food and treats and see how he is.

Oh no, this is really heartbreaking to hear

I really hope Saber recovers from this. I'll be sending good vibes and keep him in my thoughts.

I'm so sorry to see this, Beth. We're sending good vibes your way and hoping that Saber recovers

So sorry Beth. All my thoughts and prayers with you guys.

Beth my heart goes out to you and Saber, you both will be in my thoughts. I hope there is some improvement tomorrow, hang in there. Hugs!

Prayers for Saber!! I will be thinking of you both!

Oh wow! I really hope Saber gets the help he needs.

Prayers going to Saber and you.

Oh no Beth, I hope he pulls through this. Keeping you guys in my thoughts. <3

Beth we're keeping you in our thoughts, so sorry you have to go through this.

Oh Beth, this breaks my heart. Prayers for you both.

I'm so sorry - keeping you and Saber in my thoughts.

I hope he feels better after a night of crate rest. Poor guy. He reminds me so much of my Tasha girl that we lost last year. Good vibes coming your way from us too.

Beth, we'll be thinking of you and Saber. I hope that Saber is better after the crate rest!

Poor Saber! I hope he recovers from this. I am too sending prayers your way. Please keep us updated on him.

deeply sorry to hear that, bless Saber

Thanks so much everyone for all your thoughts and prayers.   

I do want to make two things a little clearer after rereading my original post. When I said he failed two out of three deep sensations tests, that means he's lost some feeling in his back feet. Two, I just want to say that he doesn't seem to be in pain at all. When his back first started bothering him three or four years ago, the vet pressed hard all along his vertebrae and he screamed and kept whimpering afterwards because at that time it hurt. Yesterday, when the vet pressed along his vertebrae, there was no pain reaction at all. It's just that his legs aren't working so well right now.

Now for the update. I got back a little while ago after visiting Saber with my mom. He's doing about the same. Since he's on strict cage rest, he's not allowed to get up at all. That doesn't mean he hasn't been trying lol. I brought him food and some treats and he was ravenous. Probably more so than normal because of the injection he received. He ate a few treats and several handfuls of food I fed him. I didn't stay too long because I didn't want to get him too agitated. I have to go back tomorrow where he will get reevaluated.

I'm trying to be hopeful, but I'm still worried he won't be able to get up on his own. I just have to be optimistic right now. I will keep everyone posted.

Poor guy. I'm really hoping that he can pull through.
I'm glad you were able to go see him, and thank you for the update. I'm still praying for you guys!

Awww, my thoughts go out to Saber and yourself. I hope we hear good news next time you update. I swear, the senior sibes are always at that point where they have that perfect personality and you have this understanding of eachother. It takes years to gain that complete, especially with a sibe.

Beth, that's so awful. I can't imagine what you and Saber are going through right now. Positive thoughts coming your way.

Unfortunately, this is one story that doesn't have a happy ending.

When I arrived at the vet's office this afternoon, the vet tech informed me Saber wasn't doing well. He wasn't eating or trying to get up anymore. I was told that after I left him Friday afternoon, he started crying. So, I guess visiting him was a huge mistake and he might be alive right now if I had made a different choice.

When the vet tech took me to see him today, he just laid there staring right through me. There was no acknowledgment of me and no response when I spoke his name. He had stopped trying to stand up. He also had dementia so I don't know how much that impacted this. Either way, he had given up. The vet came to talk to me but I already knew what had to be done.

He passed peacefully and I held him tight after he was gone trying to memorize his smell and the feel of his fur. The vet tech cut a lock of fur off for me and I will also be receiving his ashes and a paw print in a week or two.

Right now I'm beating myself up over the fact the he could still be alive if it wasn't for me visiting him. It's destroying me that his last thought might have been that I abandoned him there. Of course, the outcome could have inevitably been the same but I'm just feeling loads of guilt right now and like torturing myself. Realistically speaking, even if he had recovered from this, there's no telling if or when this would happen again. I just know that he's gone and he took a piece of my heart with him.

I hope right now he's with his best bud, Sebby, and they're having the time of their lives running and playing without pain. I will make a tribute post to Saber eventually when I can stop crying for more than five minutes at a time.

Beth, I'm crying for you and for Saber. It's so cruel that we outlive the most beautiful things in our lives. Please, please, please, don't blame yourself. They do so much for us, we feel like we can never do enough for them. You were his girl, he loved you, and you were true to him to the very end, and you still are. I still haven't gotten over Tasha, she was my heart dog, but I've forgiven myself. Just know that there is nothing that he needs to forgive. He's pain free, clear minded, and running free with his buddy Sebby.

RIP and run free Saber. You will see him again someday.

Oh Beth, I am so so sorry. I too am in tears and wish there had been a better outcome. It's hard not to feel guilt over the things that have happened, don't beat yourself up too much, nothing good will come of it. Easier said than done, I know. I still second guess Faith's final 24 hours all the time and it's almost been a year since we lost her. You did all you could and he lived a great life with you, was loved and felt that love to the very end.

Oh Beth, please don't blame yourself. I am so sorry to hear that it ended up being this way. May he be free and run again with no pain with his best friend Sebby. <3

Oh Beth, I'm so heartbroken for you right now. As Jenny said, please don't blame yourself. He had a wonderful life with you, and you did everything that you could for him. I'm sure he and Sebby are going nuts together running around, and he's got a clear mind and no pain. Run free, Saber.